Windows XP x64 or Windows Vista x64?

[DaddyMack]

Been using xp64 on this side of the screen for over a year without a single problem, I use my machine primarily for 3d and graphics

Good luck

[Boone]

The biggest reason I will not switch to Vista is because it requires more system resources than XP. Next reason is that I want both my machines to use the same OS for rendering purposes. I'm more likely to run into Networking problems using two different Operating Systems...

When I go to buy my next super-computer in three years time I should think there will a service pack 2 for Vista or even a new OS. I think XP will be good until that time.

[switchblade327]

I am building the same system (q6600s rock) and have debated the same question. I'm using an old Quaddro card til the GeForce9xxxs come out but I would like to be able to play DX10 games in the future, assuming there will be more then just Crysis next year :)

I think what I'm going to do is a dual boot XP32/Vista64 machine so I'll always have a reliable way to run apps if I run into issues with Vista drivers or 64 bit compatibility (the other 5 gigs of RAM will be just for decoration then :D).

[ToddD]

I find x64 quite reliable, although there are issues with quicktime, and i-tunes and 64 bit pcs. I think my only real issues have been those 2 items.

[Baltasound]

CS3 does NOT, I firmly repeat, N.O.T, work (properly) on 64 bit. My intership called the customer service and they told they simply do not support CS3 on 64 bit. It's hard to install and it takes minutes to load files.


(you should have seen my intership leader when he hang up)

[Xdreamer79]

CS3 does NOT, I firmly repeat, N.O.T, work (properly) on 64 bit. My intership called the customer service and they told they simply do not support CS3 on 64 bit. It's hard to install and it takes minutes to load files.


(you should have seen my intership leader when he hang up)

Can't agree here. Running vista ultimate x64 since february and have CS3 installed which runs quite good. It is slower than on my xp machine but not while working...

[Srek]

If you don't have a compelling reason to prefer Vista go with XP, either if it's 64 or 32 bit.
Vista still has many driver problems and the new security mechanisms in Vista can and will lead to problems with many applications.
Cheers
Björn

[DATom]

Thank you for all your replies they have been very helpful.

The dual boot sounds good but my reason for upgrading is to get the most out of multiple cores so I dont really want to be resorting most of the time to a 32 bit for my more complex programs like photoshop and maya.

ToddD, what x64 os are you refering to, xp or vista? Or do you mean any? Also, what are the issues with quicktime, itunes and 64 bit pcs.

I have run Photoshop cs3 on 2 different pcs running vista x64,on both times they crashed when I used the liquify filter. However, this could just be becuase I was doing it too quickly. What are your thoughts?

Thank you all

[davijin]

CS3 does NOT, I firmly repeat, N.O.T, work (properly) on 64 bit. My intership called the customer service and they told they simply do not support CS3 on 64 bit. It's hard to install and it takes minutes to load files.


(you should have seen my intership leader when he hang up)

Ive been running it for months with no issues whatsoever. actually ive had more problems with 32bit photoshop cs3. alot of the "cannot save due to low memory errors" I got on my schools computers with 3gb ram when mine running 64bit windows with 2gb ram had no problem doing on xp x64 edition. didnt take any longer to install than it did on my laptop with xp 32bit either.

[anoon]

Been running winXP64bit here for about 9 months or so. No major issues to speak of, other than the majority of apps I run are still only 32bit. :( Oh, and I had to finally abandon my Wacom Art Z II and upgrade to an Intuos 3, but I'm not really complaining about that. I was due :)

[Srek]

The dual boot sounds good but my reason for upgrading is to get the most out of multiple cores so I dont really want to be resorting most of the time to a 32 bit for my more complex programs like photoshop and maya.
There is no difference regarding multithreading performance between Windows 32 and 64 bit.

Cheers
Björn

[DATom]

Thanks :) . So Srek, does a 32 bit os still use all cores? So then is the only difference between a 32 bit and 64 bit os that on a 64 bit you can run 64 bit programs? If this is so than I assume it would not make much difference with photoshop because it is a 32 bit program. But surely it would make a difference with maya if I plan to get a 64 bit verison for it?

