OS for AMD64?

I've just taken the 64-bit plunge and put together a new box with an AMD64 CPU (Socket 939 3200+, in a VIA chipset mainboard).  I know I'll be running a free UNIX operating system, but I'm not sure whether to stick with tried-and-true 32-bit or to install a 64-bit OS.  I apologize in advance for the following questions which probably range from naive to utterly stupid (I'm fairly familiar with UNIX and Linux, but I've never even touched an AMD64 machine until now).

 * How does running 32-bit binaries in a 64-bit OS work?  Does one have to jump through hoops or does it Just Work?  I read something on the intarweb (can't even remember what OS it was about) about needing two sets of shared libraries, lib for 32-bit and lib64 for 64-bit versions.  Does this mean every single shared library on the system has two copies installed?

 * What about compiling 32-bit binaries (cross-compiling?)  Can it be done?  Is it straightforward?  I'm thinking here of programs like ZSNES which can't be built AMD64-native because major parts of them are written in IA32 assembly language.  Not to mention all the C code out there where the programmer naively assumed all over the place that that ints and pointers will be 32-bit until the Sun explodes...

 * I hate asking this, but can someone flat-out recommend an OS/distribution?  Is there much to choose from in functionality between different 64-bit Linux distributions, or does it just come down to which package management system one prefers?  I need support for some 32-bit Linux binary-only software (Flash Player and ePSXe); does this eliminate *BSD (Free, Net, Dragonfly) as a choice or not?  I can list my hardware if it's likely to be an issue, but I think it's all pretty standard (the video card, the most common sticking point in these cases, is a low-end Radeon fully supported by XFree86 and DRI)

A geekgirl friend upgraded recently to the AMD64 box much like yours, and had success with Gentoo (albeit 'hmmph, this is little different than a fast 32bit machine, really.. Maybe I should've just got a P4 instead..'). I can report that using the binary Flash plugin works, although it and some other packages that were masked as broken and/or wouldn't compile, she tried my idea of installing the 'plain' 32 bit binary versions.

Aborn!

I'm pretty sure there's a linux distro which utilizes amd64.
Windows however will leave you flat mainly taking advantage of reverse compatibility features (While with some instances of the 64bit cpu this means possible full performance for 32bit, the new features will be going to waste :( ) and well longhorn kind of looks awful.

>>4 Ubuntu is the distro I think.

>>4
it's called vista now. get with the times, caveman.
also, aged a year!

>>6
Nice of you to resurect this dead fucking post

>>4
>>5
And Gentoo and Debian and all the others.

>>8
didn't look at the dates, did you? all the posts before >>6 where dec 2004, and >>6 was someone being a smartass

>>9
Eat my CFLAGS.

>>1
I know I'll be running a free UNIX operating system, but I'm not sure whether to stick with tried-and-true 32-bit or to install a 64-bit OS.
Go for a 64 bit OS. You won't waste extra time, since Unix people have the sick religion of not posting executable code so you have to waste your time compiling, and since you're doing, you can always compile stuff for 64 bits.

How does running 32-bit binaries in a 64-bit OS work?
Perfectly. No emulation or anything happens; as opposed to Intel's failed Itanium architecture, AMD64 processors run 32 and 16 bit code properly and natively.

needing two sets of shared libraries, lib for 32-bit and lib64 for 64-bit versions
Yes, you do. If you use a good distro like SuSE, you'll have most useful libraries installed for both 32 and 64 bits; if you're installing something you can't find OMG compiled, you can (have to, anyways) compile it for 64 bits.

Does this mean every single shared library on the system has two copies installed?
Only if you want to use 32 bits applications, and only the libraries these require. But you might as well throw every fucking library that's precompiled with your distro in, who cares, your time compiling trash and seeing what's needed is far more precious than a 160 GB hard drive, and that way you'll be sure you have everything you'll need to quickly install stuff and hack your way.

What about compiling 32-bit binaries (cross-compiling?)  Can it be done?  Is it straightforward?
Yes, you can use GCC to compile for any platform, including IA32 and AMD64. Just use -m32 or -m64 (default in 64 bit Linux), and throw -march=athlon64 in which doesn't hurt.

Not to mention all the C code out there where the programmer naively assumed all over the place that that ints and pointers will be 32-bit until the Sun explodes...
I don't think this will be a problem, unless programmers were too stupid to use int when they meant long. In fact, int is a pretty useless type you can't make assumptions on so you better use long if you want to deal with how it's stored. (long is still 32 bits and will be 32 bits.) Anyways, if something doesn't work in 64 bits mode, compile it for 32 bits.

I hate asking this, but can someone flat-out recommend an OS/distribution?
I can't recommend as in "Dude! Get this distro lol!", but I can say I had a pretty good experience with SuSE 10 for AMD64.

does it just come down to which package management system one prefers
I suppose this is very important. RPMs are teh shit, but they are enough for what I need to do on Linux; my workstation OS of choice is Windows NT. I've heard Debian has a pretty neat package manager (APT) and you don't have to waste your time so mercilessly compiling crap.


>>2
this is little different than a fast 32bit machine, really.. Maybe I should've just got a P4 instead..
Well, 64 bits aren't magically faster; in fact there's not that much to gain since most integral data we need to handle fits 32 bits perfectly, and for string/chain/multimedia operations we already have 128 bit extensions. Don't get fooled by marketing, PC magazines, and stupid gamers who live on MHz and bits to measure what's good.

But I don't think you should have gotten a Pentium 4. They offer worse performance and less features for the same price, or have a higher price for the same performance and nearly the same features.


>>4
Windows however will leave you flat mainly taking advantage of reverse compatibility features
Just like Linux, 64 bits Windows versions won't be that much faster. However, you can take advantage of 64 bit software that may run a bit faster, like FarCry, if you use it. Oh, and Vista sucks hairy greasy trusted managed monkey balls, I won't move to it until somebody cracks out the shitty treacherous computing and digital rights infringement it has, I'd rather get aids than treacherous computing.


>>7
Oh shit
Now I realize I've tried hard to help >>1 and all the time went to waste :( . Well, I'll post it anyways.

Wow, someone bumped my more-than-a-year-old thread.  I feel special.

DOS DOS DOS

BUMP FOR NO REASON AT ALL!

MAC OS 7.5 WORKS FINE ON X64

hi faggots

http://www.doomcade.com/flash-arcade-game.php?gameid=938

Gentoo has really good support for 64-bit CPU's.  But why would you think the AMD64 is so new?  That shit's been out since like '04.  Not much of a plunge, really.

^ because tidergirect is still selling them as new technology?

>>19
But why would you think the AMD64 is so new?  That shit's been out since like '04.
Name: Anonymous : 2004-12-28 17:51

You're an idiot.

>>21

You're an idiot.

>>21
YHBT (probably)

>>23
wtf iz yhbt?

>>24
64 bit OS that works well with AMD CPU

>>25
That is not true.  I looked up "YHBT", and it means "You Have Been Trolled".  This means that you were trying to trick me, which I don't appreciate.

>>26
Not so: http://sadf.yi.org/YHBT/OS.asm

>>26
Forsooth!! My plans of world domination through tricking people have been foiled once again! And I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for you meddling kids!

>>1

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