All 64 Bit PC's - Dell IdeaStorm

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All 64 Bit PC's

1950 points posted to Desktops by class2008 05/25/07

Dell should begin producing all 64 bit pc's. WIth rumors of Windows Vista being the last OS available in 32 bit, they should get consumers ready with 64 bit pc's, at reasonable prices.

mistern 05/25/07	Probably half of the computers that Dell sells today are already secretly 64-bit.
winoffice 05/25/07	Don't make us get 64-bit! 32-bit applications will still be around for a time, and therefore, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista's server counterpart, will almost certainly have 32-bit versions available for all editions (in fact, some editions of Windows Server 2003 were available only in 32-bit versions). Besides, 32-bit applications cannot run on 64-bit processors or operating systems and 64-bit applications cannot run on 32-bit operating systems -- the amount of "bits" in an application must equal the amount of "bits" in the OS, which must equal the amount of "bits" in the processor. When applications move to 64-bit, that is when the operating systems and procesors should -- and then, the processors and operating systems in my PCs will make their move.
mistern 05/25/07	64-bit processors from Intel and AMD can run 32-bit stuff as well. This is proven by Opera (32-bit) in my otherwise clean 64-bit system.
rshiroma 05/25/07	The majority of systems are 64-bits (Intel has EMT64 and AMD has their 64bits technology). If the system has 64 bits support, it is necessary to change the OS, the hardware is the same.
bennish 05/27/07	well actually all current chips are 64 bit. there's no new chip that's 32. i do agree they should SHIP 64-bit vista. which they don't. and winoffice, do a little research. ALL current 64 bit chips are capable of 32 bit. intel core 2 duos are all 64 bit.
winoffice 07/23/07	Well, in any case application extensions (or DLLs) of one type cannot be executed on hardware of the other type (see Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Inside Out from Microsoft Press).
mistern 07/25/07	@winoffice: DLLs can never be executed. But that's because they're no executables.
rmh 08/08/07	"Like Vista, Windows 7 will ship in consumer and business versions, and in 32-bit and 64-bit versions." http://news.com.com/Next+version+of+Windows+Call+it+7/2100-1016_3-6197943.htm... 32-bit for the next 5 years? No hurries. Windows will never make it to 64-bit. Instead of preparing yourself for that migration, prepare for migrating to GNU/Linux (which has supported 64-bit 100% for years now).
bennish 08/08/07	'windows will never make it to 64-bit' what do you mean? i don't understand... i run vista 64-bit at home and i've never had to do anything special. do you mean it'll never give up 32? your statement just doesn't really make sense... winoffice, everything works fine on 64. why would you take a dll from one computer and put it on the other? seems odd. all 32 bit apps work fully, at full speed, on 64. you just need 64 drivers. the ONLY 64 driver i haven't found yet was for a small, 30 buck 802.11b usb stick that is made by an australian security camera company (swann) and doesn't even have xp drivers. everything else is SEAMLESS
mistern 08/08/07	@bennish: You're sounding like a Linux zealot, just with "vista 64" instead of Linux.
bennish 08/08/07	no i'm not. i use 32 bit on my laptop, and 64 on my pc. i don't mind either way. i'd happily use 32 on both, doesn't matter. i just can't stand someone saying something WON'T WORK when it DOES. commonts like yours are FUD. end of story. thanks for the heads up though... i wasn't intending to sound like a linux zealot, or, as we often call them, arsehole. If i ever do again, shoot me, please. (i don't mind linux users, just the zealots).
mistern 08/08/07	It was the "almost everything works, except some weird rarities" stuff. Anyways. I do have my objections against the design and implementation of Windows' 64-bit platform, but I don't want to say that 64-bit Windows has no future.
ptcase Jun 10	Merged Idea originally posted 07/02/07 64-bit Vista and Dell product offering DELL, Please offer the 64-bit version of the XP and Vista for all versions of your desktop and laptop lineups and going through the DELL.com website for purchase. I noticed that some models only have a single OS available or the ones that are not not always the 64-bit version of the OS.
winoffice Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 07/03/07 Right. Often, we have only one or two choices for Vista -- Home Premium only or it and Home Basic. How about offering all four versions (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate) on all Dell computers?
bennish Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 07/03/07 premium, business, ultimate, xp home, xp pro 32 or 64 bit (except xp home of course) easy. dell, do it. go on... we'll wait. it's ridiculous to be shipping 64 bit cpus and not 64 bit os.
