Computer with more than 4 gb of RAM

[MobiNuX]

I have heard that 32bit Computer with more than 4 gb of RAM is useless. Is it correct? A system with more than 4GB of RAM must only be used with 64 bit system, Is that correct? So according to this theory, now a days all the new computers come with 3-4 GB RAM, So 32 bit processors will disappear and all the machines will be 64 bit?

[FaMe FacToR]

Theoretically, it is true, because 2^32 = 4294967296 byte [4 GB]. But with 64-bit, 2^64, that makes 18446744073709551616 bytes [17179869184 GB]. It's impressive. I do not even know if this is feasible, even in super-computers and mainframe computers. But that is true and this is all that matters...

[Noverism]

The 32-bit processors are already very rare on the machines, even the work stations at office which are 5 years old already had AMD processors like 64 Atlhon. Notably, a 32-bit operating system works very well on a 64-bit and the proof is those who have not give up their Windows XP or those who did not want to switch to Linux 64 bit towards incompatibilities of softwares. More and more developers trying to make their programs 64 bit over the 32-bit and I think it will continue. Besides, I did not hesitate to bother to install 64-bit Linux because the softwares are not yet well compatible but this is changing, I hope that the applications I use at work will be developed for the 64-bit OS...

[Bracken]

The 32bit PAE kernel can actually allocate "slices" of 4GB. Basically it adds on an address above and you can allocate several slices of 4GB but only by software, so each program can use that to 4GB max and your overall go further can only be used if you use multiple applications. However as has been stated above, 64bit processors have been around a while, so at present apart from the intel provided for the netbook or small processors built (I think intel Atom), all processors are 64bit processors. And given that 64bit few problems right now (we can say that 99% of problems are solved, there remains the problem of drivers who do not switch to 64bit because the manufacturer does not move and to gain perfection in some areas, there is no interest at this time to stay at 32bit Linux...