windows xp 64 question

[hoppa]

Getting a new Core 2 Duo with 4 gigs ram, do I need 64-bit XP pro for it? Or does the basic 32-bit version work.

thanks.
-andy

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: hoppa
Getting a new Core 2 Duo with 4 gigs ram, do I need 64-bit XP pro for it? Or does the basic 32-bit version work.

thanks.
-andy

32bit will be fine, with the exception that it'll only utilize roughly 3.25GB of memory.

Your better option over XP 64bit would be Vista 64bit which is a much better OS.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

I have a few 64-bit computers running 32-bit OS and a few with 64-bit; it depends on what you need. My newest computer is used for a lot of encoding, stuff that is compiled in 64 bit, etc. I actually see a benefit from using it.

I'd definitely go with Vista x64 over XP; not many 64-bit drivers work with XP x64 at all.

 

[hoppa]

Thanks for the responses. Question about Vista: how will it work with older software? Old versions of 3ds max, winamp 5, will it be alright? And is it still really unstable?

 

[dguy6789]

More often than not, Vista works perfectly fine with everything you throw at it. It is the exception and not the norm when something doesn't work with it. Vista is more stable than XP is.