XP 64bit and games

LabR@t · 6 Dec 2007 at 19:26

HI is xp64bit any good for gamming on? I have vista32bit but i have got 4gb of ram now and can get me hands on a copy 0f 64bit windows of my mate for has upgraded to vista.

what are ati, and x-fi drivers like? performance hit/boost?

gurusan · 6 Dec 2007 at 19:35

Been gaming on XP Pro 64 for years now. Never had any problems.

I've had an XFI in the past as well as both Nvidia and ATI cards. Ran everything without a hitch. As far as a performance boost between 32 and 64 bit XP, I don't think there is any.

LabR@t · 6 Dec 2007 at 19:38

will xp64 get the sp3 that I have read about, looks like it gives a nice boost to performance
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/11/27/windows_xp_sp3_brings_performance_boost/1

edit:

found the answer

Service Pack 3 is compatible with all 32-bit versions of Windows XP, so no matter if you're on Professional, Home, or Media Center Edition, you'll be able to get all of the updates and improvements.

i want to do a fresh install and cant decide what os to have now i have 4gb of ram

vista64(have to buy) , vista32, xp32 or xp64

NVIDIA_x64 · 6 Dec 2007 at 20:10

You can download a trial of Windows XP Professional x64 Edition which is the full thing but you will only be able to use it for 180 days and you get all the windows updates and stuff so it is cool. :cool:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/facts/trial.mspx

LabR@t · 6 Dec 2007 at 21:47

is 64bit os the way to go or stick with xp or vista32bit

helmutcheese · 6 Dec 2007 at 21:50

XP 64 gets less support than Vista 64, has always been that way and it wont change now, SP3 will be last SP for it but the support for drivers etc from 3rd partys aint the best IMO.

I never used my free Vista Testers copy of Vista 64Ult for 1 year as of support issues.

mmj_uk · 6 Dec 2007 at 21:51

For gaming XP64 is not a patch on XP32/Vista in my experience.

LabR@t · 6 Dec 2007 at 21:58

mmj_uk said:
For gaming XP64 is not a patch on XP32/Vista in my experience.

so me buying 4gb of ram was a waste of money then seeing how it only allows me to use 3.2gb of it?

LabR@t · 6 Dec 2007 at 22:56

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/amd_nvidia_windows_vista_driver_performance_update/page9.asp

oh well that has made my mind up.

Chronictank · 6 Dec 2007 at 23:02

unless you got more than 3 gig of ram/plan to upgrade doing a fresh install is pointless really

Darkwave · 6 Dec 2007 at 23:45

mmj_uk said:
For gaming XP64 is not a patch on XP32/Vista in my experience.

And my experience is the opposite. Oopsie, there goes a spanner in the works.

XP x64 is a great OS and the bugs have all been ironed out now as far as I can tell. The only reason I bother dual-booting with an x86 OS anymore is because XP x64 doesn't have Media Centre on it.

Edit: I should also add while I'm here that I too use an X-Fi etc. and the drivers are fine, whereas the X-Fi support on Vista is utterly abysmal beyond all hope and you'd have to pay me to go through that again.

Ozzie Dave · 7 Dec 2007 at 01:57

I have no problems with my XP x64 or the X-Fi. All recent games and older games I have run great. At least as well as they did on XP x86. I upgraded to x64 mostly for the apps I run though. Some 3d apps I have take full advantage of it. Also will be going to 4gb soon too.

Bottom line - if you play games only then its probably not worth the effort right now. But if you use your PC for high end apps also like I do then yes its well worth it.

m4cc45 · 7 Dec 2007 at 06:59

helmutcheese said:
XP 64 gets less support than Vista 64, has always been that way and it wont change now, SP3 will be last SP for it but the support for drivers etc from 3rd partys aint the best IMO.

I never used my free Vista Testers copy of Vista 64Ult for 1 year as of support issues.

It wouldn't suprise me if in 2009 you'll get another SP4 which will be the last (they normally follow the previous OS in regards to this) I imagine SP4 would just be the roll up patches though.

Never had a problem with either XP 64 or Vista 64. Both are rock solid OS's and can't think of anything that didn't run with it (all I did was get updated drivers, utilities, etc. and all was fine).

It depends really what you want to do - if you have the moeny to spend then go for it, if not then you're stuck with XP.

M.