Hello all,

I have a Z61t 9443-AA1, and I like it. For a new project of mine, I need to install Solaris 11. It only runs on 64-bit machines, though.

My machine has a Core Duo T2400 in it, a 32-bit Core processor. I understand that if I upgrade it to a Core 2 Duo, I would have a 64-bit processor.

I have another machine, a P4, in which the processor has the necessary instruction set (EM64T) to run a 64-bit OS, but the machine won't. Evidently because the motherboard doesn't have the necessary tracings cut into it to actually utilize 64-bit instructions - or at least that's how it was explained to me. My understanding may be false or fallacious.

If I install a T7400 or T7600 in this thing, can I install a 64-bit OS, or will I have to swap the board too?

Thanks,
E.

Installing a Core 2 Duo processor that you mentioned will allow you to install the 64 bit software without any other changes. Just note that you will still be limited at 3 to 3.25 GB RAM due to the chipset limitation in that machine.

Just noticed that I butchered the title horribly. Sorry, guys.

Thanks, Eric. I'll pull the trigger on the purchase sometime today.

Save yourself some money and buy the T7200 instead. It is a lot cheaper and runs cooler than T7400 or T7600.
The speed difference between T7200/T7400/T7600 is negligible: 2.00/2.16/2.33 GHz.