davmcn Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 07/03/07 Dell does offer 64- bit but only for the business ones.
bennish Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 07/03/07 right. so. that takes us back to square one doesn't it? thanks so much davmcn. very helpful as always.
davmcn Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 07/04/07 Your Very Welcome hope i helped in this.
winoffice Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 09/26/07 I think that both the 32-bit and the 64-bit versions of Vista should be offered. Both have their advantages: 32-bit is better for compatibility, and 64-bit is faster. So offer both the 32-bit and the 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows Vista on all Dell PCs, please! Also, please offer all four editions (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate) of Microsoft Windows Vista on all Dell PCs, please!
davmcn Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 09/26/07 yah plz.
mmanell13 Jun 10	Merged Idea originally posted 11/16/07 Offer a 64-bit version of Vista I am now a proud owner of a XPS M1730. As such I am now a proud operator of Windows Vista Ultimate....the 32-bit version. What's the problem with the 32-bit version? Well, it only supporta a maximum of 3 gigs of RAM. Therefore those who have purchased the 4 gig option (like I did) are effectively wasting 1 gig of RAM while operating the 32-bit version of Vista. The 64-bit versions support up to 128 gigs of RAM, letting consumers get the full potential out of their RAM. Dell should offer the option of a 64-bit version of Vista OR ship the 64-bit version with the pre-installed, 32-bit version (the 64-bit version is already included with the 32-bit version of Vista Ultimate when purchased as a stand alone from Microsoft). The population demorgraphic Dell is aiming for more than likely already know the previously stated facts, and as such, opted for the 2 gig versions. If Dell were to offer some sort of option for a 64-bit version, then these people would probably consider the 4 gig option (paying the extra price, and increasing the profit for Dell)
coachcg Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 11/16/07 Mmanell13 raises a good point. Any reason 64 bit is not being promoted more by Dell?
premcv Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 11/16/07 Is Dell offering 64-bit processors in Desktops? If they are, then 64-bit OS is a good idea!
jmxz Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 11/16/07 @mmanell13: "Well, it only supports a maximum of 3 gigs of RAM. Therefore those who have purchased the 4 gig option (like I did) are effectively wasting 1 gig of RAM while operating the 32-bit version of Vista." OMG. http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx Memory Support and Windows Operating Systems Windows 2000 Memory Support. With Windows 2000 Professional and Server, the maximum amount of memory that can be supported is 4 GB (identical to Windows NT 4.0, as described later in this section). However, Windows 2000 Advanced Server supports 8 GB of physical RAM and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server supports 32 GB of physical RAM using the PAE feature of the IA-32 processor family, beginning with Intel Pentium Pro and later. Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2003 Memory Support. The maximum amount of memory that can be supported on Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2003 is also 4 GB. However, Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition supports 32 GB of physical RAM and Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition supports 64 GB of physical RAM using the PAE feature. Perhaps people should upgrade from Vista to WinNT 4.0? Or was Microsoft just lying then?
premcv Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 11/16/07 Well, well, well! What do we have here now?
jmxz Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 11/16/07 I just felt a need to defend Microsoft. So many people bashing them by saying they can't support 4GB of memory, I figured someone had to speek up in their defense. [/sarcasm] But it still amazes me. It seems they can (and did) support >3GB. It's not that they can't do it. It's that they just don't want to. I think it's part of their plan that they will sell all the 32-bit-vista-victims a 64-bit-vista later for more money.
sugarbear Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 11/16/07 You are probable right about M$.
cosmichellion Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 11/16/07 HP is offering the 64-bit vista ultimate on their units. What's the hold up dell?
matthew2142 Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 11/16/07 Just one if the reasons why dell isn't number 1 right now. I dont see much happening to these ideas. are we doing this for nothing? If so then dell should just shut down this site as they artn using it like they should
sethgross Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 11/16/07 Here is the workaround if you know your http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605
mugunth Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 11/17/07 The only problem with 64 bit vista is drivers... If Dell can invest some time in writing new drivers for it's hardware., (hardware purchased from other vendors) then may be they will offer... Reason why they are not offering is because they end up with a lot of disgruntled customers who complain.. "this is not working" "that is not working" etc., I understood that Dell is interested in volume sales rather than innovative products. Dell sells more laptops than Apple and still it's market caps are lower by a factor of half... If Dell makes hardware, then probably they'll write drivers.. but Dell purchases hardware.. Creative's laptop integrated webcam, broadcom's bluetooth and wireless harmon kardon speakers etc., .etc., and the list goes on... Forcing your suppliers to write 64 bit drivers will increase procurement costs.. which reduces Dell's profits... Hence 64-bit migration will not happen atleast till 2015... (Windows 7 again will be released in 32 and 64 bit versions, so wait for microsoft to stop the 32 bit OS so that these people will migrate....)
