Can I run Windows 7 64-bit?

[sancho22]

Here are my computer's specs: Motherboard - Dell 0RY007
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E8200
4 x 1 GB RAM
OS - Windows Vista Home Premium x86

I've searched and searched and still don't understand whether I will be able to run Windows 7 x64. I know my processor supports 64-bit, but is that all I need, or does the motherboard have to be compatible too? Will I be able to at least RUN Windows 7 x64, whether it gives me increased performance or not? The reason I ask is there's a cheap ($100) upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate x64 on journeyed.com/select, and it appears that they don't have a price-reduced 32-bit windows 7 ultimate. Thank you.

 

[johngalt]

Nope - you need to make sure that your motherboard supports a 64bit OS as well.

Although it is pretty much a given that a mobo using a Core2Duo will support 64bit OSs, it is always best to be sure.

Then, the next thing in your planning stage would be to research all your devices (motherboard, HDs, input devices, external devices, etc.) to make sure that either Windows 7 x64 has built in devices drivers or else that 64bit drivers are available from a 3rd party site....

 

[Antman]

Dell cripples motherboards before they build PCs around them. Check your service tag at Dell (look for a 64-bit option in the drivers). Or, provide your service tag and someone here will check.

0RY007 is not a service tag.

 

[bobkn]

Here are my computer's specs: Motherboard - Dell 0RY007
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E8200
4 x 1 GB RAM
OS - Windows Vista Home Premium x86

I've searched and searched and still don't understand whether I will be able to run Windows 7 x64. I know my processor supports 64-bit, but is that all I need, or does the motherboard have to be compatible too? Will I be able to at least RUN Windows 7 x64, whether it gives me increased performance or not? The reason I ask is there's a cheap ($100) upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate x64 on journeyed.com/select, and it appears that they don't have a price-reduced 32-bit windows 7 ultimate. Thank you.

One way to tell: check for available drivers at support.dell.com. If your system is in fact a Dell Inspiron 530 desktop, there are Vista X64 drivers available for it, so you'd be fine with Win7 X64.

$100 for a Win7 Ultimate upgrade seems a bit good to be true, but there are all sorts of student discounts. If you can live with Home Premium, and are a college student (.edu email address, or affiliated with a listed college that doesn't provide a .edu address), it's available for $30:

Windows 7 US Online Store - Student Registration

 

[sancho22]

Thank you so much everyone for replying! Yes, my computer is a Dell Inspiron 530 and the service tag is G0QKLH1. I went to support.dell.com and looked at the drivers available for Vista x64. Looks good! But I have another question: Looking at the drivers, I believe my BIOS I have now is the same version as the x64 version, but the chipset would be different, right? And when would I update that, before, during, or after installing Windows 7? Thanks!

Edit: Yeah, that home premium (and professional, too!) looks great at $30, although I'd like the backup CD so I'd have to pay like $40. However, I think journeyed.com is legit and, being a computer science (sort of) student, I'd really like the ultimate version for $100.

 

[Antman]

Confirm current BIOS during boot. Look at the screen - it is the A?? number that comes up.

If an update is available, apply it BEFORE upgrading.

 

[Antman]

Judging by the current BIOS release date, you likely need this BIOS update.

The chipset date likely means that a current release of Win7 includes at least that chipset driver, if not a newer one.

You look good to go. DO NOT DELETE your Dell recovery partition and you can easily return to your prior OS in the event of a disaster or distaste for Win7.

Search SevenForums for Dell 530 and you can peek at known issues. There are some.

 

[Dave76]

Here are my computer's specs: Motherboard - Dell 0RY007
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E8200
4 x 1 GB RAM
OS - Windows Vista Home Premium x86

I've searched and searched and still don't understand whether I will be able to run Windows 7 x64. I know my processor supports 64-bit, but is that all I need, or does the motherboard have to be compatible too? Will I be able to at least RUN Windows 7 x64, whether it gives me increased performance or not? The reason I ask is there's a cheap ($100) upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate x64 on journeyed.com/select, and it appears that they don't have a price-reduced 32-bit windows 7 ultimate. Thank you.

I know that MOBO. Yes you can run 64bit.

Click the start orb, right click 'computer', then 'Properties', in the lower left corner click 'Performance' for Vista, 'Performance information and tools' in Win7, in the middle right click 'View and print detailed performance and system information', you will see the 64bit info there.
You can use the Dell Vista 64bit drivers with Win7.

You can check with Dell also.

BIOS version should be 1.0.18

The chipset driver for 64bit is 8.3.0.1018, A01, and it is different than the 32bit chipset driver.

When you install your new Win7 x64, switch your bios setting, in 'Advanced', 'SATA Mode', from IDE to RAID. You'll get better performance from your hard drives and be able to use plug and play with external HDs.

Check the Dell Download & Driver site, there is 1 new driver for x86 (dated 22 sept) and 5 new drivers for x64 (dated 22 sept).

 

[DeaconFrost]

Even if Dell didn't have drivers for x64 OSes, that doesn't mean you couldn't run them. You would just have to find them out. You're processor supports it, so you would be good to go from a hardware standpoint, especially if you are using a common chipset, like Intel.

The bigger question is...how come you've been wasting some of your RAM all this time?

