Ready for the x64 Switch
So I recently acquired a license (legally mind you) for Windows XP Pro x64 edition and decided to do an inventory of all my must have hardware and software. Surprisingly I am quite ready for this new OS. My checklist as to what is supported doesn’t look too shabby, better than I thought:
- Processor: Pentium D 830 - CHECK
- RAID Controller: ICH7R - CHECK
- Video: ATI X300 SE - CHECK
- Network Adapter: Intel Pro/100 VE - CHECK
- Sound: Sigmatel STAC 92XX - CHECK
- Printer: Samsung ML-1740 - NEGATIVE
- CD/DVD Writing Software: Alcohol 120% - Half-CHECK
- Back-up Software: Acronis True Image 8 - NEGATIVE
- AV: CA eTrust r7.1 - CHECK
- Archive Management: 7-zip - CHECK
- Browser: Firefox - CHECK
- DVD Compression/Ripping: DVD Shrink and DVD Decrypter - CHECK
- Defragmenter: Perfectdisk 7 - CHECK
- IM: GAIM - CHECK
- Music: iTunes - CHECK
- Video: VLC - CHECK
- Power Management: Powerchute Personal - CHECK
Overall, I’m happy enough with the list to make the switch. I ordered some more RAM for the system, going to go from 1GB of DDR2-533 to 2GB of DDR2-667! Should be fun. It’s going to be a few weeks before that comes in (was on back-order, but a really really good price), so I can hopefully save up for a new video card and another backup drive (I need somewhere to store all my crap). I’m thinking about getting a nice shiny Terastation in the 1TB model. The extra 600GB is not worth another $600-$700 to me. Downsides to this whole thing? Well, Alcohol 120% doesn’t really support the x64 version yet. I read how to get it installed and working, but it complains about the virtual drives not working every time you launch. I can live with that though, the forums say that the x64 drives are in alpha stages right now. So maybe by summer? No printer support either yet, but it’s not a huge deal… I got this printer on a massive bargain. Probably just buy a cheap HP or Brother with x64 drivers that already has a printer server built-in. Sell the Samsung to someone who has a crap inkjet. Backups? Well, I can just use NT Backup till Acronis gets their act together.
So look for me to be running XP Pro x64 in about a month! Stay tuned for the fun.