Can't install 64 bit Win 10, so next best suggestion ???

[David C]

Still have older Asus A8N-SLI with AMD FX55 (was using XP Pro) but it is now our 5th computer and kept in den for guest use and quick photo print jobs when newer computers in use. The BIOS died recently when battery failed, so used opportunity to remove RAID-0 and install single HD. Bought Win 10 but found the hard way yesterday that the 64 bit version will not install (the CMPXCHG16b and LAHF/SAHF requirement added in Win 8.1). It remains a powerful computer and I really would like to get a few more years service.

I'd like to keep it with a new OS so can run current software, but since it now has visitor use also I do not want to install Linux. I am still researching its motherboard/CPU limitations, but does anyone have knowledge whether the 32 bit version of Win 10 should install? I certainly appreciate any and all suggestions about Win 10 install, and other tips or suggestions you feel appropriate.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I don't know for sure, but no harm (or cost aside from time) in trying 32 bit.

 

[Elixer]

It remains a powerful computer and I really would like to get a few more years service.

Curious, powerful compared to what exactly? That is a really old system you got there.

Yes, you can download win 10 32bit version from MS, and it should install on that system.
(The key you have is both for 64 bit & 32 bit as well).

 

[VirtualLarry]

Curious, powerful compared to what exactly? That is a really old system you got there.

LOL. Maybe I could sell him one of my 3Ghz+ FM1 rigs. Should be a good upgrade.

Don't let him try a Haswell Celeron with DDR3 memory, it might be too powerful for him to handle.

Edit: In all seriousness, put Win7 64-bit (it's compatible) or Linux on it.

 

[tidy]

.

 

[David C]

Okay, laugh all you want at my comment. I do not get insulted and too senior to care. And I do thank you for the replies. If I can use the license key I have now, I will try to download/install the 32 bit version. If not, I kinda hear Linux calling.

That old machine was built by me and CPU overclocked to 3.5 GHz, Raid-0 on Velocirapters, memory tweaked almost to instability, with SLI video on dual GTX 460 cards. It ran fast and was the #1 production machine here for a few years. Of course I mostly run Intel Quads now on Asus motherboards with only mild overclock, but that machine has served well. It gets to loaf a little now, and I just pulled the RAID and SLI to simplify longer term maintenance (no more gaming). I keep five computers at the home office but trying to retire (mostly) from IT consulting, so I am also simplifying computer upkeep. Wanted just one version of Windows on all machines as I reduce work. Two year goal of being out of business completely.

Believe it or not, with the economy down I still find a few clients using XP and Vista. I have kept this machine with matching business software to be able to better work in their interests. Office also has three quad core on Win 10, and one dual core still on Win 7 (will get Win 10 in May). All are 64 bit and have appropriate age business software packages to support client needs. I skipped Win 8 and 8.1, so missed the software conflict which killed my install plans. In fact I believe all my clients skipped over the Win 8 package - do not recall seeing it in use.

Elixer -- might cost another $100, as I had bought a 64 bit disk (32 not included) and key might or might not qualify for the activation/registration. Guess I will find out.

Virtual Larry -- Win 7 is aging out also and I might as well just reinstall the XP Pro. I really want a supported OS that I will be able to get drivers, security, and current application software. My PhotoShop and newer scanners and printers need newer OS. While old, that computer still does serious work. Yes I might go with Linux.

 

[Dahak]

Elixer -- might cost another $100, as I had bought a 64 bit disk (32 not included) and key might or might not qualify for the activation/registration. Guess I will find out.

You can download the 32-bit iso using the MS tool from here
https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10

The key will work with both 32 or 64 bit and they had done that since Win7, actually maybe vista too

So no need to pay another $100 dollars

 

[mikeymikec]

That board supports a max of 2GB RAM according to ASUS. As much as I like the idea of getting as much out of a PC as possible, I think it's time to bin this one, simply because even with the 32-bit version of Vista/7/8/10, you'll run into memory problems unless all it ever is used for is grandma's letter-typing.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

That board supports a max of 2GB RAM according to ASUS. As much as I like the idea of getting as much out of a PC as possible, I think it's time to bin this one, simply because even with the 32-bit version of Vista/7/8/10, you'll run into memory problems unless all it ever is used for is grandma's letter-typing.

I'll just chime in my views about this, based on some collection of experience I've had.

