64-Bit Windows in Boot Camp for Mac Pro

Discussion in 'Mac Pro' started by spiffyfitz, Feb 11, 2008.

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  1. spiffyfitz, Feb 11, 2008

    spiffyfitz macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2006
    #1
    Well, my 8800GT-equipped has left the iFactory and is now headed my way on a fedex truck...

    Which means, in addition to having one hell of a render tower, I'll finally be able to play all these shiny new PC games!

    Now my school gives out free copies of Windows... so I'm wondering whether I should install 64-bit XP (which, according to some searches, will not install properly on boot camp), or 64-bit Vista Ultimate (which boot camp apparently has full support for).

    I'm only going to use Windows for games, maybe Zbrush, and I want to take full advantage of my machine. I prefer XP over Vista, but I heard that the Mac Pro boot camp drivers don't allow access to all of the RAM in the machine if you have over 2 GB, in XP.

    Will the Direct X 9/8/7 performance suffer in Vista? Or should I not even worry about that, since the machine is already very capable?

    Thanks for your input, macrumors forum members :)
     
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  2. Banacek, Feb 11, 2008

    Banacek macrumors 6502

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    Jan 13, 2008
    #2
    I think that you need to use Vista 64-bit for the OS to see more than 4GBs of memory.
     
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  3. XianPalin, Feb 11, 2008

    XianPalin macrumors 6502

    XianPalin

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    May 26, 2006
    #3
    I think in XP 32-bit you will only see something like 3.25GB, the rest of it is allocated to VM or something like that. I had a friend that just setup a machine with 4GB and it only shows 3.25 I think he said. Other places say it varies a little bit, but it looks to be the low 3Gbs.

    I'm going with XP because I still play an older game or two (like Tribes Vengeance), and it won't work under Vista. I tried out Vista 64-bit on a Core 2 Duo machine I had and ended up going back to XP. If you have no problems with Vista and only play new games, then go with Vista.

    If you hate Vista and / or play old games, go with XP. From what I've read you generally take a small performance hit going to Vista no matter what the game, but with the Mac Pro it probably won't matter that much.
     
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  4. spiffyfitz, Feb 11, 2008

    spiffyfitz thread starter macrumors newbie

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    Aug 16, 2006
    #4
    Looks like I'll be using Vista 64bit, for the newer games. (Especially looking forward to Team Fortress 2, UT3, and Crysis!)

    Thanks for the help, guys.
     
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  5. rds, Feb 11, 2008

    rds macrumors regular

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    #5
    I've just spent some time using Vista 64bit and it pretty well flies unlike anything you've ever known.

    I tested BF2, COD4 and a few Source games for a few hours.
     
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  6. Masher500, Feb 11, 2008

    Masher500 macrumors member

    Masher500

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    Sep 12, 2006
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    Dana Point
    #6
    i cant seem to get my bf2 working smooth, i get kick for no heartbeat. Did you have that problem? just curious. i have vista enterprise.

    thx
     
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  7. rds, Feb 11, 2008

    rds macrumors regular

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    #7
    Make sure you have the latest version of Punkbuster.
     
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  8. BarneysPosse, Feb 11, 2008

    BarneysPosse macrumors newbie

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    Jan 15, 2008
    #8
    I have XP 64 installed on mine and it works beautifully. I don't have the link handy but I know you can download a 120 day free trial of the OS from Microsoft's website.
     
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