i386 or x86_64 on laptop?

[Harald Hoyer]

John Summerfield wrote:
> sean darcy wrote:
>> I'm installing f8t3 0n a compaq presario c714 laptop, intel GM965 
>> chipset, T2310 2 gigs. This is a general purpose machine, the only 
>> heavy lifting might be using ffmpeg for rendering.
>>
>> I need to use ndiswrapper to deal with a broadcom rev 2 wlan. I'd like 
>> to be able to use Flash.
>>
>> I've looked around for any real benchmarks on using x86_64. I haven't 
>> found any, which suggests to me that there are no substantial benefits 
>> to x86_64.
>>
>> Does anyone know of any real data comparing the two?
> 
> Responses seem scarce.
> 
> My feeling is you wouldn't notice the difference. 32-bit is likely to be 
> more reliable wrt brand-x add-ons such as that binary blob you hope to 
> wrap in ndiswrapper.
> 
> 64-bits is better when you need lots of RAM (maybe more than 3 Gb on 
> Intellish h/w), or lots of big programs (say, database, http servers, I 
> won't rule out graphics rendering).
> 
> I plan on 64-bits for my HP desktop, but I have ideas of running several 
> virtual machines.
> 
> 

If you don't use apps, which need more than 3GB, I would go 32 bit. Faster and smaller bins.