Windows XP x64 - Opinions?

[PixelJockey]

I've been fiddling with my new Athlon 64 X2 4800+ with Windows 64bit this week. While the OS and software seem to be crusing along just fine, the hardware drivers have been giving me fits. I havent been able to find drivers for my Western Digital external hard drive using 1394 port. The drive does work with a USB connection, but slower. Nor have I been able to find a wireless network card with Win64 drivers. I haven't tried my printer or scanner yet. Has anyone else had luck with hardware drivers with Windows x64? I suppose I could just keep waiting for new drivers, but at this point I'm tempted to throw in the towel and grab a copy of the old 32 bit flavor.

[jujubee]

I can't say from my own personal experience but that is something I've read in all computer magazines recently. Plus people are not noticing significant speed improvements in benchmarks as of yet (they were really only testing 32 bit games like half-life FPS and Farcry.) So I've avoided throwing on the 64-bit edition for these reasons.

[percydaman]

Ive had it for a few weeks now, and I haven't had any real problems. Yeah I haven't seen any significant speed increases in rendering over 32bit, but the added memory capabilities ALONE makes it worth it. Im stoked to try out 64bit vray. Im sure we'll see some speed increases then...

[Dynedain]

drivers suck drivers suck drivers suck

I can't synch my palm pilot on XP64, I got most of my built-in hardware to work though. BoXX was very helpful in getting me beta drivers that Intel wouldn't provide for my network card.

Something like a HD shouldn't have problems though, unless SATA is involved....thats a nightmare in 32 or 64bit on WinXP.

[percydaman]

makes me glad I decided to dual boot both flavors of windows.

[Da_elf]

ive got the more simpler way. only my render stations will have xp64. if i wanna scan or do other stuff why do i need 64 for that simple xp will work so i just do all that on my other computer

[TRGraphics]

I had 64 on my new system but I just took it off and installed XP. Driver problems with my motherboard were the main reason. Asus A8N-E is great with XP but don't use it with 64. Ethernet problems, sound problems, etc. Their 64 bit chip set drivers suck!

Tony

[natty]

Unless your system is truely 64bit, you wont see any difference in any of your apps .. or rendering speed .. the operating system will obviously be faster but your 64bit cpu's are still being hindered by the 32bit technology..Just another transition ... like when XP first arrived... painful.

[TRGraphics]

I saw a difference. It was actually a little slower when rendering with 64 versus XP.

[Paul Oblomov]

Heh. I see no problems with my win2k3 sp1 x64. All the hardware work just as usually... I'm waiting VRay x64

[PixelJockey]

I've got XP Pro on order and will try a dual boot configuration. If that gives me fits I just do XP Pro. Oh well, I'll still have a copy of x64 for when the drivers and software matures.