Windows XP 32 bit or 64bit?

[nick944]

I'm building a computer for a friend, and was wondering which would be best to put on his computer. It has:
AMD Phenom x4 9950 2.6Ghz processor
4GB RAM (might upgrade to a higher amount in the future)
ATI Raedon HD 4850 graphics card
I've heard that 64 bit has compatibility problems... but 32 bit only supports 4GB of RAM.

[Funk, E]

Why in the world would you need more than 4GB of RAM? Are you doing some serious video editing or effects work?

[nick944]

Don't know, he's probably going to use it for gaming mainly (I think).

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Don't know, he's probably going to use it for gaming mainly (I think).

then you dont need more than 4gb. As long as you have a good graphics card and cpu, you dont need any more than that. However if your doing tons of 3D modeling etc. then its understandable that you might want as much as you can get. Besides, since your not using Vista and wont have DX10. Anything more than 3gb will sufice very well.

[HoboJoe]

I use 64 bit cause I got 8gb of RAM because of going to college for animation so yeah. But there really aren't that many compatibility issues. Plus most of the incompatibilities can be worked around, like my wireless card for example...did not support 64 bit, but people had found a way to work around it so now it works fine. But if he's just gonna be gaming then stay with 32 bit and 4 gigs of ram.

[Niode]

Right.

4GB of ram on 32bit is completely pointless. The OS can only see 4GB system total. That's including the GPU's memory. So you would only see 3.5GB of system ram because the GPU is taking up 512MB.

Most programs have 64bit binaries these days. The only one of note I can think of is Photoshop, but that will only 'see' 2GB ram, it will completely ignore any additional ram you have installed. The next version of Photoshop is supposed to be 64 bit and support more ram. Here's hoping.

Get 64 bit unless you want to wast money putting in an additional stick that won't be used 100%. I'd get vista 64-bit SP1, there's not much point sticking with xp on a new system. Most vendors have caught up with vista and it's not quite the incompatible pile of crap it used to be.

Besides if he's using it for gaming there's not much point lumping him with XP as games are coming out that support DX10. Plus that Radeon 4850 does 10.1 (granted it only works with assassin's creed; unpatched, right now but i'm sure more games will support it in time. DX11 is at least a year off, and by that time if he's a serious gamer he'll want to upgrade his gpu anyway.)

[nick944]

Right.

4GB of ram on 32bit is completely pointless. The OS can only see 4GB system total. That's including the GPU's memory. So you would only see 3.5GB of system ram because the GPU is taking up 512MB.

Most programs have 64bit binaries these days. The only one of note I can think of is Photoshop, but that will only 'see' 2GB ram, it will completely ignore any additional ram you have installed. The next version of Photoshop is supposed to be 64 bit and support more ram. Here's hoping.

Get 64 bit unless you want to wast money putting in an additional stick that won't be used 100%. I'd get vista 64-bit SP1, there's not much point sticking with xp on a new system. Most vendors have caught up with vista and it's not quite the incompatible pile of crap it used to be.

Besides if he's using it for gaming there's not much point lumping him with XP as games are coming out that support DX10. Plus that Radeon 4850 does 10.1 (granted it only works with assassin's creed; unpatched, right now but i'm sure more games will support it in time. DX11 is at least a year off, and by that time if he's a serious gamer he'll want to upgrade his gpu anyway.)

Ok thanks! I think he wants to stick to XP for now, don't know why Anyways I know how to crack the activation on XP, but not Vista so that would be a problem too. He's a gamer but not to serious of a gamer (he doesn't need to have the newest graphics card as soon as it comes out).

[Niode]

I didn't say anything about cracks If you are building a PC for someone the least you could do is put an OEM version on for them

If he wants XP then thats fair enough. Can't imagine why...

[Funk, E]

I'd imagine that it's because Vista is currently fairly close to a piece of crap.

[Ivo]

Allegedly some games (and programs) will have problems running on a 64-bit OS, but it's certainly true that a 32-bit OS is limited to only use 4 GB (and in effect, less than 4 GB of RAM, how much less depending on your other hardware). It's can't "address" more.