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General discussion

Ordering a new desktop and wondering about 64 bit

Apr 23, 2005 2:09AM PDT

Hello!

This my first time here and posting. I am in the process of ordering a new Desktop. I have configured the Dell Dimension 8400 650 Pentium 4 processor on this. I understand that Microsoft will be introducing a 64 bit windows some time this year. Will this new computer be compatible. If not, is it upgradeable. I would hate to buy a new computer only for it not to be able to take advantage of all this 64 bit stuff that is coming out.

I would appreciate any help I can get on this matter and/or advice. I plan on ordering this by the weekend.

Thanks in advance.

Discussion is locked

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64 bit support
Apr 23, 2005 2:39AM PDT

If you check out the Intel website you can see the only processor that supports 64 bits is the Pentium Extreme edition. Or you can go with an AMD Athlon 64 based system.

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You're ready.
Apr 23, 2005 3:03AM PDT
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Yes, it has the EM64T.
Apr 23, 2005 3:16AM PDT

The Dell 8400 650 Pent 4 does have the new 64-bit support technology. Any computer that has the Pent 4 6xx processor number has the 64-bit support tech.

You may note the lesser models of Dell do not have the 6xx process number. I suspect Dell will add the 6xx to all their models when the supply of 5xx runs out.

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i'd agree with that
Apr 23, 2005 2:51PM PDT

Intel is seemingly trying to off load all the 5xx chips (just like AMD trying to purge 130nm from the Athlon64...)


Yes, the Pentium 4 650 is fully 64-bit capable
and would make a powerful addition to most systems
assuming the rest of the system has a good level of performance amongst parts (i'd top it off with an X800SE or X800XL, and 1GB of dual channel DDR2...if the X700 series is offered by Dell, i'd consider the X700Pro or X700XT)

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I have a question Ozos
Apr 23, 2005 3:26PM PDT

what is the X700XT. I can't find it at newegg. Is that card hard to find?
ROger

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x700xt
Apr 23, 2005 4:16PM PDT

hmm interesting i coulnt find it either. looking at ati's site too i dont know if that's even available. maybe the idea was after the x700 pro you'd want to go up to the x800 or pro. the x700 pro seems to have the most advanced features available for that card so i think the x800 was what comes next after the 700 pro. the 700 pro's got the GDDR3 ram so i would assume its' got the 8 pixel pipelines as opposed to the 4 that the 700 has.

hmm just looked at some of the different specs... looks like the x800 is the step between the 700 pro and the 800 pro (obviously) the core clock on the 700 pro is actually faster than on the 800 by an average of about 20 Mhz. the memory clock is also slower on the 800, 700Mhz as opposed to 864 Mhz on mine. go to the 800 pro adn that jumps to 900Mhz and the core clock jumps to 475 Mhz. the plus for the 800 though is the 4 extra pipelines. 12 as opposed to 8.

so umm the next step above the 700 pro is the x800 series.