Building new PC - install 64 or 32-bit Windows?

[Grubert]

With the help of a techie friend, I'm going to build a new AMD-based PC. Usage will be typical home/gaming/HTPC (not MCE). The mobo would probably be an MSI Platinum SLI, and the CPU a Venice 3000+ or 3200+, and a 6600GT nvidia.

Obviously, it'd be a clean install.

I'm not sure whether I should install x64 from the start, or install 32-bit XP Pro and upgrade in July (before the upgrade period expires)?

 

[sparkyclarky]

If the components have drivers for XP-64, it shouldn't hurt too much to go with that. But as a whole, you won't see much benefit from XP-64 with your applications at this point in time. It will probably be useful in the future, but I'd say that is at least a year down the line.

 

[jameswhite1979]

What about a dual boot and have them both?

 

[NightCrawler]

Originally posted by: jameswhite1979
What about a dual boot and have them both?

:thumbsup:

 

[CalvinHobbs]

go for dual boot as already proposed up there...you're truly lucky guys...having x64 drivers for all your hardware..

 

[Grubert]

Dual boot is a good idea, but in this case it seems rather troublesome. See here: http://board.iexbeta.com/lofiversion/index.php/t53517.html