Hello,

I recently got an m1710 XPS, with a 64bit processor.

I am being repeatedly told to stick with a 32bit OS, and not go 64 bit.

The machine: XPS 1710

Processor: T7600 2.33 GHz Core Two Duo
RAM: 1GB DDR2
Battery: 9 Cell battery with subwoofer
CD/DVD: 8x DVD +/- RW
Video Card: nVidia 7900 GS 256 MB
Screen: 17" WUXGA (1920x1200) Glossy
Hard Drive: 120GB 7200 RPM SATA
Network Options: Gigabit NIC, with Intel Pro Wireless A/G

Should I go 64 bit or not? I was told driver support is shoddy to non-existant. I just find it hard to pass up not using the 64bit to its full potential.

Thanks,

Stay with 32 bit, it's silly to go 64 bit at the moment.

stick with 32bit..

yes with 64 bit you might notice a small speedbost from the os. but there are few programs out there that are written for 64bit cpu instructions.. so most of the time you will be emulating 32 bit!

the biggest gripe is the driver support. yes it has come along ways... but still the foucus is on 32bit drivers, so the 64bit counter parts take a back seat...


Battery: 9 Cell battery with subwoofer <----? you have a loud low battery alarm?

Quote: Originally Posted by THRiLL KiLL stick with 32bit.. yes with 64 bit you might notice a small speedbost from the os. but there are few programs out there that are written for 64bit cpu instructions.. so most of the time you will be emulating 32 bit! the biggest gripe is the driver support. yes it has come along ways... but still the foucus is on 32bit drivers, so the 64bit counter parts take a back seat... Battery: 9 Cell battery with subwoofer <----? you have a loud low battery alarm?

LoL- would be funny if it worked like that

Now I am a gamer- I believe CounterStrike Source can be run 64 bit...do you think there would be much of a performace boost?

Most of what I've seen that you gain from paying the Source games in 64 bit is really superficial. At that level of performance power, there's no real noticable difference in gameplay, unless you really think you can benefit from gaining 3-6 frames per second when you are already busting out more than 60 frames a second.

My personal experience in the whole matter is that it's just safer to stay with 32 bit for now as there are MANY less headaches in drivers. Unless you want to be in the middle of a huge game when one of the not quite as battle tested drivers decides to crap out on you and either dump the game totally, or at the very least, lock up the game long enough for you to suck down someone's bullet, stay with the more stable KNOWN software.

However, as with all things, sometimes it's best just to say "Test it for yourself." You may have better luck than we have. In that end, it boils down to your wallet. Do you want to buy another Windows liscence to test it out?

My $.02. Do with as you will.

D

Quote: Originally Posted by Divine Kaos Hello, I recently got an m1710 XPS, with a 64bit processor. I am being repeatedly told to stick with a 32bit OS, and not go 64 bit. The machine: XPS 1710 Processor: T7600 2.33 GHz Core Two Duo RAM: 1GB DDR2 Battery: 9 Cell battery with subwoofer CD/DVD: 8x DVD +/- RW Video Card: nVidia 7900 GS 256 MB Screen: 17" WUXGA (1920x1200) Glossy Hard Drive: 120GB 7200 RPM SATA Network Options: Gigabit NIC, with Intel Pro Wireless A/G Should I go 64 bit or not? I was told driver support is shoddy to non-existant. I just find it hard to pass up not using the 64bit to its full potential. Thanks,

Nice machine. You may be interested in following...loads of extra performance for free...7900GS + GTXBios = 7900GSX - NotebookForums.com

Quote: Originally Posted by reflux Nice machine. You may be interested in following...loads of extra performance for free...7900GS + GTXBios = 7900GSX - NotebookForums.com

Thanks Reflux, I was looking at that the other day and lost the link.

Take a look at the story of how I recieved the 1710.

The story of Dell - . : PerfectKaos.net : .

Thats slick.

Too bad this damn dell I have sitting in my room expired. Stupid LCD... Ebay you go..

Nice one. Dell can be pretty flexible sometimes...I got £150 off my XPS Gen 2 just for ringing them up and ordering instead of doing it on the internet. But a year and a half later, it's being replaced...it still runs well but I've taken it apart so many times that the screwheads are busted, it's getting a bit creaky and it's so slooooooooooooooooooow in BF2142...I figured I could either put up with it (I only really use it two months of the year) or sell it and get something faster...so incoming (hopefully) is a new Inspiron with 2ghz Core 2, 2GB memory and 7900gs.

The XPS has served me well though - like yours - people may knock Dell, but as far as I'm concerned, they know how to built quality machines.