Ubuntu – Is the processor 64 or 32 bit

X64, amd64 and x86-64 are names for the same processor type. It's often called amd64 because AMD came up with it initially. All current general-public 64-bit desktops and servers have an amd64 processor.

There is a processor type called IA-64 or Itanium. It's only found in supercomputers and a few high-end servers.

A 64-bit processor can run a 32-bit system, so you have a choice of installing the amd64 version or the i386 version. Here are a few points of comparison:

• A few years ago, some programs had bugs when compiled for 64-bit processors, but that's mostly a thing of the past.

• You can run 32-bit programs on a 64-bit system; the converse is not true.

• A 32-bit kernel can access more than 4GB of RAM, so having more than 4GB of RAM is not a compelling reason to run a 64-bit kernel. On the other hand, a 32-bit program can only access less about 3GB of memory.

• Which one is faster depends on the application (number crunching can be more than twice as fast in 64-bit mode, while symbolic manipulation can be more than twice as slow).

If in doubt, on an amd64-capable processor, use an amd64 distribution.

There are no big performance differences between 64 bit and 32 bit in Ubuntu. I tried both for years now. Let me point to the actual PROS and CONS for the 64 bit since you have been in the 32 bit already:

64 bit PROS:

• Support for more than 4 GB RAM (without any kernel modifications, 32 bit PAE support, etc..) The sucker supports more than 1 TB.

• Gives performance boosts ONLY if you are doing some very intense work that needs more than 4 GB Ram. Am not talking about playing, watching videos or listening to music. Am talking about server with a million users, rendering shrek 7 christmas edition or something very big like making a 3D version of the galaxy.... from scratch.

64 bit CONS:

• In the past (2012 or less) a whole bunch of programs had issues. For example flash (even the 64 bit version) had some glitches and more. If you thought you had issues with 32 Bit on those times, changing to 64 bit increased your chances of having more. For me it was a nightmare on PC street. This obviously changed and it changed very quickly. Since 13.04 I would say, 64 bit got much more stable, easier to work with and it was very hard to get a 64 bit problem. On 13.10 I did not have any issues whatsoever. Now on 14.04 it is more recommend than ever before to move to 64 bit but only if you have the following hardware:

  • Have a PC with 4 GB or more of RAM
  • Have a motherboard that supports 64 bit (Most motherboards after around 2005 do)
  • Have a CPU that supports 64 bit (Most CPUs after around 2004 do)

• Recommended for the average user that has 4 GB or RAM or more and hardware that supports 64 bit architecture. There are many issues still in the 32 bit that will get even bigger in the 64 bit one. Apart from that 64 bit is still very new (Even if it came out around 2000) but the majority of the programs made (Even today) are mostly for 32 bit.. Nowadays, 64 bit is the best move. When I wrote this answer it was January 2011. We are now in April 2014 and I can really say that 64 bit is much better than 32 bit in terms of performance, stability and more. Of course, the need for a program to use even close to 4 GB is not yet a big problem and the real need to use more than that applies to intense apps.

Test out 32 bit if you want but if you have a computer with enough RAM, CPU and a good motherboard (From 2005+) then I would really recommend 64 bit for you.

Hope to have helped.