New PC... Which OS should I go with?

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Gaius_Verres

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Pretty standard specs on my new rig:
E8400 Wolfdale
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R
HD4870 512mb
4gb DDR2 1000
just over 1tb total disk space over 3 drives.

Originally I was just gonna install my current copy of XP Professional, but then I got to thinking: why not 64 bit? I'm a little bit behind the curve when it comes to 64 bit systems, and I'd like a run-down on the pros and cons of going 64 bit. I know that the drivers are a bit harder to find and there are limited software options for 64 bit systems. Should I go with Vista? XP Pro x64? or stick with my good old 32 bit XP? BTW this system is gonna be dual-boot with Ubuntu, but that's completely beside the point :)

Can someone here give me a few pointers? I'm totally lost.
 
Vista 64 will be a lot less of a headache when it comes to drivers than XP 64, so as far as I'm concerned It would be the best choice if you are interested in running a 64-bit computer.
 
Stick with your current 32-bit XP; upgrade to Windows 7 64-bit when that comes out in the summer.
 
Vista x64. It's fast, stable, robust, it just works great all around. No app or game issues on my end.
 
rndmize said:
Stick with your current 32-bit XP; upgrade to Windows 7 64-bit when that comes out in the summer.
Click to expand...

This is what I'm leaning towards. Then again, I want to be able to use all of my RAM. I see that a lot of people here (people with nice systems) are still using 32 bit Windows.

The FAQ pointed me towards Vista, but I'm still not sure about it. I have heard nothing but bad things about Vista and I don't wanna spend 100 bucks on something that I'm gonna uninstall the next day.
 
What do you guys think of XPx64? Better or worse than Vista?

Keep in mind that I could care less about the visual aspect of Vista. I don't like any of that transparency hoohaw and I'll probably disable it for a performance boost.

My primary objective here is performance and compatibility.
 
Gaius_Verres said:
What do you guys think of XPx64? Better or worse than Vista?

Keep in mind that I could care less about the visual aspect of Vista. I don't like any of that transparency hoohaw and I'll probably disable it for a performance boost.

My primary objective here is performance and compatibility.
Click to expand...

Then you want Vista x64. XP64 was just never well supported and Vista out now and Windows 7 out before too long there is no reason to go Vista. Windows 7 also uses the same drivers as Vista and the same software will work so that's were the x64 support is.

I dual boot Vista x64, Windows 7 and OSX all on my desktop. I used to also have XP 32bit in place of Windows 7.
I have Vista 32bit on my HTPC so I get to play around with just about everything.

Vista x64 performance is very good. It got a bad rap because 3rd party vendors were slow to the party with drivers and when they did come out they were crap. That has turned around now. I've been using Vista x64 since it was in beta and it's always worked well for me.
 
Vista should be much better than XP-64 from what I hear and is a plenty good OS since the service pack; I just don't think its worth buying since its going to be replaced in six months unless you have 4+ gigs of ram in your system. (Note that 7 is largely a cosmetic and usability upgrade to Vista; compatibility should be the same, performance should be better.)
 
Thanks a bunch guys, I think I'm gonna take the dive and go with Vista. :)

Anyone with a second opinion could still jump in, though. I'm open to pretty much anything.
 
To be honest, if you have intentions of getting Vista x64 and then gutting it or trying to tweak it for performance (aka "get rid of the pretty shit") then you truly are better off with XP Pro x64. I catch flack for that recommendation but, there it is. It works, out of the box, without issues, it has no hardware support issues anymore (but it did when it came out nearly 5 years ago) because things have changed in terms of 64 bit support being more widespread now, and it's as rock solid and stable as any Windows OS that's ever been created.

Based on Server 2003, it's the "bastard stepchild" one could say since so many people dissed it over the years. I just made a post in another subforum about how people whined and groaned about it since it came out, but now all of a sudden running a 64 bit version of Windows seems to be a no-brainer (to all the "new" x64 users, that is) while us old bastiges that have been using 64 bit Windows versions since day 1 just sit back and laugh at the noobs... :D

I'll always recommend XP Pro x64 until Windows 7 is released and on store shelves - which could be as early as summer of 2009, way ahead of most people's expectations so far. Beta 1 is amazing, stable, solid, and freakin' fast...

