If you're an NVIDIA user still on 32bit, you might want to think about finally updating as this month NVIDIA will be moving to only providing critical security updates for 32bit systems.
Not exactly surprising, as everything is gradually going 64bit. Our own user survey suggests a minuscule amount of people still on 32bit, with only 3 out of 2493 people telling us they're still lingering on 32bit.
In regards to security updates for their drivers, you have until January 2019.
See the official note from NVIDIA here.
On top of that, NVIDIA is also dropping their support for the Fermi series (GeForce 400/500) this month, with security updates also going on until January 2019. More on that here. This means, eventually, those on Fermi cards will be depending on the Nouveau open source drivers.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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To be honest I think most of the linux users are on 64bit, hell I switched to 64 bit 2004/5 irrc.
I am one of those that think that 32bit should haven passed long ago.
As for dropping fermi support, they need to draw line somewhere .
I am one of those that think that 32bit should haven passed long ago.
As for dropping fermi support, they need to draw line somewhere .
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Mountain Man Apr 9, 2018
Anybody running a 32-bit OS in 2018 probably doesn't have the hardware capable of running any game released in the past few years anyway.
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buckysrevenge Apr 9, 2018
Anybody running a 32-bit OS in 2018 probably doesn't have the hardware capable of running any game released in the past few years anyway.
I have a 6-7 yo netbook as a media server which theoretically should be able to run 64-bit, but the xubuntu USB install kept locking up on boot, so I stuck to 32 rather than bother investigating. Regardless, I don't think it could decently run some 2D games from its own time even. And it's an Intel graphics chip anyway.
Last edited by buckysrevenge on 9 April 2018 at 4:49 pm UTC
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Though I would be very curious if anyone is running a 32bit (hardware) system with nvidia graphics, what are the reasons they're doing so.My laptop is 64-bit and currently my main computer. But my desktop is still 32-bit.
The reason is simple: No money.
Or rather, the household always seems to have a higher priority money-wise. Sigh. I have a number of games that are sort of sitting there in Steamspace waiting for me to be able to get a more current computer.
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 9 April 2018 at 6:08 pm UTC
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ElectricPrism Apr 9, 2018
security updates
It's difficult to wrap my brain around the idea that graphics are a serious entry point for security issues.
This is also another reason why closed-source video drivers are shitty -- because if the code was open then users could build it themselves.
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The most insane thing is that Steam is still 32-bits and a lot of games as well. That was a hard realization when I had to build all the 32 bit libraries that they depended on when disabling STEAM_RUNTIME on Gentoo.
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The most insane thing is that Steam is still 32-bits and a lot of games as well. That was a hard realization when I had to build all the 32 bit libraries that they depended on when disabling STEAM_RUNTIME on Gentoo.Yeah, though I doubt it will remain like that for very long.
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Anybody running a 32-bit OS in 2018 probably doesn't have the hardware capable of running any game released in the past few years anyway.Exactly. I'm less bothered by this than distros dropping 32-bit support. An old 32-bit machine can still be perfectly servicable for some uses, but none of them involves a recent video card running on the latest proprietary drivers.
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stretch611 Apr 9, 2018
I have a 12 year old linux system. It has an old Single Core AMD Sempron Processor and integrated graphics. Even it is running mint18-64 bit. With 2GB of total memory, it still has the power to run the latest version of Kodi even with 1080p resolution. (admittedly, that is all I have it do.)
Even a cheap 12 year old processor can do 64-bit... Very little reason not to be on 64-bit on linux.
Even a cheap 12 year old processor can do 64-bit... Very little reason not to be on 64-bit on linux.
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TheRiddick Apr 10, 2018
People running 32bit systems really shouldn't need to update drivers and such at this stage anyway., just basic software stuff you use.
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Anybody running a 32-bit OS in 2018 probably doesn't have the hardware capable of running any game released in the past few years anyway.
My netbook was not capable of running pretty much anything even in its prime in 2010 (32-bit only Intel Atom N270, Intel GMA 945). Still, not worth replacing it with something recent due to its purpose (PDF presentations, lectures).
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Almost nobody is running 32bit systems any more. Especially not gamers. Even on Windows, where people are less.. enthusiastic about tech, less than 2% are left using 32bit systems (according to Steam hwsurvey). Quite simply, Steam could afford to lose a handful of people.The most insane thing is that Steam is still 32-bits and a lot of games as well. That was a hard realization when I had to build all the 32 bit libraries that they depended on when disabling STEAM_RUNTIME on Gentoo.Yeah, though I doubt it will remain like that for very long.
If Steam don't support 32bit, then those people who are using a 32bit system might suddenly stop having access to their game library. Not updating 32bit Steam then might hold back 64bit updates lest they break something. It's a tricky situation they've backed themselves into really.
And if they did the change, I'm certain most users on a 32bit system would simply upgrade anyway. What else would they do, not play any more games? It's not like there is a real alternative to Steam around.
Honestly, there is no reason to stick with 32bit systems any more other than "no need to upgrade" or old hardware.
