NVIDIA dropping support for 32bit Linux this month, also dropping Fermi series support

People running 32bit systems really shouldn't need to update drivers and such at this stage anyway., just basic software stuff you use.

Quoting: Mountain ManAnybody 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).

Quoting: Guest

Quoting: TheSHEEEP

Quoting: AzPThe 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.

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.
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

Quoting: stretch611I 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.

Quoting: Guest

Quoting: TheSHEEEP

Quoting: Guest

Quoting: TheSHEEEP

Quoting: AzPThe 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.

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.
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.

Quoting: GuestSome 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.

Quoting: GuestNo 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.

Quoting: GuestDon't mind no further updates, but telling people their system is now too old so no more old games is wrong.
...
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.

That I agree with. No reason not to offer an old version as long as it can deal with the current backend APIs, etc.

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

Quoting: thelimeydragonWhenever 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

Nvidia is dropping support of their drivers for 32bit systems, so it is either older versions or open source drivers.
Especially for older graphics cards and games, I think open source drivers are already quite usable.

Quoting: TheSHEEEP: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?

Quoting: GuestAnd no i'm not going to listen to the "everything should be 64 bit" argument.

Well, when you're saying upfront you're not listening...

Quoting: GuestNo you do not "just recompile to 64 bit".

Sure. But 64 bits are a thing for way over a decade now.