[Daniel Hruby]

WOndering if anyone has any experience running some version of Windows XP (32 or 64 bit) on OSX? I have an 8 core macPro and I understand that I can use the 64bit version but I dont know if it makes sense to go for it or to just use a 32 bit version. I will probably only use it for the occasional windows only application NOT for rendering. I will use VMware (similar to Paralells).

Secondly, Should I buy a separate Drive for Windows? Seems like a good idea.

Thirdly, I will probably up this machine from 5 to 8 GB of RAM. Would 64Bit XP allow me to access more RAM or am I limited?

Thanks!

[jc4d]

Hi Daniel, i own a octomac too with a additional drive with XP 32, i do not recommend to install XP 64 because the drivers of Bootcamp doesn´t work, you can try to install vista 64 but i don´t know if it works, AFAIK you can modify the boot ini in XP 32 in order to take advantage of 3GB, somewhere in CGTalk i read it and it work, but i don´t make it yet. If you planning use XP only few times go for XP 32 that the only trouble that i had was i downgrade the video card driver.
Right now i make an animation with Cinema 4D and FinalRender in XP 32 and i don´t have any trouble (touching wood) so far.

Cheers
JC

[Daniel Hruby]

Thanks for the insight. I thought it might be easier to go with 32 bit.

Anyone else have some stories?

[Daniel Hruby]

So I ended up going with VMWare and XP32 Home edition and it was amazingly simple to set up. And it runs great. I can use windows only apps right along side my mac apps and access all my Mac documents, etc. Really cool. I didnt get a second drive in the end as I felt more RAM would be a better investment. I went from 5 GB to 9 GB and it really is a good idea to add at least 4 GB for Windows to use.