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Re: hardware for Mathematica 6.0

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg80093] Re: hardware for Mathematica 6.0
• From: David Bailey <dave at Remove_Thisdbailey.co.uk>
• Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2007 07:20:08 -0400 (EDT)
• References: <f9gv7e$b73$1@smc.vnet.net> <f9jjji$2g8$1@smc.vnet.net>

David Park wrote:
> I recently bought a new computer and one problem I ran into was the 32-bit 
> vs. 64-bit operating system question. It is very difficult to buy a PC (from 
> Dell or HP say) that will come with a 64-bit operating system - even though 
> you specify a 64-bit CPU. One might, or might not be able to install a 
> 64-bit operating system yourself but then you may lose all software 
> warranty. (I got the 32-bit Vista Home Premium OS.)
> 
>>From what little information I was able to glean, 64-bit Mathematica is not 
> necessarily faster than 32-bit. It mainly buys you the ability to directly 
> address larger memory spaces. Most Mathematica applications will work fine 
> with the 32-bit version. In any case, most users may want to clear up this 
> question both with respect to their need for a 64-bit OS and what a PC 
> supplier is actually going to supply before they plunk down their money.
> 
I have read that Dell is particularly bad for selling you what they 
decide you want - rather than what you actually want!

I think the answer is not to use Dell!

Getting a new 32-bit machine would seem a mistake by now, since 
applications (including Mathematica!) always seem to grow in size, and 
you can always obtain more memory.

David Bailey
http://www.dbaileyconsultancy.co.uk