New Precision T7600 and Windows 8 compatibility - IT'S A NIGHMARE

Hi,

I wonder whether there are any users out there who - despite the alledged incompatibility - have installed Windows 8 on their new Precision workstation (T7600, T5600, T3600).

I find it ridiculous that even almost a full year after Windows 8 was RTM, Dell's top-of-the-line, highest-end, most expensive desktop workstations still do not support it. Which Dell manager in their right mind expects us to pay north of $8000 (in many cases, even more) for a box that does not even support the latest operating system? Let alone, making much of the system configuration obsolete (for example, Windows 7 limits RAM to 192 GB).

The Windows 8 successor, Blue, is almost at our doors (of course, no word from Dell whether that one will be supported, but I guess not).

On the other hand, the last-generation Precisions (T7500, T5500, T3500) all work perfectly with Windows 8 - but then, Dell does not sell those anymore!
I am writing this from a two-year old Precision T7500 with eight screens and 96 GB memory - AND WINDOWS 8 PRO x64. Works like a charm! So why can't Dell make that happen with the new T7600, too??

We need another dozen workstations right now and the first time in many years I am forced to consider workstations from Dell's competitors.

It makes very little to NO SENSE, as Windows 8 especially is MUCH, MUCH better designed under the hood then Windows 7 (let alone XP), when it comes to handling multiple graphic adapters and many monitors (which most Precision operators will have) and also when it comes to large amounts of RAM: Windows 7 only supports up to 192 GB RAM, while Dell sells the T7600 with up to 512 GB (which ONLY Windows 8 supports!!!).

Of course, most of our Vostro systems for the office types have been running Windows 8 out of the box for months, fully supported by Dell. Think about that: I can get a $400 Vostro for my secretary with Windows 8, but my new $8000 Precision, at the cost of 20 Vostros, would HAVE TO run with a four year old operating system that artificially limits my memory to more than half of what the mainboard actually supports. It blows your mind.

I have found three long, distressed reports on the internet about people struggling with Windows 8 and Precision T7600 compatibility (or T3600 in one instance), receiving absolutely no help from Dell in their struggle. One guy bought a T7600 with 256 GB RAM and was only told to "remove and plugin the power cord" when he repeatedly received blue screens in Windows 8. He eventually ordered two AMD FirePros from Amazon (Dell would not even try another graphics card then nVidia) and got W8 to work this way. It's mind-boggling.

From what I have gathered in my research, there are two problem areas with the new Precisions and Windows 8:
- Hibernation / Sleep will likely not work or lead to blue screens
- Nvidia Quadro graphic cards lead to intermittent black screens, but AMD's cards seem to work fine.

Are you aware of anything else that I would have to live with or take into account?

What do you think? If I forego the hibernation feature (useless as it probably would be anyway with 256 GB RAM) and select an AMD card (even though I really prefer nVidia), should I take the plunge?

We had probably more than three hundred Precision Workstations in operation over the last decade, beginning with the Precision 330 back in the day (must have been around 2001) - and this is the first time we are actually considering SWITCHING to HP or Lenovo. It's a real pity!

I hope to see any insights or tips from fellow Precision users. Maybe a Dell evangelist can even chime in and provide some helpful insight.

Cheers,

Mike