I've got a laptop that was released in 2007. It was hard to find drivers for Windows 7, but the Vista drivers were viable where needed. That is, Win 7 found its own drivers for most of the hardware which worked fine, but there's always one or two hardware nodes on Device Manager that need "special attention."

Even for those latter driver cases, you only need to make note of the device make and model, so when you dual-boot to Windows 10, you would manually select it from a list from the "Update" or "Install" driver option of DM.

The newer MS OS's have become better and better with providing old hardware drivers.

So there IS some wisdom in keeping, refurbishing and reconfiguring old hardware. Yet there are limits and tradeoffs with everything -- like my Moms' old '83 Toyota Corolla, which runs like brand-new but must go to cash-for-clunkers now because there aren't any more $120 aftermarket EGR-vacuum-modulators to replace the defective one and get the car through smog-test.

If you can outfit an old dual-core system with 4GB or better, fine. I was able to get 8GB into my old laptop. But if the limit is 2GB, I'd schedule a trip to the county recycler and either look for more recent used hardware or buy all-new parts. Unless, of course, you can do without the old vestigial machine altogether.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

That old machine was built by me and CPU overclocked to 3.5 GHz, Raid-0 on Velocirapters, memory tweaked almost to instability, with SLI video on dual GTX 460 cards. It ran fast and was the #1 production machine here for a few years. Of course I mostly run Intel Quads now on Asus motherboards with only mild overclock, but that machine has served well. It gets to loaf a little now, and I just pulled the RAID and SLI to simplify longer term maintenance (no more gaming). I keep five computers at the home office but trying to retire (mostly) from IT consulting, so I am also simplifying computer upkeep. Wanted just one version of Windows on all machines as I reduce work. Two year goal of being out of business completely.

With hardware this old, I'd at least consider dumping this machine to a virtual one. It'll simplify maintenance, and you won't have to worry about failing hardware in the years ahead.

Wmware has a nice free tool to do that almost automatically.

 

[David C]

Thanks again to everyone for the additional thoughts and suggestions. Just got home so haven't gotten back on this project today. Collectively, I now have some more research and costing to re-consider before I proceed.

Originally I figured that for the cost of an OS, and two large HDs (one for use, other for backup) I would be back up and running for the near future -- say, $300.


[Dahak] -- thanks for the download tips. I will probably do this about Tuesday if all goes smooth this weekend, or unless I really get onboard with Linux. The way business needs have gone recently I have had little need of Linux, so this could be a good excuse to update my software and re-tweak my skills before I get a contract that demands it. Just thinking, or I could outsource that consult and continue my slowdown towards retirement.

[mikeymikec & BonzaiDuck] -- I hear you loud and clear on the shakey wisdom of further investing into ancient hardware, and all the tradeoffs involved. Been there many times on both sides of the discussion both here in the office and with clients. In my office, I have already eliminated two good units, but had more personal interest in keeping the A8N-SLI unit alive in the den until I retire completely. I could do without it for the business, but it now serves visitor's emails, Facebook, supports song and guitar sheet music for all (I never let outsiders use my main work equipment). But maybe I should consider a powerful laptop in the den instead..?? Durn, now I am arguing with myself!

Actually the motherboard supports 4GB RAM. Now if you use earlier 32bit Windows, it could only address 2GB. I have not yet heard anything that suggests whether 32bit Win 10 would allow you to address all 4GB. Still researching that point, which is why I have not yet downloaded it. Keeping all 4GB RAM available might make the go/no-go decision.

[Insert_Nickname] -- Probably won't go this virtual server route as I am retiring, and as operations phase out I will be getting rid of all but about two best computers. Units now can share operations as needed across the network.

 

[JackMDS]

If you do something that "absolutely positively" needs large amount of RAM you would not even feel the Difference between Win 10 x32 to X64.

 

[mikeymikec]

Actually the motherboard supports 4GB RAM.

Odd, Asus says 2GB, Crucial says 4GB. I suspect you're right as other Asus Athlon-64 gen boards I've used could address more than 2GB. It's unusual for Asus to get it wrong though (my source was the motherboard manual from the Asus site).

Now if you use earlier 32bit Windows, it could only address 2GB.

Incorrect, unless there's something else that's very quirky and unusual about this board. A board with 4GB RAM on a 32-bit version of Windows will be able to address 3GB normally, sometimes a little more (3.3GB is quite common in my experience). There are some other swings and roundabouts to this that can allow the 32-bit version of Windows address the full 4GB but I've never seen it happen.

