Hardware for 64-bit XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter David Wilkinson
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David Wilkinson

I am a software developer, and I want to put together an inexpensive
multi-boot test machine that will

1. Use two processors on multi-threaded programs
2. Run 64-bit OS
3. Run Vista with Aero Glass

I don't really care about performance, or peripherals, or software
compatibility (except mine!).

I'm looking at Dell Dimension 5150, which has Pentium D (dual core)
processor (which is EMT64-enabled). Do I also need to worry about
motherboard/BIOS issues if I want to use 64-bit XP on this machine?

TIA,

David Wilkinson
 
Wesley said:
System requirements for Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/facts/sysreq.mspx
Click to expand...

Wesley:

Thanks. According to this link, Dell 5150 should run XP64 Professional
because it has a Pentium D processor with Intel EM64T support.

What worries me is this: If this computer can support XP64 Professional,
why does Dell not offer this OS (it doesn't). Nor does it list the 5150
among the 64-bit ready models (only the Precision workstation is listed).

Clearly Dell is using the Pentium D processor in this machine for its
dual core features, not for its 64-bit features. So is it possible that
the machine as a whole is not 64-bit capable? That is my question.

David Wilkinson
 
Ask Dell, David.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
Good luck, David, and keep having fun! ;-)

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
: Ask Dell, David.
:
: --
: Hope this helps. Let us know.
:
: Wes
: MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
:
: In : David Wilkinson <[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
: > Wesley Vogel wrote:
: >> System requirements for Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
: >> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/facts/sysreq.mspx
: >>
: >
: > Wesley:
: >
: > Thanks. According to this link, Dell 5150 should run XP64
Professional
: > because it has a Pentium D processor with Intel EM64T support.
: >
: > What worries me is this: If this computer can support XP64
Professional,
: > why does Dell not offer this OS (it doesn't). Nor does it list
the 5150
: > among the 64-bit ready models (only the Precision workstation is
listed).
: >
: > Clearly Dell is using the Pentium D processor in this machine
for its
: > dual core features, not for its 64-bit features. So is it
possible that
: > the machine as a whole is not 64-bit capable? That is my
question.
: >
: > David Wilkinson


Dell may still be running a 32-bit BIOS on the motherboard, even
though the hardware is 64-bit capable, it can't run in 64-bit mode
with a 64-bit BIOS.

--


Star Fleet Admiral Q @ your service!

Google is your friend!
http://www.google.com
 
David Wilkinson said:
What worries me is this: If this computer can support XP64 Professional,
why does Dell not offer this OS (it doesn't). Nor does it list the 5150
among the 64-bit ready models (only the Precision workstation is listed).

Clearly Dell is using the Pentium D processor in this machine for its dual
core features, not for its 64-bit features. So is it possible that the
machine as a whole is not 64-bit capable? That is my question.

David Wilkinson
Click to expand...

I have a Dell 9100 with PD 830 processor and it runs 64-bit Linux just fine.
I never tried XP64, but it should also work. I don't see any reason why the
5150 shouldn't also work.

I think the main stumbling block is that the machine can only access 4G, so
64-bit OS's are not that interesting. They may want you to buy something
more expensive (e.g. workstation) if you are going to run a 64-bit OS.

My interest in the 64-bit Linux is for testing code, not to access huge
amounts of RAM, so the 9100 works fine.

Peter
 
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