I just shut down my lone 32 bit linux machine (P4). Everything left is Mac or Windows (and a PS3). I am considering converting one of my Athlon 64 X2 windows machines to Linux. I'm trying to sort out the pros and cons, and if so, 32 or 64 bit.

Staying with Windows: I can participate in every project except for WEP-M+2 Project, and maybe Orbit. I also have PPC/OSX machines, so I can still crunch for WEP-M+2 Project.

Linux 32 bit: Can add WEP-M+2 Project, but lose out on DepSpid, Spinhenge, PrimeGrid, uFluids, Proteins, and Nano-Hive. Not very attractive.

Linux 64 bit: Lose the same Windows-only projects above. But you can still run many/most 32 bit linux projects using the anonymous platform, but some are just not available.

Here's the big question in my mind. Of the native 64-bit projects (below), do any of them provide a significant performance improvement? I know ABC does. Do any of the others? And how much?

SIMAP (Linux)
Chess960 (Linux)
ABC (Linux)
ABC ß
Predictor (Linux)
RieselSieve (Linux: Sieve)
Leiden (Linux)
APS (Linux)
Cosmology (Linux)

The performance increasement is about 5 to 15 % on the most projects. The performance increasement depends on the architecture and the application primary.


You forgott SETI. There are several 64 Applications for several 64 Bit OSes (Linux on x86_64, Alpha, Power, IA64, HPPA,...), *BSD, HP-UX, SPARC, IRIX,...) applications availavle via the BOINC third party page (boinc.berkeley.edu/download_other.php).


You could also have an 32 bit BOINC client installed and download the 64 bit applications manualy and place an app_info.xml in the projects folder to use the 64 bit applications. This is also posible with a 64 Bit BOINC client and a 32 bit app_info.xml for the projects which has only 32 bit applications.
You need also install the 32 bit compat libs do do this. - I recommend you to install these libs.

So far I know, is in the new BOINC server and client source a feature for the fall back feature included. If your 64 bit client did not find a application, the server will send out a 32 bit application. - Some projects did not support this feature in the moment, because they use older versions. - You will also need the 32 bit compat libs to use this feature.

Funny, I'm going the other way... shutting down my WinXP 32b crunchers and converting them to Xubuntu 64b.

I don't run WEP-M, DepSpid or PrimeGrid. Proteins and Nano have no work. Spinhenge is a loss but not one of my "biggies".

Starting with boinc v5.8.x and some version of the server code projects should send 32b app when no 64b app is available automajically. The only one I see that this does not appear to work on is SDG.

Here's what I've got running today on Xubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy) 64b:
Proven to work now (with IA32 and stdc++ v5 added):
ABC (64bit integer math based, should run substantially faster with 64b OS/BOINC/APP)
QMC
SETI
Rsieve
WCG
E@H
Malaria Control
SIMAP
Leiden
Rosetta
RCN
LHC
CPDN

Assume to be working, need new WU to test:
Pirates
Predictor
APS (64bit integer math based, should run substantially faster with 64b OS/BOINC/APP)
ORBIT

Not expected to work (either only Windows or Linux in beta testing):
uFluids
Spinhenge (linux in beta)
NanoHive
SZTAKI (SDG, 32bit Linux only, confirmed, server upgrade needed?)



I've read ABC runs up to 92% faster / same credits. Claims are that APS has same app based on 64bit integer math and should see same. Haven't run ABC 64b long enough to prove this out yet.

Other than that what I've read is roughly what Dotsch said. But I think those numbers are based on Linux 32b to 64b and Win 32b to 64b. Not win 32b to Linux 64b which is what what most of my ongoing conversions are.

? That is the same way.