Windows xp pro or 64

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101
Ok,
so i just placed an order for the parts for a new system and now im wondering about what OS to get, i looked around the forum but couldnt find anything. I have been using xp pro up until now but im wondering is there any advantage to getting windows 64?

these are the comp specs:

Asus A8R32-MVP Deluxe Crossfire (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4400+ (Socket 939)
Corsair 2GB DDR XMS3200C2PT TwinX (2x1GB) CAS2
MSI ATI Radeon X1900 XT 512MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express)
Western Digital Caviar SE16 250GB 2500KS SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM
NEC ND4570 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE 7.1 Sound Card - Retail

The comp is going to be mainly used for gaming and also some web surfing listening to music etc

any replies most appreciated
 
If you can get the drivers for x64 I'd make the move

I've moved to x64 and I haven't regretted it. It's rock solid and nippy

I have a 32-bit Virtual Machine running XP Pro to use my printer, rather an extreme solution as Samsung haven't released any x64 printer drivers for my model (XP x64 has some but not mine. It has the revised model but it doesn't work)

ATi has x64 drivers, as does nVidia (chipset) and Creative Labs (sound card). Really the only driver support lacking are drivers for printers, webcams, modems, etc

Check out the large (14 page) 64-bit thread in the archive here

The programs that don't work:

- Alcohol 120%
- Virtual PC 2004 (use VM Ware as IMHO it's better and works perfectly)
- MPLAB ICD 7 (no USB support but Serial OK)
- The basic versions of Nero 6, the Enterprise works and Nero 7 works

Basically anything that needs it's own drivers and that currently doesn't have 64-bit drivers. This does include StarForce (I think that's what it's called) protection

HL2 and FarCry are two examples of games that have 64-bit versions
 
Hmm, it sounds like a lot of effort to get certain things to work and then there is the risk that they might not work at all :( as much as id like to go for the newer technology i think i am gonna have to stick with what i know until there is better support for 64bit windows :rolleyes: unless the performance difference is THAT DAMN GOOD!? that i would be only taking advantage of like 50 or 60% of my machines capabilities? ... would it?

-=EDIT=-
hehe just re-read that link to the x64 faq and the second question pretty much answered mine
You shouldn't experience any compatability issues with your 'old', 32bit games, but that doesn't mean you wont, and there's certainly no performance gain to justify the move.
 
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It's a little better, but no where near 50%. 64-bit doesn't double your speed, it just increases the speed of large integer operations. Specific 64-bit code will run faster but running 32-bit code in 64-bit windows won't bring any performance boosts

If you're unsure you can download the trial off Microsoft's website and give it a go
 
Given the opportunity I would go 64 everytime.. although, all my hardware is supported :rolleyes:

I find it more stable...
 
EVH said:
Given the opportunity I would go 64 everytime.. although, all my hardware is supported :rolleyes:

I find it more stable...

I would like to use it too but I can't live without my webcam, scanner and TV card, so I still use Win XP 32bit.
 
I tried 64 bit last weekend and I must admit I was frustrated with it. Of course a bit of pre-planning would have helped but the native drivers for the Asus Mobo meant that I couldnt connect to the internet as Ethernet didnt work. Even with 64bit drivers cerain applications would hang or freeze the system such as Ventrilo, Skype and Smart FTP

Gaming wise no real performance changes

On the plus side It did install applications a lot quicker than they did XP Pro 32.

All in all I think I will stick with XP Pro 32-bit until there are more drivers support
 
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