PHP5 - New PHP install confusion

I am confused about which version of PHP I can use on my new computer.
Here is why:

I was told that I could not use MSVC9 packages on my system so I found
the most recent MSVC6 ZIP package and got that running.

Then I went to the xdebug TAILORED INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS site to
find out which xdebug program I could use and after placing the
information they requested I received this message:


TAILORED INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
SUMMARY
• Xdebug installed: no
• Server API: Apache 2.0 Handler
• Windows: yes - Compiler: MS VC6 - Architecture: x86
• Zend Server: no
• PHP Version: 5.2.17
• Zend API nr: 220060519
• PHP API nr: 20060613
• Debug Build: no
• Thread Safe Build: yes
• Configuration File Path: C:\windows
• Configuration File: C:\php\php.ini
• Extensions directory: c:\php\ext

THE COMPILER (MS VC6) THAT THIS PHP WAS BUILD WITH, IS NO LONGER
SUPPORTED. PLEASE UPGRADE TO A VERSION THAT WAS BUILT WITH MS VC9.



I am running Windows 8.
My server is:
Server version: Apache/2.2.22 (Win32)
Server built: Jan 28 2012 11:16:39

So my questions is what is the most recent Tread Safe Build zip package
of PHP that I can use on this system?

Thanks!

Try here. And read this.

You need a different version of Apache, rather than (or in addition to) PHP. Or use Microsoft's Web Platform.

Or, another option which many go with, but I don't favor, are some of the all-in-one packages. i.e. LAMP, XAMP, WAMP, ...

I found a link that provides a good tutorial on how to download and setup the three tools Apache, PHP and MySQL on Windows 8.

INSTALL APACHE, PHP AND MYSQL ON WINDOWS 8
Install Apache on windows 8 – Create your own server – part 1
http://www.techscio.com/install-apache-on-windows-8/


This link will help you choose the correct Xdebug file.
http://xdebug.org/wizard.php