About 64-bit Vista

About 64-bit (drivers and details for m1530)

In the short time that I have been active on these forums I have realized that probably close to 10% of the posts in the Dell forums have some relation to 64-bit Vista. I remember seeing another guide/tutorial like thing in here but it fell down too far. My effort now is to hopefully get this added to the stickied thread entitled DELL forum information booth **Read before you post**. So, let's move on.

What is 64-bit?
64-bit is a way of classifying the amount of data your hardware uses in each "chunk" that it reads. A bit is a binary number (0 or 1), which, when combined with other binary numbers, can be interpreted as numerical patterns, words, dwords, etc. A 32-bit PC (also known as x86) can handle 32 bits in any given chunk. Given the knowledge that computers use binary (or a base-2 counting system), we can determine that the highest integer available to a 32-bit PC is 2³², or 4,294,967,296. A 64-bit PC (known as x64) can handle 64 bits in every chunk, yielding a maximum integer as large as 2⁶⁴, or 18,446,744,073,709,551,616.

Why can't 32-bit recognize 4GB of RAM?
Well, as stated before, the highest integer a 32-bit computer can handle is 4,294,967,296. If you convert that number to megabytes by diving by 1,024, twice, you will get: 4,096MB. That means, the absolute maximum amount of memory that 32-bit hardware can address is 4,096MB, or 4GB. Most of you are probably now wondering why Windows only addresses 3.2-3.5GB. Well, 32-bit hardware/software combinations form a memory hole where that top 1GB of your memory is passed on to your other hardware (PCI cards, Video cards, etc.), and remains unseen to you.

Microsoft's Support Site Says:

How much RAM can Vista 64 recognize?
The math is the same as for a 32-bit OS. We know that the largest integer available to a 64-bit PC is 18,446,744,073,709,551,616. This leaves Vista with a maximum possible amount of addressable memory in the 2 exabyte range (exa is bigger than both giga and tera, FYI). I believe 64-bit vista is limited to 8 terabytes of virtual memory addressing, however.

Addition by GalaxyWolf:

That is correct. I was just referring to the amount of memory vista CAN handle though, not the amount that it does handle.

Is Vista x64 worth it?
That, like most other "should I do this" questions, needs to be decided by you. Many people claim to see the differences in graphics and processing capabilities on 64-bit windows, many don't. I personally see little differences here and there performance-wise, and I do like the full allocation of my 4GB of RAM. In any case, the additional RAM is always useful, and native x64 applications will, for the most part, run faster than what you were used to on x86. Just keep in mind that it isn't required, but that push to get the full potential out of your 4GB of RAM is...justified.

Why are no software/drivers available for 64-bit Windows?
Well, this isn't true. Support for 64-bit OSes is out there...it's actually everywhere. Almost every large company makes a version of its software to run on 64-bit if their already-existing 32-bit software can't run in compatibility mode (which is done automatically). Drivers are a whole different story. Drivers take a little bit longer to develop for Windows x64 platforms because they must be digitally signed. Most corporations will do this anyway, and have been doing it to avoid annoying warnings about unsigned drivers and such, but there still are some floating around. Additionally, the majority of computer parts are packed in a built computer which, for the most part, runs a 32-bit copy of Windows. As we move on to 64-bit, more and more drivers will come out. But hey, if you never switch because you're afraid of driver compatibility, there will never be enough users on 64-bit Windows to develop the drivers.

Where can I get 64-bit Windows?
Dell has a policy in which they will install a 64-bit copy of Windows for you if you specifically ask them to and already have a 32-bit copy selected for your system. They don't promise driver compatibility, but they will give you the OS. That being said, it may be too late for some people. For all of you who didn't ask Dell and now want a 64-bit OS, it is not illegal (at least, I am 99.9% sure) to have (though it may be illegal to actually download via a torrent or other source) a Vista DVD which you will use to install a 64-bit copy of YOUR ORIGINAL WINDOWS VERSION, provided that you get rid of your 32-bit installation and run only the 64-bit. In fact, for those who bought a retail copy of Vista, Microsoft's website allows you to order the 64-bit CD's here. Your 32-bit product key will also work on a 64-bit installation.

Now, for the m1530 users
Here are your 64-bit drivers. Thanks to pascallee, hanime, richierich, etc for your 64-bit driver information

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=255232

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=248523

Let me know if you have any more questions. Rep me if this post was helpful.

Edit: Dell rep I just spoke to said they don't offer 64-bit...and yet people have gotten it. Strange.

 

just to pitch in slightly..

"Is 4GB of RAM useless on a 32-bit OS?
Yes and no. It is in the sense that it can't be allocated as RAM for your programs; however, it does still get used."

actually, the 4gm Ram you physically install isn't used.. the "extra memory" comes from the devices own stash. i.e, my laptop has 2 Video cards, and each card has 512mb of memory in it. combine the two and i have 1GiB of memory dedicated to my video cards..

if i have 4GB of ram installed in my machine, what this means is, the Processor will mark 1GiB of memory addresses to my video cards for their own bits of memory, address the rest of my hardware's memory caches, and then, whatever is space left in the processors addresses, allocate as much of my 4GB of ram as possible.

think of it as an address book.. a 32 bit processor has 4GB worth of address "space", the computer puts all your video cards memory into that space, the cache on your harddrive.. everything into that address space. any space left in that adress book can then be used for your System RAM. so even if you have 4GB of RAM installed, the system makes -no- use of part of it under a 32bit processor because the processor is physically incapable of "addressing" the extra once it's allocated all the other memory in your system..

as for 64bit Vista.. i don't think they do it OEM, so i ended up just bying a full retail version of vista ultimate to run side by side with my XP install..

and i do believe that even the 64bit versions of Vista have a (software) limit on the amount of memory it can recognise..

Home Basic: 8 GB.
Home Premium: 16 GB.
Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate: 128 GB

though in practical use, you probably wont have / need 16GB of memory for a fair while anyway.

 

great post. Thanks

 

Great info GalaxyWolf. It has been added.