Which Linux Architecture Do You Use?
 

The last two semi-official LQ polls have over 600 and 300 votes, respectively. As mentioned in this thread, we plan to make these polls a regular occurrence at LQ. Next up, which is your preferred Linux Architecture?

--jeremy

Been using 64-bit for a number of years now and doing just fine with it... no reason that I can see to downgrade.

The poll is multiple choice, but I currently only use x86_64, and don't plan on using anything else any time soon.

While you can select more than one entry, there is no requirement that you do so.

--jeremy

i selected x86-64... does android count. if so i should've selected arm as well.

From the current results,.. i would guess that there are a majority of ServerAdmins @_64, and Pi/Android @ARM users.

x86_64 on desktop, x86_32 on laptop and netbook, ARM on Raspberry Pis.

I got rid of my last use of x86-32 Linux just in time for clicking just one architecture in this poll.

Too impatient! I will stick with the more traditional:

When all else fails, read the instructions.

x86_64 on all of my main Linux machines (desktops, servers, laptops, etc). ARM for embedded devices (Gumstix, CuBox, etc)

Desktop + 2 laptops = 64
Netbook = 32
Raspberry Pi = Arm

My vote is ARM for the android device and x86_32 for my distros.

i also run a Raspberry Pi, i believe the chipset is ARM for the RPi, and an Android phone. So thats two extra votes for ARM in addition to my 86_64 for server and workstations.

1 Server 86_64
3 laptops 86_64
1 notebook i686
1 RPi ARM
1 Android ARM
*maybe* 1 workstation 86_64, currently running win7 for specific applications not supported in Wine.
2 iMacs OSx 86_64 (BSD kernel)
1 MacBook OSx 86_64 (BSD kernel)
1 ea iPhone, iPod, iPad all BSD kernel running ARM chips.

Main desktop, secondary desktops, & work laptop --> x86_64
home laptop & 2 dedicated servers --> x86_32
HTC One Android smartphone --> ARM

I have 6 systems in my home four of which are 64 and two are 32 bit.

I still tend to run 32 bit versions of distros simply for the stability and compatibility they still have over their 64 bit versions. I do run several 64 bit distros for testing and haven't seen much of a performance increase when compared to their 32 bit versions, additionally in many distros recompiling the software in the repos to 64 bit is lagging behind, so while most of the software the devs feel is most important has been ported over, some you feel is crucial may not be, and may not be anytime soon.

I'm sure in a year or two I'll switch over but at the moment it seems the benefit of the 64 bit versions are generally outweighed by the drawbacks.

I voted "x86_64", but I might not be eligible to vote, since I only downloaded and tried it today (Mint Linux 15, and it worked no problem, I downloaded the .ISO file, used a Windows program called "Universal-USB-Installer-1.9.4.0.exe" to transfer it to an SD card, and by changing the Boot Order in the BIOS of my laptop, managed to boot straight away into the Linux installation on the card.

I'm new to Linux, so I can't really judge Mint Linux, but for a total beginner it boots flawlessly, and doesn't ask any (seemingly cryptic) technical questions before it gets to the desktop.

64-bit only here. Last time I used 32-bit was Windows Vista(:cry:)!

AMD64, have been for years. I won't even touch a distro that doesn't offer a 64-bit version.

I had to check the date of this post to make sure it wasn't from 2003. I haven't noticed any of the problems you describe with 64-bit Linux in over a decade...

Wow 64 bit Linux distros is 2003. What distro was 64 bit in 2003 and what hardware did you run it on?

Sorry was a year off.

AMD released the 64-bit opteron in 2003, Intel released the 64-bit Xeon and P4 in 2004. Linux has supported x86_64 since 2001, with many distros adopting it in 2003. I've been running 64-bit Linux on a daily basis since 2005 and haven't noticed any of the issues you've mentioned in a LONG time. In fact, that 64-bit machine from 2005 that I mentioned above is still running to this day, 24/7.

I bought an Athlon 64 within 3 months of them being released (so like Jan 04), and started using 64-bit distro shortly thereafter. Although it was 2 years or so before I made the switch permanently due to lack of many programs being avaialble, but I can't remember having issues with anything major missing since 06 or so.

Well, welcome to Linux & the LQ community J.Doran! Mint's a great distro to start with :)

Not the first "Other" - interesting ...

Both server and desktop x86_32

Run x86_64 on two laptops, and one desktop (although, i've considered moving the desktop to x86_32 for a few package compatibility programs). I use arm on my Pandora.

I voted for x86_64, x86, and ARM. The break down is as follows.

