Win XP Pro 32 or 64 bit?

[Midknyte]

Both systems only have 3GB of ram, so i don't see a real need to run XP64. You should run XP32 because of drivers (as jdc2000 mentioned) and application compatibility.

[krh1326]

OK,
Thank you for that explanation.

I would love to load up system 2 with alot more memory. I want to keep playing high end games, as does my kids. My wife plays with several gigs of photos and continually running windows movie maker into the ground.

As for the drivers, this is where I start to go nuts. I have found sources that claim that the 64 bit os can utilize 32 bit app and such, if those don't have or can't support 64. Supposedly there is a folder in the OS called 84 or something like that. I have no idea. I have found evidence supporting both claims. I am searching still.

From what I have found, it seems that certain boards and processors can or cannot even run 64 bit.

In system 2, I have xp 32 for now for testing and fooling around, and it does not seem to be recognizing all of the mem. I do have 3 gigs total installed, and it reads 2.75 gigs in system props. Mem test show the sticks as OK.

So to this, I was told to run the 64.

If I am going to run system 2 on 64 should I run the 64 on both (for simplicity)? Can system 1 even run 64, or must it be 32?

Thank you again.