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This is the computer I have currently with Xubuntu 13.10 installed on it, and it works well:

  • OS version: Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 3, 32 bit
  • Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80 GHz, x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 1
  • Processor count: 1
  • RAM: 1149 MB
  • Graphics card: Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller, 96 MB
  • Hard drives: C: Total - 38091 MB, Free - 17316 MB;
  • Motherboard: Dell Computer Corp., 0U2575
  • Antivirus: CA Anti-Virus Plus, Updated: No, On-Demand Scanner: Enabled

However, I do a lot of editing of large digital photos, and I'm converting a second computer, with the exact same specifications as this one, to Xubuntu 13.10, AND I'm replacing the 128 MB memory module with a 1 GB module, giving me a total of 2 GB. I have read a lot of posts here that say with 2 GB it is best to go with the 32 bit download of 13.10. But I have also read a lot of posts here that say it's best to go with the 64-bit. That 2 GB is plenty to run 64-bit software, and that 32 bit software is rapidly becoming obsolete.

What is the explanation to clear up the confusion?

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  • 1
    If it's a 32 bit processor, afaik the 64 bit one will not run.
    – halfer
    Feb 28, 2014 at 23:41
  • use CPU-Z to check if your CPU supports EM64T instruction set
    – phuclv
    Mar 1, 2014 at 2:09
  • 4
    Since it turns out this is an XY problem, and is really about user250093's processor rather than RAM, and the issue of 32-bit processors supporting only the 32-bit version is covered well in at least one good answer to What are the differences between 32-bit and 64-bit, and which should I choose? (which also has answers that cover RAM considerations somewhat extensively), I'd suggest we close this as a duplicate of that question. Mar 1, 2014 at 2:12
  • @OP: you should provide the CPU model. There's not only one 2.8GHz Pentium 4 CPU
    – phuclv
    Mar 1, 2014 at 2:39
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    you don't really have 2gb of ram!!
    – Meow
    Mar 1, 2014 at 4:17

5 Answers 5

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You list your processor as "Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz, x86 Family"

Anything in the x86 Family is a 32-bit processor. You need to install the 32bit version.

If you had a AMD64 or x86_64 Family it would be a 64bit processor and capable of running a 64bit version.

As for the memory issue. The main difference between 32bit and 64bit is the ability to address more memory. A 32-bit processor can only handle up to 4GB or 2^32 = 4GB. A 64-bit can handle much more than that 2^64 = 16EB = 17,179,869,184. The implementation details are much more complex than this description.

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  • This is XP, not windows 7, you cannot conclude anything from that line. x86 means x86 family, it doesn't mean that it doesn't support x86_64 extension
    – phuclv
    Mar 1, 2014 at 3:43
  • Since this was written, 2^64 has been revised from 17,179,869,184 to 18,446,744,073,709,551,616.
    – Andreas
    Mar 23, 2018 at 16:30
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The Pentium 4 line is mostly X86-32 (32bit). However you state that yours is Family 15 model 4 2.8ghz. A google search reveals that the 511 in that series is X86-64 (64bit).

http://ark.intel.com/products/27453/Intel-Pentium-4-Processor-511-1M-Cache-2_80A-GHz-533-MHz-FSB

Therefore the 64bit version of Xubuntu may be an option for you. With 2gb of ram you absolutely can happily run a 64bit operating system though you may find it consumes a little more of your ram than a 32bit install.

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  • No, some models of Pentium 4 since Prescott have x86_64 instruction set
    – phuclv
    Mar 1, 2014 at 2:05
  • I stand corrected. Some Pentium 4 cpus from around 2006 such as some of the ones in the HT line were X86-64. HT=Hyper Threading. Basically the last ones before the Intel Core2 series was pushed out in time for Vista's unveiling.
    – mango
    Mar 1, 2014 at 2:36
  • There's (at least) a 64-bit 2.8GHz Pentium 4 CPU here ark.intel.com/products/42114/…. I cannot infer anything without knowing the correct CPU model
    – phuclv
    Mar 1, 2014 at 2:39
  • That's Pentium D not Pentium 4. Pentium Ds are built off Pentium 4.
    – mango
    Mar 1, 2014 at 2:43
  • My answer has been edited. The OP has a model 4 which is available in 64bit at 2.8ghz.
    – mango
    Mar 1, 2014 at 2:54
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64 bit is the recommended system these days ( it's not just about memory ), but I don't think that old CPU is 64 bit capable, so you will need to stick with 32 bit.

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If your processor really is 64-bit capable (try booting from 64-bit LiveCD), I still think 64-bit system will give you no benefits.

  1. 64-bit systems may use more than 64GB, 32-bit with PAE (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension) may use up to 64 GB, without PAE -- up to 4GB. Those amounts of memory include not just physical memory, but virtual memory as well, so you cannot enlarge swap file or swap partition to overcome the limits.

  2. Even a PAE 32-bit system can NOT allocate more than 4GB (memory and address space) to a single app, so apps that deal with huge amounts of data sometimes require 64-bit.

  3. Generally if you compare the 32- and 64- bit versions of the same OS or of the same app, 64-bit one will use more memory due to larger size of primitive datatypes (mostly pointers). Which one will be faster, depends on application.

So, if you do not have much memory, and do not have apps that need more than 4GB of memory or of address space, 32-bit system is quite ok. 64-bit one is usually needed for systems with a lot of memory. However, even in your case it is good to use 64-bit if some of your apps fail due to lack of virtual address space (it is not a very common problem, but sometimes it happens).

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  • My current processor is a P4 and is 64-bit capable...
    – Braiam
    Mar 1, 2014 at 3:03
  • some P4 CPUs from Prescott and above support x86_64 instruction set
    – phuclv
    Mar 1, 2014 at 3:44
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First your CPU can only support 32 bit operating System (X86 Family)

When 32 bit system support only 4GB memory , that doesn't means , this is only the ram ,

4 Gb refers to total addressable memory space and not just the RAM installed ( also Graphics memory , etc) .

So if you have a 4 Gb ram slot and 2 Gb graphics memory , 32 bit operating system will access 2 Gb of your ram because the limit is 4Gb of total memory.

64 bit operating system will handle 16EB (exabytes) of total memory

Conclusion , for your resources you have the minimum requirements of using 32 bit operating system , if you want to use 64 just you should buy new hardware.

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  • the down voter can give me how am i wrong ?
    – nux
    Mar 1, 2014 at 1:07
  • Don't know why someone downvoted this answer, It's a good one. So I am upvoting this to make it equal.
    – Nabil
    Mar 1, 2014 at 2:27
  • am stating what people dont know when the hear it support 4 GB , the think its just ram
    – nux
    Mar 1, 2014 at 2:29

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