kernel upgrade?

[docnascar]

I am currently running kernel-2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs,  I'm actually wondering if that is the correct one considering my processor is a single core 2.4G AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3800+. I just realized the notes say that is for a i686 proc.

Should I upgrade to 3.2.18 and if yes than which one?

[agmg]

You can install the new kernel alongside your current one. If you have more than 4GB of RAM, you should go for a .pae kernel to fully utilize that amount of memory. If you have less RAM, a normal kernel (i.e. 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs) is the right for you.

Go to Synaptic and search for the kernel. Install it as you would install any other package.
Reboot and the new kernel will be the default. Older kernel will also appear in your boot menu, so if anything goes wrong, you can boot with it.
Give the new kernel a little time on the first boot to build dynamic kernel drivers. On next boot, loading time will be back to normal.

[docnascar]

Since I have an older AMD (single core 2.4G AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3800+) should I use "3.2.18-pclos2.a64" vs "3.2.18-pclos2.bfs"?

My pc has 500mb of ram.

[µT6]

the kernel used depends on what hardware you have, if something is not detected or works partially and you think that a new kernel could help, you can install a newer kernel

having a single core cpu has no influence over the kernel you use afik, at least with recent kernels

in your particular case where your cpu is a amd capable of 64 bit, the a64 kernel could make your system a little bit faster, it also works for other cpus but most people just select the .pae kernel to use more than 4 gbs of ram when required

in your hardware you can use 2.6.38.8 bfs or a64, also 3.2.18 bfs or a64, also pae but you say you have only 500 mbs of ram, considerably low amount of ram

keep the older, working kernel and install a couple more kernels, each time you boot a new kernel, it will take a couple minutes to configure and detect things, this is normal, you can install multiple kernels, 5 or 6, maybe more but try less while you run tests

if you see the a64 is good for you and all is ok, system stable then keep it, if not, try another until you see one you can use confortably

i am using on a similar cpu kernel 3.2.18 a64 with good results, in my netbook i'm using 2.6.38.8 a64 for some power management problems with newer kernel

[docnascar]

-Correction. My memory is 1.5Gb.

I'll give the kernels a try. Thanks for the tips.

[kjpetrie]

PCLinuxOS is a 32-bit system. Therefore its kernels are compiled for i686. Perversely, its other packages are all compiled for i586, and I've never been successful in pointing out the logical inconsistency. It seems some people are prepared to rebuild the kernel for i586 but not the GNU and applications. Someone on this forum recently downloaded an i486 driver for an Epson printer and reported it worked fine.

Whatever kernel you install it will always see your hardware as i686, until the 64-bit version of pclos comes out. There is one in testing but it's not quite complete yet, and it's not clear how much more needs to be added before it's considered ready for use. It works well for most things and I'm typing from it now!