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Windows 64 XP or Vista?


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I know this has been gone over before. But I need some advice.

 

We just received the ok to upgrade to a 64-bit OS on our graphics machines. Now it is time to choose which to go to.

 

This is our basic machine setup:

HP Workstation

Dual 2.66 Quad-Core Xeons

8gb RAM

Quadro FX4600 Graphics Cards

 

Software:

3DS Max Design 2009

V-Ray 1.5 SP3

AutoCAD 2008

Revit Architecture 2009

Adobe CS3 Design Premium

Office 2007

 

I basically need to know what will perform the best overall. All of the machines on our network are currently XP Pro 32-bit SP3.

 

Are there any sites that show side-by side comparisons between the different operating systems?

 

I need to keep this as simple as possible to show our IT person.

 

Thanks in advance for any advice.

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I know this is no help whatsoever, but....

 

I use winxp64. I have never, repeat never, had a problem with drivers. That is the only criticism I have heard levelled at xp64. "You cant find some drivers". Not me, and I have no other complains about it either.

 

Ive never used Vista though, maybe its amazing........

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my advice is to call HP and make sure your system is 100% happy running under Vista64.

 

My guess it that it will be.

 

Other than that, your software apps should run fine. You will want to install the 64bit versions of 3DSMAX and VRAY.

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All that software runs on both those OSes. I'd say XP64 just because everything else is XP32 and it's going to have the most similarity both for your users and your IT people, but going with Vista64 (probably the Business edition) should work as well. Your IT people don't have a preference?

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I've heard it works fine for some people - it's just not officially supported by Adobe (for whatever reason)

 

(the reason they gave for that - "Open GL" compatibility for XP64 - was baloney, so I'm not sure the "real" reason they won't support CS4 for XP64...)

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I hate VISTA - i'll start there.

 

I have been running CS4 on XP64 at home and its fine - Wanted to check it before i upgrade all the machines at the office.

 

XP64 has presented me with only 2 problems so far. Itunes does not burn CD's it cant find the driver for the CD burner - Well thats not a big issue for our office workstations - prevents people burning music on office time.

 

XP64 - no driver for the Gigabit network card in our Dell PowerEdge server - so had to get a cheap 10/100 card for it instead - no major trauma.

 

Other than that - All is well and running x64 apps particularly RAM hungry ones has been peachy.

 

I wont go on about Vista but for me - as a business power user it sets you more steps off the function you want.

 

ie. getting to network properties now takes more clicks and is less direct.

 

I hate dumbed down flowery interfaces - Gimme windows 2000 any day -

Aero is great if your in the Mac crew who sit looking at how pretty their setup is instead of rolling your sleeves up and actually creating something.

 

Vista is poor and the sooner Windows 7 is out the better. Maybe this will represent some progress. I feel Vista is almost like ME was in at the beginning of the 2000's

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I cant believe Microsoft would make the same mistakes as with ME again...surely no-one is that silly.

 

So far as XP64 goes, it does everything I want it to. I think you should not notice an OS. That is what makes it good, you just dont pay it any attention at all. I think that is why xp64 is difficult to improve upon.

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Thank you for your replies!

 

Our IT person consists of a project manager that happens to know a little about networking and nothing about 3D. He is opposed to us switching to a 64-bit OS in general even though he bought our machines with 8gb ram :confused: Not sure what he was thinking to begin with.

 

It sounds like we will have to upgrade all of our machines to a 64 bit os before the end of the year. Right now we are looking at going the Vista Business 64 Route. I would prefer XP just because I know how it works and I can easily problem solve it.

 

We'll see what happens here in the next week.

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my vote goes to XP64.

 

I'm running a similar system with all the same software except for Revit and I have had no dramas with drivers apart from the iTunes issue but that's not work related.

 

I did have issues with CS3 as not all the apps would install on my system. I just finished testing CS4 Trial before buying and it ALL work perfectly including the work around for XP64 open GL for PS64.

 

Until my system becomes unstable on XP64 I see no reason to convert to Vista.

 

m 2c

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I have vista Business 64.. No problems running any programs.. apart from Max Design 64, where the File Link Manager does not properly import and name AutoCAD Architecture 2009 objects correctly.. Separate thread on that though..;)

 

If you dont mind having to tell the machine every time you try and load anything, that its ok to do so, then no worries. Joking aside, it does drive me nuts the amount of times I have to confirm that I dont mind running a particular command / program, but its all for the greater good of course...:D

 

No problem with any drivers etc, turned off the Aero glass theme, and switched back to a more traditional one. Search function is not as nice as the old one.. Probably comes from using the old one for the last 10 odd years..

 

Other than that, I cant see any reason why I wouldnt recommend it...

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well, my vote goes for NEITHER! lol

 

So far as XP64 goes, it does everything I want it to. I think you should not notice an OS. That is what makes it good, you just dont pay it any attention at all. I think that is why xp64 is difficult to improve upon.

 

agreed! except that we might just recently have been proven wrong..

a few days ago the x64 version of the Windows 7 (beta) has been released..

a geek friend of mine, who like me has always used XP n never wanted anything to do with Vista, tried Win7 n says its even faster than XP.. also had no problem with any drivers/hardware detection..

 

what a bummer! i need to get a hold of a couple Windows licenses myself.. guess im in for a few more months of waiting :cool:

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On the topic of Aero glass, I havent really felt any performance degradation from it being on, rendering times are exactly the same etc etc. I do however turn that transparency off just because its kind of confusing to look at something behind it.

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If you dont mind having to tell the machine every time you try and load anything, that its ok to do so, then no worries. Joking aside, it does drive me nuts the amount of times I have to confirm that I dont mind running a particular command / program, but its all for the greater good of course...:D

 

...

 

 

Hi Andy,

 

You can get rid of those annoying confirmation alerts by adjusting your User Acount Control (UAC) settings. The default settings (which Im sure is what you are working with) are MUCH to stringent and annoying.

 

There are tons of places (on Google) that explain the simple steps you can take to remedy this on.

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Been using Vista64 for about the past year. Absolutely flawless. Can turn off all the prettiness, but when I have to look at something 16hrs a day I dont mind looking and using something nice. Doesnt slow anything down for me. Usually the only people who bag it are those who have never used it.

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If you dont mind having to tell the machine every time you try and load anything, that its ok to do so, then no worries. Joking aside, it does drive me nuts the amount of times I have to confirm that I dont mind running a particular command / program, but its all for the greater good of course...:D

 

Turn it off :)

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Turn it off :)

 

Boxxlabs, Ky..

 

I have 2 places of work you see.. One at home, where I do what i want, and one at my day job.. Policies you see...... The idea of turning that off at my day job would send serious signals thru the IT Gestapo..;)

 

I know you can turn it off, but it does do some good things... just more annoying things than good things though, when on a company policy.

Edited by alfienoakes
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i have a newbie question..

I work with a dell presision 490 (5110 @1.60 ghz )

I'm currently with vista 32 and max 9 32.

I have 4 gig ram, if i just upgrade my max and vista to 64, will i see some improvement on speed? or must i upgrade also my ram to see some kind of improvement?

 

Thanks..sorry for the newbie question..;)

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i have a newbie question..

I work with a dell presision 490 (5110 @1.60 ghz )

I'm currently with vista 32 and max 9 32.

I have 4 gig ram, if i just upgrade my max and vista to 64, will i see some improvement on speed? or must i upgrade also my ram to see some kind of improvement?

 

Thanks..sorry for the newbie question..;)

 

sorry, you won't see much (if any) of a performance boost by simply adding ram or changing your OS.

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