64 bit xp vs 32 bit xp

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Weaksauce
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I've a core 2 duo processor. Im currently using 32bit xp. If i install 64bit xp will it improve the performance. And will the 32 bit programs work on a 64bit xp. e.g adobe photoshop, corel draw and other utilities?
 
As a rule, 32-bit programs work in XP x64 (or Vista x64 for that matter), but there are some exceptions.
XP x64 is marginally faster than the 32-bit version with most stuff (it's built on the x64 version of Server 2003, so it's a slightly more up-to-date OS).
The main advantage is with software that is natively written for x64, especially when you want to use more than 2 gb of memory in a single program. But for most people that doesn't apply, really.
 
Jester FPS said:
I would stick with 32 bit xp, I've heard there is not a lot of support for xp 64.
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Not to give you shit, but you don't provide anything useful. It's just a negative comment.

I've been using x64 for a long time. I'm currently using Vista x64, and before that I ran xp x64. So it has been about 3 years. If I were you, right at this very moment, I might sit on my hands and not change what I'm doing. You should probably stay on your current OS until either Vista gets its SP1 patch, or XP gets SP3. SP3 for XP should be around the corner early next year. However, XP X64 is based on windows 2003 x64 sp1, and only recently got updated to SP2 around the same time that Windows 2003 received its service pack. XP x64 is an oddball, and so you might wait to see what Vista sp1 offers before making your decision, since that release should be here in a short period of time.

As far as drivers and support; microsoft requires x64 Vista drivers along with the x86 versions in order to get WHQL certified. Most everything that is relatively new then will have drivers, and everything older may well be included with the operating system. The one thing you cannot do with x64 is use 32bit drivers. You can use 32bit programs - just not the drivers :\. There is an upgrade advisory tool which may help you, a simple google search should help you find the tool. I would only download it from a well known safe place. I know you asked about xp x64, but vista x64 is really more mature, so I have more I can offer for an explanation :).

There is no real tangible reason to switch unless you've got 4gb of memory, or are using 64bit applications. Otherwise it's sort of just novelty :), but it is the way the future will be. I've said it before, we must switch to 64bit otherwise we're not moving forward. So if you can switch, and it poses no real issues for you, then maybe you should do it for the sake of getting the experience.
 
I'm amazed at how many times this is asked! Anyhow, on to something productive.

First off, you need to check driver availability for ALL of your hardware, including things like printers, game controllers, etc. If it passes that test, you are probably safe to use XP64. However, don't expect any real difference in overall performance. I've read that many people feel it's snappier than XP x86, but I honestly didn't see that in my own testing. Both were very snappy and responsive on the same hardware. If you plan on going to 4 GB of memory soon, go with XP x64. If not, stick with XP x86 for now until you're next upgrade, at which point you'd probably be going to Vista.
 
Generally, with XP you want 32 bit.

With Vista however, 64 bit is a possibility considering Microsoft requires everyone to make their applications work with 32 bit AND 64 bit to be allowed to say it works with Windows. This is not the case with XP x64.

Go with 32 bit XP but if you want 64 bit, go with Vista.
 
Just make sure you can get drivers for it first, if you can then sure go for it. I used xp pro 64 for a bit but I went back to xp mce because I couldn't get my printer work (hp might have fixed this now), and I missed my mce applications.
 
senorcarne said:
Generally, with XP you want 32 bit.

With Vista however, 64 bit is a possibility considering Microsoft requires everyone to make their applications work with 32 bit AND 64 bit to be allowed to say it works with Windows. This is not the case with XP x64.

Go with 32 bit XP but if you want 64 bit, go with Vista.
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Good answer. Though I would lean toward vista 64, might as well go new. :)
 
defuseme2k said:
There is no real tangible reason to switch unless you've got 4gb of memory, or are using 64bit applications. Otherwise it's sort of just novelty :), but it is the way the future will be. I've said it before, we must switch to 64bit otherwise we're not moving forward. So if you can switch, and it poses no real issues for you, then maybe you should do it for the sake of getting the experience.
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Quoting this to ensure it isn't 'lost' amidst the bickering.

By far the biggest benefit of 64-bit Windows, to most people, is the enhanced memory management. But improved memory management comes at the small 'cost' of having a slightly higher 'per application' memory requirement overhead.

If the rig doesn't actually have large amounts of RAM installed then the smallish potential benefits of the 64-bit environment can end up offset and negated. I personally wouldn't bother with it on a rig with 2Gb or less physical RAM installed, but I must mention that's a rough 'rule of thumb'. There's no definite, fixed 'point' at which 64-bit OS becomes viable. It depends upon what you are running and what you are doing on the machine.

Once you get to the point of having (and needing) more than 2Gb of RAM in the rig it simply makes sense to use the 64-bit platform, for the enhanced memory management. Very, very few people yet need to actually run 64-bit programs, and those needing to run 64-bit programs are only needing them in particular sopecialised areas of activity. Activities which demand a lot of resources for heavy-duty calculations and/or really large files.
 
RAM is not the only limitation that x64 solves- there is also the 2TB MBR/NTFS limitation. A move to 64 bit Vista or XP allows the use of GPT which can get past the 2TB limit.
 
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