Old CPU on win7 64bit?? Help!

[Minthe]

I have an older computer and I know of all the driver/software issues that can come from going from 32bit to 64bit OS w/ same hardware, but I was wondering if my old Athlon XP 2500+ socket-a processor would be compatable and work at ALL on the new 64bit Windows 7?? I don't care so much if there is some performance issues, I just want to know will it boot/install at all? heh Thanks!

 

[jonpaul37]

it will not work fine

 

[mindless728]

your socket A Athlon XP will not be able to run any 64 bit OS because it doesn't have the 64bit extensions

however the 32bit version of Win7 should work just fine

 

[Minthe]

Blah. What I thought, just wasn't 100% sure. Soooo.... if that is the case, I may just get the 32bit version of win7.

Another question, eventually I will replace my current mobo and cpu with newer ones. Since I have a 32bit os, should I just get a 64bit cpu in case I ever get a 64bit os? And if I get a mobo that I know works with w/e 32bit cpu I buy, if I decide to then buy a 64bit cpu, would it work in that same mobo or does it require a seperate mobo???

 

[bql500]

Here are the minimum requirements for Windows 7.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/system-requirements.aspx

 

[Minthe]

Thanks, but that isn't exactly relevant. I wanted to know if the a MOBO had anything specific about it that makes it only work with 64bit cpus or 32bit cpus or if it even matters.

 

[daship]

All new CPUs are 64bit except maybe atoms.

 

[mindless728]

except this isn't a new cpu, its an Atlon XP

i don't think the board matters, except that it supports a 64bit cpu which your socket (A) doesn't support any

S754 was the earliest socket to support Athlon 64's and LGA775 with the P4 was the earliest on the intel side

 

[Minthe]

Ok, so basically it is a socket issue. I just wasn't sure if one mobo could handle 64bit and another could not, but I am assuming that whether or not a mobo can support 64bit is dependant on the socket type that the mobo allows and if there are 64bit cpus for said socket type. Ok, thanks a bunch!

 

[jsc]

No. It's a CPU issue. Motherboards are just designed for specifiic CPU's. Your Athlon XP 2500+ is a 32 bit CPU. That's the limiting factor.

 

[Minthe]

Best answer selected by Minthe.

 

[windows7guy]

Hello Minthe,

Just a bit of FYI to understand the issues with 32-bit and 64-bit OS upgrades and later options that may or may not be available to you later:
When upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7 you must upgrade the version currently installed within Windows Vista to the corresponding version in Windows 7. I.E. Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium; Windows Vista Business to Windows 7 Professional; and Windows Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate. You also cannot upgrade a 32-bit operating system to 64-bit -- to migrate from 32-bit to 64-bit will require a custom install.

Additionally, you will not be able to "upgrade" from a 32-bit version of Windows 7 to 64-bit -- the architecture between the two is too drastically different to allow such a change. To learn more about the differences between a 32-bit operating system and 64-bit please go to the following link: http://bit.ly/2aT3xP

Also check the Windows 7 Compatibility site: (There you will find out about hardware and software compatibilty.)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/en-us/default.aspx
There is a pulldown from which you can choose "hardware" and "software".

I hope that helps you out!

You can also find lots of information on Windows 7 here in our Springboard website:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/default.aspx

Thanks again,
John M.
Microsoft Windows Client Support

 

[jonpaul37]

Hello Minthe,

Just a bit of FYI to understand the issues with 32-bit and 64-bit OS upgrades and later options that may or may not be available to you later:
When upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7 you must upgrade the version currently installed within Windows Vista to the corresponding version in Windows 7. I.E. Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium; Windows Vista Business to Windows 7 Professional; and Windows Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate. You also cannot upgrade a 32-bit operating system to 64-bit -- to migrate from 32-bit to 64-bit will require a custom install.

Additionally, you will not be able to "upgrade" from a 32-bit version of Windows 7 to 64-bit -- the architecture between the two is too drastically different to allow such a change. To learn more about the differences between a 32-bit operating system and 64-bit please go to the following link: http://bit.ly/2aT3xP

Also check the Windows 7 Compatibility site: (There you will find out about hardware and software compatibilty.)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/en-us/default.aspx
There is a pulldown from which you can choose "hardware" and "software".

I hope that helps you out!

You can also find lots of information on Windows 7 here in our Springboard website:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/default.aspx

Thanks again,
John M.
Microsoft Windows Client Support

Dear Windows7Guy,

I originally tried to navigate the Windows website in order to try to determine which CPU's are supported under 32-bit & 64-bit architecture, however, i was unable to find such a webpage.

I think it would be wise to have an "Operating System CPU support" page that lists all CPU's for the past 5 years and which ones are supported by 32-bit (all of them) and which are supported by 64-bit.

Just my opinion, but i'm sure most would agree with me.

Jon-Paul