k0ld1001; Welcome to DCF...

 

IMHO 64-Bit is smoother and more stable than 32-Bit.

If you are staying with Vista, I would recommend the switch.

 

As for gaming (I am not a gamer) my understanding (from gamers) is that XP is still better than Vista for gaming... I am sure the gamers will chime in .... however, I am not certain that you should go to 64-Bit XP.

 

* You CPU is fast enough for whatever OS you throw in !!!

And yes, the 32-Bit will utilize 2.5 to 3.5 Gig of your RAM max, 64-Bit will utilize ALL of it.

 

 

 

Peace

 

 

A benchmark study was done with XP SP-2 compared to Vista and the study found that XP at first was better in games.

 

However....

 

There is always a however.   A new benchmark was done not too long ago using XP SP-3 and Vista SP-1 and found that both were about the same now in game performance.  Guess Microsoft did something with SP-1 to make Vista a tad better.  This is not normal for Microsoft  :smileyvery-happy:

As I know Windows Vista 32 bit after you update to sp1,it can read all 4g of ram.

 

-Inspiron 8500:
Windows XP Pro
P4 2.5Ghz
1GB DDR RAM
60gig Ultra ATA HD
64MB NVIDIA GeForce FX Go4200
100Mb Ethernet
15.4" Wide Aspect Ultrasharp WUXGA

-Dimension E520:
Windows Vista Business
Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13 Ghz
256MB NVIDIA GeForce(R) 7300LE
250GB SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
2GB NECC Dual Channel DDR2 533MHz SDRAM
22" Entry Wide Screen Flat Panel LCD Monitor
BIOS DM061 2.4.0

SR45... if you come across links for THOSE studies, please post them, I would love to have them to show to Vista naysayers ;)

 

 

Peace

 

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@SR45 wrote:

A benchmark study was done with XP SP-2 compared to Vista and the study found that XP at first was better in games.

 

However....

 

There is always a however.   A new benchmark was done not too long ago using XP SP-3 and Vista SP-1 and found that both were about the same now in game performance.  Guess Microsoft did something with SP-1 to make Vista a tad better.  This is not normal for Microsoft  :smileyvery-happy:

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"As I know Windows Vista 32 bit after you update to sp1,it can read all 4g of ram"

 

Incorrect. SP1 will now display the fact that you have 4GB or RAM, but a Vista 32 bit system will still NOT utilize the full 4GB. It's simply a cosmetic change.

With the M1530, you will have about 3.6GB out of 4GB available for use. If you go to 64-bit Vista, you will gain only 0.4 GB. A Windows program can use a maximum of 2GB of RAM, so having the extra 0.4 GB will result in no advantage. Yes, many claim Vista 64 is smoother than Vista 32, but I don't know what that means. My M1530 is very smooth. Vista 64 is now available free from Dell as an upgrade, but they still do not support it, so driver availability is difficult. Much hardware and many programs will not run on the 64 bit OS. Search the internet for honest comparisons of 32 vs 64-bit before you take the plunge.

 

XPS M1530, Vista Home Premium SP1, T7250 Core 2 Duo (2.0 GHz 800 MHz FSB), 4 GB DDR2 667 MHz RAM, 200 GB SATA II 7200 RPM, Nvidia 8600M GT 256 MB - 174.31 Driver, Wireless-AGN Mini-Card, BlueTooth, WSXGA+ High Def LCD (1680x1050) w/ 2 MP Camera

Dimension 9100, Dual-Boot Win XP SP2/ Vista Home Premium SP1, 3.0 GHz P4, 3 GB DDR2 533 MHz RAM, 160 GB SATA II Samsung (XP), 300 GB SATA II Seagate (Vista), 250 GB SimpleTech USB (WD Drive), Nvidia Go 6800 (425/825 MHz - XP, 400/800 MHz - Vista, Vista Driver - 169.25), Dell 1901 UltraSharp FP

Inspiron E1705, Win Vista Premium, T7200 Core 2 Duo (4MB, 2.0 GHz 667MHz), 2 GB DDR2 677 MHz RAM, 120 GB Samsung HD, Nvidia Go 7900 GS - 156.69 Driver, 17” Sharp UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-Screen WUXGA

http://keznews.com/3916_Vista_SP1_Won_t_Resolve_the_4_GB_RAM_Limitation_of_32-bit_Windows_Vista

 

"With Windows Vista SP1, currently planned for the first quarter of 2008, Microsoft will force the operating system to show the full amount of system memory installed, and not only the memory that Vista has available. The Redmond company warned that the change will ultimately depend on the integration with the machine's BIOS and, as such, not all Vista users will experience it. But, it does not mean that Vista SP1 will resolve the 4 GB of RAM limitations of the 32-bit Vista operating system. In this context, if you have a 32-bit copy of Vista, there is no point waiting for SP1 to enjoy up to four GB of RAM, the simplest solution is to go 64-bit". 

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Post number 3

 

http://www.antonywilliams.com/2007/12/vista-sp1-to-lie-about-ram-usage.html

 

"Now, had my system come with Vista SP1 I would never have been the wiser. As someone who doesn't spend time scouring over tech articles I would not know the limits of the Vista OS and if my computer system properties reported 4 gig, I would unwittingly assume it was using all 4 gig; it is very misleading. I almost think it's collusion between Computer Manufactures and Microsoft. Most will allow you to buy 4 gig when order a system running 32bit Vista, I guess they pressured MS to make this change to SP1 so they would stop hearing from disgruntled customers

 

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Read link.  Specially post number 3, 5, & 8,

 

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12546_102-0.html?forumID=133&threadID=294957&messageID=2774161 

 

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Only way to fully address the 4 gigs or more is to have the 64 bit version of the operating system.  No way around this.  SP-1 in Vista will now allow you to see only the 4 gigs of memory, but it will still not address the full amount.  PERIOD !

 

This confusion with seeing and addressing 4 gigs has been mentioned, argued, debated, and finally put to rest on this forum, other forums as well.  Unfortunately, it will not go away.   :smileyvery-happy: 

 

Only sure way to address the full 4 gigs of memory is to get the 64 bit version of the operating system. Once you do, than you will have to download the Microsoft Hotfix and have it waiting some where on the desktop for later install.

If you have SP-1 already installed, the Hotfix will not be necessary since it comes with SP-1 already. If not, then you have to download the Hotfix

Microsoft link to the 64 bit OS and the difference between a 32 and 64 bit Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946765

You will than turn off the system, remove two sticks of memory, leaving you with 2 Gb total. Boot back up, install the Hotfix, than turn off the system and reinstall the other 2 gb of memory into the proper slots. Boot back up, now you are done.

www.newegg.com  has the OEM 64 bit OS for about $100.00

Hotfix download link

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929777

Want more proof ? 

 

Click on Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information, then scroll down 3/4 of the way to look at how much memory is being fully addressed.  Enough said

"Vista 64 is now available free from Dell as an upgrade, but they still do not support it, so driver availability is difficult."

 

Where is Dell offering the free upgrade? I think I want to take the shot.

 

Thanks,

usna92

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@usna92 wrote:

"Vista 64 is now available free from Dell as an upgrade, but they still do not support it, so driver availability is difficult."

 

Where is Dell offering the free upgrade? I think I want to take the shot.

 

Thanks,

usna92

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Where are getting this info from???