Upgrading BIOS from 32bits to 64bits

[JesusLinux]

Hello everybody!
I am willing to attempt an upgrade BIOS from 32 to 64 bits on my laptop, question is, is it worth it?
Recently I've noticed some instability in linux lite (is starting to crash often) using youtube, vlc etc.
My laptop is ancient, however the CPU is 64bits capable (so I was told) but is running on 32 bits.
I want to change it to 64 bits an make a clean install of the latest linuxlite 64 bits version using USB boot.
Also want to upgrade from 1gb ram to 4 gb ram.
This laptop is used for watching movies on vlc, surf the web, and play games using Lakka.

Is it worth doing this?
I like this laptop because it's built like a brick so I can carry it to work and so.
Here are the main specs of my system:

Model: Toshiba Satellite L40-15G

Reference: PSL48E-01T00GPT

Technology/Processor: Mobile Technology Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core 2310, (1.46 GHz), 533 Mhz Front Side Bus, 1 MB level 2 cache, Intel® GL960 chipset

Monitor: 15.4" WXGA panoramic TFT

Internal Video Mode: 16.7 million colours, resolution 1280x800

Hard Disk: S.M.A.R.T. 80 GB, SATA (5400rpm), Enhanced IDE

Memory: 512+512 MB DDR2 (667Mhz) RAM, expandable to 3072 MB/4096 MB

Graphics: Adapter Intel® GMA X3100 (up to 256MB shared)

Thanks for any opinions/help on this.

[Moltke]

Hi [member=6801]JesusLinux[/member]

You might want to read here https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BIOSUpdate and here https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Fla...from_Linux

I am willing to attempt an upgrade BIOS from 32 to 64 bits on my laptop, question is, is it worth it?

  I'd say yes. It'll allow you to increase RAM limit and I believe hard disk size capacity limit too.

Hope this helps!

[The Repairman]

8)

[JesusLinux]

Thanks for the above answers!
The thing is I'm not experienced doing this kind o procedure so I'm afraid of messing it up.

On Toshiba forums some people say this laptop can only take 3gb (2+1) even with 64bits bios, others say that's the max
Ram a 32bits bios can handle, but upgrading to 64bits can handle more thus the 4gb (2+2).

Searching intel's info on the chipset it says it can handle 64bits...

Will the LinuxLite 64bits OS recognizes the extra ram even if the bios is 32bits?

It all so confusing...

[The Repairman]

8)

[tek10]

I second the suggestion to just upgrade the memory and install 64 bit LL. Don't upgrade the BIOS unless necessary.

[Moltke]

If this one https://ark.intel.com/products/32431/Int...33-MHz-FSB  is the same CPU you have it does states there that it supports 64 bit instructions, so as others have already suggested you could try installing a 64 bit OS and see how it goes.

[JesusLinux]

Do you guys suggest upgrading the RAM first and then installing a fresh/latest version (usb boot) of LL 64bits, or installing LL 64 bits first and then do the RAM upgrade?

[The Repairman]

8)

[tek10]

What The Repaiman said.