As you can see a few threads down i'm building a new gaming rig. Should i stick with the windows xp pro or is it safe to use windows x64? Thanx

Well HH,

Of course it's safe, but the question is: Is it practical?

From my own experiences of running the Beta copy of Windows 64-bit, there are primarily two huge problems so far:
1. Lack of Driver support. When trying to install all of your hardware, you are likely to run into problems getting 64-bit drivers for your hardware. Yes, Windows Longhorn (Vista), when finished, will have the largest driver base of any previous windows platform... but that's when the final full versions hit the shelves, the beta version does not have very many built-in drivers.
2. Lack of 64-bit coded programs. Building a gaming comp with Windows x64 is not very practical as there is only one game on the market that is coded for 64-bit windows, and that is FarCry. Unless you're a huge Farcry fan, going through the headache to get your comp running in 64-bit isn't worth it. Running 32-bit games on 64-bit windows will not give you any performance gains... a program must be coded in 64-bit to take advantage of the speed and processing power of true 64-bit windows.

Sorry, that may not have been what you wanted to hear, but I'm just trying to save you some headache. Fooling with the Vista beta isn't worth it. If you really want a 64-bit gaming machine, you're gonna have to wait until the driver and software support is there and the final release comes out.

Stay with XP Pro for now, you can always buy Windows x64 down the line and switch over later.

I was thinking of getting a cheap NFR (not for resale) copy of x64 through my work - I've been looking for drivers for my hardware (which I have found all of them) however a lot of the apps that I will be using won't perform any better under x64 and will have to run in the 32 bit compatibility mode anyway (i think thats right?)

I don't game though - I'm looking at the advantages of x64 primarily for data crunching / video rendering etc

To me, I can't justify the cost at this stage - for a gaming rig, forget it.

I dunno, 32 bits to have in your computer is quite a lot of bits. 32 extra bits could really confuse you...

Theres a x64 version of linux if you want to use that.

I'm sorry I'm confused...

I'm with Jobistober... It isn't Beta for nothing.... eventually it will become a "common good"
until we are there, lot's of beta testing will be done....

So, for now, XP seems the best way to go, imho....

Especially if you do not take things for granted, like I do, and you're willing to do some
serious reading & experimenting, you can go 'beyond the default settings & configure
Windows XP Pro to your liking...

There is a LOT of speed hidden in there...

TDR

I think I may be one of the few just waiting for Vista to come out. From a developers perspective Vista is going to offer some interesting new options for program design.