XP 64-bit vs. Windows 7

I am putting together an AM3 socket DDR3 computer using latest ASUS MB with
AMD Phenom II 810 X4 CPU.

Should I install Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate or XP 64-bit on my computer so
that I have less of a headache in terms of driver compatbility, applications,
etc...

Please advise.

Thanks!

 

Windows 7 x64 RTM just recognized my laptop's hardware (Asus Pro31s -
F3SA mb) it found EVERYTHING! Even the devices that Vista didn't! And
most of the hardware the laptop has can't even be used on XP because
there're no drivers.

Your hw is also new, so i would suggest you to use Windows 7! Also, if
you check Asus' website, you'll see they already support both x64 and
x86 versions! I'm pretty sure you will have no problems with it.

Just a note: Windows 7 does *NOT* search Windows Update for drivers
unless you tell it to do so.

Alex

 

Thanks Buddy!

 

Hi Ben,

your chances that things will work are good. I installed 2 machines (one
old the other one very new) the last days with out any problems but...
I failed to install a 3rd machine due to incompatibilities with the
graphic card (NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT).

So good luck!
Rainer

 

I'm sure it's not the 9500GT 'cause NVIDIA still officially supports it.
I also used a similar model on this system (Win7 RTM x64) with no problems.

Alex

 

Windows 7 of course.

most likely to find all the NEW hardware out of the box.

also you can use the new XP virtual mode for some OLD xp stuff just in case.

 

XP Mode is only available on Professional and Ultimate, not Home Premium
or lesser versions of Windows 7.

 

What are you used to? Do you have the time and desire to learn Windows 7?
Have you used XP64 before and are aware of the limitations? Do you already
have a license for XP64 that you can use, likewise for Win 7?

If you have a license for Win7 already it, install it and see if it works
for you. You can always remove it and install XP64.

XP64 seems to be one of Microsoft's bastard children. Going forward you will
find more/better support if you use Win 7 then XP64. XP64 will slowly become
obsolete and manufacturers will stop making drivers for it. YMMV...there are
reasons to stay with XP, there are reasons to go with Win 7. Add them up and
see which one is more appealing. You will find most people here in this
newsgroup like Windows 7 (this is a Microsoft newsgroup, after all) and
won't hesitate to tell you why. Out there in the real world, I'm finding a
lot of people that prefer XP, mostly because 1) they hate what MS did to the
start menu/taskbar and MS did not include a backwards compability mode and
2) XP works and there is no reason to upgrade.

 

no mention on which version he desires to use.

 

He did mention Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate

 

Vista really got the 64-bit movement going
but Windows 7 64-bit will most likely be
the predominant OS on new computers sold
after 7 is officially released.

So in short 7 is the future, XP 64-bit is not going to
have very many drivers written for any new hardware,
so it will not be long for this world.

 

Hi Alessandro,

Well to me it looks like it is. Eventhough I downloaded the most actual
driver from NVIDIA
(190.62_desktop_win7_winvista_64bit_international_whql) I get to see the
"blue screen". After I then start in the "safe mode" , deinstall the
graphic card, and restart the system again in normal mode, every thing
is fine. Unfortunately Windows7 the reinstalls the NVIDIA driver, and
with next startup I see the blue screen again :-(

Regards
Rainer

 

That's strange. The drivers are working for me with no problems so far.
You should check your crash dump files.

Alex

 

NVIDIA has always been last kid on the block on getting new drivers out for
the last 3-4 beta programs.
one reason I always use ATI/AMD video products.
they seem to make a better effort in keeping up.

 

The ATI drivers were so bad that i could not use them. Also, check how
many different operating systems NVIDIA is supporting (more than AMD/ATI).
I also have an HD 4870 (they're much cheaper than NVIDIA here where i
live) and i really like it. The problem is that they don't care to give
you a proper implementation of the latest opengl standards (while NVIDIA
does). The right hardware for the right task. If you use OpenGL (games
-even if most of them are now using DirectX only-, programs -blender,
wings3d, photoshop-) NVIDIA is better, if you don't ATI is ok.
Personally, i like them both.

Alex

 

ATI has a history of buggy drivers, but they got over that a few years ago.
Unfortunately, for the last six months or so their drivers have had OpenGL
and install issues. 9.2 or 9.3 drivers are very stable, and I notice they
released version 9.9 just a few days ago but I haven't had a chance to try
them.

nVidia introduced a somewhat rare problem with their 64 bit drivers about a
year or so ago that causes a blue screen, error managing PEMS or something
like that. I found a lot of people having the problem but no solution. I've
been using ATI cards since then. Unfortunately, no one makes perfect
drivers, neither ATI nor nVidia. The good news is that if the current
version is buggy, there is almost always an older version that works good.