wing044 Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 11/17/07 Dell have to sell 64bit Vista in the near future anyway, the question is when? Vista x86 can't utilize the whole of 4GB RAM and in a year or so it will no doubt double to 8 GB and x64 Vista is a must. I do hope they will do this sooner and that Dell will send 64bit media to existing customers who need it.
blah Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted 11/21/07 well if hp can do it, i don't see why dell can't
xdivino Jun 10	Merged Idea originally posted Apr 19 x64 Options I've bought several machines over the past few months and they all came with free upgrades to 4GB of RAM, as most people know 32-bit editions can't maximise the use of this. Why can't home systems start to move forward on the 64-bit bandwagon? It's an option for lattitude and some business systems but why not XPS, being an "Xtreme Performance System" i'd want the best possible performance and well 32-bit doesn't offer that. Start Offering an option for x64 Vista/XP or other OS
kanoneno Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted Apr 20 Yes, I think is ridiculous to offer 4 gigs of ram if you're not going to give 64 bit drivers
kanoneno Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted Apr 21 I just bought a XPS M1730, It should arrive during the next week or something like that but one issue that makes me worry a lot is the fact that Vista will probably wont work out. I just read a bunch of bad reviews about Vista and I just spent a big amount of money. If Dell and other companies know that Vista isn't working properly the should at least give the option of different drivers for XP 32 and 64 bits, and also drivers for using blu ray with XP. I don't blame Dell for this, I blame Microsoft, but please help us out so we can really take advantage of our rig.
rotthund Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted Apr 29 Isn't Mac all 64bit?
rotthund Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted Apr 29 Linux supports 64-bit well.
gideon7 Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted May 4 I installed Windows Server 2008 x64 (with Hyper-V) on an XPS M1530 (4GB DDR2, 320GB HDD, 1920x1200). It works wonderfully. W2K8 is lean and mean. It boots twice as fast as Vista and uses half the memory. See http://www.win2008workstation.com/ I need the rest of the memory for my virtual machines: 4-6 VMs in virtual LAN to test my PC management software before release. So the new Intel Virtualization mod to BIOS A08 is a must-have (required for Hyper-V). Thank you Dell! The main problem for was that it took several hours to hunt down the x64 drivers on the Dell Support website. I found most of them under Vostro 15xx, M2300, and M6300. Ultimately I found all the 64-bit Vista drivers except for the UPEK fingerprint app. (You have to purchase it from www.upek.com for $14.95 USD.) The other non-Dell driver I used was for the nVidia 8600M (because the Dell driver for x64 was old). I got the nVidia 175.12 driver from laptopvideo2go. I hooked up a USB 2TB RAID disk enclosure and it rocks. The good news is that it is possible to run Vista x64 or Windows Server 2008 x64 on an XPS. The bad news is that you have to go on a scavenger hunt to find the drivers.
scott31337 Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted May 20 4 Gigs of RAM is offered for reasons of "Dual Channel" - Dell also sells XPS Desktops with 3GB RAM (2 1GB sticks, 2 512 sticks) to keep the "dual channel" ability as well... Computers sold this way do show 4GB in the BIOS - .. 64 Bit OS's are not perfect, and in my opinion, are not meant for consumer lines yet.. But they have come a long way from Windows XP x64 3+ years ago which had barely any driver support..
killadaedalus Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted May 24 I have just commented on another post saying exactly the same thing as this one. I agree, it seems illogical that Dell offer 4GB of RAM but not the operating system to utilise this.
bbr Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted May 30 I would be surprised if they aren't already providing the 64 bit version Vistra pro should be 64 bit, and support 16 GB
twistedkestrel Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted May 30 I also wish a much greater range of Dell products offered 64 bit Vista, at the least. I'm considering the expense of buying a Dell laptop and purchasing a retail copy of Vista, just to accomplish this. I can understand in the early days of Vista not offering 64 bit options, but nowadays nearly every device manufacturer offers stable 64 bit drivers, so there's really no excuse any more. If it's a matter of validating too many possibly system configurations, then just stop selling Vista Ultimate. It's a useless option, and I'd be surprised if more than 2% of all systems sold by Dell had it selected.
