64 Bit Windows XP Professional

#1

OK, so now I'm getting gassed about getting a new PC...

And I'm wondering what's the scoop on the 64 Bit XP Pro...I know w.a.i. has a copy, anybody else..? I think the laptop I am getting comes with Media center or some shit, I don't care, I'm formatting as soon as I get it...But which OS, now that's a different story...Ideally tho, I want to take and work with the 64 Bit version of Windows...

#2

i was underwhelmed with winxp 64b when i tried it

make sure your partition your hd and leave a little sliver for a dedicated linux partition instead of booting from a cd and running a live distro. 7-8 GB should be plenty for the OS root dir, and home. can always mount up a fat32 partition to share between windows and linux too!

#3

I have an amd 64bit 3400+
It's the best CPU for games....it's fast as hell and very cheap...

for windows 64 well,emh,I tried it...it was sooooo heavy, so slow, with games and sw, and at the boot it take 256 and more Mb of Ram...
For me it's useless,it's better the good Xp SP2 with some tricks...

Win 64bit is very good only with 64 bit compiled program and for windows there are 1 or 2 program written for 64bit....sooo we have to use 32bit application on a 64 bit OS,and this is bad on Windows 64bit

#4

let me also add that driver support was almost non-existent when I was investigating the 64bit Windows. On top of that the generic built-in windows drivers did not support some of my hardware (most of which is not that old!) Things may have improved somewhat over the past 4-5 months, but there is something to be said for "tried and true" especially when dealing with an operating system. Make sure all your hardware is supported and make sure you have a compelling reason for testing your already chilly streak of luck with all things computer recently before committing to the 64bit version.

one more tip, if it is open for negotiation, try to get a full install windows cdrom with your purchase, not some bs oem vendor restore cdrom....you will be very glad you did the first time you want to wipe and re-install.

#5

So, basically...I should stick with my surprisingly smooth Windows XP Professional 32 bit OS..? /tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />

#6

Unfortunately so. Untill Vista comes out or you want to use a Linux distro of some sort...

The Windows XP 64 is seriously hampered with drivers and program support like everyone here has mentioned. Its OK if you are gonna use it with a program that specifically benefits from a 64 bit operating system, like a database, math or 3D application (Maya, Max, CAD) - but otherwise it ends up being rather frustrating.

#7

Can't wait till Vista comes out, looks like it's amazing. Haha I have some friends in Germany who have super fast internet, and that thing is about 4-5GB and they downloaded it in 15 mins.

#8

QUOTE(AYHJA)So, basically...I should stick with my surprisingly smooth Windows XP Professional 32 bit OS..? /tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Let me add a little perspective here.

Let's all go back like.... 11 years ago... yea.... What was out back then from MS ?
hmmmm

Windows 3.1, 3.11 . Windows NT 3.51

All in 16 bit mode.... And SUDDENLY.... WINDOWS 95 !!!!
THE CRAPPIEST OS EVER !!!!!
Everything was PSEUDO in that os. The interface, the commands, the drag'n'drop, the "plug'n'pray"... EVEN the infamous 32 BIT support... As the first pentiums started being cheap and easy to get, the 95 frenzy started.... While this was going on, silently and NOT for home users, MS gets a little bit more serious and releases their best OS EVER, which is the father of the OSes you're using now: Windows NT4 Server/Workstation. Of course, the wholes were too big and they had to cover up quickly. The word was: "unless you have installed SP3, your NT is just a bunch of rasta hair". That was true indeed. Then again, NT4 would offer an extremely stable environment, TRVE 32bit capabilities, 64bit encryption which went to 128 a little time later, a very reliable task manager and ... NTFS which was the best thing that ever happened to them in regards of stability and rubustness. Basically everything that a sensible user would desire at that time. All, except DirectX. In that aspect, MS did their worst OOPSIE since they wanted to sell more of their 9x babies and just let NT stay at DirectX 3, no matter what Service pack was released. Then again, OpenGL could run PERFECTLY under NT, so I had what I wanted: Quake.