5 Desktop (Daily users) PCs x86_64
1 Laptop x86_64
1 Netbook x86_64
3 Desktop Test PCs x86_64
4 Legacy PCs x86 (two of them probably should be scrapped out)
4 Android devices running ARM
1 Raspberry Pi embedded Linux ARM

at home: x86_64 on new desktop, x86_32 on old desktop (Pentium 4), ARM on raspberry pi, MIPS on WRT54G (dd-wrt firmware)

at work: x86_32 on my workstation, some older servers, firewall(smoothwall), and VPS, x86_64 on newer servers, other workstations, MIPS on wrt54g (dd-wrt)

Itanic? That's the only architecture I can think of not listed.

From Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._architectures

--jeremy

ARM on a chromebook as well as an Android tablet, and several x86_32 machines. The chromebook uses a Linux kernel for ChromeOS, and I also run Debian armhf on it.

Oops: No vote: Pi\ARM, desktop\x86_32, laptop\x86_64, thrift-store(iMac g3 for $20 they thought it was a TV ;))\PowerPc(I use it for music)... +++

So i can vote more than once here, oops sorry... :D

I'm still using x86-32 on desktop due to hardware,
but I will install a x86-64 distro (probably Slackware64) on a notebook to test it.

Use X86-32 and X86-64
 

Primary Laptop, X86-64, It's been a rock solid performer! Don't see any reason to rock the boat at this point.
The OEM I.S. (Inoperative System) was Vista Entertainment Edition, I just didn't find non stop blue screen very entertaining.

X86-32 On the wood burning desktop, (Athlon "Barton"), laboriously slow but absolutely perpetual.

Samsung laptop = x86-64 (main machine)
Acer laptop = x86-32 (old dinosour)
Panasonic toughbook =x86-32 (car laptop)
2 Dell Optiplex 170L = x86-32 (1 HTPC, 1 study-printer)

Laptop and desktop x86_64, old netbook using x86_32
Smartphone and tablet ARM

I have *ONE* desktop computer on which I do everything. I have been a Debian user since Debian 1.2,
except for one year when I could no longer get my printer to work. So I used Windows 7. Since then,
I have used Debian/sid. I switched to x86_64 a few months ago, and I do not regret it.

Apart from the fact that my present computer system refuses to boot from a USB stick, and only
occasionally condescends to boot from a CD-R, I have no complaints about Debian x86_64.

I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone which runs Android. What its processor is I don't know.

... and my "Other" isn't even listed. :rolleyes:

Two home computers 32 bits...
Greetings,
mefisto

Lenovo Thinkpad x200s x86_64. I have installed Pear Linux 7 on it, which runs flawless.

My @_64 is for home use. I do heavy number crunching.

What is my preferred Arch?
 

Well I just received the email about this poll and I am already too late to vote. Here it is anyway:
I use both x86_64 and x86_32 cause I want more than one machine to mess with. I prefer 64 bit by a long shot.

Some of the posts here have mentioned performance in regard to the 64 bit version. If you are using an application that was written for 64 bit it seems there should be some improvement but it is my understanding that the real purpose of developing 64 bit systems is to prepare for the expansion of addresses (IPv4 to IPv6.

x86_32 and x86_64.
I will soon buy Raspberry Pi, and I install Slackware, Arch and Debian to separate SD cards.

Same situation as me, I'm currently waiting on my raspberry pi to arrive.

BTW, лепо видети српски Линукс заједница ;)

Me too. Somewhere in December I'll be installing Slackware on an ARM board, hopefully. :D

Regards.

Unlike the MCA polls, these polls do not have an end date.

--jeremy

Out of curiosity, what is your "Other"?

--jeremy

No, that has nothing to do with the IPv4/IPv6 switch (network addresses). You can use larger memory arrays on 64 bit systems with less overhead on smaller memory arrays (>892MB), but additional to that x86_64 also has larger and more registers than x86, so that many programs will have a performance gain, but not all. On a PC with "normal" usage (browsing the web, playing music/videos, doing some office work) you won't see performance differences, but for some other tasks the performance increases are huge.

On the first post I missed many Linux devices which I use everyday. So instead of editing the original post I will add them below.

Synology 213 ARM
Roku 3 ARM (Some of the older models used MIPS)
WD Live MIPS
Sony Bravia Blu Ray Player MIPS
Vizio Blu Ray Player MIPS
Chromecast MIPS?
AVerMedia Game Capture HD MIPS
Netgear Router WNDR4500-100NAS MIPS
Netgear Router WNR3500L MIPS
Zytel DSL Modem MIPS
Cisco Home Router MIPS
8 Trendnet Switches MIPS?
4 Security Cameras W/built in web server MIPS
HP Printer MIPS
Epson Printer MIPS?