[davijin]

the big difference between 32bit and 64bit is ram usage. 64bit os on 64bit programs allows you to go past the theoretical 4gb of ram limit that 32bit os have though most 32bit os dont cant really use more than 3gb.

running 32bit programs on a 64bit os allows your 32bit programs to use the max theoretical 4gb of ram and of course running 64bit programs on a 64bit os lets you use the system max ram to its capacity.

from my experience having ran windows xp x64 just about since it was released programs just run more stable on 64bit vs 32bit.

as far as photoshop then only benefit of running it on 64bit os is youll get a extra gb of ram usage wise (assuming youll have at least 4gb of ram) but thats it really. same with any other 32bit programs.

then 64bit programs will get the full ram usage of the system.

[Signal2Noise]

Been using xp64 on this side of the screen for over a year without a single problem, I use my machine primarily for 3d and graphics

Good luck

QFA. Except substitute "Vista Ultimate 64-bit" for 'xp64' and "4 months for "a year". And games in addition to 3D graphics/CAD.

In other words, I have had no major hiccups switching to Vista. But I built up a new machine specific to the o/s rather than upgrading an XP system. I think this makes a big difference as well.

[Srek]

running 32bit programs on a 64bit os allows your 32bit programs to use the max theoretical 4gb of ram and of course running 64bit programs on a 64bit os lets you use the system max ram to its capacity.

from my experience having ran windows xp x64 just about since it was released programs just run more stable on 64bit vs 32bit.
Amen

does a 32 bit os still use all cores?
Yes, there is no difference in usage of CPUs and cores between 32 and 64 bit Windows.

Cheers
Björn

[DATom]

Oh, so the only difference is the RAM really, thanks. :) . I think I will partition my hardrive like suggested, and run a 64 bit os and Windows XP 32 bit. But I still have the issue of deciding between XP 64 bit and Vista 64 bit. Anybody have a verdict?

[Signal2Noise]

.... But I still have the issue of deciding between XP 64 bit and Vista 64 bit. Anybody have a verdict?

Since you're going to dual boot anyway I would suggest going with Vista 64. It is the o/s of the future after all. May as well start running it now. Try it, you might like it. Lots of us do.

[ToddD]

ToddD, what x64 os are you refering to, xp or vista? Or do you mean any? Also, what are the issues with quicktime, itunes and 64 bit pcs.
Sorry bout that, xp x 64.

I find quicktime within a browser doesn't show the timeline bar, same goes for Gnomon DVD Playback IME. As a standalone player I haven't had issues, works fine in that capacity.

I-tunes, will give you error messages about installation issues, not wanting to rip cd's, and a friend informed me that he can't sync his i-phone using i-tunes on xp x64. All of these issues are due to the fact that i-tunes/quicktime do not support 64 bit yet AFAIK.

Hardware:
dual quad core xeons 2.33
8 gigs ram
2 500 gig Sata drives
Nvidia 8800

[anoon]

I-tunes, will give you error messages about installation issues

Ah ha! This must have happened in a recent update, because I was using an older version of iTunes for ages and never saw this until just the other week when I got the latest release. I had not encountered the CD Ripping problem, because I use CDeX for that and then import into iTunes. Thanks for the info!

Couple more things I just remembered:

The 64bit version of IE doesn't work with anything flash yet, so I typically browse in the 32bit version that also comes with the XP64bit install. The only time this is a real hassle is when I click links from apps other than IE. For example, clicking a link in an email automatically opens the 64bit IE, and if that link features flash, it won't work. It's probably not a good idea to click links from apps anyway, so I made manually enetering destinations my workflow anyway in IE 32bit.

Also, I'm not sure Google Toolbar works in IE 64bit. I may need to try a seperate install though.

The downloadable XP Customization Tools from Microsoft will not install in XP64bit, so if you are used to that, you'll have to live without it.

So, minor inconviniences, IMHO. Looking forward to 64bit versions of PShop, ZBrush and Mudbox someday so I can use all this RAM I have sitting in the box!

[DATom]

Thanks for all your help everybody. I think I'm going to run both vista x64 and windows xp 32 bit. Anybody want to persuade me otherwise? :)

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