http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=53249
--- Comment #5 from H.J. Lu <hjl.tools at gmail dot com> 2012-05-06 14:35:26 UTC --- X32 is a 32bit environment for x86-64: https://sites.google.com/site/x32abi/ Since there is no x32 mode in hardware, x32 binaries run in pure 64-bit mode.