Linux | Arch Gentoo or Slackware - Overclock.net

hoth17 · 10-20-09

What strengths do each of these have?

I have been using Unbuntu and Fedora, and am ready for something a bit more in depth. but I need an OS i can still use as my main os with out too much grief.

thanks

thiussat · 10-20-09

Arch and Gentoo have the same philosophy except Arch is binary and Gentoo is source based. This means Gentoo can be optimized for specific CPU architectures much better than Arch, though both focus on letting the user build his OS from the ground up. I recently switched my main rig back to Gentoo and am seeing a noticeable speed increase over Kubuntu. This is because I have set compiler flags to optimize the code for my CPU.

SLackware is the oldest Linux distro and is similar to Gentoo in that it is source based (though its purpose is different from gentoo). However, imo, it's package management leaves much to be desired.

hoth17 · 10-20-09

okay, I have decided to do a triple boot with (gentoo, fedora and windows 7)
gentoo to learn more about linux (sounds like i won't have it up and running by tomorrow)
fedora (as my main os until I figure out gentoo)
win 7 for games

does that sound about right?

Jimi · 10-20-09

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/...Arch_vs_Gentoo
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/...h_vs_Slackware

hoth17 · 10-20-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimi

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/...Arch_vs_Gentoo
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/...h_vs_Slackware

didn't realize there were wiki's on exactly what I was asking for. thanks.

but i'm also looking for some 1st hand experience. I have googled it and learned some, but I wanted a final opinion before I installed (though I plan to try all of them eventually)

nathris · 10-20-09

You'd be better off with Arch. Its extremely customizable and minimal, but pretty much everything you need is quickly available off of AUR.

The speed increase over Fedora and Windows 7 is so great that when you go back it will feel like the OS is running on a P4 with 512mb ram

Oh and based on my own experience you would be better off going with 32bit. You're losing a bit of ram, but Arch 64bit doesn't come with any 32bit libs by default, and I found that even after I installed the required ones I still had some compatibility issues. For everyday use you aren't going to notice a difference between ~3.5GB and 4GB anyway.

logo199 · 10-20-09

i have arch running in VMware, I like it, good learning experience

chemicalfan · 4 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathris

You'd be better off with Arch. Its extremely customizable and minimal, but pretty much everything you need is quickly available off of AUR.

The speed increase over Fedora and Windows 7 is so great that when you go back it will feel like the OS is running on a P4 with 512mb ram

Oh and based on my own experience you would be better off going with 32bit. You're losing a bit of ram, but Arch 64bit doesn't come with any 32bit libs by default, and I found that even after I installed the required ones I still had some compatibility issues. For everyday use you aren't going to notice a difference between ~3.5GB and 4GB anyway.

I'd disagree with the 32bit point - just because Arch doesn't have the libs sorted under 64bit, doesn't mean all distros do. Plus, you may not even need 32bit libs if all the packages you need have a native x64 version.

Plus, with Gentoo, you'd have to be mad not to go x64 - you can compile your own x64 versions of stuff! It won't always make a performance difference, but for some stuff it will, so it's worth it

nathris · 4 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by chemicalfan

I'd disagree with the 32bit point - just because Arch doesn't have the libs sorted under 64bit, doesn't mean all distros do. Plus, you may not even need 32bit libs if all the packages you need have a native x64 version.

Plus, with Gentoo, you'd have to be mad not to go x64 - you can compile your own x64 versions of stuff! It won't always make a performance difference, but for some stuff it will, so it's worth it

I'm just saying, based on my own experiences, I had issues.

And there is no advantage to going 64bit over 32bit if you aren't going to use more than 3.5GB. It actually increases the overhead, which ever so slightly decreases performance.

I went 64bit because on occasion I will use all of my 4GB, either through gaming or LinX, but he isn't going to be gaming on the distro, so I highly doubt he will use over 3GB just doing basic tasks.

Prolog · 4 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathris

And there is no advantage to going 64bit over 32bit if you aren't going to use more than 3.5GB. It actually increases the overhead, which ever so slightly decreases performance.

32bit distros can use 64gb worth of ram via PAE.

10-20-09	#7 (permalink)
logo199 cough Stock cough Join Date: May 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,187 Rep: 97 Unique Rep: 87 Trader Rating: 0	i have arch running in VMware, I like it, good learning experience __________________ avatar by MaKaVeLi They can, unless their processors are designed by ninjas, who only CHOOSE to obey the laws of physics when they want to. Ask a ninja, it's true. -voice Complaining about SLi and 3DMark scores is about as useless here as complaining about the towing capacity of a Ferrari Enzo. -MNiceGuy Bring her flowers, take her out to a fancy dinner, and then pop the question, "Will you buy me a video card?" -RussianGrimmReaper **I realize that buckets of people don't like steam...they view it as communism in the sense that it works well in theory* but not reality... -x7337H***

		Overclock.net - Overclocking.net > Software, Programming and Coding > Operating Systems > Linux, Unix
Linux \| Arch Gentoo or Slackware

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)