Is Windows 2000 alright for gaming ?

[RPatrick6]

I am about to upgrade my brother's computer and will be installing a new operating system. It will be a home system, and will be used for gaming as well. One of his friends is highly reccomending Windows 2000. From a gaming perspective, is there any big problem with going with Win2K ? We don't need the highest performance possible, just something that is stable and compatible with what is out there.

Thanks !

 

[MrChad]

2000 should be fine, but I think you would be better off with XP for a gaming machine.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Unless you've already got W2K sitting around, I'd recommend XP as well. While W2K is fine for gaming, XP has built-in support for more hardware and is more suited toward gaming than W2K.

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
Unless you've already got W2K sitting around, I'd recommend XP as well. While W2K is fine for gaming, XP has built-in support for more hardware and is more suited toward gaming than W2K.

pah, i've been on 2k for 3 yrs and all I do with my PC is play games. Flawless performance on service pack 2 (used with 6 different systems too).

Ok, 1 flaw: won't play DOS games but neither will xp for the most part.

EDIT: That said, there is a reasonable arguement for going with XP in that MS will stop support for 2k sooner than for XP. Counter to this of course is that my good ol' 2k has never failed me on SP2 so why do I need MS to support me??

 

[Lonyo]

I have no issues with Win 2k and SP4 playing games (which I mostly do as well).

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
Unless you've already got W2K sitting around, I'd recommend XP as well. While W2K is fine for gaming, XP has built-in support for more hardware and is more suited toward gaming than W2K.

Built in support for more hardware? In what way?
Drivers for hardware are usually 2k/XP drivers, and I haven't had an issue with a single bit of hardware I've used with 2k.

 

[BlueWeasel]

I know that most of the same drivers work in both W2K and XP, but XP does have more built-in drivers than W2K does. Now, that really doesn't do a thing for gaming, it just means that you might have less drivers to download and install.

Granted, every game I have runs fine on W2K. If he's already got a copy of W2K, then it's foolish to go out and purchase XP for gaming only.

 

[fastman]

Think I remember tests a while back that showed games played faster on XP, but W2k is fine also yes.

 

[MrChad]

XP Home is also significantly cheaper than Windows 2000 Professional

 

[darktiger]

Should be fine. But XP should be OS of choice. If you are a student, see if your school has a XP for students....... $5 for me

 

[BFG10K]

2000 is good, XP is better.

 

[13black]

I have no problem playing my games on 2k pro. Just remember to enable the compatibility mode.
Compatibility Mode

This is a function built into Windows® XP, and added to
Windows® 2000 as of service pack 2.

(To enable it on Windows® 2000, execute the command
''regsvr32 %systemroot%\apppatch\slayerui.dll''
from the Run prompt or a command console(without the quotes). You will need
Administrator priveledges to enable this. Service Pack 2 or higher must be
installed. This will add a tab to execution shortcuts called 'Compatibility'.
You may want to check first to see if compatibility mode is already available.
Do not do this in Windows® XP -- you already have it active by default.)

regsvr32 c:\winnt\apppatch\slayerui.dll

I used it to play Myst and Riven with no problems.

 

[Dman877]

XP is slightly slower for games but it's not very noticeable. I recently switched and lost about 500 3dmarks. Can't tell in real games though.

 

[49erinnc]

Been using 2K Pro with most of the new age of games and have no problems at all. No desire to upgrade to XP at this point.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
I have no issues with Win 2k and SP4 playing games (which I mostly do as well).

 

[duragezic]

Yes we ain't talking about NT 4.0 here. Win2k is and has been fine for gaming. No one should be using 98 or the other version I won't even mention, but win2k and XP are IMO near-equal in terms of gaming.

 

[Bar81]

Originally posted by: 49erinnc
Been using 2K Pro with most of the new age of games and have no problems at all. No desire to upgrade to XP at this point.

 

[Pocatello]

Still have W2K in my gaming rig.

 

[RZaakir]

I say if you can get 2K, then go with it. It takes up fewer system resources, leaving more for your games. Personally I can't stand XP and dread the day that 2K gets EOLed.

 

[Mark R]

Win2k will run most windows games fine - a few old DOS games won't run.

I had a big argument with my brother when I built his new Athlon Gaming Rig a few moths ago, to replace a less powerful one running ME.

He wanted WinXP or WinME, but I had a spare 2k licence around. In the end I set it up as a dual boot 2k/ME.

He admitted to me a few months later that the 2k system was far better, faster and more stable. He'd not even booted to WinME once.

 

[RZaakir]

Yeah there is no comparison between 2K and any DOS-based windows. 2K will win in stability and reliability all day. DOS-based windows also seems to ignore any RAM over 512 MB as well.

 

[Rottie]

I have win2k pro and i have several new games and they run just fine with w2k pro sp 4

I have Ut2k4
Far Cry
Call on Duty
Battlefield 1942 and Vietnam
Splinter Cell
Madden 2004
MohAA
Rainbow 6 Raven Sheild

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
I have no issues with Win 2k and SP4 playing games (which I mostly do as well).

same, game on 3 machines using win2k pro, SP4