 

[zigzag3143]

Here are my computer's specs: Motherboard - Dell 0RY007
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E8200
4 x 1 GB RAM
OS - Windows Vista Home Premium x86

I've searched and searched and still don't understand whether I will be able to run Windows 7 x64. I know my processor supports 64-bit, but is that all I need, or does the motherboard have to be compatible too? Will I be able to at least RUN Windows 7 x64, whether it gives me increased performance or not? The reason I ask is there's a cheap ($100) upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate x64 on journeyed.com/select, and it appears that they don't have a price-reduced 32-bit windows 7 ultimate. Thank you.

goto grc.com download the free app called secura. It will tell you straight away

I would say yes, but be sure download secura

Ken

 

[ravichauhan002]

I've searched and searched and still don't understand whether I will be able to run Windows 7 x64. I know my processor supports 64-bit, but is that all I need, or does the motherboard have to be compatible too? Will I be able to at least RUN Windows 7 x64, whether it gives me increased performance or not? The reason I ask is there's a cheap ($100) upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate x64 on journeyed.com/select, and it appears that they don't have a price-reduced 32-bit windows 7 ultimate. Thank you.

 

[kegobeer]

Post your system specs in your profile, so we can see what hardware you have.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I know my processor supports 64-bit, but is that all I need, or does the motherboard have to be compatible too?

Yes, despite what has been posted, the processor is all you need to be compatible...provided you have a common chipset from the likes of Intel, Nvidia, or AMD. If so, you'll be fine running Windows 7 x64. The only hitch is, you may have to go to the individual component manufacturer's website to find drivers, or just use Windows Update.

For example, I had a Dell Latitude D630 for a work system. At the time W7 was released on TechNet, they didn't have any Windows 7 drivers at all. After a quick trip to Intel's website, I had all I needed, and ran the system with no issues. Based on some of the comments here, I would have just assumed it wasn't compatible.

Anyway kegobeer's advice still stands. Post your system specs, and you'll know for sure.

 

[sancho22]

@DeaconFrost

The bigger question is...how come you've been wasting some of your RAM all this time?

I'm guessing you're referring to the fact that 32-bit os can't use all 4 GB, but 64-bit can? BTW, do you think if I install Windows 7 64-bit, it will be able to use all 4 Gigs?

 

[zigzag3143]

Sancho

Without your system specs it hard for us to help you

 

[DeaconFrost]

I'm guessing you're referring to the fact that 32-bit os can't use all 4 GB, but 64-bit can? BTW, do you think if I install Windows 7 64-bit, it will be able to use all 4 Gigs?

Yes, absolutely. That's the primary reason many of us haven't been running a 32bit OS for several years now. Ever since DDR2 memory became dirt cheap, there's been little reason not to load up on system memory. When Vista x64 was released three years ago, we finally had a consumer ready x64 OS for use on our everyday systems, without worry about finding drivers. Well, Vista had some driver issues when it came out, but they were rectified somewhat quickly.

I have to admit, I'm surprised by your question. You started a thread asking whether or not you can run Windows 7 x64. I would have thought that the ability to use all of your memory would be the primary reason you'd be asking about Windows 7.

 

[Dave76]

I've searched and searched and still don't understand whether I will be able to run Windows 7 x64. I know my processor supports 64-bit, but is that all I need, or does the motherboard have to be compatible too? Will I be able to at least RUN Windows 7 x64, whether it gives me increased performance or not? The reason I ask is there's a cheap ($100) upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate x64 on journeyed.com/select, and it appears that they don't have a price-reduced 32-bit windows 7 ultimate. Thank you.

Yes, despite what has been posted, the processor is all you need to be compatible...provided you have a common chipset from the likes of Intel, Nvidia, or AMD. If so, you'll be fine running Windows 7 x64. The only hitch is, you may have to go to the individual component manufacturer's website to find drivers, or just use Windows Update.

For example, I had a Dell Latitude D630 for a work system. At the time W7 was released on TechNet, they didn't have any Windows 7 drivers at all. After a quick trip to Intel's website, I had all I needed, and ran the system with no issues. Based on some of the comments here, I would have just assumed it wasn't compatible.

Anyway kegobeer's advice still stands. Post your system specs, and you'll know for sure.

Please post your system specs and the people here can give you a better answer, rather than a guess.

I have done the same as DeaconFrost, you can check your OEM or search if a self-build.

Here's my guess:
To run a 64-bit version of Windows, your computer must have a 64-bit-capable processor. If you are unsure whether your processor is 64-bit-capable, do the following:

1. Open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Performance Information and Tools.
2. Click 'View and print details', this will show you the detailed information.
3. In the System section, you can see what type of operating system you're currently running underSystem type, and, under 64-bit capable, whether you can run a 64-bit version of Windows. (If your computer is already running a 64-bit version of Windows, you won't see the 64-bit capable listing.)

 

[AMOCO]

Yes you can run Windows 7 x64 on this Motherboard(ORY007).My wife has a Dell Inspiron 530 with that Motherboard in it.We have Windows 7 Ultimate x64{RTM,Build:7600} and it runs it just fine.Also as for as the Chipset Driver,Load the Vista x64 Drivers(from Dell).We don't use the onboard Graphics,I've got a HIS Radeon X1650 Pro in it for her.Nothing big,But if u do put a Graphics Card in it like her's or higher.Replace the PSU,The stock PSU is only 200W-250W(It's a piece of crap).
I put one of these in it::http://apevia.com/ProductsInfo.asp?KEY=ATX-AS500W-BK
Had it laying around the house.Hope I helped you.