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Which windows for games

Y

you2

Diamond Member
Hello,

I currently run windows 98 se (which minimizes the auto-ms snooping crap). However, I find it runs quite poorly with direct X 8.1 (it runs great with direct X 7.?).

I currently have a voodoo 3/2000 and soundblaster awe64 (the video is ok under 8.1 but the sound is really choppy) -- I had to reinstall the os to go back to 7.x to get decent sound.

I'm going to upgrade my system soon (couple of months) and go with a Navida TI 4200 and either on board sound (gigabyte, epox or asus kt333 motherboard) or soundblaster live! pci card (hey I just want a decent system with high performance/cost ratio).

I'm not sure if windows 98se will run well with amd (current motherboard is intel based BX chipset) and I'm not sure if the newer devices will work well with 8.x under 98se (anyone knows?). If 8.x will not work well with 98se then perhaps I should bite the bullet and buy a newer version of windows. I guess the candidates are XP, XP pro and windows 2k (seems like XP is the best bet given cost). Additional issues is which minimize MS snooping crap and give good game performance (anyone noticed that the new window media license requires that you allow MS to upload software to YOUR system when they decide to do such?).

I'm trying to stay legit so cost is an issue - any comments/suggestions ?
 
I should note that I will most likely go with the MS-6380E-010 (MSI ultra without raid) in case that makes a difference (it shouldn't should it?)
 
I'd say XP Home, since you don't really need the Pro extra features for games. I don't know about onboard sound with that motherboard but I always thought onboard sound will slow down your cpu, correct me if I'm wrong. I run Windows 2000 as I don't play games much, but the games I do need run well enough to not have to go out and get XP.
 
I find it runs quite poorly with direct X 8.1 (it runs great with direct X 7.?).
Click to expand...

I'm not quite sure why you think that. It works fine for me (and everyone else I know). There is nothing inherently wrong with running win98 and direct x 8.1, it should work perfectly ok. If it were me, I would just stick with 98 unless you really want to try xp. Everyone seems to think its better and it probably is. But games don't run better in it (or at least they shouldn't).
 
Well maybe it is my devices and not direct x 8.1. But on my system the sound is choppy (can't understand folks talking) and the video very choppy. Create Labs insist I have the latest driver for awe64 and as you know 3dfx is no more. It could be something else but I've spent several weeks down loading this and that as people suggested here and elsewhere and nothing really fixed the problems under direct x 8.1 - but when I went back to 7.? things were back to being perrrfect...
 
don't listen to these people. Win98se is still the BEST os for gaming, PERIOD. You can't argue with the facts, and win98se consistantly outperforms all other OS's. You can say that winxp gives higher 3dmarks, but in realworld gaming apps 98se has the best compatibility and speed. Plus 98se doesn't have all those annoying services running in the background and the harddrive performance is better. Try benching on XP and 98se with sandra or hdtach, 98se gives better results. XP is a fine OS for gaming, but you stated you wanted the best and 98se is the best for gaming.
 
S.A. -- that's nice to hear - but I wish i knew why windows 98se doesn't work well with direct x 8.1

Also -- if I upgrade to an amd mother board will i need a special patch for the chipset (kt333) or will it work fine as is (I currently use it with a BX chipset motherboard...
 
I always thought onboard sound will slow down your cpu, correct me if I'm wrong.
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You are. Oboard sound is just like normal sound, it's even on the PCI bus (well it could be on the ISA bus on cheaper or older boards). The only downside is that the onboard sound usually use cheaper chips, it's hard to find an emu10k1 onboard.

don't listen to these people. Win98se is still the BEST os for gaming, PERIOD
Click to expand...

The only thing Win98 is the best at is a mind boggling stupid design.
 
I`ve both 98 and WinXP PC,gaming wise XP is ok,you may have problems with very old games but in general gaming with XP is fine,Win98 has the advantage of older games support and Dos games,however if your gaming needs are with modern games I would go with XP, general stability with XP is better then 98.To be honest I stopped using my 98 PC being that my games have been running ok on my XP PC.



 
Win XP Home no doubt. More compatible than 2000 in current games, future games will be written for the 2000/XP code base, no 98's, and its more stable than 98SE. Go get it.
 
don't go with ME no matter what you think...it's probably the most horrid OS ever written...

to tell my tale, i find XP to be slower than 2000 in games. before i upgraded my machine from 2000 to XP, i ran a 3d mark test, and i compared it when i ran it under XP. XP was considerably slower (15-20%) than 2000 on that test; and, while that isn't all inclusive, it's a good indicator to me. i've also noticed it in games, tho not to the extent that the 3dmark benchmarks would suggest. I like 2000, and it seems a little sleeker than XP...but people are right, microsoft is going to be pushing for XP hard, and it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to run that...
 
I agree freebsd rocks (I run it most of the time). Alas, the games don't run on freebsd hence i'm stuck with win(rude word left out).
 
Your VooDoo card does not like DX 8.1. It is not Win98 having the problem. My old pc has my beloved VooDoo3 3000 w/98SE. DX 8.0 is the last version your VooDoo will cohabitate properly with. I had the same problem after trying 8.1 so I reverted to 8.0 and all was well.


My new rig runs 8.1 w/98SE just fine. 1.6a with a ti-4600.


What drivers are you using for the VooDoo ??? In my experience, most if not all of the hacked drivers available are total crap. I use the last "factory" drivers available from 3dfx, 1.07 I think, and they work great with DX 8.0


I have never had any issues with 98SE. Its good for me.
 
My rig boots 98se and XP Pro. I use XP Pro to play Quake 3 and Flight Simulator 2002. I use 98se for all my other games.
 
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