EggXpert

I'm building a new computer in the next few days and I was wondering which os to go with. I have the xp cd's and the vista cd's so cost is not an issue. I plan on playing crysis so the dx10 is a plus for me, but I also have a creative sound card and I've heard the driver support for vista is horrible for creative. Anyways, I'll post the specs of my system and let you decide which one to go with.

thanks 

It is not the driver support for Creative that is bad in Vista, it is the Creative drivers for Vista. Creative had almost a year, they knew the sound support was going to change. When I first built this rig I had to initially go to on board sound. I found an IRQ conflict, moved my X-Fi to a different slot and then installed the newer creative drivers and all is OK.

As for which OS? I still have one computer with Xp and when I use it I feel deprived. I would go Vista. Yes Vista requires more resorces but if you want something that uses little resorces go to WIndows 3.1. Really, it is time to move on and the Apple loving press who badmouths Vista seems to now have an agenda.

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Asus Commando, QX6700@2.93, 4GB Corsair PC28500 Dom, Tt Armor case, BFG 1KW PSU, BFG 8800GTX OC, 2 Raptors in RAID 0 for OS and Apps & 2 Raptors in SATA for music and graphic files and a WD7500AAKS (.75Tb) for large files, video files and back up, X-Fi, 2 Samsung monitors 245t and 244t's @ 1920 X 1200, Plextor opticals, Aerocool, Zalman, Etc. Vista Ultimate SP-1

I can't imagine having to choose. I use Vista as my primary but I still boot into XP.  I also mad my XP into a virtual and use it when I can and don't want to reboot.  I have to use XP for some things.  I just installed a new XFI Elite soundcard and it would blue screen my Vista install every time.  I had to safe mode Vista and install teh drives in safemode to get it working.  My Vista install never blue screened before or since.  In fact none of my installs blue screened except that Vista with the Creative drivers.  Having said that, the sound is exceptional in XP and Vista.  I was playing a song in Vista and it locked my computer.  Song kept playing but computer was stuck.  So be aware that Creative can really mess up a good vista install.  I never had problems with bluescreens in Vista from earlier soundcards like an Audigy 2 ZA, Audigy  and a Value 24.  They might pop or crackle but most of that is gone with more recent drivers.

In fairness Creative is not the only company.  I didn't start using Vista fulltime until about 4 months ago because my ATI Video drivers caused the mouse to jump every now and then. 

Vista is pretty solid now and certainly has some nice features but I don't think I could leave XP behind and be happy about it.

This is an interesting discussion for me, as I am going to have to make OS decisions in the near future. 

I want to make the move to a 64-bit OS primarily so I can release the limitations on RAM.  Vista x64 seems to be a nice OS for this, but it still bothers me how things like the "broadcast flag" have been hard-coded into it.

With MS moving to slowly marginalize XP I doubt there is going to be much support for the x64 version at all, so it seems like if I want to say with Windows, Vista is going to be the way I have to go.
 

I say go with 64 bit Vista Home Premium. I just re-installed Vista with the 64 bit version, went from 32 bit Home Premium. I've had really no problems to speak of other than toying around with a driver for my wireless card, but that was only because I wasn't installing it the way I was supposed to.

I've got no limitations on ram and it seems to be just a bit more responsive than 32 bit. I play a lot of games and do a lot of preductivity stuff on my mahine and I've had no problems.

Go with 64 bit Home Premium and you won't regret it. It's also a better OS than the 64 bit version of XP which is finally just starting to get some support from developers.

My thoughts. Lotaguns

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CrazyCraig:

Not Sure Vista Had problems from Start, Alpha, Beta Releases to Public, SP 1 still Squirrelly. Drivers for Vista, then tack on 64 bit. The Waters Still too Deep For Me. How Many Posts 'Bout Vista Problems?

I would have to agree, Vista is no doubt a pretty OS but I'd rather have one that was functional and stayed out of my way.

Everything I've read about Vista tags it as a small step up from XP as far as capabilities with a flashy coating but nothing really spectacular as far as performance. Sure it's got DirectX10 going for it but again, we haven't really seen anything great come of it yet.

MS has got to give me a better reason to plunk down $200 for this new OS than....3D windows, and a desktop clock.

Do agree on the 64-bit though, if I had a choice I"d go 64, seems to be for the best, althought drivers are iffy for some devices.

If you want to play dx10 games, you should choose vista, and the Creative will upgrade the

audio card drivers if they are horrible; so don't worry about that, it is safe for you to choose

vista.

BTW, maybe 2G ram is not enough for playing games in vista, 4 or more is perfect.

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+1 Vote for Vista.