CPU advice being sort.

[BugOutMachine]

So how do they justify charging you more for less?

Good question. I assume it is a supply matter. This is a relatively old processor (which does not mean that it is not good) and maybe they have a surplus in their stock. But I am only guessing.

It's almost always due to supply and demand. Also Dual Core and Core 2 Duo are different technologies. Also, you will notice that your Front Speed Bus is 1600MHz as opposed to 800MHz will allow you to enjoy FSB 1:1 ratio with your RAM assuming you have a newer system.


A CPU can be a Core Duo with 2 cores, or it can be a Core 2 Duo with 2 cores. They are both dual core but the primary the difference is the micro-architecture when it comes to FSB.

 

[Digerati]

I think you need to start over with this entire thread. In your opening post, you said,

the mobo is only 32 bit

That is not true. Foxconn Support - Download clearly shows 64-bit Motherboard System, Chipset, LAN, Audio, and Graphics drivers are available.

***

It is essential to point out that when replacing the motherboard, and it is not an identical replacement board for one that has failed, and it is not an official "retail" license of Windows, a new Windows license MUST be purchased as a new motherboard is considered a new computer!

See, Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 824125 and note near the bottom where it says,

An upgrade or a replacement of the motherboard is considered to create a new personal computer. Therefore, Microsoft OEM operating system software cannot be transferred from another computer. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect then a new computer is created, and a new operating system license is required.

I know that is counter to what many have believed, but it has always been this way - read your EULAs. OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturing - licenses are for just that, "Original Equipment". It is important to note too that OEM versions are sold at substantial discounts. If transferability is important, buy a retail version.

If you have purchased other software, it may not be transferable either. The exception for Windows is IF your current version is a "retail" full (not upgrade) copy, and you completely remove it from the old computer.

So, to be clear, if your current version of Windows is an OEM (also called "System Builders") version of Windows that came with or was purchased for your old computer/motherboard, you cannot legally transfer that license to your new computer. This applies to Upgrade licenses too as they are directly tied to the license they are upgrading. This means you cannot install it (or the old drive it is currently install on) on the computer with the new motherboard.

NOTE - While technically it can be done, it is NOT legal and is considered stealing. This applies to computers used in the United States, member countries of the EU, and member countries of the United Nations. Check your EULA. In all cases, it will say something similar to this seen for Windows 7 Professional, (their bold),

By using the software, you accept these terms. If you do not accept them, do not use the software.

The software license is permanently assigned to the computer with which the software is distributed. That computer is the “licensed computer.”

The software may include more than one version, such as 32-bit and 64-bit. You may use only one version at one time.

It is important to note you do not own the software, you own a license to use it. And note this is an industry policy, not just Microsoft's.

 

[BomberAF]

In your opening post, you said,

the mobo is only 32 bit

That is not true. Foxconn Support - Download clearly shows 64-bit Motherboard System, Chipset, LAN, Audio, and Graphics drivers are available.

I have been told that the i945G chipset on my mobo is a 32bit chipset, and why then that only 3.25 of my RAM is usable?

I also don'tsee anything that mentions 64bit mobo system.

It is essential to point out that when replacing the motherboard, and it is not an identical replacement board for one that has failed, and it is not an official "retail" license of Windows, a new Windows license MUST be purchased as a new motherboard is considered a new computer!


So, to be clear, if your current version of Windows is an OEM (also called "System Builders") version of Windows that came with or was purchased for your old computer/motherboard, you cannot legally transfer that license to your new computer. This applies to Upgrade licenses too as they are directly tied to the license they are upgrading. This means you cannot install it (or the old drive it is currently install on) on the computer with the new motherboard.


The software license is permanently assigned to the computer with which the software is distributed. That computer is the “licensed computer.”

My copy of windows wasn't pre installed and it wasn't an upgrade version, I bought it separatly in a box so I wont have that problem.

 

[Digerati]

I also don'tsee anything that mentions 64bit mobo system.

Under the File Download tap, click on View Details.

I bought it separatly in a box

Perfect! Just ensure you uninstall it from the old computer and you are good to go.

and why then that only 3.25 of my RAM is usable?

