Win 8.1 compatible? 32 or 64?

I have an early Mac Pro (2x 3GHz Quad-Core Xeon + Radeon X1900 XT 512 MB graphics). Running 10.7.5

32 bit EFI apparently limits me to 10.7.x max for OS. Boot Camp isn't compatible, and won't allow for installing Win 8.

So, here's my question: Can I install and run Windows 8.1 under Parallels in that system? Do you know if it will be 64bit or 32bit if it works at all? Would ActiveX work? How functional will anything be running Windows this way? [I have Parallels 8 running Ubuntu, and it's so slow it's worthless-it's actually faster to boot Linux from a DVD] Will Parallels 8 support this? I noticed that Parallels 9 min requirements dropped some processors, and I've already experienced the EFI obsolescence issue elsewhere (even when specs say Xeon is supported, it isn't-because of the non-64 bit-ness of it all, and because of the somewhat crippled graphics too)

I have a few devices that require Windows for configuration, firmware updates, etc. (via USB)- so that is my main use.

thanks for any help.

-dennis

 

Hello dnnsma,

Parallels Desktop 8 does support Windows 8.1 ( both 32 bit and 64 bit ) : http://kb.parallels.com/118074

Please make sure that you are running the latest build of Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac : http://kb.parallels.com/111603

You can install either 32 bit or 64 bit OS based on the requirements of the application that you are trying to use on Windows 8.1.

To install Windows 8.1 on your Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac, please follow the steps as suggested at : http://kb.parallels.com/4729

Thanks,
Maheeshwar

 

So Apple's crippling 32 bit EFI doesn't matter for 64 bit?
And what of ActiveX?

thank you.

-dennis

 

Windows 8 did install. 32bit. It did NOT work. 64 bit would NOT install. ActiveX didn't work, and the software and USB drivers also didn't work (they insisted on 64 bit anyway-so that's understandable). So, the exact things I was concerned about, failed. My new, cheap-o Windows laptop fulfills my needs flawlessly. What a giant waste of time and effort.