Windows XP 64 Edition

[Robert]

I'm looking at purchasing this, but what's it like now? I know vista is out in jan...but that will probably need a good few months to mature. Most reviews are fairly old now, so I can't really see what the situations like.

[Ross Stone]

The main problem you will find is having drivers for all your hardware.

Before you get it, make sure you have 64 bit driver versions availible for your hardware. Odd things like webcams, memory card readers, etc, Might not have drivers availible you see.

Also, some someware you use might not work well under 64 bit. Most things will be fine, but its always best to check before hand.

Oh, unless your using 64 bit software, you won't see an improvement though from 32 bit.

You would in the OS performance ofcourse and thats a good enough reason I guess.

I have also looked into it, for my system. But never got round to all the Google Searches required yet.

If its for gaming, its probably not worth while. you just as well wait for Vista and DX10, though you will need a new DX10 compatible video card. Most current games are not coded for 64 bit yet.

[arthurleung]

Basically, things you find that there is no drivers includes webcams and printers (anything older than 6 months). If you don't mind not having a webcam or printing capability, don't go 64bit.

TV-Card works with specially compiled driver (but uninstalling is a mess)
Card readers shouldn't have any problem though. All my card readers work at least

[Skinleech]

My digitasl cameraportable HDDs, card readers, video & sound cards etc are all fine. But yeah, printers & webcams are no go. AFAIK drivers are in the pipeline for a few manufacturers, but ETA could be anytime.

Firewall support is not great, but AV is fine. I've been running it since release and have no real issues with it. Everything runs fine, but can't say there's been much 64bit software to really take advantage.

[Ross Stone]

When I get my PC back after its been fixed by Scan in a week or so, I will probably give XP 64 bit a go and see what its like. Compared to performance for the past 2 months on XP 32 bit.

I will post the performance increase I notice with the OS if you want Robert, along with any issues, etc. Let me know.

[atrull]

I just use mine for gaming with only common drivers (nvidia and soundblaster) - nothing else on the box.

The rest of my office is unix based so I don't exactly expose the poor xp 64bit to that many exotic requirements

[Tobeman]

Logitech are getting on my nerves with the time they are taking to work on my Logitech QuickCam drivers. This is, unfortunately, the only thing that I use in way of peripherals that does not support 64bit or have drivers available. Logitech have taken the time to port their SetPoint and gaming software to 64bit. I would have thought webcams would have been a similar sized market for them, if not bigger, yet still no drivers?

It was some time in 2004 they announced they were working on them. I believe that is roughly correct, been a while since I checked the thread on Planet AMD 64.

Other than that, nothing to complain, the odd quirk. I was surprised there were drivers for my now old HP All-In-One PSC jobbie, yet not any to irritate my friend on VPN. He has a newer, simpler HP printer only, but had no 64bit drivers available.