[MR_T3D]

I have recently come across the oppertunity to install either windows vista (ultimate 64bit)  or XP64 at no cost to myself...
My system:
Platform :   Intel Centrino
Mainboard :   Intel DQ965GF
Chipset :   Intel Q963
Processor :   Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 @ 2400 MHz
Physical Memory :   2048 MB (2 x 1024 DDR2-SDRAM )
Video Card :   NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT
Hard Disk :   ST3250823AS (250 GB)
DVD-Rom Drive :   HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H22N
Monitor Type :   Samsung SyncMaster - 19 inches
Network Card :   Intel Corporation 82566DM Gigabit Network Connection
Network Card :   Intel Corporation 82566DM Gigabit Network Connection
Operating System :   Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.01.2600 Service Pack 3
DirectX :   Version 9.0c  (September 2009)
I want to now which system would be best for the machine, given that it mainly plays games form 2001 (CoD and BF42) to Supreme commander and Sins on the high end.
will my card see much of a benifit going DX9 to 10, as it states ont he box that it is DX10 capabile?
i've decided to frak it all and keep xp for the remainder of this HD's use to me.

[chief1983]

Might want to wait and see if you can get Windows 7 instead of either one of those.  XP is old and Vista is a hog.

[MR_T3D]

Might want to wait and see if you can get Windows 7 instead of either one of those.  XP is old and Vista is a hog.

well you see the thing is, i have them for free, and will still do 7 a little after release in case it bombs or something , this is mearly a meantime.
not sure if vista upgrade would mean easier 7 upgrade or not...
but this machine will mainly be my little brothers soon when i pick up a decent laptop this year for university..

[chief1983]

Vista does mean easier upgrade to 7, but you still have to have a Vista in a similar class to upgrade to 7.  Like Vista Business to 7 Pro or Business or whatever.  Also have to match 64bit to 64bit, etc.

[MR_T3D]

Vista does mean easier upgrade to 7, but you still have to have a Vista in a similar class to upgrade to 7.  Like Vista Business to 7 Pro or Business or whatever.  Also have to match 64bit to 64bit, etc.

so having vista 64 ultimate will mean easy upgrade to 7 ultimate, right?
if so than i think i will do it

[chief1983]

Easy is not the word I would choose, but officially endorsed by Microsoft, yes.

[Aramil]

Windows 7 Ultimate 64 for me that and unbuntu for serious stuff

[MR_T3D]

well, vista wants a reformat of the HDD or to clean install. and i do not want to reinstall everything,  today at least, so i am just going to frak it, and keep 32bit xp for will 

[Sushi]

well, vista wants a reformat of the HDD or to clean install. and i do not want to reinstall everything,  today at least, so i am just going to frak it, and keep 32bit xp for will 

Hey, if it ain't broke...

[chief1983]

Yeah I thought you were going to do a fresh install of it already.  You can't really go from 32bit to 64bit with MS stuff it seems, ever.  Not even sure if you could go from XP64 to Vista64 really.

[Admiral LSD]

Unless you have more than 4GB RAM or more, there's no pressing need to go 64 bit.

If the three choices above are all that's on the table because that's what you have access to right now then I'd probably say stick with XP32. At least until you can get a hold of 7 at some point down the road.

XP64 is a driver minefield because it was only ever a niche product (apart from a short trade-up program, it was only ever available as an OEM product) and with 7 just around the corner, it's just not worth moving to Vista.

[Ashrak]

win 7 x64

[chief1983]

Actually I acquired XP64 through MSDN's Academic Alliance.  Never installed it though.

[Admiral LSD]

Actually I acquired XP64 through MSDN's Academic Alliance.  Never installed it though.

I completely forgot that it would have been available there as well. In any case though, it was still a limited release and as a result hardware manufacturers largely ignored it. It saw some trickle-down after the release of Vista, but all-in-all Vista was a far better way to go 64-bit Windows. At least until 7 arrived. With 7 so close (It's RTM now so it should be available through MSDN with general release scheduled for October) moving to Vista or XP64 is largely pointless.

[chief1983]

Yeah we're actually testing the 7600 build at work right now.

[Davros]

stick with xp32
you only have 2gb ram no reason to go 64bit
xp64 isnt as good as vista64 for drivers