les Jun 10	Merged Idea originally posted Jun 9 Dell should jump aboard the 64Bit Sales Train!!! My suggestion is that Dell factory install, sell and support 64Bit systems at the home consumer level. I am A Vista Ultimate 64Bit user and have been so for the past year. I have watched 64Bit grow and come out of the 'lacking compatible software and unstable' category to become an OS to be awed by those who use it. It's, by far, the most stable of environments, has extremely few compatability concerns which are now reserved for major networks, and increases your system speed in both 32 and 64Bit programs. In further support is the fact that Dell itself is now pushing 4Gb systems to the consumer, many of whom learn that 32Bit cannot fully use all the RAM they purchased only after the fact. Show the consumer support in opening up 64Bit systems as a purchase option in order that they can fully appreciate the system purchased. I must concede that I lack impartiality. Over the past few years I have become a very strong internet voice on things such as tweaking, solid state drive development and, also, assisting several in moving their Dells to 64 Bit systems. I help in running a team, affectionately called Team x64 on www.notebookreview.com, where assistance is offered several times a day. There are over a hundred who now belong and, I can honestly say I have fielded several hundred pm's and emails in the past year specific to the 64 Bit transition. One thing I have yet to see, even once, is dissappointment. Each and every person who I have watched dedicate their time to installing the OS, finding the needed drivers and then trying out their system is sold....each and every one. In closing, I am absolutely sure that allowing this post on Ideastorm will draw a fury of support, support which does nothing but credit to dell and thei genuine concern for the consumer. Lets get the 64 Bit train rolling!!!
jmxz Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9 "In further support is the fact that Dell itself is now pushing 4Gb systems to the consumer, many of whom learn that 32Bit cannot fully use all the RAM they purchased only after the fact. Show the consumer support in opening up 64Bit systems as a purchase option in order that they can fully appreciate the system purchased." But isn't it the case that even if some OS's can only see 3.something GB; they'd still be worse off going with a 64-bit-OS since the extra memory footprint of the 64-bit OS and applications is greater than the extra memory made visible? Or, they could upgrade to an OS where the 32-bit-version can access >4GB instead. Microsoft apparently has such an OS working that they describe here: "[32-bit] Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition supports 64 GB of physical RAM using the PAE feature [Intel's mechanism for accessing >4GB on a 32-bit OS]."
meetloaf Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9 I'm a big fan of the x64 platform. There is a large venue out there filled with people like ourselves who are performance hungry. And I'm still puzzled as to why there isn't a bigger push towards bringing x64 into the mainstream, especially when the hardware is readily available, and often already in use by many users. Every little step helps. If not at least offering x64 drivers from your download site, I know that Dell is aware of the issue. Once upon a time I had a few different techs direct me to where x64 drivers could be obtained, even though Dell didn't officially support them for my system. I really believe there as a large consumer base to tap into here. Don't get left in the dust! Go 64!
jmxz Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted Jun 9 @meetloaf: I'm still curious why? Intel solved the problem with large address spaces (up to 64GB RAM) for 32-bit CPUs and software with PAE more than half a decade ago. Applications that care even windows ones have already been programed to use it. Are you a developer who wants a large address space but doesn't want to program the PAE feature? Are you someone who needs more than 64GB of RAM on a machine? Other than those groups, I'm not sure I understand who benefits by 64-bit.
fadetoblack Jun 10	Merged Comment originally posted Jun 10 Intel solved nothing. Having to use more than 4GB of RAM on an x86 operating system is not normal. People should use x64. It's 2008, not the 90s. From my point of view people should move forwards, not remain in the past. It is unfortunate that people might want to "demote" this idea. Windows x64 needs to be pushed mainstream. What's the point in having x64 instructions available if you don't use them? Maybe we should ask AMD and INTEL to remove them, so we can all feel better. Les and I created that team on NotebookReview Forums to help people migrate and guess what? They want to. Why shouldn't Dell at least offer this option when purchasing (or make it the default option)? HP business laptop have the option to chose at the first start between x64 and x86. It's a partially great idea and I think others can at least try and follow.
helmecj01 Jul 28	Look what I find today on the USA dell web site http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/64bit_pcs?c=us&cs=19&l=en&...~
bennish Aug 3	very nice! will this be on international dell sites too? here's hoping. nice find helmecj01!

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