OS questions

[APDell]

I eventually will go with Windows 7 64... I think. Depends on when we get more info on Windows 8 release date.

At the moment I have Windows 7 32 bit on my Dell. I can only have 4gb of RAM anyway so I installed that over Vista 64 which came with the machine.

The OS question I have is this:
-Which is better for gaming?
-When I build my new computer in a few months should I install the Vista 64 to utilize all 8gb of RAM or just install 7 32bit and use only 4gb of RAM?Should I just get 7 64 bit or wait for 8 64bit ?

What do you all think?

Thanks for the input!

 

[lunatic59]

I don't really have an answer for you about gaming, but my question is why did you not upgrade this machine to Win7-64 bit right away? Both versions are on the upgrade DVDs.

 

[APDell]

I don't really have an answer for you about gaming, but my question is why did you not upgrade this machine to Win7-64 bit right away? Both versions are on the upgrade DVDs.

I got the compuer almost three years ago. It had Vista 64 installed. I got Windows 7 (32 bit) from work. It was just laying around in the office and nobody wanted it because they gave the computer it was installed on away. Nobody wanted to "downgrade" to 32 bit so I decided I might as well take it for my rig (seeing as how I only have 4gigs of RAM) so I could see what 7 was like.

The disc I got only has 32 bit on it.

 

[Isthmus]

If you are a gamer just get Win7 64 and max out the ram on your rig. I'm assuming of course that you also have a decent processor and GPU on it. ON PCs no OS has as many titles or high end games written for it as Windows. Windows 8 is scheduled for a fall 2012 release, assuming all goes well and there are no delays. It is supposed to work on current windows 7 hardware, but then we've heard that before from microsoft, so who knows. I would expect it to be about 1-1.5 years away.

Mac OS lion is due out in a few weeks, and while it shares many of the same type of features W8 is trying to incorporate, it does so in an interface more like that of the Ipad. it will have over a year on the market by the time W8 comes out, but it doesn't have nearly as many gaming titles available for it.

Linux has even fewer games, though there are some distros specifically dedicated to gaming which make it a point to collect linux gaming titles. the latest version of Ubuntu also allows you to buy games from outside vendors right form their software center.

MS is still the way to go if you are a gamer.

 

[APDell]

If you are a gamer just get Win7 64 and max out the ram on your rig. I'm assuming of course that you also have a decent processor and GPU on it. ON PCs no OS has as many titles or high end games written for it as Windows. Windows 8 is scheduled for a fall 2012 release, assuming all goes well and there are no delays. It is supposed to work on current windows 7 hardware, but then we've heard that before from microsoft, so who knows. I would expect it to be about 1-1.5 years away.

Mac OS lion is due out in a few weeks, and while it shares many of the same type of features W8 is trying to incorporate, it does so in an interface more like that of the Ipad. it will have over a year on the market by the time W8 comes out, but it doesn't have nearly as many gaming titles available for it.

Linux has even fewer games, though there are some distros specifically dedicated to gaming which make it a point to collect linux gaming titles. the latest version of Ubuntu also allows you to buy games from outside vendors right form their software center.

MS is still the way to go if you are a gamer.

Thank you. I was leaning towards this.

 

[andruoid]

I'm an ex-gamer and Isthmus is right on the money. Get the 64bit Home Premium which supports up to 16GB RAM.