We knew 64-bit Linux > Windows, but for those still on 32-bit Linux is even better

[r00t]

I've set out to debunk the long-standing, false myth that 32-bit operating systems are capped at a maximum of 4GB of RAM.

There is nothing stopping 32-bit operating systems from using more than 4gb of RAM. It's true that you can only count so high an address space using 32 bit binary, but processors have had workarounds around this forever, basically using offsets (think how double IEEE 754 floating points work).

What I'm saying is, 32-bit Linux distros can support like 100gb of ram ez pz. Its M$ that artificially caps it at 4gb, so you are forced to buy the more expensive "model".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_GB_ba...n_dependencies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

In computing, Physical Address Extension (PAE) is a feature to allow 32-bit x86 processors to access a physical address space (including random access memory and memory mapped devices) larger than 4 gigabytes.

[...]

First implemented in the Intel Pentium Pro in 1995, it was extended by AMD

[...]

a limit deliberately coded by Microsoft into the "non-server", or "client", x86 editions of Microsoft Windows: Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.

As far as gaming on Linux is concerned:

EQEmu - Silver Rating - http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManage...sion&iId=20308
Diablo III - Platinum Rating - http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManage...tion&iId=13484
Guild Wars 2 - Gold Rating - http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManage...tion&iId=14130
Planetside 2 - Bronze Rating - http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManage...tion&iId=14466
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria - Platinum Rating - http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManage...ation&iId=1922
Star Wars TOR - Silver Rating - http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManage...tion&iId=13553

Wine is not an emulator, it is an imitator (directly linking DirectX calls to OpenGL/SDL/etc counterparts), so you will often find better performance as Linux is much less of a resource hog.


Make the switch today:

http://www.ubuntu.com/
https://www.archlinux.org/
http://fedoraproject.org/
http://www.kali.org/
http://linuxmint.com/

or any of a thousand other, 100% totally free *nix operating systems