There's nothing wrong with Vista x64. I'm saying that but I tend to get misquoted quite often or taken out of context: I'm also saying depending on what your intentions are XP Pro x64 is still a highly viable candidate for that machine. So I'll say it loud and clear:

There is no reason NOT to run Vista x64 on that machine, unless you're up for trying out XP Pro x64 first to see if you're satisfied with what it can do on that hardware.

If people need to read it a few times to get it, so be it, but it's not a negative against Vista. It's a positive statement for Vista, but with the option of seeing if XP Pro x64 can do the job adequately, which it most certainly can. :)

At this point in the game, here's my recommendation:

If you can acquire XP Pro x64 and want to check it out, do so. BUT... and here's the most important part:

I personally would not recommend you buying Vista x64 at this point considering that Windows 7 is so close to being released, only a few months away based on how solid and reliable Beta 1 is. I recommend you stick with XP 32 bit if you already have it, perhaps spend a lot of time with Ubuntu also, but don't buy Vista x64 now.

Windows 7 is on the way, it's right around the corner. Don't put out cash from your pockets only to discover that a few months from now you would kick yourself realizing that "Damn, I should have listened to that guy at HardForum and waited... now I'm out <xxx> dollars and I gotta buy another OS already..." :D

Wait for Windows 7... that's my final recommendation at this point. It'll be worth it, seriously.
 
Gaius_Verres said:
What do you guys think of XPx64? Better or worse than Vista?
Click to expand...

Much worse than Vista. If you're going to go 64-bit, the only logical answer is Windows Vista. It's not worth spending the money to get a copy and license of Windows XP 64-bit when you can get the much better Windows Vista for the same price.

Your alternative is to stay with the 32-bit copy of XP you already own, and upgrade to Windows 7 when it comes out.

Joe Average said:
Windows 7 is on the way, it's right around the corner. Don't put out cash from your pockets only to discover that a few months from now you would kick yourself realizing that "Damn, I should have listened to that guy at HardForum and waited... now I'm out <xxx> dollars and I gotta buy another OS already..." :D
Click to expand...

See, the thing is, you don't have to buy another OS just because they release a new one. Windows 7 is for the most part Windows Vista with more attention to detail. It's not a major upgrade.
 
OSX Leopard, your hardware is compatible so you can use a retail disk to install.
 
alex2792 said:
OSX Leopard, your hardware is compatible so you can use a retail disk to install.
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and...

AbJ32 said:
Is his hardware Apple branded? If not, he'd be breaking the OS X EULA.
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Ok fellas, let's not go there since 1) EULAs are questionable and have been shot down in US courts, and 2) this forum frowns on recommending such activities in the first place (OSx86 is basically a very touchy thing here since it walks a fine line).

Until an actual US court declares the Apple EULA, this forum will most likely prefer people not speak of breaking 'em outright. Don't stray too far from the path this thread is on, the OP has a legitimate request so let's not muck it up and get it locked down.
 
Vista x64. Between the security and rock solid stability, you'll be very happy. It's the best OS there is, imo.
 
alex2792 said:
It's windows that would automatically disqualify it from being a good OS ;)
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People should really wake up and smell the 21st century... That may have been true of Windows 3.x and 9x, but it is certainly not true of the NT line. So why spout that ignorant nonsense? It's not like this is slashdot and somebody is going to mod you up... :rolleyes:
 
devil22 said:
People should really wake up and smell the 21st century... That may have been true of Windows 3.x and 9x, but it is certainly not true of the NT line. So why spout that ignorant nonsense? It's not like this is slashdot and somebody is going to mod you up... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Windows=spyware galore, imo it sucks,until dlls and registry are abolished windows will never be as stable as Linux and OSX(best OS in the universe). But thats just imo :)
 
alex2792 said:
Windows=spyware galore, imo it sucks,until dlls and registry are abolished windows will never be as stable as Linux and OSX(best OS in the universe). But thats just imo :)
Click to expand...

