32bit vs 64 bit

Is 64 bit better than 32 bit. I just installed Ubuntu 9.04 64 bit and I got all my drivers working in 2 minutes. So far I haven't noticed any speed changes from ubuntu 32 bit.
According to this site, http://www.tuxradar.com/content/ubuntu-904-32-bit-vs-64-bit-benchmarks , 64 bit is just as stable and pretty much doesn't have much of a speed difference. I would be fine with 64 bit but are games and programs as compatible with 64 bit as 32 bit? Ima run some games on this and see how it goes. But do you guys think 64 bit is better or worse or the same as 32 bit and why?

look below me

First off, there's hardly any 64bit programs and games out there. The industry as a whole is being lazy and is still writing 32bit programs. Why? No clue. They should be doing 64bit, but they're too slow to adopt new standards I guess. Too set in their old, wrinkly, cranky ways to change.

As far as the difference between 32bit and 64bit goes, since most of your programs are 32bit, you won't notice a speed difference. Installing Ubuntu x64 doesn't mean that every single thing that gets packaged along with it is also 64bit. For example: Firefox, Pidgin, and uh... yeah other stuff.. it's all 32bit. So you have a 64bit OS running 32bit programs. Of course it'll seem the same speed

If people start putting out 64bit programs more, you might see a little bit of a speed improvement, but probably only in benchmarks. Computers are pretty darn fast already.

If you want to really understand the difference between 32bit and 64bit OSes, read on.

WARNING: Loads of technical jargon follows. Do not continue reading if you are feint of heart, weak in the knees, or deficient in the brain cavity.

So, x86 vs x64 really is all about the registers (EAX, EBX, AH, AL, etc.) The registers inside the cpu are where bits and bytes and chomps and chews and mouthfuls and beyond are stored for performing calculations. Traditional registers have 32 bits of space in them, and all processor calculations must take that into account and not perform any operations that would cause an overflow. If your cpu is an x64 cpu, that means its registers are 64 bits long. It can crunch larger amounts of data. Just because it can, however, doesn't mean it does. A 32bit OS isn't going to send any 64bit calculations to the cpu. Neither will a 32bit program. By and large, 64bit cpu's are underutilized at present.

Thank you Wonko, for that... insight.

64 vs. 32 is inconcequential until they actually start developing more 64bit programs... Most computers, as I'm aware, are still packaged with 32bit, and only a few make use of 64bit. I know Vista has 2 versions: 32 and 64bit, and it sounds as though other operating software does as well, but I think the differences are mostly in name at the moment...

Ah well, maybe when Windows 7 comes along, they'll do more 64bit programming...

So pretty much 32 bit would be better to use because there are more programs out there for 32bit and not everyone is compatible with 64 bit? I tried installing flash for firefox and they didnt have a 64 bit .deb so i had to download a .so and put it in my plugins folder for firefox.

Hmm.. Well I always trust Wonko's judgement. You do also need a CPU that is powerful enough for a 64 bit. Quite franky I think at this point in time 64 is useless, there is not enough in the market to support it, maybe in the future but right at this moment it is really not a big deal, and to talk plainly 32 is not much different from 64.

In another section off the topic at hand. I have many games that don't work now because it either does not like the operating system, and it is too fast to run it. It happens..

Not really forward to the point , I just wanted to throw that in though.

Good luck dude.

Well yeh my CPU is 64 bit. I'm pretty sure that 64 bit wine has 32 bit support for games. Almost every new CPU out that is 64 bit, but most computers come with 32 bit version of their OS.

Most 64bit OSes run 32bit programs just fine. I say, if you have a 64bit cpu, run a 64bit OS and get as much 64bit stuff as you can. The only way programmers will start compiling their programs in 64bit mode is if we all start demanding 64bit stuff. Whatever you can't get in 64bit then just use the regular old 32bit program instead.

There's no downside to using a 64bit OS other than having to find 64bit drivers for everything. If you're using Ubuntu or a Mac, this is all taken care of for you. It's only Windows that is a pain still.

Ahh, alright cool. I shall stick with Ubuntu 64 bit.
PS. My #100 post I think i should make it special!
<---Me

Wonko is right, bigger is not always better (could put a perocative phrase in there lol) They come up with what is meant to be the best and tell people 'They need it' when they don't always unless you have the up to date hardware and Is it nessisary to run that particular program and or game for the upgrade?

It all boils down to , If it's really worth it in the end, I can afford tp buy the best but what's the point in buying just souly because you can? I am not saying you shouldn't just look at the speacktrum and see If it's really worth it..