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Is there any real advantage to using either 32 bit or 64 bit binaries on a 64 bit CPU? For most programs, not really, mostly since very few folks have anywhere near 32 bits worth (let alone more) of real memory. Yeah... you can write larger programs with 64 bit binaries, but without the real memory to run 'em in, most large programs (even 32 bit ones) grow right up to the point were they exceed available memory, start swapping and then sloooow waaaaaaaaaaay dowwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
Having just switched from a 32 bit kernel and apps to a 64 bit kernel and apps on the same hardware (Core 2 Duo E6600) that the machine seemed a bit more responsive than previously. I wasn't looking for an improvement, just noticed that it was all a bit "snappier" than before. Apps load a little faster, machine seems a little more responsive.
This was totally unexpected, but a nice surprise. Regards, Langdon