Switch from Amd32 to Amd64

redhat_newbie · 12-05-2008, 08:34 PM

Hi everybody,

I want to know if major configurations are needed when switching from amd32 to amd64 on fedora or the system will handle everything for me. Will it be beneficial to make such a change? Many thanks in advance.

Kind regards

Newbie

pixellany · 12-05-2008, 08:39 PM

Are you talking about changing processors or changing the OS?

You can run a 64-bit processor with either 32-bit or 64-bit OS. A 32-bit processor requires a 32-bit OS.

For most people, there is very little benefit in moving to 64-bit---it all depends on what kind of things you do and whether you use applications written for 64-bit.

jay73 · 12-05-2008, 08:47 PM

As a rule, 64 bit is faster in databases, multimedia editing and number crunching. For everything else, it is about the same.

No, there is not much that you need to tweak if you want to get 64 bit running. The proprietary stuff used to be something of a problem but 64 systems have come a long way since then (and it helps that 64 bit Vista is doing almost as well as the 32 bit version so many companies - at last - have started releasing native 64 bit versions of their products).

rickh · 12-05-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redhat_newbie

Hi everybody,
I want to know if major configurations are needed when switching from amd32 to amd64 on fedora or the system will handle everything for me. Will it be beneficial to make such a change? Many thanks in advance.
Kind regards
Newbie

If you mean, can you change with no inconvenience, the answer is, "No." You have to do a complete reinstall. I have heard of people trying to just install a 64-bit kernel over the top of their 32-bit, but it seems to end in disaster.

redhat_newbie · 12-05-2008, 09:09 PM

Many thanks for all advices and I'll take a look again before such move. Thanks

Kind regards

Newbie