Windows Vista?

[Format _C:]

So I'm thinking of buying more ram for my S939 computer and that X2 3800 that Newegg has to make my system last me another 3 years or so. But I want to install Vista on it (Hence the need for more ram) I will probably get Windows Vista Home Premium Edition and why is retail so much more expensive? I also heard it was tied to a single computer so I can't even upgrade my motherboard? Do they actually enforce that? I format my computer alot so I like once a year .

I put my current main computers specs in a code box just in case you need to view it any thing else I should upgrade for Vista?

ASUS A8N-E BIOS 1013
AMD Athlon 64 3500+
512MB PC3200
Seagate 160GB SATA II NCQ HDD Model 3160811AS
3DFuzion Nvidia 7600GS PCIE
Lite-ON SOHR-5238S
NEC ND-3550A
Antec True Power II 430
Antec Plus View II
Microsoft Windows XP Professional With Service Pack 2

 

[romeozor]

well for an upgrade i'd suggest getting an AM2 board and cpu. reason is its a good idea to have 2 gigs of ram under vista (tho not necessary) and i dont know if you want to spend that ammount of money on ddr1 modules (considering future).
as i recall, the only fuss about hardware change is you have to phone MS to get an activation key (about 5 min), but if you just reinstall the system the activation process is automatic. i think there is more to it (like limitations and such) but i'm not an expert on the topic

 

[masteraleph]

So I'm thinking of buying more ram for my S939 computer and that X2 3800 that Newegg has to make my system last me another 3 years or so. But I want to install Vista on it (Hence the need for more ram) I will probably get Windows Vista Home Premium Edition and why is retail so much more expensive? I also heard it was tied to a single computer so I can't even upgrade my motherboard? Do they actually enforce that? I format my computer alot so I like once a year .

You're misunderstanding the different categories:
OEM- one computer/motherboard only
Retail Upgrade- upgrade from another OS
Retail full- install at your leisure

With retail full, you can install on any computer so long as it's only on one computer at any time. With the upgrade it's whatever license you had with the previous computer. With OEM it's one computer only. This is why retail is so much more expensive.