Windows x64

sei046

Anyone using windows 64bit? i have it now but wanna look into before i install it/ is it compatible with most stuff? whats it like for gaming? What differences will i notice?

KdjaCL

Have you a 64 bit Cpu?


Some games have 64 bit versions Farcry FEAR ...cant think of anymore, other than that its a 64bit OS running 32 bit software.


kdjac

sei046

anthlon 64 3400.
So i wont notice any negative effects anyway no?

KdjaCL

Nope just lack of 64 bit games making a non runner for normal users, runs servers great tho.


kdjac

sei046

Are you running it? difference in UI no?

Mr. Presentable

I have 64 on my new machine. It's compatible with most things, but not all. It's limited to a very few Antivirus solutions for example, and the drivers for my Logitech mx500 don't work on it (though its fine with the Windows ones anyway).

www.planetamd64.com has a lot of discussion about xp64 and is worth a visit.

Half Life 2 has a 64 version which is great.

Generally, xp64 will be OK with 32bit apps that have 32bit installers. But many 32bit apps have old 16bit installers that won't run on 64.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=34&threadid=1660344&enterthread=y&arctab=y

That's a discussion about comparative performance.

You could do a dual install with xp32.........

sei046

dual install you say.. explain. I remember doing a dual boot with linux before but have kinda forgotten the ins and outs

Mr. Presentable

Partition your drive, or use two drives. Install the older OS first. I've never done an xp dual boot, but it looks straighforward enough.

Mr. Presentable

Oh, and a benefit of xp64 I forgot to mention is IE 64bit. It is much faster browsing than 32.

sei046

If i want to install 64 how do i go about it so? like removing 32? sorry but its been so long since i had to install an OS

Mr. Presentable

Mine was an install to a new HDD, but if I was upgrading from Home etc I would probably format and install clean.

sei046

wiping my programs and data etc?

Dooom

Just backup the stuff you want/need, and then format.

IIRC, doesn't Xp64 throw up a huge fuss if you have a dual install setup with XP32? Could be wrong there though.

pyramuid man

Well I am not so sure that it is that compatible.
Alot of manufacturers will wait for Vista to release 64bit drivers IMO. I know alot of samsung hardware is not compatible.

astrofool

Xp64 was more a proof of concept (and it is great for servers ). Most manufacturers haven't supported it that well with drivers, alot are beta, or not released yet.

digitalninja

sei046 wrote:

Anyone using windows 64bit? i have it now but wanna look into before i install it/ is it compatible with most stuff? whats it like for gaming? What differences will i notice?

wouldn't bother my hole.
terrible for drivers.
Ended up going back to x86

the_syco

Using 64bit, at the mo. This rig is 64bit, actually. See my sig for what I'm running.

The drawbacks: lack of firewall/virus protection. There are some around, but I've only found 2 or 3 products so far that fully support the 64bit platform. If you did install a 32bit anti-virus, it'd only protect you from 32bit virii, but wouldn't stop any 64bit virii from destroying your system.

As for all else, XP 64bit is damn stable, doesn't hog much resources, imo, and so far so good. All my games run under it, and I've no problems with it.