It's been known since many years that 32bit won't be lasting too much longer any more, not getting newer software, etc.
At some point, people who still stick to their old stuff just have themselves to blame and developers should NOT hold back because of them.
And if someone, for some reason, is still bound to some ages old 32bit software, well - there are always VMs.
Last edited by TheSHEEEP on 10 April 2018 at 6:55 am UTC
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I have a 12 year old linux system. It has an old Single Core AMD Sempron Processor and integrated graphics. Even it is running mint18-64 bit. With 2GB of total memory, it still has the power to run the latest version of Kodi even with 1080p resolution. (admittedly, that is all I have it do.)
Even a cheap 12 year old processor can do 64-bit... Very little reason not to be on 64-bit on linux.
Agreed. My moms Youtube laptop Thinkpad R500 ( Core 2 Duo , 2 gb ram ) runs on Lubuntu 64 bit.
Even some browsers dropped support for 32 bit.
On Intel side , even Pentium 4's are supports 64 bit. On Amd , probably processors from Athlon XP era supports it too.
There is no point of insisting at 32 bit.
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Almost nobody is running 32bit systems any more. Especially not gamers. Even on Windows, where people are less.. enthusiastic about tech, less than 2% are left using 32bit systems (according to Steam hwsurvey). Quite simply, Steam could afford to lose a handful of people.The most insane thing is that Steam is still 32-bits and a lot of games as well. That was a hard realization when I had to build all the 32 bit libraries that they depended on when disabling STEAM_RUNTIME on Gentoo.Yeah, though I doubt it will remain like that for very long.
If Steam don't support 32bit, then those people who are using a 32bit system might suddenly stop having access to their game library. Not updating 32bit Steam then might hold back 64bit updates lest they break something. It's a tricky situation they've backed themselves into really.
And if they did the change, I'm certain most users on a 32bit system would simply upgrade anyway. What else would they do, not play any more games? It's not like there is a real alternative to Steam around.
Honestly, there is no reason to stick with 32bit systems any more other than "no need to upgrade" or old hardware.
It's been known since many years that 32bit won't be lasting too much longer any more, not getting newer software, etc.
At some point, people who still stick to their old stuff just have themselves to blame and developers should NOT hold back because of them.
And if someone, for some reason, is still bound to some ages old 32bit software, well - there are always VMs.
Some people can't afford to update their hardware. I guess they're to blame and should lose access to their game library?
No, if they bought a game, then they have that game. It's not a rental. There are still plenty of Windows XP installs out there too.
Don't mind no further updates, but telling people their system is now too old so no more old games is wrong. No matter if it's one person, 1%, or 90% of the userbase.
At least with drivers the OS doesn't need updates to continue working - a frozen snapshot will do. I would hope Valve allow the same if they ever switch away from 32bit.
While true , corporations and FOSS projects think differently.
For a FOSS project people can always keep support for legacy tech or fork and make something dedicated for legacy devices.
Corporations usually don't care for the minority of their users. Update the EULA and drop support for the legacy people. It's not fair but it is how business usually runs.
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Some people can't afford to update their hardware. I guess they're to blame and should lose access to their game library?:lol:
Oh, please. What comes next? Starving children in Africa?
It's not like we're talking about having to buy high-end machines for 1.5k €...
Pretty much everything you can buy today for pretty cheap is 64bit.
No matter if it's one person, 1%, or 90% of the userbase.Yes, that does matter very much.
The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. And that includes the need to advance in software, and not be stuck in the past.
Far more people are bothered by Steam being 32bit with all the negative consequences that has than those who would be bothered by having to upgrade to 64bit. And this is not only a linux problem, it affects Windows, too.
Don't mind no further updates, but telling people their system is now too old so no more old games is wrong.That I agree with. No reason not to offer an old version as long as it can deal with the current backend APIs, etc.
...
At least with drivers the OS doesn't need updates to continue working - a frozen snapshot will do. I would hope Valve allow the same if they ever switch away from 32bit.
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thelimeydragon Apr 10, 2018
How will this work for using/playing old 32-bit games that require 32-bit graphics libraries.
Whenever I install the 64-bit Nvidia driver it always asks if I want to install the 32-bit libraries along side it. Which I say yes to, as I need it for older games.
Or just have to use the open-source drivers
Whenever I install the 64-bit Nvidia driver it always asks if I want to install the 32-bit libraries along side it. Which I say yes to, as I need it for older games.
Or just have to use the open-source drivers
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Whenever I install the 64-bit Nvidia driver it always asks if I want to install the 32-bit libraries along side it. Which I say yes to, as I need it for older games.Nvidia is dropping support of their drivers for 32bit systems, so it is either older versions or open source drivers.
Or just have to use the open-source drivers
Especially for older graphics cards and games, I think open source drivers are already quite usable.
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:lol:
Oh, please. What comes next? Starving children in Africa?
It's not like we're talking about having to buy high-end machines for 1.5k €...
Pretty much everything you can buy today for pretty cheap is 64bit.
You're aware there's people who do not have money for anything except the essential?
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