AMD 64 3500+ Linux Question

[Greg125]

Hello,

I know next to nothing about Linux, but I am trying to learn. I have purchased a book and read several online guides. I am currently trying to install Linux on my computer. I have an AMD 64 3500+ CPU. I have read on a site that this CPU can cause a problem and the solution is to compile a kernel for x86_64. The site included this link http://www.x86-64.org/ . I really have no idea what this means and the linked site did not make it clear. I was wondering what I need to do to get Linux running on my computer and/or what distribution of Linux I need to use that will be compadible with my hardware - I have no preference, but I was hoping to dual boot Linux and Windows, and ease of use is a plus. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

-Greg

[paj12]

You don't need to do anything special to get Linux running. That's the beauty of the Athlon 64. It's fully compatible with all 32-bit software; that's why it can run Windows. Having said that, you will get better performance and more capability out a 64-bit distro of Linux. Some good ones to check out are SuSE (http://www.novell.com/linux/suse/), Debian (http://www.us.debian.org/), and Gentoo (http://www.gentoo.org/). I'm sure there are others, as you will soon discover, but this should be enough to get you started on the path to 64-bit Linux. Good Luck! :)

EDIT: Distrowatch.com (http://distrowatch.com/search.php?category=All&origin=All&basedon=All&desktop=All&architecture=x86_64&status=Active) lists 34 distros with 64-bit support. You should check these out to see if any of them piques your interest.

[saikee]

Well I would suggest you to get hold of a dsitro (a Liniux distribution) that has already been compiled for a 64 bit machine if you are fussy of getting the best performance on the first day you walk into Linux.

Most distros will work just as fine for your 64 bit processor which can run at 32-bit mode by default. I haven't got time to do a investigation on the distro pereformance on the two CPU types but I do have 2 AMD 64-bit and one AMD 32-bit CPUs running Linux.

Try to get one with just one CD or DVD. I know it is a good way of learning GNU/Linux by compiling it but it can be a struggle for a beginner. I bypassed it by installing as many distros as I can (so that I am not stuck with any issue) and the overhelmingly majority don't require me to do it. Got over 30 of them in my box, never had to compile one, don't know how to either but they are bootable with all the DOS and Windows I can put inside. My guess is many experienced Linux users started their lives this way and may not be aware that modern distros seldom require this to be done. One only needs the compiling for putting programs not originally packaged with the distro or update some of its parts.

I am not encouraging people staying from compiling their own kernels but this step is simply not enforced by the majority of the current distos, which can be loaded and run in less than an hour. My view is why don't we let the newcomer use and experiment the system first and let him/her decide to take it futher later when the need arrives.

You should be able to dual boot Linux and Windows in your first installation because Linux does this automatically.

Ease of use? I would say yes but you do need to learn a few commands to get around and have to go back to line editor (no graphic) this sort of things when get stuck. I would say the ease of using a GNU/Linux is because everyting you want to know and understand is available. There isn't an organisation behind hiding the bits to protect its commercial value. It is truly a public system by the people and for the people.

[cybertron]

Hmm, I don't know where you heard that AMD64 processors would cause problems, but unless there's some huge bug in the 32-bit mode on them that I somehow haven't heard about you should have no problem running any Linux distro (well...PPC-based would be a bad choice, but they're not especially common:)). Full 64 bit should be fine in most cases, although last I heard there are still a few things that don't work like Flash and some video codecs. It's possible that has changed since XP 64-bit was released and some of the proprietary folks may have released 64-bit compatible versions of their stuff. For choosing your distro I recommend that you read about them a bit on Distrowatch and pick one that sounds interesting. Give it a go and if you don't like it try a different one. Choice is one of the more beautiful things about Linux.

Mind you, I don't have a 64-bit processor yet so anything I'm saying related to it is all second hand. YMMV.:)