XP64 DualCore Experience?

[hooflung]

I am about to make my computer's big decision for gaming.

I run :

ASRock 939Dual SATA2
X2 3800+
2GiG OCZ DDR400 2,3,2,5
6800 softmod to GT
Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS

I want to get off of Windows 2000 PRO SP4 because of spotty Dual Core support since this is primarily a gaming rig. Since Win64 is 2003 Server based, has anyone had the DualCore Problems in 64 that they had in XP32. I know the problems have mostly been resolved ... but 2000 Pro still has them occasionally. I am also considering ubuntu 5.10 since I am also a proud Cedega member and the games I play are supported rather well there. I will loose audio hardware accelleration in ubuntu but I won't have the problems with the dual core management of 2000. If Win64 is error free I might just buy it.

 

[jutetrea]

I'd like to also know the answer to this question, getting a rig built currently

AMD x2 3800
Abit Fatal1ty A8N SLI mobo
2gb ram (not sure what kind yet)
7800 GTX

I have virgin copies of both XPx32 and XPx64 and wondering which to slap on, both pro.

Any thoughts?

 

[MrChad]

What Dual Core problems with XP32 are you referring to, exactly?

 

[DimZiE]

no probs on XP.. and no performance boost either..well not much there is a slight increase in FPS on some games.. the only significant performance boost were upon rendering some animation on 3DSMAX 7 and encoding w/ premiere..

haven't tried XP64 though

 

[evilharp]

From what I've read:

XP-64

-X2 game issues have occured (see AMD support forums)
-driver support is limited or beta or crap (ie scanners, printers, PDAs, keyboards, mice, tv tuners, sound cards, other expansion cards, etc....)
-limited utilites for 64-bit environment (AV, firewall, etc...)
-applications don't run 100%, most are broken (32 bit components don't work right or at all. Spell checkers are an example)

XP-32 (My combo, I have an X2-4200)
-dual-core issues resolved (not just X2, P-D as well) with drivers and microsoft hotfix (with reg key enabled). No more affinity setting, CnQ disabling, etc...
-driver support is great
-utilities galore
-applications working in native environment (32-bit)

XP-64 is a lame duck OS. Microsoft isn't pushing it for a reason. Before you upgrade (if at all), make sure your applications will work completely and you have all the drivers you need.

 

[ProviaFan]

I tried XP64, but ended up having to go back to XP32, even for the everyday usage patterns of a college student (no PDA sync-ability was a killer, and not being able to use my colorimeter for calibration kind of sucked also). Do carefully consider evilharp's advice before going ahead with a 64 bit Windows install.

 

[lucky9]

Win64 = not ready for prime time.

 

[jutetrea]

Thanks for the notes

I was doing some work in a datacenter and we'd started installing a bunch of boxes with x64 for testing purposes, didn't stick around long enough to see how they turned out.

I was initially under the impression that x64 had better dual core/dual processor support, but I guess the OS side of it is still lacking.

I'll throw on standard XP pro x32 then instead.

Again, thanks for the info

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: jutetrea
Thanks for the notes

I was doing some work in a datacenter and we'd started installing a bunch of boxes with x64 for testing purposes, didn't stick around long enough to see how they turned out.

I was initially under the impression that x64 had better dual core/dual processor support, but I guess the OS side of it is still lacking.

I'll throw on standard XP pro x32 then instead.

Again, thanks for the info

Windows NT has had SMP support since... uh, before NT4? Since Windows XP supports SMP, it supports dual core, because dual core is essentially the same as SMP from the OS's perspective (though the processors are combined on one core and linked differently than they might be in an SMP system, I'm not sure how much this matters on the driver level).

The only problems that seem to occur in the 32 bit world with SMP (other than gaming irregularities) involve Windows 2000 and hyperthreading, in that Win2k doesn't really understand it, and can have problems with multiple hyperthreaded cores (though I think that's mainly a licensing issue that was never fixed in a service pack so as to get people to upgrade to Windows XP).

 

[hooflung]

I went with XP Home w. SP2 I ganked from my HTPC. Shoving Win2k w. SP4 on that.

Once more games go over to software sound I will go Linux full time.