Microsoft Windows XP Pro X64 Edition SP2B for System Builders [Old Version]

by Microsoft

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000JTBX08
• Item model number: ZAT-00115
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 27, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,175 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #19 in Software > Operating Systems > Microsoft Windows > Windows XP

Product Description

This OEM software is intended for system builders only and cannot be transferred to another PC once it is installed. The purchaser of this software is required to comply with the terms of the System Builder license, including the responsibility of providing all end user support for the software.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 64-bit computing not for the faint of heart., May 22, 2007

By 

Christopher Wanko "-C" (Nutley, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Microsoft Windows XP Pro X64 Edition SP2B for System Builders [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

I recently bought an AMD dual-core processor that uses a 64-bit architecture, and wanted to enjoy the full benefits of that. In addition to loading Linux, I also purchased a copy of Windows XP Professional 64, the 64-bit version of the OS.

First impressions are that I have a slightly different default desktop wallpaper, but nothing else seems radically divergent from the 32-bit UI. It sees the 2Gb correctly, as expected, and I'm curious to see what it'll show when the other stick of RAM are installed to bring it to 6Gb.

I haven't loaded most of the usual bloat, restricting this machine's use to games and some development tasks I'll bring from work. I might run Office, I might not, but I want to offer some words of advice to potential buyers.

One, good luck finding a 64-bit firewall. As of 22-May-2007, only Ghost Wall works under XP64. Zone Labs (now Checkpoint) has no plans to build one in the near future, Sunbelt's Kerio product is not slated for a 64-bit release either (choosing, like ZoneLabs, to focus on Vista), and Tiny Software (now CA) didn't have a 64-bit version either. So, you can use the stock firewall or Ghost Wall, or roll up your sleeves and build a Linksys router with firewalling capabilities.

Better news from antivirus vendors, though: Alwil's Avast product does work fine under XP64. Since I'm long-removed from running Norton or McAfee at home, I strongly suggest doing your homework before adopting XP64 if you have current licenses of those products. You might be out of luck. Avast is very good, so you aren't losing anything by switching.

The OS runs well, I don't have any crashing or lockups but I haven't really attempted to blue-screen it yet either. I really like the fast boot times and quick response, and while I might be running Linux a bit more on this box for non-gaming purposes, I still like having an MS OS available for helping out friends and family with their MS problems.

Worth buying? Yes, but only if you have a 64-bit CPU and you don't mind searching for native 64-bit apps and utilities.

-Fred

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must-have if you have over 3 gigs of RAM!, January 10, 2008

By 

Winston Wolf (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft Windows XP Pro X64 Edition SP2B for System Builders [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

I recently bought a system that has 4 gigs of RAM and tried to run XP 32-bit on it, but Windows only "saw" 2.5 gigs. The BIOS saw the 4 gigs without a problem, so I did my research, and found that getting a 32 bit OS to recognize 3+ gigs is somewhere between a root canal (with no anesthetic) and self-amputation with a spork.
I had a license for XP64, so I installed it. It installed with no issue, and ran through the usual Windows update sessions with no problem at all. There are some driver issues, and if you're using a TV tuner card like I was in my old machine, save yourself the headache. It's not going to happen. I got my sound card running in no time (Audigy2 Platinum Pro),
Avast! Anti-virus installed with no issue, and my rig is up to 100%, showing 4 gigs of RAM, SLI running smooth, and overall a much better eXPerience (see what I did there????)
Do your homework, and realize that 64-bit computing is a newer technology, and will have a shakedown period before it's ready for prime-time, but overall, I'm very happy with my XP64 machine, and would recommend that others get it as well if you have the chip, RAM, and don't need Microsoft holding your hand after it's installed.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars much stable than vista, March 24, 2008

By 

Lynn Fyffe (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Microsoft Windows XP Pro X64 Edition SP2B for System Builders [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

Many of us are surprised by Microsoft who ditched their stable and fast XP 64. Instead, they pushed unstable vista on the market before it was done. For programming purpose, XP 64 is a much better choice. I've heard lots of studios in special effects industry kept their old Win32 to avoid all the hassles brought by Vista in their render farms.