Decided to build my new computer
#21
RE: Decided to build my new computer
The thing that I've noticed with Memtest is that you better let it run for a good 12 hours to actually get some sort of definitive answer from it. I've tried to short change things by only running it for like 4 hours, not getting any errors and assuming the memory is good, only to come back to replacing the memory in the end to solve the problem.
So for someone that earns their living working with computers I really should know this, will windows vista recognize more than 4 gigs of memory? Is it a completely 64-bit OS? I don't remember thinking it was but for personal and practical reasons I decided that XP would be the last operating system I would ever pay Microsoft for. So I generally run Ubuntu except when I need to use the dial up modem or some truly truly windows-only software I can't make work any other way. Thats my excuse for being clueless. Also, the bank where I work seems fairly committed to not running vista at all and would probably jump on an alternative, should a workaround for running highly propriaty banking software come about.
Good luck with the computer. I used to get a real kick out of what you're doing, but now my money goes towards my education and my honda. I just stick with my inspirion 8600 circa 2004 and forgo the games. Such is life.
So for someone that earns their living working with computers I really should know this, will windows vista recognize more than 4 gigs of memory? Is it a completely 64-bit OS? I don't remember thinking it was but for personal and practical reasons I decided that XP would be the last operating system I would ever pay Microsoft for. So I generally run Ubuntu except when I need to use the dial up modem or some truly truly windows-only software I can't make work any other way. Thats my excuse for being clueless. Also, the bank where I work seems fairly committed to not running vista at all and would probably jump on an alternative, should a workaround for running highly propriaty banking software come about.
Good luck with the computer. I used to get a real kick out of what you're doing, but now my money goes towards my education and my honda. I just stick with my inspirion 8600 circa 2004 and forgo the games. Such is life.
#23
RE: Decided to build my new computer
ORIGINAL: elmer
So for someone that earns their living working with computers I really should know this, will windows vista recognize more than 4 gigs of memory? Is it a completely 64-bit OS? I don't remember thinking it was but for personal and practical reasons I decided that XP would be the last operating system I would ever pay Microsoft for.
Good luck with the computer. I used to get a real kick out of what you're doing, but now my money goes towards my education and my honda. I just stick with my inspirion 8600 circa 2004 and forgo the games. Such is life.
So for someone that earns their living working with computers I really should know this, will windows vista recognize more than 4 gigs of memory? Is it a completely 64-bit OS? I don't remember thinking it was but for personal and practical reasons I decided that XP would be the last operating system I would ever pay Microsoft for.
Good luck with the computer. I used to get a real kick out of what you're doing, but now my money goes towards my education and my honda. I just stick with my inspirion 8600 circa 2004 and forgo the games. Such is life.
yea my money goes towards my bike too...i dont start paying for my education until im done with college so im going to enjoy it while i can.
bike, car, computer = my life....and i love my life
and i dont even think they put this good of stuff in a dell, hp, or gateway unless maybe its an XPS, voodoo, blackbird, of fx540 and those are more than 3k...so im turnin out good...
ive got one question...if i get vista 64-bit, can i run 32 bit apps like BF2, BF2142, ect, all the old games??? Ive heard you need to buy 64-bit versions of the games...
#24
RE: Decided to build my new computer
A 32-bit OS will support up to 4GB of total addressable memory, meaning my 3GB RAM and 1 GB graphics card are right at the limit. Red, I'm not really sure about the applications, but need to look into it myself before I make the jump. I also wanted to upgrade because I'm gonna bump my system memory up to 4GB, ****, I know my board supports 8GB. However, along with 64-bit OS comes poor driver support. I think most newer applications have a 32-bit and 64-bit version in one, but IDK for sure.
Okay, a few details I found:
[quote]ORIGINAL: Wikipedia
A change from a 32-bit to a 64-bit architecture is a fundamental alteration, as most operating systems must be extensively modified to take advantage of the new architecture. Other software must also be ported to use the new capabilities; older software is usually supported through either a hardware compatibility mode (in which the new processors support the older 32-bit version of the instruction set as well as the 64-bit version), through software emulation, or by the actual implementation of a 32-bit processor core within the 64-bit processor (as with the Itanium processors from Intel, which include an x86 processor core to run 32-bit x86 applications). The operating systems for those 64-bit architectures generally support both 32-bit and 64-bit applications.
Software Availability
64-bit systems sometimes lack equivalents to software that is written for 32-bit architectures. The most severe problem is incompatible device drivers. Although most software can run in a 32-bit compatibility mode (also known as an emulation mode, e.g. Microsoft WoW64 Technology), it is usually impossible to run a driver (or similar software) in that mode since such a program usually runs in between the [URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_
Okay, a few details I found:
ORIGINAL: Wikipedia
Beginning in the 1960s with the IBM System/360, then (amongst many others) the DEC VAX minicomputer in the 1970s, and then with the Intel 80386 in the mid-1980s, a de facto consensus developed that 32 bits was a convenient register size. A 32-bit register meant that 232 addresses, or 4 gigabytes of RAM, could be referenced.
