Windows XP x64, Promise and Reality

Features
By published

Who Needs 64 Bit Windows?

Driver support for system devices and peripherals is still a major issue that you should look into before even thinking about deploying x64. If there is even one device that you cannot or do not want to replace, and for which drivers are not (yet) available, stay with 32 bit Windows to avoid problems. These might be special components, scanners, printers, multimedia devices or similar hardware.

What is different in x64 is the ability to deal with as much as 32 GB of RAM and to run both 64 bit and 32 bit applications side by side. Windows x64 uses a translation layer called WOW64 (Windows on Windows 64) to convert 32 bit commands, parameters and results for the 64 bit kernel. While Windows XP is able to address a total of 4 GB RAM (232), only 2 GB can actually be used for applications. This is different with the x64 Edition: A total of 4 GB can be used for 32 bit applications. More benefit can be obtained with real 64 bit applications, as their memory use is only limited by the amount of RAM installed.

As more data can be processed per clock cycle, there can be substantial performance benefits with 64 bit applications under Windows XP. However, it will still take some time for large numbers of applications to be ported to 64 bit. If you are primarily running 32 bit software, you should consider the following issues.

Patrick Schmid
Patrick Schmid
Editor-in-Chief (2005-2006)

Patrick Schmid was the editor-in-chief for Tom's Hardware from 2005 to 2006. He wrote numerous articles on a wide range of hardware topics, including storage, CPUs, and system builds.

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • mr roboto
    Woah there's a 64 bit Windows now? What's next 128 bit versions. As I'm still rocking my 8 bit NES.
    Reply
  • oneof10
    Thank you for the article. Though this article may seem outdated and therefore fairly irrelevant, I just happened upon a free copy of XP 64 and was exploring the value in dual booting my XP 32 system. Thanks for saving me a potential headache for very little benefit.
    Reply
  • iLoveWOW
    I found an OEM copy at Tveak.com for only $59.99 + free shipping. Great! :))
    Reply
  • iLoveWOW
    ilovewowI found an OEM copy at Tveak.com for only $89.99 + free shipping. Great! )
    Reply
  • I found some newer games that would not work on Win7 (and fyi, Win7 XP mode is *not* for gamers, no 3D graphics) so I dual booted with WinXP x64. Thankfully I had a great system driver disk, though at this time availability of 64 bit drivers is not the issue it used to be.
    But ... lemme say WinXP x64 ROCKS ... I was getting some butter-smooth frame rates with every video setting max'd. Yeah, I know there's multicore CPU, a GPU, chipset, etc. in the picture ... but just a gut check tells me that data is *flying* in there, even if it is 32 bit code. The OS overhead must be much less or something.
    Reply
  • bakra downloads
    what i learned today is not to trust idiots at tomshardware
    windows xp 64 bit is godlike
    it's performance is mind blowing
    I would pay money to anybody who can get me a windows xp 64 working on newer hardware (like HP laptops)
    newer hardware only supports windows 7 64
    windows 7 64 is nothing when u compare it to windows xp 64

    dunno why it is so "butter smooth" and fast. I speculate win xp 64 less drivers (eg. hibernation is not supported) thus less DPC processing and more butter smoothness
    Reply