32bit/64bit xp/vista advice

Samfau2

Samfau2

Samfau2

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2 Oct 2008
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225
Ok ive been planning a new build for a while and want to get everything spot on, have had various other questions that have now been resolved but would like some input on one last query.

Im unsure which OS to use for my new system. I have access to 32bit XP, 64bit XP and 64bit Vista (my dad gets free copies/licences from work :D)

I have this problem as i will be buying 4gb of RAM and would like to see it all used, however i would also like to see no compatibility probs and get the best gaming performance.

Currently im thinking of going with good ol' 32bit XP as Vista seems to perform significantly worse in games. My gfx card will be 512mb so i should see a little under 3.5gb shouldn't i?

As for 64bit XP, i like the sound of it on paper, full 4gb support but ive heard its plagued with compatibility issues and would the extra half a gig or so prove 64bit to be worth it?

64bit Vista on the other hand, does it suffer from the same compat issues as XP? Still a bit resource hungry for my liking, enough to see frame drops in games compared to XP, so would this in effect cancel out the performance of the extra ram??

What would you go for? Thanks again guys.
 
Vista x64 all the way, there is no real difference between xp32 & vista 64 in games now & you'll be able to use your full 4gb of ram. Compatibility wise it is great now, You shouldn't have a problem unless your using programs that are ancient. Resource hungry? nope just making use of your hardware when it wouldn't normally be in use. Ram is now used in a different way which is more efficient.
 
Currently im thinking of going with good ol' 32bit XP as Vista seems to perform significantly worse in games
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It did (depending on definition of "significant"), not now.

My gfx card will be 512mb so i should see a little under 3.5gb shouldn't i?
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3GB and up, mobo/other devices eat some.

64bit Vista on the other hand, does it suffer from the same compat issues as XP
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Vista 64-bit has drivers from most major hardware manufacturers and 32-bit software works fine with very few exceptions.

Still a bit resource hungry for my liking, enough to see frame drops in games compared to XP, so would this in effect cancel out the performance of the extra ram??
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For any modern machine with a decent quantity of RAM Vista is not resource hungry. If RAM is being churned too much just turn off SuperFetch and revert to XP RAM usage.
 
Tetras said:
For any modern machine with a decent quantity of RAM Vista is not resource hungry. If RAM is being churned too much just turn off SuperFetch and revert to XP RAM usage.
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I wouldn't recommend disabling Superfetch though. It is one feature that makes vista great.
 
i forgot about DX10 and with your comments im swaying towards vista now, cheers.

Edit: 1 quickie out of curiosity, do dx10 games HAVE to run on dx10 in vista or can you play them in dx9 mode, like crysis for example.
 
Samfau2 said:
i forgot about DX10 and with your comments im swaying towards vista now, cheers.

Edit: 1 quickie out of curiosity, do dx10 games HAVE to run on dx10 in vista or can you play them in dx9 mode, like crysis for example.
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Most DX10, games give you a Choice to run in DX9 or DX10.

I guess ones that don't can be edited somewhere so they do not default to DX10 but I don't see any reason to do this other than buggy Crysis the rest will run fine.
 
Edit: 1 quickie out of curiosity, do dx10 games HAVE to run on dx10 in vista or can you play them in dx9 mode, like crysis for example.
Click to expand...
For DX9 games, they run (believe it or not) in DX9 mode. Vista can (and does) install DX9 alongside DX10.
 
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