Windows has spyware because it has like 90% of the market and users download and run anything, they would do the same thing on linux and mac os x if they used that and still get infected by this shit. Vista has better security than any mainstream linux and mac os x, out of the box, things like DEP, ASLR, Protected mode IE and UAC, but nothing can save a retarded user from himself, but it's not Vista's fault. And the registry and dlls do not cause instability, that was just a clueless comment that shows you don't know anything but urban legends about windows. All around Vista is a much better OS than linux or mac, but like I said, that's just imo too.
 
While I share your dislike of DLL's and the Registry (the dumbest idea in computing history), that really doesn't have anything to do with spyware.

Spyware = criminals taking advantage of the biggest target. Toss in neutered laws by the government and an OS that is painfully difficult to secure and you have what we have.

Hell, they KNOW who the WinAntiVirusPro guy is in Texas. Both MS and Washington have filed lawsuits. It hasn't slowed him down one bit.

alex2792 said:
Windows=spyware galore, imo it sucks,until dlls and registry are abolished windows will never be as stable as Linux and OSX(best OS in the universe). But thats just imo :)
Click to expand...
 
alex2792 said:
Windows=spyware galore, imo it sucks,until dlls and registry are abolished windows will never be as stable as Linux and OSX(best OS in the universe). But thats just imo :)
Click to expand...

Anyone with an ounce of intelligence wont get a virus or spyware. This is of course ignoring the fact that Microsoft is much better at patching their holes than Apple (which isn't as secure as Vista)

I have had my XP install for almost 3 years, no spyware or viruses
 
AbJ32 said:
Is his hardware Apple branded? If not, he'd be breaking the OS X EULA.
Click to expand...

The EULA doesn't require apple branded. It specifically says apple labeled. A retail copy of OSX comes with two apple stickers, slap them on your PC and now it's apple labeled.
That's not apples intent but the EULA doesn't specify exactly who has to label the computer.

alex2792 said:
Windows=spyware galore, imo it sucks,until dlls and registry are abolished windows will never be as stable as Linux and OSX(best OS in the universe). But thats just imo :)
Click to expand...

I have used linux off and on since 2000. I am in OSX Leopard right now. Neither are as stable as Vista x64 on my machine.

Remember it was at the hacker challenge earlier this year that OSX was hacked a full day before vista. And it took a security hole in adobe flash to hack vista. In OSX it was done through safari.
 
Windows Vista X64 here on similar hardware and it is absolutly the BEST version of windows to date.......
 
I hear that new windows 7 beta thats floating around is pretty good and stable. it is offcially released to the public in what january i think.

just a thought you get to use it till july of 09 by then retail versions are expected to be shipping.

just a thiught

would save you a hundred bucks that u can use to buy windows 7 retail with later.
 
from what im ready EVERYWHERE is that Windows 7 beta 1 is better than any beta microsoft has ever released and it could actually be considered a final product thats how good it is at this point.

IMO i would just install the beta for free until it officially comes out in a few months. Im actually about to dump my Vista 64 Ultimate for the beta 1(and i have had 0 problems with vista since its launch)
 
Headbust said:
from what im ready EVERYWHERE is that Windows 7 beta 1 is better than any beta microsoft has ever released and it could actually be considered a final product thats how good it is at this point.

IMO i would just install the beta for free until it officially comes out in a few months. Im actually about to dump my Vista 64 Ultimate for the beta 1(and i have had 0 problems with vista since its launch)
Click to expand...

Because all it is, is Vista ~.~ They should just rename Windows 7 to Mojave or whatever.
 
Headbust said:
from what im ready EVERYWHERE is that Windows 7 beta 1 is better than any beta microsoft has ever released and it could actually be considered a final product thats how good it is at this point.
Click to expand...

That's because Microsoft is doing betas differently now. In the past they had a build with beta software and it was all getting worked on together at the same time.

In Windows 7 only the parts that are complete are put into the build so any build is a ready to ship product.

I know someone who just installed it on his or her computer a couple of hours ago. So far he or she really likes it. He or she also likes Vista but can see Windows 7 is the polish to really make it great.

He or She is going to go do some more testing right now.
 
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