Ok so i bought this computer from Dell. IT came with windows vista home :( the Intel q6600 quad core. Now it came to my attention that the q6600 supports 64 bit OS so i installed one and everything worked great. Except that most devices such as on board network card dont support 64 bit OS, I contacted Dell and ask why this was i mean my processor supports it but devices dont and the os installed and ran but just couldnt get drivers for other things, they told me i should had told them prior that i wanted to run 64 bit OS. I said why so you can charge me more for that? I mean if the processor supports it why wouldnt the rest? ahhh i yelled at them. So what do you think my options are? But a new motherboard or do you think i can get devices that support 64 bit? Personally i have never heard of just peripheals that support 64 bit i thought if your processor does than your good, where can i find devices that support 64 bit? I have never seen the outside of the box say this device supports 64 bit besides like a processor or something? Can someone send me some clarification of this? perhaps a website that contains devices or motherboards that support 64 bit. I mean i should buy a new mobo cause dell locks out the bios also ......... s :)

Learning in progress..........

It's not Dell's fault that you decided to change the OS & quite frankly, you were out of line for yelling at them about it.

One of the drawbacks to running a 64-bit OS is that many peripherals don't have 64-bit drivers available. Are you gonna actually run any 64-bit applications? If not, why would you want/need a 64-bit OS in the 1st place? You don't HAVE to run a 64-bit OS with a 64-bit CPU & the vast majority of people don't bother. 64-bit has a long way to go before it becomes mainstream.

It seems to me that possibly you work for Dell :) if not then well you must like them. If half of your computer you purchase is compatible with 64 bit then why not the other half? They have to think of this when selling a computer that supports 64 bit, And yes some applications will run 64 bit including the OS <----- This is the major reason for the upgrade. Some games also utilize 64 bit and the quad cores that are there. Mostly i want to use this for testing or experience or whatever you would call it, its irrelavant what i want to use it for i was not asking for people's insite on this topic i was asking for specfic sites that have hardware that support what im doing. Also most software does not support 64 bit OS but most software does not utlize the quad core that i have but the fact is that some do and i would like to have some background using some of them.

Learning in progress..........

I've been running XPPro64 since the beta.
Wouldn't think of going back!

Download a copy of SIW (Google will find it for you)
Use SIW to determine what NIC is built into your mobo and make sure you have drivers installed. Dell doesn't make NIC's!

I understand what NIC i have and i thank you for the response in fact SIW is the tool i used in order to figure what NIC i had cause i thought the drivers i got fro them were wrong. I'm asking if anyone could suggest a motherboard that supports 64 bit? Or when looking at motherboards what speecifically would i look for so i know all the hardware on there supports 64 bit

Learning in progress..........

This machine is built on an Intel D925 board and running a Celeron D 3.06ghz CPU which supports EM64T. Both the board and the CPU are old so I'd suggest you research later Intel boards and processors.

FYI, I do not work for Dell & do not own a Dell...never have & never will. All my PCs are self built.

The system you bought was not designed with a 64-bit OS in mind. I just had a look at Dell's "custom configurator" for the Inspiron 530 & neither 64-bit OS is an option. That in itself should tell you something.

http://www.dell.com/content/product...

You may be able to track down the 64-bit drivers you need, then again, maybe not.

No i cant i tried and asked Dell so most of my machines are home built also but i was just impatient and wanted it then. Now that i look back a ome built PC would had been a better option. I just was unfamiliar with running 64 bit OS and i have learned from this experience. All im saying is when browsing through motherboards how do i know the whole thing supports 64 bit? I thought just by supporting a processor that supports 64 bit such as the q6600 that would be good enough. So i guess my question is, how do i know the whole board supports 64 bit?

Learning in progress..........

"So i guess my question is, how do i know the whole board supports 64 bit?"

Probably the best way to do it would be to choose a board or two that interests you, then go to the manufacturer's website. Find the page for the model you're interested in & see if 64-bit drivers are listed. For example:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...

http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/Product...

http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/Support...

Thats a great idea thank you just see if they have drivers for what is on the board brilliant

I honestly never thought to do that!!!!

Learning in progress..........

"So i guess my question is, how do i know the whole board supports 64 bit?"

http://www.intel.com/support/mother...