Dimension 8300 and 8400 - Windows 7 64 bit compatibility, performance?

Look under System in Control Panel to see if the 8300 has a cpu that can run 64bit or run the windows upgrade advisor.The 8400 cannot run 64bits. You will have to upgrade computers or stay with the older versions of the software.

Hi Mary G,

Thanks for the input.  I did try the Windows Upgrade Advisor on both machines, but since I'm running Windows 7 32-bit on each one, the Advisor only showed results for upgrading to the 32 bit version (again!).  I couldn't figure out a way to get it to work for an upgrade from 32 to 64 bit.

In another forum I also got the word on the 8400, by way of a different Control Panel app - not "System" as it turns out.  

In Control Panel, click on "Performance Information and Tools", then on "View and Print Detailed Performance and System Information".  Among many other things, it shows a Yes/No result for running 64 bit OS.  As you reported for the 8400, the answer for both the 8300 and 8400 was "No."  Makes sense, because they both have the same CPU.

Guess that settles that!  I'll have to explore other options, I guess.

(Aside: the Windows Upgrade Advisor also told me that the driver for the Adaptec SCSI card on the 8300 is not compatible with Windows 7 - even though it is.  I assume this is because it's "untested" or something like that.  Whatever the reason, it works fine in Windows 7 32 bit).

Thanks again for the input,

Alan Mintaka

If its down to the processor you can run the Intel Processor Identification Utility.

The CPU Technologies tab should tell you if it is 64 bit compatible.

As natakuc4  correctly stated it comes down to the processor. The screen shot below indicates my 8400 to be 64 bit compatible after a processor upgrade.

I already had 32 bit Win 7 installed and haven't had a reason to do the clean install that would be required when going from 32 to 64 bit. Perhaps if I come to have a reason to do a clean install I will at that time. Really for me all I'll gain is about half a GB of RAM and with what I do on this computer I rarely use all of the ~3.5 or so I have available now.

FWIW The 8400 is a very fast computer for general use with a faster processor, an SSD drive and 4 GB of RAM.

Datapod,

What was your "Processor Upgrade"?  The only difference I see in our 8400 configs is that your Intel P4 is clocked at 3.8 GHz, whereas mine is clocked at 3.2 GHz.  That would suggest that a slightly faster clock is all it would take to my my 8400 64 bit compatible.  is that correct?  Was your processor upgrade going from a P4 3.2 GHz to a P4 3.8 GHz?

I also have 4GB physical RAM, if that makes any difference.

What's starting to give me problems is that some of my A/V programs, e.g. Sony Vegas Pro/Sony DVD Architect,  are going to 64-bit only versions.  In addition, when it comes to working with HD Video, the 32 bit version of Sony Vegas Pro 11 is pretty slow.  I have a feeling this is why they're going to 64-bit only.

Otherwise, the 8400 would be plenty fast enough for everything else I do.  

Thanks for taking the time to post that screen shot.  I've already saved a copy for future reference!

Have a good one,

Alan Mintaka

Not necessarily ... they made 3.2GHz P4 processors in 32-bit and 64-bit; likewise, they made 3.8GHz P4 processors in 32-bit and 64-bit.  You need to find the model or get the specs on it using CPU-z or similar.  You MUST have a processor that supports 64-bit to run a 64-bit OS.  

ark.intel.com/.../27466,27468,27475,27476

Just saw theflash1932's response and figured you might want...

Answers inline...

>>Was your processor upgrade going from a P4 3.2 GHz to a P4 3.8 GHz? Yes. It's my understanding that is the fastest one the 8400 will support. Of note, the fans work harder with the faster processor. If fan noise is an issue it's something to consider. The way mine is situated it doesn't create a problem. >>That would suggest that a slightly faster clock is all it would take to my my 8400 64 bit compatible.  is that correct? It's not the clock speed it's the instruction set on the processor. >>I also have 4GB physical RAM, if that makes any difference. Only in that you would be able to use all 4GB with a 64 bit OS. >>What's starting to give me problems is that some of my A/V programs, e.g. Sony Vegas Pro/Sony DVD Architect,  are going to 64-bit only versions.  >>In addition, when it comes to working with HD Video, the 32 bit version of Sony Vegas Pro 11 is pretty slow.  I have a feeling this is why they're >>going to 64-bit only. In my not too informed opinion (on the subject of A/V) I think if you do frequent HD video rendering you'll find the 8400 slow, 64 bit or not. I do occasional DVD authoring (not blu-Ray) and conversions and such. It does the work fairly quickly but I think HD video would be slow. Again My opinion FWIW. >>Otherwise, the 8400 would be plenty fast enough for everything else I do. Yup I love that series of Dimensions. Total work horses. I have a 2400 in the basement running headless that does my security cameras and VOIP phone. It's been running (XP) 24/7 (with the exception of a couple of extended blackouts) for about 6 years. The security software reboots it every Sunday @ 0000. I have another 8400 and a 4700 for the wife and kids. Most dependable computers I've ever owned. >>Thanks for taking the time to post that screen shot.  I've already saved a copy for future reference! No problem. Have a good one, Alan Mintaka

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