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61403
January 2nd, 2015 12:00
32bit or 64 bit?
I have an optiplex gx520 and an optiplex 755. I want to run ubuntu x64 in the 520 but I can't tell what the bus width is. I installed win 8.1 over win-7 32 bit and my 'system' says it is now running "32bit os, x64 based processor". why didn't windows 8 x64 install? Can I run ubuntu x64 on this motherboard which has an intel pentium 4 cpu? Do I have to up my ram from 2.00 gb? Can I plug in 64bit ram?
How much ram can i install?
whew!
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ilvuszq
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January 2nd, 2015 15:00
So I should be able to install and run ubuntu 64.
I thought the "64" referred to the address bus width.
FYI I really like the way Dell puts their boxes together and the small form factor.
There are good buys in the refurbished market.
thanks
jim murray
osprey4
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January 2nd, 2015 13:00
Hi ilvuszq,
Please provide the specific processor installed in your GX520.
The maximum memory is 2x2GB modules. And, no, there's no such thing as "64-bit RAM".
ilvuszq
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January 2nd, 2015 14:00
The info from the "PC INFO" selection in windows 8.1 enterprise evaluation is ...
product ID: 00260-60000-00000-AA378
processor: intel(r) pentium(r) 4 cpu 3.00ghz 2.99ghz
installed ram: 2.00gb
system type: 32-bit operating system, x64-based processor
pen and touch: no pen or touch input is available for this display
edition: windows 8.1 enterprise evaluation
I thought that windows 8.1 was a 64-bit os and i installed the evaluation copy to see if this machine would run a 64-bit os.
thank you
jim murray
osprey4
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January 2nd, 2015 16:00
So you do have a 64-bit processor. But of course, since you installed over a 32-bit OS, you now have a 32-bit version of Win 8.1
There's really very little difference and with an older CPU like yours, 64-bit is not going to have a significant impact.
Philip_Yip
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January 2nd, 2015 17:00
You can opt to download a Windows 8.1/10 32 Bit or 64 Bit .iso.
For the GX520 most processors even if 64 Bit will be below the elevated system requirements for Windows 8.1/10 64 Bit so its best to install the 32 Bit version. 4 GB of RAM is therefore maximum. A new Windows license and RAM is probably going to be near the price of a second hand OptiPlex 760 which has a Windows 7 license and probably more RAM so it might not be worthwhile.
For the OptiPlex 755, it runs Windows 8.1/10 64 Bit without any problem and can have 8 GB of RAM.
See www.crucial.com for compatible memory and SSD upgrades.
speedstep
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January 2nd, 2015 22:00
520 will never see more than 3.5 gigs ram regardless of os or cpu being 64 bit. This is a chipset limitation. Same is true for 620.
64 bit windows 8.1 REQUIRES A Pentium D 900 series and Bios A11 so the Pentium D 915 with the copper performance heatsink are required.
8.1 AND 10 have more requirements than 8.0
ilvuszq
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January 3rd, 2015 08:00
I searched Dell for 'pentium d915 desktop' and got no hits.
I am retired and now just toying with various os and languages so price is a factor and I shop for re-furbished pcs.
Could you tell me what Dell models would support more than 8G of RAM?
I really like the Dell small form factor mechanical architecture.
thanks