Hi Mike,
Based on the article you referenced below, it’s not the Core 2 Quad CPU that was the problem (in that scenario), but the motherboard. That being said—I have successfully installed Windows 8.1 (x64) on a Dell Studio 540 running a Core 2 Quad Q6600 CPU. This was a predecessor to the Q8200’s (though Intel decided to be cruel and packaged the Q8200 without Virtualization Technology). The Studio 540 uses an motherboard using Intel G45 Express chipset, so take that with a grain of salt (The XPS 630i motherboard uses NVIDIA nForce 650i chipset). I did a little more searching and it does seem like there are reports of folks being able to install Windows 8.1 (x64) on the XPS 630. [1] [1] http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/19608364 You could always utilize your Work at Home privileges to download copy of Windows 8.1 for testing on this computer. You wouldn’t even get to the activation step if there was a hardware support problem so your product key would remain unused. Michael Chung Systems Administrator Enterprise Computing & Service Management Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley Student Services Building, Room S300D Berkeley, CA 94720-1900 Tele: <tel:15106433887> 510-643-3887 Typical Office Schedule Offsite: M-F At Haas: On-demand From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mike Friedman Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2015 4:26 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Micronet] Will Windows 8.1 run on my older computer? Hi, Having recently bought a new Windows 8.1 computer, I'd like to give my older computer to a family member. The latter machine was running Windows 7, but I'd like to be sure that it will support Window 8.1 before he invests in a copy of that OS only to find that it won't install. My concern was triggered recently by this article in particular: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2058683/new-windows-8-1-requirements-strand-some-users-on-windows-8.html which refers to the requirement that the processor support the CMPXCHG16b instruction. The computer in question is a Dell XPS 630i, which I bought new in early 2009. The processor is identified exactly as follows (taken from the System screen in Control Panel): Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q8200 @ 2.33 GHz 2.33 GHz I have run the Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant and the only non-software incompatibility found was the lack of support in the firmware for the "Secure Boot" facility (whatever that is). Otherwise, only a small number of software products were flagged; no other hardware or processor complaints. Can someone either assure me that Windows 8.1 will install (and run) on this processor, or else let me know that it won't? If not, is there any direct test I can do on the computer (which is still running Windows 7) to find out for myself? Thanks. Mike -- Mike Friedman [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> http://mikefberkeley.com
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