whether my system is 32 bit o 64 bit?

[Avi Greenbury]

Linux Tyro wrote:
> Oh I see. But at the page and the options for torrent download at:
> 
> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/alternative-download#bt
> 
> I have two options for 64 bit download (Ubuntu LTS 10.04) and these
> are:
> 
> (i)
> ubuntu-10.04.3-alternate-amd64.iso.torrent<http://releases.ubuntu.com/lucid/ubuntu-10.04.3-alternate-amd64.iso.torrent>
> (ii)
> ubuntu-10.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso.torrent<http://releases.ubuntu.com/lucid/ubuntu-10.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso.torrent>
> 
> However, I was given the links for description, but I am confused
> regarding it. Ok alternate desktop CD means that it is no more like a
> 'live CD' but 'amd64', is the one I have to use as a 'live CD' for 64
> bit INTEL processor (which my system has).....? Or there is another
> link (if it is, please do send me), for only INTEL 64 bit, Live CD
> Ubuntu LTS 10.04.

Aha! Sorry, yes, there's some weirdity surround the names of 386-alike
architectures, and I should have been a bit more specific! In case it
helps, here's a bit of disambiguation:

x86 refers to the <something>86 line of Intel instruction sets
- 386, 486, 586 (pentium) 686 (pentium pro). They're found in
Pentium, Centrino, Celeron, Xeon, Atom processors from Intel
and also AMD's K-series amongst others, and are all 32-bit.

amd64, x86_64, emt64 refer to amd's 64-bit extensions to x86. This is
what most people mean when they say '64-bit'. x64 is sometimes used to
denote this, too, somewhat confusingly. Because this was first found
only on amd processors (since they invented it, and Intel preferred
ia64), this was initially named 'amd64' and that name has stuck in
several places, including Debian and Ubuntu package names.

ia64 - refers to Intel's other 64-bit instruction set which had nothing
to do with the x86 one. It was a joint venture between HP and Intel and
is still generally not found outside of HP servers.


In short, then, if you want a '64 bit' version of Ubuntu, you want the
amd64 one, even if your processor is made by Intel.

-- 
Avi