Linux vs Win XP

[Mrvile]

Ok, I built a comp for pure gaming. I have Win XP Pro right now. My question is, how would Linux match up? Linux is free, and I heard that Linux is a bit simpler, with less stuff I don't need (can someone say Outlook Express?), and gets bogged down less. And I hate comps with more than what they need on them. But of course, I use Windows, and have never used Linux.

I'll also be using the comp for surfing the web.

So assuming I don't have a copy of either, which would be good for gaming?

PS - can someone link me to a website that has a bunch of stuff about Linux?

 

[sat]

dude, seriously - no offense, but it doesnt sound like linux is for you - it's for people with infinite time in their hands, and nothing better to do (unless you are an admin type). You think Windows comes with extra baggage? Install Linux and you'll realize it comes with a bunch of crap that you can even pronounce.

Especially for gaming, Linux needs to mature - a lot; there is little driver support, unless you want to download the source, tweak line 21, and compile it yourself.

I am not being cynical, but yes, I am ranting a bit.

 

[theboywhogotlost]

unless your familar with programing and compiling stuff yourself you should probly stick to Winn.
I love my Linux box but use it to serve web pages.

 

[drag]

Linux is good for people who want more from their computer then e-mail and first person shooters.

otherwise, WinXP is best for gaming for the time being. No contest, unless your games you play have native Linux versions.

Although I'd rather spend 15 minutes compiling a program then 5 hours digging out trojans and spyware, and bogging my machine down with antivirus. But hey!, that's just me.

 

[Mrvile]

I hear ya guys, I have no clue how Linux works (I was just curious). Thanks

 

[Goosemaster]

Linux is the Swiss army knife of OS's

I don;t know many people who cook their diners with a Swiss Army Knife. Do us a favor and stick with windows. It will make it wasier with everyone.


If you want to run a server, then come back and we'll talk

 

[Nothinman]

I am not being cynical, but yes, I am ranting a bit.

You're also completely out of date. Compiling things yourself is an option, but rarely needed these days.

 

[drag]

Linux gaming links for the curious;
www.linux-gamers.net
www.happypenguin.com
www.linuxgames.com
www.linux-militia.net


For best Linux gaming you have Nvidia video card + a NICE Via motherboard + AMD64 + Audigy audio card. ATI cards are out, nforce motherboards are OK, but require extra steps most of the time.

(run the OS in 32bit mode at first, then later upgrade to 64bit native OS when you get comfortable if you want. Very few commercial games have 64bit binaries aviable.).

see here for general hardware advice
he recommends a older ATI card with open source driver support, but for gaming you need a newer card and that's Nvidia if your Linux. (although if ATI supported Linux with open source drivers then I'd jump ship in a second)

Check my sig for general Linux administration skills, especially the "hands on guide for beginners". Thats is distro-agnostic.

if you want something safe to try out first try burning a Knoppix cd. Its a Linux distro that boots and runs from the cdrom without needing anything to be installed.

Worth checking out, but don't worry if you don't like it. Many advanced computer geeks can't stand linux at all.

 

[Mrvile]

I probably won't be able to. I use NF3, but at least I have the other two reqs. I might try out Linux someday as an experiment and to learn something, but I'll stick with windows as my main OS. Thanks all.

 

[sat]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

I am not being cynical, but yes, I am ranting a bit.

You're also completely out of date. Compiling things yourself is an option, but rarely needed these days.

No that's not true - it's my distro that's out of date . But seriously I dont care for updating to the latest version of the OS everytime they release one (atleast windows comes out once every 3-4 years - these days atleast) - I remember hunting down the tulip.c file for my nic and having to install all the compilers and libs just so I could compile it and enable it ::ugh::

 

[Mrvile]

Drag, I read over part of the guide in your sig, looks complicated (and very different), not to mention the use of code (ah!) and the emphasis on networking/server. I think I'll stick with Windows

 

[S0Y73NTGR33N]

I love my winders! (but I wouldn't suck cock for winders, I'd just get linux then)

-green

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Drag, I read over part of the guide in your sig, looks complicated (and very different), not to mention the use of code (ah!) and the emphasis on networking/server. I think I'll stick with Windows

Are you sure your looking at the right one.

this is the one I wanted you to check out

Were you looking at the system administrators guide?

I only say that because it doesn't mention much about networking or whatnot until you get down to section 10.

Well they are on the power user bent, for adminsitrators type. But I figure if your going to learn howto do things, you might as well learn how to do things right. And command line rocks, it's not at all like DOS, even though it looks like it and some of the commands are similar. It's as modern as anything else, highly evolved so to say.

Most stuff you don't need to know how to use the command line anymore anyways if you don't like it. There are lots of other guides that are more gui friendly. Check out google.

Give knoppix a try, it's nice. No risk, no fuss. If it doesn't work then worst case is that your out a blank cd disk.

 

[Nothinman]

But seriously I dont care for updating to the latest version of the OS everytime they release one

Which is why Debian rocks, just run sid and there's never a major upgrade to be had as everything is updated continuosly.

I remember hunting down the tulip.c file for my nic and having to install all the compilers and libs just so I could compile it and enable it

Right, well the tulip driver has been standard since like the 2.2 kernel, if you know your information is just plain out of date please don't feel the need to spread it.

Drag, I read over part of the guide in your sig, looks complicated (and very different), not to mention the use of code (ah!) and the emphasis on networking/server. I think I'll stick with Windows

Of course it's very different, what would be the point of using it if it was exactly the same?

 

[drag]

Of course it's very different, what would be the point of using it if it was exactly the same?

I thought we used it because we are too cheap to pay for Windows and to stupid to figure out how to pirate it. Plus without it I would have all this free time on my hands! If it wasn't for Linux I'd probably have to go play Everquest or something.

 

[Mrvile]

Yeah Drag I read over the one guide you wanted me to. Or at least some of it. I did see that there are different ways you can make Linux look like windows (using KBD [i think it's called] or Gnome) which is nice and all. I use DOS maybe once a year or every two years, and it looks like every time you log in to Linux you go through a DOS like thing? Well heh, I guess I need some practice. But like I said once I get my motherboard back and I get my system running well for some time I'll give Linux a whirl.

But seriously though, how is Linux in terms of gaming? Is it slower? Does it change the way programs (games) are run?

 

[StuckMojo]

if you play games that have native linux ports, it's about the same. there aren't many.
ut, 2003, 2004
AA
quake, 2, 3 (and most mods)
RTCW, Enemy Territory
a few others.

 

[Nothinman]

I use DOS maybe once a year or every two years, and it looks like every time you log in to Linux you go through a DOS like thing?

There is a CLI that most unix people prefer, but it's not necessary for 90% of things these days. And it's not at all like DOS, it's actually good.

But seriously though, how is Linux in terms of gaming? Is it slower? Does it change the way programs (games) are run?

As long as you have an nVidia card the performance is about the same for native games like Q3, UT2K4, Doom3, etc. But if you want to play Windows-only games you'll need to use WINE which can slow them down a bit, I don't play many games so I have no idea how well it works these days.

 

[skene]

I'd say definetly stick to windows if gaming is your main objective. Since you've never used Linux before, it'll take you a good bit of time to setup your computer to the point where you can actualy play modern windows based games on it.
Don't get me wrong, Linux is great, and I use it much more often then windows, but for gaming it's a bit rough around the edges.

 

[SinNisTeR]

Originally posted by: S0Y73NTGR33N
I love my winders! (but I wouldn't suck cock for winders, I'd just get linux then)

-green

HAHAHA!

thats sig material right there!

this thread is funny.