Hi, I am leading a programmers team, what we want is the faster machines to improve performance. Currently investigating an HP machine with windows XP 64 on it. But that doesn't work for us as most of hour programming tools do not work under XP 64. We cannot install 32 bit Windows because of the 2 Quad cores in the machines (according to IT). Solution could be MAC pro, same specs (2 quad cores and 4 GB internal memory ) but with Boot Camp I can install XP 32. Or am I wrong?
Or will MAC pro with XP 32 do not give an performance increase we can expect with 8 core? Hi Robert, only special server versions of Windows can utilize more than two physical processors with all cores. With XP Pro 32-bit and/or Vista Business/Ultimate you are able to fully use two physical processors with all cores fully.
Apr 6, 2006 - Macworld and PC World both test drive Apple's beta of Bootcamp, the software that installs Windows XP onto a Mac and allows for booting up.
The Home versions of XP and Vista are limited to one physical processor with all the cores of that one processor. 
On a current Mac Pro that means: XP Pro and Vista Business/Ultimate: 2 processors and 8 cores are useable. XP and Vista Home: 1 processor and 4 cores are useable. Having more than 4GB in 32-bit Windows is indeed a 'waste'.
This limitation is Microsoft-Home-Made. XP actually should see and use (inefficient as it is) one cpu (4 cores) but only 1.9GB (same as Vista 32-bit). Vista may be sluggish on older hardware, like OS X was when it came out and folks found they needed to upgrade all their hardware (more memory, faster cpus, new graphics card, dual cpu, faster disk drives) but it runs nice and WOW64 handles 32-bit apps just fine (and programs updated for Vista x64 tend to have better threading and memory management overall). Maybe if you only run XP then you don't really need to install Windows, not natively at least, and should just run Windows in VM like Fusion. Hi Robert, for the IT guys: XP Prfessional does support up to 2 processors with multiple cores each. XP Home does only support one processor with multiple cores.
The main problem with Mac Pro and 32-bit Windows XP or Vista (and possibly with the HP machine, too) is, that because the expansion slots are reserving quite some parts of RAM for their own Range of Adresses (even if no expansion card is in them) from the 4GB of RAM you will only get about 2GB for XP Pro 32-bit to see and use. Only chance to use the full amount of RAM is 64-bit Windows and then Vista is the one to use, because Apple does not provide any drivers for XP-64 bit. Regards Stefan. XP actually should see and use (inefficient as it is) one cpu (4 cores) but only 1.9GB (same as Vista 32-bit). Vista may be sluggish on older hardware, like OS X was when it came out and folks found they needed to upgrade all their hardware (more memory, faster cpus, new graphics card, dual cpu, faster disk drives) but it runs nice and WOW64 handles 32-bit apps just fine (and programs updated for Vista x64 tend to have better threading and memory management overall).
Maybe if you only run XP then you don't really need to install Windows, not natively at least, and should just run Windows in VM like Fusion. Hi Robert, only special server versions of Windows can utilize more than two physical processors with all cores. With XP Pro 32-bit and/or Vista Business/Ultimate you are able to fully use two physical processors with all cores fully. The Home versions of XP and Vista are limited to one physical processor with all the cores of that one processor.
On a current Mac Pro that means: XP Pro and Vista Business/Ultimate: 2 processors and 8 cores are useable. XP and Vista Home: 1 processor and 4 cores are useable. Having more than 4GB in 32-bit Windows is indeed a 'waste'. This limitation is Microsoft-Home-Made. Apple Footer • This site contains user submitted content, comments and opinions and is for informational purposes only. Apple may provide or recommend responses as a possible solution based on the information provided; every potential issue may involve several factors not detailed in the conversations captured in an electronic forum and Apple can therefore provide no guarantee as to the efficacy of any proposed solutions on the community forums. Apple disclaims any and all liability for the acts, omissions and conduct of any third parties in connection with or related to your use of the site.