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Win Server 2k3 vs XP for gaming server

C

cw42

Diamond Member
I plan on building a gaming server, but can't decide which OS I should use. I don't plan on using Linux because I don't have the time right now to go through, and learn how to use that right now.

Right now i'm trying to decide whether to use Win Server 2k3 (Enterprise, Web, or Standard?), or WinXP. Is there any performance diff between the two when just hosting the game server? I don't plan on using alot of the extra server stuff that comes with 2k3, so it seems kind of useless. I'm thinking of hosting a 16 player BF2 server, and a CS: Source server.

I think my specs should be ok for hosting the two since the servers won't be full that often...
Shuttle AB60R mobo, P4 2.4b, PC2700 512mb ram
 
My experience says that you only need a server level operating system if you are going to use the features it provides. The extra features will slow it down (though they do allow you to give equal priority to background tasks such as game servers).

Save your money and just buy the standard windows XP.
 
My school provides me with all versions of Server, and XP for free... so money isn't an issue here.
 
It won't make a difference either way. I would be more concerned about ram usage per player. Is 512MB enough for a 16 player box?
 
I believe the min specs for a 16 player for BF2 is something along the lines of p4 1ghz, 256mb ram according to EA guidelines. So hosting more than 1 server on the box should be fine since i don't expect both to be full at the same time.
 
Your school provides the OS, but is that license setup so you can use it any way you like, or only for learning/testing?


I would think you should only do one with that ram, and monitor usage. The 256 mark is probably low, and how much will your windows GUI eat up of that 512?
 
As long as we're students we can do whatever we want with it, plus it's a learning experience also anyways 🙂 Server will only be on my LAN, so bandwidth isn't a prob either. I think i might just go with Server 2k3 since i've never tried that before.
 
I'd recommend at least 768 to 1gb of memory for that box running two servers. XP eats 256mb of that off the bat, and so will 2k3 server, so I would think 1 gig of memory is best.


 
Either Server 2003 or XP Pro would be fine since these are not OS services.

The thing to consider here is whether you want to use any of the OS services; I.E. If you want to run a web site on the same box than server 2003 might be the better option.
The 256 mark is probably low, and how much will your windows GUI eat up of that 512?
Click to expand...
If the box isnt logged in to (I'm not sure if these games can run as services without a user logged in at the console) than it will use considerably less. In either case if he doesnt have enough RAM in the box it would be easy enough to identify that as a problem and add more in the future.

Have fun,

-Erik
 
I've had some aching problems with w2k3 and Wow , and BF2 . Rockstar games and Codemasters games also tend to give a bit headaches now and then .
 
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
eh, doesn't xp only allow 5 connections at a time? I would think you would need a linux or a windows server box for a gaming server.
Click to expand...
My response is a little late but...

There is an inbound connection limit to Windows services (IIS, file/print, etc.); however this does not effect non-windows services (a game server).

Also AFAIK it's 10 (not 5).
 
Originally posted by: spyordie007
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
eh, doesn't xp only allow 5 connections at a time? I would think you would need a linux or a windows server box for a gaming server.
Click to expand...
My response is a little late but...

There is an inbound connection limit to Windows services (IIS, file/print, etc.); however this does not effect non-windows services (a game server).

Also AFAIK it's 10 (not 5).
Click to expand...

also, you can run apache on windows and have as many connections as your bandwidth/cpu/ram will handle, along with ftp. and yes, it is 10 for the windows services like iis and ftp.

pesonally for your hardware i would go with xp pro, since you will not use what 2k3server offers.
 
indeed... roll a gentoo and your gonna regret how much memory ea multiplayer servers chew up and spit out. Also 1 gig of memory would be better as both servers but different requirments and strains on the box per user. 512 is just really low. If you do gentoo 512 might be passable tho. Windows... your visitors will regret it.
 
Originally posted by: hooflung
indeed... roll a gentoo and your gonna regret how much memory ea multiplayer servers chew up and spit out. Also 1 gig of memory would be better as both servers but different requirments and strains on the box per user. 512 is just really low. If you do gentoo 512 might be passable tho. Windows... your visitors will regret it.
Click to expand...

with xp pro and 512 and a 16player bf2 server you would be ok, albeit close to the edge. but not with another cs:s server running on it, that would put it over the edge and your gaming will lag.
 
hell what university are you going to thatlets students get free copies of Server 2003? my university only offers an upgrade from XP pro to XP pro 64 bit. it sucks
 
Originally posted by: Xpage
hell what university are you going to thatlets students get free copies of Server 2003? my university only offers an upgrade from XP pro to XP pro 64 bit. it sucks
Click to expand...
His school is probably a member of the MSDN Academic Alliance (http://msdn.microsoft.com/academic/)

It's not "free" but rather payed for by his school. There are also a number of restrictions to him when he leaves the school.

But yes it's a great way for students of some schools/programs to play with software.
 
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