Windows 7 OS software, 32 vs 64 bit, and best deals?

[andyoxon]

Planning to put it on my new HD (clean install).  Anyone have links for/know of a good price on Windows 7 OS software?

On amazon... Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Full Version (PC DVD), 1 User is £95.99

Andy

[geraldc]

87.99 at yoyotech.co.uk but they may make you buy a bit of hardware to fulfil the oem conditions.

[andyoxon]

Thanks.  So the price doesn't look like it's going to be generally far off the £90 mark.

[2_Flat_Erics]

Know any students or teachers? in fact anyone with access to a .ac.uk email address?

If you do then you can ask them to get you a copy from microsoft for £30 (Download) or £39 (Physical disc).

Technically it is an upgrade version but you can do a clean install on a blank HD as long as you dont enter the serial number until after the install is complete. There are plenty of threads about this all over the interweb thingy.

If you don't know anyone who can get the discount for you then Amazon seems a pretty good deal.

[tonycollinet]

Don't forget that an OEM version is (Technically) locked to one PC, and cannot be transferred to a new one. (Or even a new/replacement motherboard in theory - although most seem to get away with it.)

There is no such restriction on the retail version. For the cost difference I would probably go retail.

As said above, you *Can* do a clean install of an upgrade version - but technically  you will be running unlicensed software.

Again, I believe student/teacher editions are only licensed for use by the student/teacher.

However, in all the above cases the software runs without problems.

[plum]

Home Premium OEM 70 quid + P&P here

Eclipse Computers - Products

[andyoxon]

Thanks.

BTW is it worth installing the 64 bit version on my laptop - or stick with 32bit?

[rogerzilla]

You need the right one for your laptop.  What processor does it have?

[andyoxon]

You need the right one for your laptop.  What processor does it have?

I couldn't remember where to find the details, but Belarc advisor indicates it's:

2.00 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
4096 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Board: Dell Inc. 0YD479
....
Bus Clock: 166 megahertz
BIOS: Dell Inc. A04 09/29/2006

Dell Inspiron (Dec 2006)

[plum]

I think that's a 64 bit chip, so you can use either 32 or 64 bit OSs. Since the W7 x64 is cheaper it would make sense to go for that one.

[andyoxon]

OK thanks I managed to find out it's a:

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7200 (4M Cache, 2.00 GHz, 667 MHz FSB) with SPEC Code(s) SL9SF, SL9SL

Instruction Set   64-bit

If its a 64 bit chip, strange the laptop only allows 2GB RAM AFAIA... but I guess that's just the spec.

[Polar Bear]

If you are limited to 2gb ram then I can see little to be gained by having a 64 bit installation.   Also, if you go 64 bit then to get the benefit you need really to install other 64 bit applications.   There is some level of incompatibility over 32 bit apps running within 64 bit OS, though it is perfectly sensible to run a 32 bit os on hardware capable of 64 bit.         

That's my personal view of course.   Windows in 32 bit is restricted to just over 3gb or usable ram whereas 64 bit can use oddles of ram.   There was a trend a few years back to shove 64 bit processors into pc's then ship them with XP or Vista 32 bit OS and a max of 2gb ram.   Total waste of a 64 bit processor IMO.   A bit like shoving a high spec rear mech on a machine with a cheddar bottom bracket. and edam hubs.   

[andyoxon]

Thanks.  Actually not sure I really have any applications that would benefit from 64bit(?).  Just found this... http://en.community.dell.com/what-do-i-buy/f/3510/p/18653046/18776032.aspx  some people can get 3.5GB recognised by my laptop, but I'm unclear whether anyone has used this increased RAM with 64bit.

If one can get the PC to recognise 3.5GB under 32 bit, does it follow that the same will be accessible under 64bit?

[tiermat]

Thanks.  Actually not sure I really have any applications that would benefit from 64bit(?).  Just found this... http://en.community.dell.com/what-do-i-buy/f/3510/p/18653046/18776032.aspx  some people can get 3.5GB recognised by my laptop, but I'm unclear whether anyone has used this increased RAM with 64bit.

If one can get the PC to recognise 3.5GB under 32 bit, does it follow that the same will be accessible under 64bit?

Yes, 'cos your system bus is only 32 bit, 3.5G is the max addressable.  For you to be able to address over that you need the system bus, CPU and bios all to support 64bit addressing.  PAE was/is used as a way around it, but TBH it doesn't really work that well.

Time for an upgrade?

[andyoxon]

Given our Inspiron 9400, cost about £1000 (incl 3yr cover) one of these http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/studio-1747?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn is probably the heir apparent... which I can't justify.        

Would def buy Dell again - at the time I couldn't fault their customer service (I returned the M60, 1920 px 15.4" screen laptop I bought initially) nor the machine I still have.