Back then, the existanse of 32bit drivers was almost nill. Same for 32bit applications. Time came and thankfully, the HATED 9x (ME) series finally died. Never liked that OS, never used it. Having a 32bit os back then, would enable me to follow up the progress in the computers. At the same time, I was able to use more of my hardware since it was "32bit - ready". Add to this the excellent 16bit support with the subsystem called "NTVDM" (NT Virtual Dual Machine) which would basically do what linux does so easily - open another shell for each 16 bit application - and you have, more or less, the situation.

What changed since then ?

Well, for one, MS got a lot more careful when it came to releasing an os. Not that things are perfect. Far from it. Butt(SHAKIRA!) they are a LOT better than they used to be. I'm writting from a 64bit XP Pro boxie and I can tell you that this baby is just smooth as Lisa Marie's curves. It runs swell. The 32-16bit support is excellent and I've had no crashes 'till now. Finding drivers for the hardware wasn't SUCH a problem either.

Basically, (and I'll say it bluntly) ANY company that, right now, doesn't have 64bit drivers for their hardware, IS NOT WORTH TRUSTING YOUR MONEY INTO. Any company that respects themselves, have already released 64bit drivers for their hardware. Nvidia, Creative, ATI.... and others. Personally, I'm running on a MSI K8N Diamond Plus which has Sound Blaster Audigy 7.1 and 2 Ethernet ports (1GB each) onboard so I haven't needed to get other hardware and I'm running on MSI's 64bit drivers which are fine for the moment.

Bottom line, just so I don't tire you more (and I can go back to Shakira /:D" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt=":D" />), don't waste your 64bit hardware with a 32bit OS. In the beginning, you'll have very few difficulties adjusting to the 64bit demands butt(SHAKIRA!!) really soon, you won't even notice. Plus, you'll be taken the most possible (for now) advantage of your hardware.

Dare.

Edit: Don't get me wrong, I am NOT an MS fan. I can just recognize progress (finally /tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" /> For a stuck up mind like mine, doing that is a serious achievment). Also, be aware that I'm NOT telling you to take windows over linux. Far from it. I wish I knew how to handle my way around linux. If you know, then of course you should use linux too!

#9

I'm suggesting triple boot here.. lol
Windows, Windows x64 and Linux of some kind (only needs to be a few GB)

I'd use 32bit Windows or Linux as the OS of choice, and use your 64bit for apps that support it only, cause trust me, most programs are still 32bit, and unless we're talking about the drivers for your mobo, CPU and Graphics card, you aren't gonna get 64bit drivers either.

Linux supports 64bit natively, and I'm sure you'll see a performance boost if you bother to recompile your kernel (not that I expect you to bother).. /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />
However, while emanon quite rightly points out it'll be easier if you have a FAT partition to share your data, some open source guys have finally come out with fully read-write NTFS driver with really good speeds. So I guess you can use your NTFS partitions with Linux and Windows.

Now while BlindG has a good point, I really wouldn't recommend using x64 Windoze until you actually see a decent amount of 64bit applications and drivers. I mean, sure, the 64bit is pretty much the same as 32bit, other than DECREASED startup times for me (opposite of what others have mentioned), and piddly-arse app and driver support. You have NO idea how pissed off I was while waiting months for the x64 version of Daemon Tools so I could mount my images!

So basically, I again end up agreeing with emanon pretty much, and simply suggest triple booting. Me and e always think alike, lol
On a final note, x64 is a hit-and-miss affair at the moment, until application and driver support eventually catch up, if developers bother to write natively for 64bit. In BlindG's case, it was a hit. Everyone else, seems like a miss.

#10

I think I am willing, at least at first, to install 64 bit and see just how fucked up it is..It is a favorite saying of mine to "better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it," plus, with all I've been through, I'm sure it won't disappoint that much...I just won't get my hopes up...I'll try it, and it if its fucked or has shit performance, I'll just downgrade and or, get a couple 2 GB Flash drives and boot them...