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I installed the 64-bit version of Ubuntu 14.04 for the first time, and I think it is heavier than the 32-bit version. While it was installing it got stuck. I tried four times to install.

Is it true that Ubuntu does not get very many updates? Does installing less software and updates help to keep the system running smoothly and fast?

My system has these specs:

  • Intel-E5700 processor
  • ASUS P5G41T-MLX3 motherboard
  • 4 GB RAM

I know it is old and slow. My question is this:

Do I have to change it to 32-bit for my PC to work faster?

Eliah Kagan
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Amarjit Singh Sidhu
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4 Answers4

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64bit is typically faster but does use slightly more RAM. If you are running into a situation where 64bit addressing is using up all your RAM, that could be an argument for using 32bit.

That said, 4GB of RAM is plenty for a typical desktop. Therefore the issue you are seeing is likely nothing to do with the architecture and probably something else (a wonky driver, hardware fault, etc).

And that said, trying 32bit might not hurt. It's monetarily free and the only real cost is the time it takes to download and install. There's no other way to switch between architectures.

Oli
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Having very similar system specs (P5G41M, E5300, 4GB RAM, 1GB GT610 card, 25GB swap partition) I have found that, especially when used for gaming, the 32-bit version of Ubuntu 15.04 runs a bit smoother than the 64-bit, but this is just based on personal observation.

When it comes to updates and drive space, yes, the less you clutter up your hard drive the more efficient your system will be. I have a 500GB hard drive with about 195GB free and am considering upping my storage to 1TB+ in the near future for that reason. Keep in mind, though, that updates are meant not only for feature additions but more often than not are bug fixes which will also help your system run more smoothly.

Eliah Kagan
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In general, if you have enough RAM, 64-bit is preferred. But in some cases it is not true. For instance, I have an old laptop with Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T5450. It supports 64-bit operations. But it appeared that not very well. 32-bit systems run much better with this CPU. Technical details why this happens may be found in the net. But this is applicable only to some old cpu's where 64-bit operations were not made well yet.

Pilot6
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First of all 64-bit is not like 32-bit at all:

  • The 64-bit version is faster and reads all the existing RAM in your computer, ensuring you can use it all.
  • The 32-bit version is not as fast. It reads only up to 3.2 GB of RAM in your computer. So even if you have more it won't be used.

What is difference between 32 bit and 64 bit

About why your PC runs slow:

You may consider your PC not that powerful. So you might want to try Lubuntu or Elementary OS, for example. Such a lightweight derivative will be easier for your PC to run. In particular, they don't feature such a heavy graphical interface, so you don't need as good of a graphics card.

Community
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mohamed salah
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