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    Sony Vaio VGN-Z820G/B 32bit can upgrade to 64bit?

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by mobenzo, Oct 31, 2010.

  1. mobenzo

    mobenzo Notebook Geek

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    Hi all,

    I just bought this Sony Vaio from a kid who paid $1800 for it 2 months and his friends got him a Mac so he sold it. I got it for $600.

    I was about to buy more memory. It has 4gb and I was going to go to 8gb. But its only 32bit. But based on what I found below I can upgrade to windows 7 64 bit on this laptop? Is that possible?

    I need 64 bit to recognize the 8gb memory. So does anyone know if I can simply buy windows 7 pro or ultimate and install over 32bit and then buy the 8gb memory?


    /// here is what i found ///
    Will my system recognize the maximum upgrade?
    A: Possibly

    How much memory your Windows OS will recognize depends on which version of Windows you are running. 32-bit versions of Windows will see (and utilize) only 3GB or 3.5GB. To utilize more memory, install a 64-bit version of your OS.

    //////////

    Here are the specs:

    - 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8700
    - 4GB (2x2GB) RAM
    - 320GB 7200rpm Hard Drive, SuperMulti DVD Burner
    - nVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS & Intel GMA 4500MHD Hybrid Graphics
    - 13.1" LED Backlit 16:9 Widescreen Display
    - Integrated Camera and Microphone
    - Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi
    - Windows 7 Ultimate (32-bit)


    Thanks in advance,

    M
     
    mobenzo, Oct 31, 2010
    #1
  2. beaups

    beaups New Jack Hustler

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    You can install win7 64 but can't upgrade. You'll need to do a clean install.
     
    beaups, Oct 31, 2010
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  3. 5ushiMonster

    5ushiMonster Notebook Deity

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    Windows Vista or 7 will only show 3GB of RAM when you have 4GB or more installed, when you are running a 32bit OS.

    As beaups says, you need to install a 64bit OS to get to use the 8GB of RAM.

    It might pay to do your research here regarding RAM upgrades. There are some RAMs that just simply won't work despite being 'compatible'. RAM sticks with 8x chips per card will not work. Only those with 4x chips will, and the only companies making such cards are Kingston (very expensive) and Crucial (US$180 off ebay for the 8GB). Apparently the newer Samsung RAM sticks, despite having 8x chips per card and manufactured from this year onwards, work without issues.
     
    5ushiMonster, Oct 31, 2010
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  4. mobenzo

    mobenzo Notebook Geek

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    Thanks for the responses.
    :)

    Any real advantage to installing a 64bit on this system?

    Two scenarios:
    1. Install 64bit and 8gb ram works = how much better?
    2. Install 64bit and 8gb ram doesnt work = how much better?


    Basically asking - is it worth it?
     
    mobenzo, Oct 31, 2010
    #4
  5. mobenzo

    mobenzo Notebook Geek

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    Weird?

    It has a Win 7 Ult pro 32bit installed but I can only find drivers for this model on sony with 64bit drivers?

    I need a Service Programmable I/O Control Device Driver for this 32bit version and cant find it anywhere?

    Any ideas?

    Thanks again
    M
     
    mobenzo, Nov 1, 2010
    #5