I'd usually have no trouble selecting my own distributions when I get computers. But this is slightly new for me.

See I'l be having this dual core cpu coming in and along with 64bit, it will be quite different from what I've tried in the past.

I'm intending to run things like a BattleField 2 and Counter-Strike Source server (on LAN that is, for about 60 users).

As I understand it, these servers most likely use 32bit software and then I'd have to install 32bit libraries and all that to get these programs to run.

So my question is ? Would it really pay off then to use a 64bit Linux if all I'll run will be 32bit server software ?

Which OS would I'd probably have the best time getting configured depending on this choice.
Personally I was thinking about these:
Slackware (32bit only I think. I just really like this distro. Nothing un-needed
Ubuntu (32/64bit. Doesn't matter. Easily updated)
Gentoo (32/64bit Takes a year to compile. But I'll do a stage 1 if this would be recommendable as I do not want to update the system too often - and I'll not be forced to compile packages like KDE this time around :P )

Looking forward to hearing your input!

I can't help with the 64bit part but I wouldn't suggest using Gentoo. Gentoo is a from source distro, it's based around compiling stuff for your system. Great theory, but all your game servers are distrobuted in binary, I just don't think the time spent:speed gained ratio would balance out even remotely. Just my 2c though...

Complexity doesn't scare me, not at all
I've previously had a gentoo stage 1 install and it really isn't that hard to install as some might say. It's blazingly fast but compared to slackware the difference isn't all that much (apart from the kernel which any slackware user will replace anyway :P ).

Apart from that. I'm also pretty sure that I won't get much extra performance from selecting gentoo for a few game servers as opposed to a well balanced slack install, or any other minimalist distro for that matter

I'll just wait for a little more input before making up my mind

I never mentioned complexity. I've installed Gentoo a few times myself, anybody who can read can do it, the documentation is very complete.
Exactly my point

Yea.. I went ahead and did a slackware install. I love it's simplicity in terms of layout
And it was pretty easy to patch a 2.6.13 kernel with most gentoo patches and then enable SMP so, so far so good :P
I think I'll make a different thread at hardware though. As I just can't get that darn ATI Rage XL to work with a 1024x768 framebuffer resolution (with a minimum of 200-256 colours)

Oh and about the gentoo thing. Well I'd say that I wouldn't recommend just anybody doing it since it does require at least some basic conception of what linux and the programs needed are. Apart from that, you're absolutely right The manual does a great job.

I can honestly say that it's not that hard. Gentoo was my second distrobution after about 2 months on Mandrake. I ran it on a headless box to do web development on and it worked alright. I didn't keep it up-to-date because it was only for testing but I managed alright and rest assured, I didn't pick up linux quickly