What Is I686 in Linux?

The identifier i686 refers, broadly, to a kernel optimized to run an Intel processor using the P6 microarchitecture, commonly associated with the Pentium Pro- and Pentium M-class processors from 1995 and later. … The i686 standard runs a 32-bit operating system.

Do I want i686 or x86_64?

i686 is the 32-bit version, and x86_64 is the 64-bit version of the OS. The 64-bit version will scale with memory better, particularly for workloads like large databases which need to use lots of ram in the same process. … If you’re planning on developing software for large servers, or running large servers, use 64-bit.

Is i686 the same as x86_64?

4 Answers. Technically, i686 is actually a 32-bit instruction set (part of the x86 family line), while x86_64 is a 64-bit instruction set (also referred to as amd64). From the sound of it, you have a 64-bit machine that has 32-bit libraries for backwards compatibility.