XP- 64 or 32 bit?

westy · Post by **westy** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:19 pm

I'm putting together a new computer using the parts listed on the post below and read that 32 bit XP Pro won't recognize more than 3 GB of RAM.

Other than it only shows 3 GB, is there any downside to installing 32 bit XP? I do my fare share of gaming and want the system compatible with as many games as possible.

Can someone give me the pros and cons of each OS please?

https://www.speedguide.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=244763

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 6:48 am

Regular XP will show between 3-4 gigs of RAM...depending on your hardware, video card, various other factors...if you put 4 gigs in the system. Usually somewhere between 3.2 and 3.6 gig will show in system properties.

64 bit can show the full 4..(and more if you put that in)..but some people have some compatibility issues with it with some software and hardware. So check ahead with what you have, and what games you play.

With that honkin system you're building...might consider Vista 64 with 4 or 8 gigs. The 64 version seems to have better support and less compatibility issues than XP 64.

westy · Post by **westy** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:58 am

I don't know much about Vista, but I thought that was less compatible with many of the latest games?

Oh yeah, I am doing 2-2 GB Corsairs.......

strjms72 · Post by **strjms72** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:25 am

Currently and for the next several years, the Only advantage of 64bit OS is the ability to install and use more then 4 gigs of ram.

And yes, most all of your applications will run on 64bit.