XP 32bit for now then W7 later

[sturoc]

Just built a new system with a z77 pro 4 MB
SSD 16gb ram etc...
Don't have Windows 7 yet ( that will be the OS eventually) budgeting ya know.
I do have an XP 32 bit disc and am wondering if I can load that up to ck out the system etc then when I get W7 do a clean install for my final OS ?
Would there be anything I could not ck or do under the 32 bit os like firmware updates etc ?

[- wardog -]

No SSD's here but XP doesn't natively support TRIM. And IIRC (not 100% positive??) there's a diff way to align the partition.

Someone else will jump in here and offer more I'm sure.

[parsec]

If you mean just generally check if the mother board works, then yes no problem with that. Some drivers have different 32 and 64 bit versions, but anything wrong would be a software issue. Some drivers are not compatible with XP, you'll need to get the right ones. A 32bit OS cannot use all your memory, only 4GB at most, but the BIOS should see it.

Wardog is right about XP's partition alignment, it will not be correct for a SSD. That will degrade its performance, particularly write performance, so benchmarks of your SSD will be lower, but not the SSD's fault. You will also have to load an AHCI driver for XP during the installation, since XP does not have one. You can use IDE mode, but the SSD's performance will be reduced again, and no TRIM in XP. You should secure erase your SSD before changing to Windows 7, with the OCZ Toolbox for a Vertex 3, since a format by Windows 7 will not clean it up completely. Firmware updates should be fine.

There are three utility programs for your board that cannot be used by XP 32bit, but they are not essential or maybe even useful for you.

[profJim]

Check out Z68XP-UD3 Stuck at "Loading Operating System", post #14 for a brief Diskpart guide to properly align the o/s partition on your ssd. For additional Diskpart information do a web search using: diskpart partition alignment
There are many diskpart guides on the web.
Some newer partitioning programs will properly create and align your partition on a proper 4k boundary for optimal ssd or hdd performance.

[sturoc]

Good info to know I did ck out the TRIM knowledge base online Very interesting stuff there.
In any event I did start the system up and got into the ASRock UEFI BIOS. Nice feature that graphically shows 'active' connections on the MB, which showed everything i have connected. RAM, drives . Everything looks good from BIOS view.
I may just wait till I get the W7 disc and then have it.
Shifting gears for a minute: by letting the CPU thermal paste set, but not run at temp (since no OS)
Will this affect heat transfer performance ?

Thanks for the replies

[parsec]

The thermal paste? Not significantly IMO, and if you disable all the CPU power saving options, and just run the BIOS, the CPU will heat up more than just idling in Windows.