I did a lot of upgrading of customers' Vista-era systems (that I originally installed with XP) from XP to Win7 or Win8. My rule of thumb was that if the board supported a max of 4GB RAM, I used the 32-bit version. If it supported more, I used the 64-bit version.

Also, recently I've been upgrading a few 32-bit Vista/7 systems from 2 to 3GB RAM.

 

[hhhd1]

Windows 7 is not as old as XP, almost 99%+ of new software/hardware will work on 7, and it is supported for few more years.

a side note:
with windows 10 pro retail license, you should qualify to get free dowgrade rights to either windows 8 or 7, a phone to MS support should fix that up, and you would still have the '10' license for possible future upgrades.

 

[sweenish]

I say why not Linux?

For the use cases you describe, Linux would work just fine, and as long as you use something like Cinammon as the DE and put a few key shortcuts (Chrome) on the desktop, it won't be so jarring to people.

Shoot, you could probably get away with Chromium OS.

 

[Ketchup]

You are running into a Windows 10 limitation OP. Running 32-bit is not going to help. Windows 7 is your best shot here.

http://windowsreport.com/cmpxchg16b-compareexchange128-windows-10/

 

[Magic Carpet]

Actually the motherboard supports 4GB RAM. Now if you use earlier 32bit Windows, it could only address 2GB. I have not yet heard anything that suggests whether 32bit Win 10 would allow you to address all 4GB. Still researching that point, which is why I have not yet downloaded it. Keeping all 4GB RAM available might make the go/no-go decision.

David,

I have a similar Abit board, minus the SLI capability. What can I say. You can setup any 64-bit Windows, except for Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. That includes Vista, 7 and 8.0. But any of 32-bit of Windows will work fine. Here is the thing though, depending on what video adapter you use, you may have different amount of usable ram left in 32-bit of Windows; i.e. I had a few geforce 6xx cards, with them installed the available memory was limited to only 2.75 GB; whereas with Radeon R9 270, it was 3.25GB, a half gig more! Of course, 64-bit version would solve any of these issues but I was limited to 8.0 by the processor lacking some instructions needed for 8.1/10 64-bit. Yeah, I also had 4 gigs of ram and dual-core X2 cpu. Worked fine for the most part. Still have it as a backup, but not actively using it. Hope it helps.

Today, I would use it with either 32-bit Windows 10 or 64-bit Windows 8.0 or 7 SP1. Windows 10 being the first choice (offered free currently for 7/8 users), it uses memory compression and is way more efficient compared to Windows 7 SP1.

Some kind of Linux flavor could also be on the cards, but I'd rather use W10 32-bit with a modern video card. Likely to be smoother in web browsing on that older CPU. An upgrade to X2 processor / SSD would also be recommended, this is what I have, literally, double the performance of what you have, but it's up to you, David.

 

[escrow4]

Jeez, what's with the snide comments. I think it's great that someone is able to get that sort of longevity out of a system.

When Windows 10 first came out I remember something about it running on an Athlon 64 3200+ system.

Its not snide when modern higher end smartphones are at least twice as fast as your desktop. Then it becomes hilarious. The slowest Intel celeron is faster than OPs box. An Atom netbook is faster. A middling Android tablet is faster. Those parts are over a decade old. Definition of ancient. And every single one of the above alternatives would use less than a nuclear reactor worth of power and heat. I bet even VirtualLarry would agree. Junk it.

 

[VirtualLarry]

That old machine was built by me and CPU overclocked to 3.5 GHz, Raid-0 on Velocirapters, memory tweaked almost to instability, with SLI video on dual GTX 460 cards. It ran fast and was the #1 production machine here for a few years.

The slowest Intel celeron is faster than OPs box. An Atom netbook is faster. I bet even VirtualLarry would agree. Junk it.

Overclocked to 3.5Ghz? An AMD64 X2 S939 (or is this AM2?) isn't THAT slow. I built one for a friend some time ago with a 4800+ S939 CPU and 4x512MB RAM. It's certainly FASTER than a netbook Atom, in single-threaded (though possibly not in MT, if you're comparing to a quad-core Atom). I say, let it live. It's still got some life left, though that 2GB of RAM limitation means that it will be relegated to a light browsing box.

 

[Magic Carpet]

VirtualLarry,

He's using a single-core processor, albeit a legendary one. At 3.5 Ghz it is still quite a beast (twice ST performance of your Atom/Kabini core; @ 3.1 it has 1000 Marks in ST).

