Experiences with XP and Server 2003 x64?

[Agrippa]

I've settled (more or less) on a configuration for my next PC build, but I'm struggling a bit with the OS. I'm testing Vista Ultimate at the moment and there's no way in hell it's getting near my new machine, so that leaves me with XP or Server 2k3. I've been running the 32 bit version of 2k3 for the past 2 years or so and have found it extremely stable, supple and hassle-free. However, as I'll be moving (finally) to a 64 bit capable CPU, it would seem to make sense to try an x64 OS.

What I'd love to know from anyone out there with x64 experience, is whether or not those OSes have matured by now and gotten rid of their initial compatibility problems? Or perhaps rather, if the s/w companies have gotten around to writing compatible apps and programs?

Thanks in advance for any info you can give me to help deciding on my next OS!

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Agrippa
I've settled (more or less) on a configuration for my next PC build, but I'm struggling a bit with the OS. I'm testing Vista Ultimate at the moment and there's no way in hell it's getting near my new machine, so that leaves me with XP or Server 2k3. I've been running the 32 bit version of 2k3 for the past 2 years or so and have found it extremely stable, supple and hassle-free. However, as I'll be moving (finally) to a 64 bit capable CPU, it would seem to make sense to try an x64 OS.

What I'd love to know from anyone out there with x64 experience, is whether or not those OSes have matured by now and gotten rid of their initial compatibility problems? Or perhaps rather, if the s/w companies have gotten around to writing compatible apps and programs?

Thanks in advance for any info you can give me to help deciding on my next OS!

If you really want to run a supported 64bit OS, Vista 64 is the way to go. Perhaps you can elaborate on why you don't think you want to run it?

 

[Nothinman]

AFAIK 64-bit XP is pretty much "done" since Vista's been released so just about all of the compatibility work will be done there I'm betting. You may get lucky and the same fixes for Vista will also work on XP but I wouldn't really expect it. And I doubt many software companies are even looking at 64-bit software right now since it's largely pointless. There's no doubt that they'll work on fixing issues with their 32-bit software on 64-bit hosts but that'll be it except for the niche programs that actually benefit from a 64-bit address space.

Why are you even worried about running a 64-bit system right now? Are you actually using some apps that are hitting the 32-bit address space ceiling?

 

[Agrippa]

Originally posted by: bsobelIf you really want to run a supported 64bit OS, Vista 64 is the way to go. Perhaps you can elaborate on why you don't think you want to run it?

Basically I see no upside to Vista at all as it is today. There's nothing new in it that's of any use to me and the eye candy I just find annoying and pointless. Add the increased resource use and I'm more than hard pressed to find a reason to use it.

Originally posted by: Nothinman
AFAIK 64-bit XP is pretty much "done" since Vista's been released so just about all of the compatibility work will be done there I'm betting. You may get lucky and the same fixes for Vista will also work on XP but I wouldn't really expect it. And I doubt many software companies are even looking at 64-bit software right now since it's largely pointless. There's no doubt that they'll work on fixing issues with their 32-bit software on 64-bit hosts but that'll be it except for the niche programs that actually benefit from a 64-bit address space.

I was actually thinking of the compatibility of current 32 bit programs, rather than whether or not any 64 bit programs are being developed. I have no experience with any x64 OS, so I just want to know if the compatibility problems reported early on are still present, or if they're now more or less gone.

Why are you even worried about running a 64-bit system right now? Are you actually using some apps that are hitting the 32-bit address space ceiling?

Nope, not that I know of. I may well want to use more than 4 gigs or RAM though, but 2k3 can give me that anyway of course. Mainly I just assume that x64 will provide that little bit more "oomph" than 32 bit and of course I'd quite simply like to try x64 out. I'm not keen on installing it only to have to abandon it somewhere down the road though, hence I'm soliciting for information.