Thanks to all for the insightfull coments!! Let me pursue just one other topic:
For those folks that are managing data sets below 1 gigabite, which would be the best combination in Procesor / OS / and Stata flavor so to achieve the best performance?
Julio
-----Mensaje original-----
De: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] En nombre de David Jacobs Enviado el: Viernes, 08 de Febrero de 2008 10:07 a.m.
Para: [email protected]
Asunto: Re: st: optimal configuration for windows 32/64
As you probably already know 64 bit Windows machines can access far more memory that their 32 bit counterparts.
And since Stata places data in memory, this is an important advantage if you wish to analyze huge data sets. But there currently are disadvantages. If my understanding is correct, many standard programs now won't work in a 64 bit machine, although this situation probably will gradually improve. It follows that if you plan to use the machine in question only with a few specialty programs like Stata, and you wish to analyze extremely large data sets, than a 64 bit machine probably is a good idea, but you should buy a lot of memory to benefit of the one major advantage offered by this choice.
As far as speed is concerned, I know of two options. Particularly if you are buying thru an academic or a governmental account (but I'm not sure about Dell discounts for non US governments), you can get a good price on a workstation from Dell. I have a four core processor Dell machine that seems to be faster than the standard consumer boxes with a strong chip and I only had to spend a bit more than what you plan to spend.
Another option is to get a middle range box designed for computer gamers. These machines are fast, but I wouldn't let them sell you a computer with fancy paint or other unnecessary items. Also if you only want to use such a machine for data analysis, be sure to economize on the graphics card. Gamer machines come with expensive cards that you won't need for data analysis.
I'd be interested in other thoughts on this issue by people on this list.
Dave Jacobs
At 08:50 PM 2/7/2008, you wrote:
>Dear all
>
>I have been searching the statalist archives looking for advice on
>optimal configuration to run stata in a windows 32 bit and in a windows
>64 bit environments, but I did not got a clear answer to my queries.
>
>I need to work with census data uploading into memory about 2 gigabites
>of data. My questions are the following
>
>1. should I go for windows 64 instead of windows 32?
>2. If I go for a Microsoft 64 OS, would I notice a performance
>improvement if i switch from a stata 32bit to stata 64bit?
>2. Any advice about the best processor around? I have around US$ 4000
>to spend in a computer that can allow me to work at reasonable speeds
>with a census database.
>
>I appreciate your help
>
>Julio
>
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