i7 with xp?

You should seriously talk him into Windows 7, instead.

Of course.

I'm running several systems with i7 processors, two of which are XP32 based, one which is XP64 (my sig rig) and another on Vista (soon to be Win7 to try it out).

The only disadvantage of XP32 is that you will only be able to use up to 3.25 gb of ram total (XP64 does not have this limit).

Vista and 7 offer somewhat better performance in games, but XP isn't going to turn his i7 into a Celeron. XP wouldn't kill his performance, but he should really just go with 7 x64 if he's building a new rig.

XP wouldn't harm him, but I would really try to get him to go 7 x64.

i don't understand the obsession with XP... just use vista or 7.
and if your friend says vista sucks hit him with s stick, then hand him a copy of vista or 7.

every time people say vista sucks i slap them, and eventually when they think about saying it their face hurts.

It wouldn't hurt to run an i7 on XP but windows Vista or Windows 7 would be a better choice though.

thanks for the info, i will pass it along. 7 it is