There are millions of pages on Google on that but basically it has to deal with how your memory is mapped and addressed. And in your case, you also have on-board graphics, so a big chunk is probably being snagged for that.

 

[BomberAF]

Under the File Download tap, click on View Details.

I did in the end see what you where talking about.

Perfect! Just ensure you uninstall it from the old computer and you are good to go.

Will I not just be able to swap the mobo's over then if it says my OS needs validating ring them up and validate? I had a similar problem when I swapped over my HDD it started saying my OS was fake and then it needed re validating, which I had to do over the phone.

There are millions of pages on Google on that but basically it has to deal with how your memory is mapped and addressed. And in your case, you also have on-board graphics, so a big chunk is probably being snagged for that.

I am not using my on board graphics I am using a video card which has 512B of RAM, so if the onboard gpu is using RAM how can I get the RAM back?

 

[whs]

I am not using my on board graphics I am using a video card which has 512B of RAM, so if the onboard gpu is using RAM how can I get the RAM back?

In a 32bit system it does not matter whether you use real RAM or whether your graphics has it's own memory. In both cases you need the address space - and that goes off the 4GBs max.

 

[BomberAF]

I am not using my on board graphics I am using a video card which has 512B of RAM, so if the onboard gpu is using RAM how can I get the RAM back?

In a 32bit system it does not matter whether you use real RAM or whether your graphics has it's own memory. In both cases you need the address space - and that goes off the 4GBs max.

So what is the point of having RAM on the video card then, and why is the other bloke saying that my system isn't 32bit but a 64 bit system?

 

[Digerati]

Will I not just be able to swap the mobo's over then if it says my OS needs validating ring them up and validate?

As far as your license is concerned, this is all you need to do (besides uninstalling it from any other machine). That said, all the drivers on the HD will be for the old motherboard and so it may, or may not choke when you first power it up. Make sure you have backed up any data you don't want to lose.

why is the other bloke saying that my system isn't 32bit but a 64 bit system?

If you mean me, I am not saying it is one or the other. I am saying it will support either. The operating system makes it 32-bit or 64-bit, depending on the version you install. And then you must ensure you install the correct drivers from there.

So what is the point of having RAM on the video card then,

If you have a card, then most likely any RAM that would have been used for on-board has been freed and given back to the system. The point of having RAM on the card is because (1) it is dedicated to the graphics (2) it is tweaked for graphics.

You will never see all your RAM as available. Some is always used to map the many hardware devices (and the motherboard itself consists of many different devices) so the OS can address them.

 

[whs]

So what is the point of having RAM on the video card then, and why is the other bloke saying that my system isn't 32bit but a 64 bit system?

The point for dedicated graphics memory is speed. It is a LOT faster than shared RAM.

As far as you mobo goes, I am not 100% certain. The fact sheets are not clear on that. It was designed for the P4 in 2002, but the 64bit P4 came only in 2004 or 2005. So that point would require some further investigation. From what year is your PC?

 

[BomberAF]

As far as your license is concerned, this is all you need to do (besides uninstalling it from any other machine). That said, all the drivers on the HD will be for the old motherboard and so it may, or may not choke when you first power it up. Make sure you have backed up any data you don't want to lose.

So it is true then that because Windows 7 has loads of drivers pre installed you don't need to do a complete fresh install when you replace the mobo, so do you mean by choke that it will either not work full stop, or take a while to get going as the drivers will need to be configure by the OS?

If you mean me, I am not saying it is one or the other. I am saying it will support either. The operating system makes it 32-bit or 64-bit, depending on the version you install. And then you must ensure you install the correct drivers from there

 

[BomberAF]

So what is the point of having RAM on the video card then, and why is the other bloke saying that my system isn't 32bit but a 64 bit system?

The point for dedicated graphics memory is speed. It is a LOT faster than shared RAM.

As far as you mobo goes, I am not 100% certain. The fact sheets are not clear on that. It was designed for the P4 in 2002, but the 64bit P4 came only in 2004 or 2005. So that point would require some further investigation. From what year is your PC?

