XP_or Vista / 32 bit or 64?

[pharma]

Hey Guys. Well I've just ordered: Q9300 on an Asus P5E with 4GB 1011 ram, Radeon 3870 etc....a pretty high end system . Because I do a bit of gaming and fair amount of video editing (HD DV) and general computing (writing, mail, spreadsheets) and I like to keep various windows open.

What OS?

I currently run XP pro 32 on my present rig and Vista Biz 32 on laptop. I'm not enamoured with Vista but I read that it's good for quad cores. Then...32 or 64 bit??? I do run a fair amount of oldish programs and I'm not sure they'd work under 64, but then, am I stunting the computers potential if I stay 32? ( I know about the memory issue with 32 and over 2GB RAM).

Opinions greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Thraxen]

With that hardware my vote would be for Vista 64-bit. Vista will perform great on it. I've got two computers at home running Vista 64-bit (one Ultimate and one Home Premium) and I haven't had one bit of trouble out of either one.

 

[gpse]

Vista 64-bit

 

[rudder]

Server 2008. Kicks butt. You can pick them up on Ebay for ~$100. Everyone is selling the copies they got from the microsoft launch event. That is where I got mine.

 

[Eric62]

I was running a dual boot XP Pro / Vista Ultimate 32bit, with a Q6600/9600GT.
I had Crysis installed on both OS's. I can say XP is the better gaming OS playing Crysis.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: Eric62
I was running a dual boot XP Pro / Vista Ultimate 32bit, with a Q6600/9600GT.
I had Crysis installed on both OS's. I can say XP is the better gaming OS playing Crysis.

Only problem with XP is its getting bit old and long in the tooth with no future DX support ,not to meantion no DX10 support ,so for any gamers with 4GB of ram and new hardware it makes sense to go Vista x64,especially since he has a DX10.1 card.

Infact gaming is just fine on my humble 3800+x2 dual core CPU and Vista x64,also remember nobody really decides their OS over one game ie Crysis,you have to look at the big picture,did I forget to throw in better security, memory handling etc...

pharma : End of the day your call but you now have the facts.

 

[tallman45]

Vista 64, no problems at all so far, I am actually surprised, no older harware though so that may be one reason

 

[Eric62]

I've never used Vista x64.
Vista x32 used 3 times more RAM than XP with less programs installed. Vista is more secure = annoying, at least for the non hardcore geek.
With Window 7 scheduled to be released at the end of '09, or early '10, it's easy to skip this OS.
I'd still be running a dual boot, because Vista is prettier, but it self destructed after last patch Tuesday. 9 updates and 1 lengthy reboot later = no explorer, desktop manager, media player, ect. I've never read of this happening to anyone else, so maybe I'm just unlucky, or maybe I did something wrong?
Mem is correct: Nobody should pick an OS based on one games performance, but this was a head to head comparison with the only variable being the OS, so take it for what it is; one noob's personal experience.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: Eric62
I've never used Vista x64.
Vista x32 used 3 times more RAM than XP with less programs installed. Vista is more secure = annoying, at least for the non hardcore geek.
With Window 7 scheduled to be released at the end of '09, or early '10, it's easy to skip this OS.
I'd still be running a dual boot, because Vista is prettier, but it self destructed after last patch Tuesday. 9 updates and 1 lengthy reboot later = no explorer, desktop manager, media player, ect. I've never read of this happening to anyone else, so maybe I'm just unlucky, or maybe I did something wrong?
Mem is correct: Nobody should pick an OS based on one games performance, but this was a head to head comparison with the only variable being the OS, so take it for what it is; one noob's personal experience.

Vista is supposed to use more ram, read up on how it handles memory,as to secure being annoying well thats not true,UAC can easy be fined tuned ie disabled or enabled, you can even download one of those UAC tweak programs available over the net,an extra click is no big deal for me.

What makes you think Windows 7 will be perfect when its released..its an unknown quantity at this time,also it does not help users that want to buy a new OS now,plus by the time Windows 7 does come out Vista will be very mature,I can see some Vista users skipping Windows 7 and going for Windows 8 down the road so it works both ways .

I'm using XP,Vista x86 and Vista x64 at present,my favourite OS of the three is Vista x64...I think I have installed every patch/driver update,plus Securom,Starforce,Tages drivers for my Vista x64 over the last 17 months and it still has yet to show me any problems.

I may sound like I'm preaching Vista but the point I'm trying to make is there are Pros and Cons even if you decide to wait, no OS is perfect,we all have different needs and issues depending on our own hardware/software usage.





pharma : Speaking as a gamer first I can say I have been very impressed with Vista x64,last count was something like 80 or so games fully tested on my Vista x64 from oldies to new ones,just remember it will not run any 16 bit games unless you use something like DoSBox.