Whats the Best OS for a game system?

[mikeford]

I want to set up a computer just for games, mostly online stuff like Counter Strike, etc., and I haven't used anything so far except 98se. Whats the best OS to use on a purely gaming system?

Hardware will be not the absolute fastest, but close, ie XP1800, XP333, 384 MB PC2700, Geforce3ti200...

I'm tempted to just go with XP, but I am worried that some games won't run well, or there may be too many new OS bugs.

 

[Mitzi]

I'd personally say get XP. There may be bugs and the drivers may still be a step away from mature but these issues are being resolved very quickly.

Within a couple of months I think XP will be the di-facto standard for games, so you'll have to upgrade eventually anyway.

 

[robisc]

I second what Mutzi said, I would go with XP due to it's reliablity and the fact that drivers and updates are being released pretty quickly, XP unless you run some really old stuff. I have even had better luck running older proggies and games on XP than I did on 2k.

 

[tigerwannabe]

if you mean best gaming O/S right now, i'd have to say stick with 98se or me. no muss...no fuss--well almost best future gaming O/S, the others have it right with xp.

 

[Yoshi]

XP is the way to go if you ask me.

 

[Zlash]

XP, no reason to punish yourself with 98 or ME.

 

[zodder]

I always thought 98SE was the still the greatest gaming OS out there until I installed XP on my gaming rig. XP has me sold now. I wouldn't recommend anything other than XP now.

 

[mikeford]

Thanks for the input.

I run 98se right now, but I have XP waiting to install on a "next" system. 2k seems to have broken a LOT of older games, but I plan to run maybe 5 PCs not including laptops with a couple of them older machines running 95 or 98se, heck I may keep an old P90 running DOS or W3.1. Nothing like the original hardware and OS to make a game feel right.

Ultimately I wonder if it might be cheaper to install 98se, then upgrade in a 6 months when the service packs for XP start to show up?

 

[Thor86]

Win98SE with a few minor tweaks, and you have a blazing fast OS for gaming! Everything works, the way it should. MHO.