My PC was bought in Dec 2007, but it was the cheapest PC in PC world, and the only original things left in it are the mobo, and the case, but I do use the old HDD as a back HDD. So I would imagine that the mobo was the cheapest rubbish they could find to build a cheap and the cheapest ESytem.

 

[Digerati]

So it is true then that because Windows 7 has loads of drivers pre installed you don't need to do a complete fresh install when you replace the mobo

I never said that. Win7 recognizes a lot of hardware, but certainly no where even close to the literally 10s of thousands of different hardware out there. And note too drivers built into Win7 are drivers from 2009 and before.

so do you mean by choke that it will either not work full stop, or take a while to get going as the drivers will need to be configure by the OS?

Yes. It might or might not work. You should assume it will not and have all your drivers available.

 

[BomberAF]

You will never see all your RAM as available. Some is always used to map the many hardware devices (and the motherboard itself consists of many different devices) so the OS can address them.

What your saying isn't true, I have just took out a 2GB stick of RAM and replaced it with a 1GB stick which gives me 3GB, and if what your saying is true my PC would say that less than 3GB is available but it doesn't look.

And here is one with 4GB installed:

 

[whs]

If it is from 2007, chances are it is 64bit capable. You can download the Windows7 upgrade advisor and specify the 64bit Win7. That would tell you.

 

[BomberAF]

I never said that. Win7 recognizes a lot of hardware, but certainly no where even close to the literally 10s of thousands of different hardware out there. And note too drivers built into Win7 are drivers from 2009 and before.

I know you never said that, but that was what I thought.

You should assume it will not and have all your drivers available

So basically I should just be prepared for a complete reinstall.

 

[BomberAF]

If it is from 2007, chances are it is 64bit capable. You can download the Windows7 upgrade advisor and specify the 64bit Win7. That would tell you.

Yes, but like I said my PC was the cheapest budget PC you could get your hands on, it also came with a celeron cpu, so I think the mobo's were just some they had laying around gathering dust.

Also look at the screen dumps I have posted above your last post.

 

[bobkn]

You will never see all your RAM as available. Some is always used to map the many hardware devices (and the motherboard itself consists of many different devices) so the OS can address them.

What your saying isn't true, I have just took out a 2GB stick of RAM and replaced it with a 1GB stick which gives me 3GB, and if what your saying is true my PC would say that less than 3GB is available but it doesn't look.

I don't pretend to understand it, but it's an address space limitation. Apparently 32 bit versions of Windows can address 4GB, but some of the addresses are needed for devices other than system RAM. That sets the amount of RAM that can be addressed to less than 4GB. 3.25GB is a number I've seen in practice, but it varies based on what hardware is present. Once you exceed that amount of RAM, less than the installed amount is available to Windows. less than that, and it's all reported as available.

 

[BomberAF]

You will never see all your RAM as available. Some is always used to map the many hardware devices (and the motherboard itself consists of many different devices) so the OS can address them.

What your saying isn't true, I have just took out a 2GB stick of RAM and replaced it with a 1GB stick which gives me 3GB, and if what your saying is true my PC would say that less than 3GB is available but it doesn't look.

I don't pretend to understand it, but it's an address space limitation. Apparently 32 bit versions of Windows can address 4GB, but some of the addresses are needed for devices other than system RAM. That sets the amount of RAM that can be addressed to less than 4GB. 3.25GB is a number I've seen in practice, but it varies based on what hardware is present. Once you exceed that amount of RAM, less than the installed amount is available to Windows. less than that, and it's all reported as available.

My OS is x64 bit version of windows

 

[bobkn]

My OS is x64 bit version of windows

Arrgh. I didn't notice the 64 bit OS.

this is what I see:

I've seen people with your problem before, but I'm unaware of a general solution. BIOS update? (I suppose you're using the latest.)

 

[BomberAF]

My OS is x64 bit version of windows

Arrgh. I didn't notice the 64 bit OS.

this is what I see:

I've seen people with your problem before, but I'm unaware of a general solution. BIOS update? (I suppose you're using the latest.)

Like I said I have been told the reason is because the i945G chipset is only a 32 bit chipset, and as such is only capable of 32 bit computing.