INTRODUCTION:As of April 25th, 2005, Microsoft has formally released the retail version of "Microsoft Windows XP x64 Edition"(aka WinXP 64bit edition/AMD64 edition/x86-64 edition) to consumers.
First and foremost, this version of Windows (obviously) requires that you have some sort of processor that supports the AMD64 spec, which at this time is the Athlon64, AthlonFX, "Nocona" Xeon, the Pentium 4 5x1 series, the Pentium 4 6xx series, the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.73ghz, and the Pentium Extreme Edition(i.e. the dual-core EE chips). Additional official requirements include 256MB RAM, 1.5GB available HD space, Super VGA (800x600) or higher resolution video card, CD-ROM or DVD drive, and a Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.
Of important note, with the official launch Microsoft has effectively ended the customer preview program, replacing it with a trial program, so if you are/were using a previous release candidate, you are advised to wipe it when you install one of the final versions of XP64.
Now for the trial version, Microsoft is currently offering it solely as a physical product and there is
not a downloadable version at this time. The trial is free from a product standpoint, but Microsoft is charging shipping & handling(and taxes) to receive it. For most people, this is around $10 all together, though your mileage may vary. Microsoft has also stated that the shipping time on the trial is 4-6 weeks, so it may be a while before you receive your copy. If you would still like to order the trial version, there is an
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/evaluation/trial.mspx on Microsoft's website. This version does have product activation, and will deactivate after 14 days if not activated, or because it's a trial version, will expire after 120 days.
Before you jump in, please check out Microsoft's
support.microsoft.com/windowsxpprox64 for more information on XP64. It offers some insightful notes on what features are known not to work, and lists some known application incompatibilities and other useful information on determining if XP64 will work for you.
Trading-In For XP64As of now, there are three ways to acquire the full version of XP64. Some OEMs will be shipping systems with it(such as high-end workstations), so check with your vendor first if you need a copy of XP64, they may be the most-capable of helping you out. Secondly, for the do-it-yourselfers, Microsoft has enacted a trade-in program that allows users to trade-in copies of the normal 32bit version of WinXP Pro(i.e. XP32) for a copy of XP64. Please read the following carefully about the trade-in program:
This is a time-limited offer; you must do a trade-in before July 31st, 2005.
This is not a free copy of XP64, you are trading in your license for XP32 to use XP64, so unless you have two copies of XP32, you are choosing one or the other.
There is a $12 S&H fee to get XP64
You must know/have your Certificate of Authenticity(CoA) number or Product ID number to trade-in a copy of XP32.
This is for XP32 Pro only, you can not trade in a copy of XP32 Home.
Now with that out of the way, you may go to
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/upgrade/default.mspx to see the full details of the deal and trade in if you'd like. It's shipped, so you'll have a similar wait to as if you ordered the trial version.
Note: Microsoft also says they're taking in copies of XP Pro Reduced Media Edition in trade, if this is the case it could mean for a cheaper way to get XP64, though it seems unlikely MS will accept trades of RME from countries that don't have their own RMEPurchasing XP64The following online vendors are now selling OEM copies of XP64(there will be no retail copies of it)
www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=210165&Category_Code=OperatingSystems www.dljsystem.com/detailsSoft.asp?productID=2242www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837102034www.planetamd64.com/catalog/(a community site)
MANUFACTURER and COMPANY SUPPORT:
XP64 ships with out-of-the-box support for most hardware, but due to the continuing development of many drivers, you will probably need to download some drivers for your setup.
Important: Microsoft has changed the driver INF file convention for XP64 as of RC1 and beyond, so not all early drivers made for the beta releases will work. If you encounter this, there should be newer drivers available.
www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/DevelopWithAMD/0,,30_2252_875_10454,00.html"
The big list of driver support. It's not necessarily up to date, but it can help point you in the right place.
www.matrox.com/mga/support/drivers/files/g450_amd64bit_feb03.cfm">MATROX
www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp"
There are newer versions of the graphics drivers floating around than what Nvidia has listed. You may want to get those instead.
www.ati.com/support/drivers/winxp/radeon-xp64.html?type=xp64&prodType=graphic?=productsXP64driver&submit.x=6&submit.y=6The latest drivers are now fully in sync with 32bit releases and are out of the beta stage. On a related note, ATI Tool is the only overclocking tool so far for ATI GPUs that has official 64bit support.
preview.creativelabs.com/default.aspx(drivers are still in a non-final state are are time-bombed)
www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=2EXPERIMENTAL & USER MADE DRIVERSwww.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloads1-3.aspx?series=16&Software=Truewww.short-media.com/download.php?dc=62&p=2www.virge.org/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=7(found on many K8T800 motherboards, including Abit KV8 series)
Many device manufacturers have some sort of 64bit driver available, so please visit their site if it isn't listed here or a shipping driver did not come with WindowsRANDOM SUPPORT SITES:www.planetamd64.com/ Their online driver database is perhaps the best resource out there for tracking down rare/unusual drivers.
www.windowsserverx64.comSOFTWARE WITH KNOWN ISSUES:All 16bit applications - The AMD64bit design does not support any sort of 16bit mode when running in 64bit mode, so all 16bit applications(and those that use 16bit code in 32bit applications) are broken. Besides, if you need to run a 16bit application, you probably need a 286, not a Pentium 4.
Cygwin - Cygwin tries to use the 64bit CMD console, which doesn't get along with Cygwin very well. Cygwin will work if you force it to use the 32bit console, however.
Web browsing - The are reports of some sites(including BTEfnet.com) locking up computers when rendering a specific image with a 32bit browser, this has not been tracked down to a specific hardware configuration however. Should you encounter this, using the included 64bit version of IE will bypass the problem. Also, there is not a 64bit version of Flash(yet), so for the most part, you will need to use a 32bit browser in the mean time. Windows update is also still 32bit limited, so you will have to use IE32 to access it.
Java - While there is a 64bit version of Java, there is not a 64bit version of the SWT library yet(used by the Eclipse line of programs and Azureus), so should you need to use these programs, you will need to install the 32bit version of Java instead.
PERFORMANCE & IMPRESSIONS:So far there have been no major complaints about XP64, RC2 was a solid release and this has not changed for the final version. Performance and resource usage is in-line with the 32bit version, and except for the default wallpaper and startup screen that identifies this version of Windows as x64, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference(think of it as the Pepsi Challenge). There are a handful of reports stating that overclocked machines that are stable in 32bit mode weren't stable in 64bit mode, indicating that 64bit mode may be harder on processors and/or certain parts of the processor weren't stable at the overclocked speed but aren't active in 32bit mode, but this has yet to be confirmed. Still, there are no major outstanding issues with the OS that should keep anyone even remotely curious away at this point. With XP64 finally out, there should hopefully be some more driver and 64bit app releases shortly.