Beginning in the 1960s with the IBM System/360, then (amongst many others) the DEC VAX minicomputer in the 1970s, and then with the Intel 80386 in the mid-1980s, a de facto consensus developed that 32 bits was a convenient register size. A 32-bit register meant that 232 addresses, or 4 gigabytes of RAM, could be referenced.
ORIGINAL: Wikipedia
The emergence of the 64-bit architecture effectively increases the memory ceiling to 264 addresses, equivalent to 17,179,869,184 gigabytes, 16,777,216 terabytes, or 16 exabytes of RAM. To put this in perspective, in the days when 4 MB of main memory was commonplace, the maximum memory ceiling of 232 addresses was about 1,000 times larger than typical memory configurations. Today, when 1 GB of main memory is common, the ceiling of 264 addresses is about ten billion times larger, i.e. ten million times more headroom.
The emergence of the 64-bit architecture effectively increases the memory ceiling to 264 addresses, equivalent to 17,179,869,184 gigabytes, 16,777,216 terabytes, or 16 exabytes of RAM. To put this in perspective, in the days when 4 MB of main memory was commonplace, the maximum memory ceiling of 232 addresses was about 1,000 times larger than typical memory configurations. Today, when 1 GB of main memory is common, the ceiling of 264 addresses is about ten billion times larger, i.e. ten million times more headroom.
A change from a 32-bit to a 64-bit architecture is a fundamental alteration, as most operating systems must be extensively modified to take advantage of the new architecture. Other software must also be ported to use the new capabilities; older software is usually supported through either a hardware compatibility mode (in which the new processors support the older 32-bit version of the instruction set as well as the 64-bit version), through software emulation, or by the actual implementation of a 32-bit processor core within the 64-bit processor (as with the Itanium processors from Intel, which include an x86 processor core to run 32-bit x86 applications). The operating systems for those 64-bit architectures generally support both 32-bit and 64-bit applications.
Software Availability
64-bit systems sometimes lack equivalents to software that is written for 32-bit architectures. The most severe problem is incompatible device drivers. Although most software can run in a 32-bit compatibility mode (also known as an emulation mode, e.g. Microsoft WoW64 Technology), it is usually impossible to run a driver (or similar software) in that mode since such a program usually runs in between the [URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_
#25
RE: Decided to build my new computer
rrasco and his great wiki-foo beat me to it
On the games thing, I'm thinking you'll be able to run them via some sort of compatibility layer that would be included with vista. Now, obviously in my last post I just said how little I know about vista, so in no way take that as gospel, but I'm pretty sure people could do something like that with the 64 bit version of XP. Definitely wait for someone who's already running the gear to give their input.
Also, I can't sing the praises of Ubuntu enough, I find it far more useful and functional than my limited usage of vista, and even XP. Obviously if you are interested primarily in games, linux has very little to offer you in that way. But its something I just started tinkering with a few years ago and now use almost exclusively. If nothing else, download it and use the live-cd feature to poke around and familiarize yourself with it without having to commit to a full install. Myself and several others will be around here to answer any questions you might have, should you decide to explore that route.
On the games thing, I'm thinking you'll be able to run them via some sort of compatibility layer that would be included with vista. Now, obviously in my last post I just said how little I know about vista, so in no way take that as gospel, but I'm pretty sure people could do something like that with the 64 bit version of XP. Definitely wait for someone who's already running the gear to give their input.
Also, I can't sing the praises of Ubuntu enough, I find it far more useful and functional than my limited usage of vista, and even XP. Obviously if you are interested primarily in games, linux has very little to offer you in that way. But its something I just started tinkering with a few years ago and now use almost exclusively. If nothing else, download it and use the live-cd feature to poke around and familiarize yourself with it without having to commit to a full install. Myself and several others will be around here to answer any questions you might have, should you decide to explore that route.
#26
#28
RE: Decided to build my new computer
32 bit OS's support 4gigs of RAM, video memory is completely seperate. I am running XP64 and the only driver issues I have had are for printers, specifically HP's. They don't have much 64 bit support yet. I had vista 64 running for like a week and my 64 bit version of SAV Corp would not install on it but works great on XP.
All 32 bit apps run on 64 bit. The only time 64 bit apps are needed is if it interacts with the hardware/drivers like anti-virus, some backup apps...
I run 2 gigs of RAM and have the pagefile turned off. My peak usage has only been like 1.4 gigs. When I was runing vista ult it used 700-800 MB for just the OS which is more than I use now with OS, anti-virus, AIM, Thunderbird, and FireFox/IE7 open.
All 32 bit apps run on 64 bit. The only time 64 bit apps are needed is if it interacts with the hardware/drivers like anti-virus, some backup apps...
I run 2 gigs of RAM and have the pagefile turned off. My peak usage has only been like 1.4 gigs. When I was runing vista ult it used 700-800 MB for just the OS which is more than I use now with OS, anti-virus, AIM, Thunderbird, and FireFox/IE7 open.