64-bit processors and Windows

Wiggy · Post by **Wiggy** » December 14th, 2005, 12:43

I'm thinking of upgrading my system next year (hopefully before the LAN, so I can bring it with me

) and I was wondering how I can install 32-bit Windows XP on a 64 bit machine. Is there some sort of patch to be applied? And how can I get hold of aforementioned patch?

Oh and BTW: this is what I'm looking to get:
Asus A8N-E Mobo
AMD Athlon64 3200+
Corsair 1GB (2x512MB) memory (PC3200, 400FSB)
Western Digital 200GB SATA drive
XFX Geforce 6600GT 128MB PCI-E (nice for overclocking!)
Antec P180 case (OMG)
Gigabyte GH-PCU31-VH Heatsink

I'm going to re-use the sound card (Philips 5.1 surround, 24-bit) and speakers (Creative 5.1

), wireless card, monitor, keyboard and mouse from my current setup.

Thoughts?

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » December 14th, 2005, 13:00

I'd consider going for gig sticks of ram (admittedly you lose dual channel), an ATI graphics card (x800gto FTW)

also, you might want a DVDdrive of some kind.

Windows wise, i think it's a whole other version

Wiggy · Post by **Wiggy** » December 14th, 2005, 13:15

Damn, knew I'd forget something!

Yes, It'll have a DVD-RW and CD-RW drive as well.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » December 14th, 2005, 13:18

Wiggy69 wrote:Damn, knew I'd forget something! Yes, It'll have a DVD-Rom and CD-RW drive as well.

buy a DVD-RW, they're less than 40 quid now.

and all will burn cds pretty fast

Wiggy · Post by **Wiggy** » December 14th, 2005, 13:19

NINJA EDITED!

Lee · Post by **Lee** » December 14th, 2005, 13:35

For windows you just need to install the 32 bit version as you would on a 32 bit machine and the processor automatically runs in 32 bit mode. I wouldnt bother with 64 bit windows xp for now, i've been hearing bad things about it.

Wiggy · Post by **Wiggy** » December 14th, 2005, 13:38

Fair enough. I may just install my XP SP2 and wait until Fista comes along.

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » December 14th, 2005, 13:42

Also I dont think there's much point running a 64bit OS and 32bit games. Farcry is the only major game I know of that has a 64bit version

pixie pie · Post by **pixie pie** » December 14th, 2005, 17:05

Lee wrote:For windows you just need to install the 32 bit version as you would on a 32 bit machine and the processor automatically runs in 32 bit mode. I wouldnt bother with 64 bit windows xp for now, i've been hearing bad things about it.

Yeah, at the moment the "64bit" processors are not pure 64 bit beasts.. they run in both modes. Which means no software upgrades needed.

Edit: Also, get a better graphics card, its worth it, as they're not all that expensive now.. an x800, or 6800.. You'll thank yourself for it when you're playing some of the new stuff (FEAR.. or HDR..

)

Wiggy · Post by **Wiggy** » December 14th, 2005, 17:41

I think I may go for an X800 then... but should I get the 256MB GT or the 128MB GTO? The GT is more expensive but has more memory..... blast me for not knowing anything about graphics cards!

Lateralus · Post by **Lateralus** » December 14th, 2005, 18:45

This X800 GTO 256MB card is the one I'm going to go for, and its fairly cheap too (Thanks deject!)

Post by **deject** » December 14th, 2005, 19:24

Lateralus wrote:This X800 GTO 256MB card is the one I'm going to go for, and its fairly cheap too (Thanks deject!)

Yeah those are great cards for the money. Also, 6800 GTs are still very good cards and I hear nvidia is making a 6800GS which will also be good.

Lee · Post by **Lee** » December 14th, 2005, 21:00

deject wrote:I hear nvidia is making a 6800GS which will also be good.

Tis already out. It performs ever so slightly better than a 6800gt by a couple of fps and can be overclocked quite a bit and costs less than a 6800gt.

Vowles · Post by **Vowles** » December 15th, 2005, 18:01

Windows x64 isnt really worth the bother at the minute. I havnt had ANY problems with it apart from driver problems. Hardly any buggering hardware company has 64 bit drivers atm which is a bugger.