The X2 upgrade is always there, if it ever gets to that stage

 

[vailr]

The easiest & cheapest path would be: to check your local Craigslist.com for a replacement desktop system that includes (64-bit) Windows 7, 8, or 8.1. I was unaware of that peculiar 64-bit Windows 10 requirement mentioned in the initial thread post.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

The easiest & cheapest path would be: to check your local Craigslist.com for a replacement desktop system that includes (64-bit) Windows 7, 8, or 8.1. I was unaware of that peculiar 64-bit Windows 10 requirement mentioned in the initial thread post.

It would depend on the OP's priorities. If he really wants to "save" the old system, he could find the processor upgrade and hope he can get it for a song -- OEM-pulls, new OEM or simply -- used.

Put that on one burner of his tech-maintenance stove.

On the other, I'm more and more confident about an outfit in Cleveland. (That's in "Ohio" for you other citizens of the world.):

www.ascendtech.com

They maintain two sets of web-pages, because they have two sets of customers: corporations or businesses turning over their IT assets according to a budget and timetable; and either mainstreamers or geeks who buy parts for machines that still can be made to work tip-top 100%.

They sold me two motherboards originally retail-priced at $240 -- for about $85 each. I just ordered an i5-3470 IB processor so I can re-build my server. They sent me an e-mail about an inquiry concerning a different reseller who said his processor was "refurbished." (You know -- how do you "refurbish" a processor?)

Ascendtech explained in much greater detail to me how or where they get their parts, what condition they're in, and a host of other things. I can post the text of that letter if it's requested, but the letter gave me even greater confidence in my purchase.

You will find they have refurbed laptops, desktops, stuff in all sorts of flavors. It may not be "bargain-basement" prices, but it's going to cost you some-to-considerably less than this year's OEM model releases.

 

[VirtualLarry]

VirtualLarry,

He's using a single-core processor, albeit a legendary one. At 3.5 Ghz it is still quite a beast (twice ST performance of your Atom/Kabini core; @ 3.1 it has 1000 Marks in ST).

Wow, forgot that some of the Athlon 64 FX CPUs were single-core. Always thought that the FX CPUs were the "big daddy" of the AMD64 X2 4800+, etc., and they were all dual-core. Lesson learned, thanks.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Always thought that the FX CPUs were the "big daddy" of the AMD64 X2 4800+, etc., and they were all dual-core. Lesson learned, thanks.

My pleasure. The only dual-core FX processor AMD has ever released for the 939 socket, was FX-60. It had also a staggering price tag

Then there's the issue of AMD's upcoming Socket-AM2; due out in another few months, you obviously won't be able to use any Socket-939 processors in the new motherboards and there will be no upgrade path beyond the FX-60 for current 939 owners. So, our recommendation would be to stay away from the FX-60 unless you absolutely have to build the world's fastest system today.

Still worth about hundred bucks on eBay today. Quality chip for its time.

 

[David C]

Appreciate all the discussion per my computer upgrade thoughts. Can't really do anything major on this for a few days due to other obligations. Based on all your suggestions I have definitely decided not to invest much in the unit's revamp. Considering updating OS and minimal applications.

Yeah, the FX55 is single core, but remember when I built this system that dual core chips were just being released and the first models were slower. Also essentially no major software was available to take advantage of dual processing for a couple more years. So I had no performance disadvantage for some time. This unit started life as a fun machine, but it got phased into business support. And I built more heavy duty work based computers as my office needs grew and my client's software required.

I had up to eight computers once (not counting a laptop) but have cut back to five with the A8N-SLI holding more sentimental value than $$ value. That board had quite a following and another forum almost specialized on that board.
It was a very picky board for memory selection, and even the manufacturers' qualified equipment lists were often wrong. It was an out-front board for adopters of SLI and on-board RAID. A lot of fun in those days. Oh well, history.

I now have computer running again (minus SLI and RAID and several HD that won't be needed) so it is less powerful, but it will not have the load demands of the past anyway. Just running it on bench to verify stability after some de-tune tweaks, temporary using a Vista disk I had available and no other software. Also watching the equipment available on Craigslist, but nothing worth considering yet.

I think the least I invest now the better, and plan on a new topnotch build next year, then play musical chairs with all the computers eliminating all but best three plus laptop.

Thanks again to all for expanding this discussion. It has made me recall a lot of detail that went into this computer build so many years ago.