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05-31-2009, 12:58 PM
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#1 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 40
| 32 bit vs. 64 bit
Should I get the Dell Studio 15 with Windows Vista 32 bit or 64 bit?
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05-31-2009, 01:17 PM
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#2 | | Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 322
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How much RAM does it have?
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05-31-2009, 01:19 PM
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#3 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 40
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the 32 bit has 3 GB Ram and the 64 bit has 4 GB Ram
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05-31-2009, 01:42 PM
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#4 | | Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 322
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I would go with the 32 bit. 3GB of ram is more than enough for most everything. Plus 64 bit has some driver and compatibility issues, as some programs do not have 64 bit versions.
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05-31-2009, 02:06 PM
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#5 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: VA
Posts: 81
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Get 64 bit and ask dell to give you the disc for 32 bit (they are required to give it for free if you ask) then set up a dual boot.
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05-31-2009, 02:12 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Here
Posts: 4,956
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I would personally go with the 32-bit system. I can't see why you would need so much RAM (unless you're using Solaris with ZFS).
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05-31-2009, 02:43 PM
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#7 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 176
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I'm pretty sure Dell has all the drivers for the 64 bit version of Windows Vista. I would go with the 64 bit.
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05-31-2009, 02:48 PM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,135
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If you get the 64 bit, you can always run a 32 bit OS on it.
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05-31-2009, 08:56 PM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ithaca, NY, Cornell '13
Posts: 1,564
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I thought I read that 64 bit has an essentially unlimited RAM potential? Definitely more future proof.
I believe I read it on the Snow Leopard page, but I think it said that it had that because it was a 64 bit OS.
regardless, I have no idea what the physical difference in the 64 and 32 systems are...
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05-31-2009, 09:02 PM
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#10 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 176
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64 bit is limited at 128 GB RAM, but it'll take a while for us to get there.
You can run MOST 32 bit programs on a 64 bit computer, except for drivers and anti-virus programs, but they usually have the 64 bit version.
Note that a 32 bit OS cannot run a 64 bit program.
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05-31-2009, 09:52 PM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Here
Posts: 4,956
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This thread scares me...
*checks and confirms that I am currently using 33 MB of RAM for a browser and music player*
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05-31-2009, 10:07 PM
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#12 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 176
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Whoa what kind of browser do you use? My Firefox is using 115 MB of RAM with 5 tabs and my Itunes is using about 50 MB idling. Most people won't go over 2 GB or RAM though because there is virtual memory too, but I still like to have 4GB to be safe and more future resistant.
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05-31-2009, 10:43 PM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Here
Posts: 4,956
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I'm using elinks on a Linux framebuffer. The music player is MPD + ncmcp. It idles at 16 MB of RAM :P
When I need to use a graphics-heavy website or a spreadsheet, I start up X and use Opera. That'll push me up to around 100 MB. But I can do everything else (including photos) without X - and I don't need more than 60 MB of RAM total.
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05-31-2009, 11:08 PM
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#14 | | Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 870
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im at 2.6 right now w/ just three safari tabs (one is youtube idk if that matters), itunes running, skype, iChat, and iMail
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05-31-2009, 11:53 PM
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#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,837
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2 gigs is plenty for almost anything.
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