64 bit XP

[Fedaykin311]

I'm building a new gaming/high end machine that will need a 64 bit OS (intending a 1GB GPU and 6GB of RAM).

I refuse to use the POS that is Vista unless absolutely necessary.

Given that, I have two questions:

1.) Is 64bit XP well supported for current games, hardware and software, or has it basically been shelved to drive Vista sales.

2.) I have a 32 bit version of XP, so is there an upgrade option that MS isn't making readily apparent, or do I have to buy the full version.

 

[MrChad]

Welcome to the forum. Your question has been asked many times on this forum, and you should be able to find more opinions if you search.

1. XP-64 has always had limited driver support. Vista 64 is much much better, and drivers should be just as readily available for new hardware in Vista 64 as they are in Vista 32.
2. I am fairly certain you can buy the upgrade version of Vista 64 using your 32-bit XP as a qualifying upgrade OS. It will have to be a clean install. More information here.

 

[bsobel]

Running XP64 over Vista64 for gaming is just stupid. From your post I'm guessing you haven't actually run Vista.

 

[zerocool84]

Vista is a great OS but hey think whatever you want. XP64 still has limited driver support. Vista is what you want right now if you want a 64bit OS but if you do intend with staying with XP64 then you have to buy the full version. There is no upgrade version. Vista64 been nothing but great to me. I'm glad I moved away from XP.

 

[MBM85]

I haven't been able to find an instance where drivers are available for Vista64, but not XP64, so I don't understand when people say that driver support for XP64 is limited. Can anyone show examples where this is so? Vista is certainly a more bloated OS, but at this point I don't see any performance increase with XP64 on my system, so it's quite difficult to recommend it over Vista64, unless there are specific things about Vista you just can't live with.

 

[EndGame]

My vote would go to downloading and running the beta/RC version of Win 7 64bit until it is fully released this Fall and then simply moving to it!

 

[hans030390]

Originally posted by: Fedaykin311
I refuse to use the POS that is Vista unless absolutely necessary.

Uh oh...here we go again. As mentioned by someone else, you likely haven't used Vista, have you? Or not enough to really be able to say that? Maybe you're just following what "everyone else" says? Or maybe you ran the POS beta of Vista (which, yes, was a POS).

Unless you want to run the Windows 7 beta, Vista is, without a doubt, your best (and absolutely necessary) option. And it is a very good option.

My advice: You're new here. Unless you know your way around, really know what's going on, and really know what people think here, you're best off not making remarks like that. I really mean that in the most helpful way possible.

 

[brxndxn]

My vote is for XP 64bit for gaming.. and just make sure all of the hardware you order has a Windows XP 64bit driver. XP 64bit, imo, is more stable than any of the Microsoft desktop OS's.. even XP 32bit..

 

[Sylvanas]

No, XP 64bit is a stupid choice. It doesn't have the driver compatability for starters ( we are talking peripherals etc) and Vista is just a superior OS in every other way. Go get Vista 64, it's great.

 

[wwswimming]

Originally posted by: Fedaykin311
I'm building a new gaming/high end machine that will need a 64 bit OS (intending a 1GB GPU and 6GB of RAM).

I refuse to use the POS that is Vista unless absolutely necessary.

Given that, I have two questions:

1.) Is 64bit XP well supported for current games, hardware and software, or has it basically been shelved to drive Vista sales.

2.) I have a 32 bit version of XP, so is there an upgrade option that MS isn't making readily apparent, or do I have to buy the full version.

i have 32 & 64 bit versions of both XP & Vista, though i don't do any gaming.

i prefer XP (less cluttered interface) and it definitely runs faster.

the only problems i've had with XP64 are compatibility with Visual Studio 2005 and also, finding Quicktime & Windows Media Player plug-ins for Firefox and another Mozilla browser, Seamonkey.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: wwswimming

Originally posted by: Fedaykin311
I'm building a new gaming/high end machine that will need a 64 bit OS (intending a 1GB GPU and 6GB of RAM).

I refuse to use the POS that is Vista unless absolutely necessary.

Given that, I have two questions:

1.) Is 64bit XP well supported for current games, hardware and software, or has it basically been shelved to drive Vista sales.

2.) I have a 32 bit version of XP, so is there an upgrade option that MS isn't making readily apparent, or do I have to buy the full version.

i have 32 & 64 bit versions of both XP & Vista, though i don't do any gaming.

i prefer XP (less cluttered interface) and it definitely runs faster.

the only problems i've had with XP64 are compatibility with Visual Studio 2005 and also, finding Quicktime & Windows Media Player plug-ins for Firefox and another Mozilla browser, Seamonkey.

Considering you list some decent rigs, how can you tell that XP is faster unless you're crippling those systems with 2GB (or less) of ram? Vista should be noticeably faster than XP through SuperFetch.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
My vote is for XP 64bit for gaming.. and just make sure all of the hardware you order has a Windows XP 64bit driver. XP 64bit, imo, is more stable than any of the Microsoft desktop OS's.. even XP 32bit..

As much as I loved XP64, I have had zero issues with stability on Vista 64. Sure XP64 can be considered more stable... but I have never had any software/hardware crashes on Vista.

If the OP just wants a stop gap until Windows 7... then sure, but I would not pay much for XP64.

 

[PingSpike]

I haven't had any trouble running any of my games or anything with XP64. You'll want to make sure you have drivers for your hardware that work with XP64. Thats a problem with Vista as well though. I couldn't tell you if its generally worse or better with Vista or XP64...I suspect its better with Vista. That said, the only things that ever seem to have a problem are cheap ass pheripherals. The main guts of the PC and video card seem well supported.

 

[Modelworks]

I would not recommend Xp x64 for gamers. Most games are only 32 bit. It really gives you nothing more than Xp 32 bit. If you are going to use 64 bit apps then it is well worth it. The reason I still use Xp x64 even when vista and seven are out is because it is solid and uses very little resources. When you are working with applications that can use every bit of ram and cpu power you want to have the OS doing as little as possible. The ideal situation is Kernel +application

 

[JTsyo]

I realize DX10 doesn't make much difference but I would imagine Vista will be better suited to take advantage of newer graphics updates.