Regd 8GB RAM

[bulava]

Hello,

I'm using couple of Intel Core i7 based workstations. Here is one such example:

Processor: Core i7-870 (Lynfield)
Motherboard: Gigabyte P55A-UD6
RAM: Corsair DDR3-1600 - 8GB (4 sticks).
Graphics: Sapphire Toxic ATI 5850 - 2GB - DDR5

Am always used to 32-bit Linux installation. Now I would like to go with the FC14 64-bit on this workstation. My question is:

a) How different would be a FC 64-bit compared to 32-bit (8GB RAM issues I faced in Windows 7 32-bit)
b) What would be potential problems during the installation and/or post installation.

I get these questions in my mind because of Motherboard and Graphics card support and also thinking about applications (issues) on FC14.

Please leave your suggestions. Thank you.

[jerrywhitaker]

I used 32 bit up to FC12, then both 32 and 64 for FC12 then 64bit FC14 so hopefully I can help:

a) I`ve noticed absolutely no difference in looks, performance, or software availability. I have read about performance improvements when using programs that do heavy number crunching but I don`t have any first hand experience of this.

b) The only problem i`ve found is that the latest native 64 bit flash plugin is pretty poor (maybe because its still a beta) so i`m going to use the 32bit to see if it improves things. I think most of the 32 v 64 bit problems have long since been fixed.

Hopefully others will have more suggestions for you.

Jerry

[bulava]

Thanks for responding.


I have read about performance improvements when using programs that do heavy number crunching but I don`t have any first hand experience of this.
Well, that's one of the core areas where am using my machines. I'm also looking from the Motherboard support point of view. For example, I don't know how 64-bit version takes on SATA-III and USB 3.0 support on the boards. I do use couple of WD 1 & 2 TB SATA-III drives but never used/test any USB 3.0 device till date. So, my HDD support is one of the important concerns.


b) The only problem i`ve found is that the latest native 64 bit flash plugin is pretty poor (maybe because its still a beta) so i`m going to use the 32bit to see if it improves things. I think most of the 32 v 64 bit problems have long since been fixed.
Jerry

I do have couple of applications which I use every day. Example, I don't know how 64-bit based ATI Catalyst driver performs while handling 3 LCD Monitors. I use ATI's Eyefinity (with the mentioned Graphics card above) on Windows 7 every day but I would love to replace couple of machines with Linux, 64-bit. I also don't know how this 64-bit works with Visualization, again I use it daily with Parallels (Multi OS). If that fails then it would be a big set back for my plans.

Bottom line: I wanna load 64-bit FC14 on said workstation and test, test, test, test so that I could integrate smoothly into my business/research in couple of weeks. So, am looking forward to this community for the pointers.

[thomthom]

My question to you is why would you run anything other than 64-bit OS's if your cpu and motherboard are capable. I don't know if PAE in windows 7 is different from xp but Windows desktop OS's PAE only addresses at most 3.5 gb's so having 8gb's is a waste of money and memory, 4.5gb's not being used/addressed. On the other hand, linux 32-bit OS's with pae kernel can address up to 64 gb's. And as far as disk read/writes goes, architecture has nothing to do with hdd speed or size etc.

[bulava]

My question to you is why would you run anything other than 64-bit OS's if your cpu and motherboard are capable. I don't know if PAE in windows 7 is different from xp but Windows desktop OS's PAE only addresses at most 3.5 gb's so having 8gb's is a waste of money and memory, 4.5gb's not being used/addressed. On the other hand, linux 32-bit OS's with pae kernel can address up to 64 gb's. And as far as disk read/writes goes, architecture has nothing to do with hdd speed or size etc.

That's my requirement. Windows 7 64-bit supports till 192 GB. I've divided 22 workstations into two groups (32 & 64 bit Oses; 4/8 GB DDR3 RAMs) in order to use my computing resources to the best from January 2010 onwards. So, am running those machines from almost an year. Now, I would like to rope in FC14 x64 into my business solely (hoping) that it has got mature support for ATI 5850 card, which plays a critical part in my IT resources. Actually, I've saved good $ by doing away buying 24 new machines, thanks to the amazing ATI's Eyefinity feature.

I do understand about various CPU Architectures and Linux kernel internals too. My intention is to run FC14 (x64) on the mentioned machine so that I could start integrating it in my existing computing infrastructure. Problem is, Sapphire doesn't provide any Linux drivers to download so I've to rely on either FC14 distro driver base or from the ATI's Catalyst. If either Display or Visualization doesn't work then it doesn't help to me much. I hope FC14 has (almost) everything in it to support my Hardware. I shall plan for the installation once I get enough time (that's the reason why I've started this thread so that I could be well prepared from installation related headaches, if any).