Installing a 64bit processor with XP32bit

Shaolin_Dragon

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Jan 19, 2014
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Hi folks,
I currently have a precision 380 with a pentium 3.2Ghz 32 bit. Obviously i'm running xp 32bit as well.
If i upgrade the CPU to a Pentium 960 running dual core, am i likely to get any issues when rebooting? I already have dells latest Bios A09.
Thanks for any help you can give!
 
Solution

With the exception to the cpu, all other system drivers should stay the same with the same board.

I have swapped out cpus in the past and not once did it ever cause an issue(as long as the board supported it.).

Shaolin_Dragon

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Jan 19, 2014
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Would I have any issues with XP being that its 32bit and I wouldnt be doing a reinstall (cant, bought the rig off someone and he didnt have the XP CD. :/ )?
 

dgingeri

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No, it's the same 32-bit instruction set. It will just stay in 32-bit mode as long as you have a 32-bit OS. Just don't expect it to address more than about 3.5GB of memory.

However, you should seriously consider a replacement system running Windows 7 at your earliest chance. Windows XP will have support ending very soon, on April 4th of this year. There is an anticipation that many hackers are reserving many known vulnerabilities for the end of support so they can hack many systems quickly without fear of a fix coming out. These days, you can find an AMD A4-5300 with motherboard for under $100 on specials about once per week, and that would be considerably faster than a Pentium D 960 at considerably less power usage. I built a whole system for my mom based on that chip for under $350 back in August.
 

With the exception to the cpu, all other system drivers should stay the same with the same board.

I have swapped out cpus in the past and not once did it ever cause an issue(as long as the board supported it.).
 
Solution

Shaolin_Dragon

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I'll hopefully be upgrading the OS to win 7 at some point in the very near future. I was going to do the CPU upgrade first, then probably the OS, and add in a new HDD at the same time.
I'm using a BTX case (darn dells!) so cant use the new motherboards.
 

Shaolin_Dragon

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This is what I was hoping to hear :) Switching out the OS at this point in time would have been a little troublesome.
Thanks for all the help!