Stupid question -- to Vista or not to Vista?!

[NurseRN]

So, I'm bulding a mid-budget compter x2 (one for my parents) and after hand pickign all the items I'm stuck making a decision as to what OS to install. Here're the specs:

CASE LIAN-LI|PC-A05B BK RT

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MB GAGE GA-M57SLI-S4 NF570 SLI AM2

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WL ADAPTER GIGABYTE|GN-WP01GS PCI R

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VGA XFX PVT96GYDF4 9600GT 512M RT

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PSU TT|W0100RU 500W RT

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DVD BURN LITE-ON|LH-20A1S SATA R

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CPU AMD|A64 X2 5200+ 2.7G AM2 65N R

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HD 500G|WD 7K 16M SATA2 WD5000AAKS

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MEM 2Gx2|GSK F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ R

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All items bought from NewEgg as they have pretty much the best bang for your buck, hands dow!


Need help with this dilemma. OS Vista has been around for a while; has Microsoft made it a little more stable/secure? Or should I stick with the good ol' XP?

Thanks much!

 

[Sylvanas]

Vista 64 Home Premium. Been running it since release and have come across no problems related to the OS- it's great.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Sylvanas
Vista 64 Home Premium...

Hear! Hear! :thumbsup:

EDIT

BTW, for the best price on Vista HP x64 CLICK HERE

 

[pugh]

Vista 64bit . Leave the rest alone. Time to progress and move on too 2008...

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I've followed this path -- to VISTA 64 -- knowing that XP is more than half-way through its life-cycle. And I've found much from forum sites like this one to recommend it more recently.

But you folks who bought VISTA-64 with SP1 are lucky. I've got the OS and drivers installed, but to swap my 4GB memory kit back in, I need SP1. And I'm having trouble "getting there."

If you have any insights, the details are on my thread "Questionaire: 680i chipset, VISTA-64 and preferred AV program."

EDIT: BTW, VinDSL, good prices at MicroCenter online. Are you still sticking with your Sunbeam Tuniq heatpipe cooler?

 

[Smilin]

I see Vista like a fat set of racing tires.

If you put them on your sports car they'll make it go faster.
If you put it on your paid off, half rusted Volkswagen beetle it's going to be so much added weight and angular inertia that it will dog out your car and make it run slower.

You appear to have a sports car. Vista would be a good pick for that hardware. Check drivers. If 64 is available for everything go that route.

 

[AlgaeEater]

Guys I don't mean to thread hijack, but does anyone know if Vista 64 Home Premium Retail has both 32 bit and 64 bit versions? Or do I have to buy the regular retail disc and ask Microsoft for a 64 bit disk? (Kinda a hassle)

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: AlgaeEater
Guys I don't mean to thread hijack, but does anyone know if Vista 64 Home Premium Retail has both 32 bit and 64 bit versions? Or do I have to buy the regular retail disc and ask Microsoft for a 64 bit disk? (Kinda a hassle)

You can buy the retail 64 bit disc and then send off to Microsoft for the 32 bit disc unless you are buying Ultimate which has both disk in the package.

All retail versions of Vista are eligible for both 32 and 64 bit support for the same license. Microsoft charges $10 to send you the second disc or you can download it for free.

 

[HannibalX]

Vista 64 Ultimate. No other reason to leave XP IMO.

 

[nerp]

Dude, congrats on choosing the Lian-Li PC-A05B. I have one housing my E2180 rig and I freaking love it. It's so solid, squat, roomy, chubbyish in a great way, rubber drive mounts, nice pop+slide HD rack and groovy back-to-front cooling concept. Don't worry about airflow. The fans are big and powerful and not that noisy, really. I did use a fan mate controller to yoink the front exhaust down to silence with no effect on temps. My IP35-E doesn't support fan control on all three headers so only my CPU and front intake fans are temp controlled. Silent box, kicks butt. Nice choice bro.

:thumbsup:

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Ultimate's rediculously expensive, go for Home Premium. I do wish Microsoft would leave less features out and consolidate all the versions.

 

[Net]

hate to rain on everyone's parade. but for a mid budget computer i wouldn't. put on xp and it will be like to spent a few more bucks for a faster system.

 

[Smilin]

For that hardware, you would get more out of it with Vista. Unless there is some hardware that is known not to work with Vista, installing XP would be very short sighted.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: net

hate to rain on everyone's parade. but for a mid budget computer i wouldn't. put on xp and it will be like to spent a few more bucks for a faster system.

A64 X2 5200+ CPU he has,I'm using an old X2 3800+ on my Vista x64 and its faster then my old XP I had before,I know I'm using 4GB but I had 4GB on XP too(however really 3.5GB on XP due to 32 bit limitations) .

 

[Nocturnal]

Yeah I don't run Vista 64-bit yet but everyone I've spoken to who does build their own computers are vouching that it's the way to go.

 

[Maximilian]

Vista x64, get the ultimate one if possible. Ive met a few people that were pissed that they couldnt get "that pretty waterfall background i saw in the store" theres other stuff that comes with ultimate. See if you can get it for free or for cheap somehow, education discount etc or that thing where microsoft monitor your computer 24/7 in exchange for using their software free.

 

[Smilin]

Ultimate has a decent backup too. Is that in home premium anyone?

Fair warning on the dreamscene - the final version of it doesn't run on multiple monitors like the beta did. Not sure if that applies to you but it pissed me off pretty good.

 

[boomerang]

I'm running Vista Business 64-Bit myself, but I am going to weigh in against 64-Bit.

On a personal level, I have no issues with 64-Bit. I'm so happy with it, that I have been building 64-Bit variations for other folks too. Three so far. One customer I have had no complaints from. The other two, yes. Why? Because they want to run some ancient piece of software on the computer. It ran fine on XP, but can't even be installed from disk on 64-Bit.

Different people have different needs. Do I think they need to run this silly-assed software? No. Do they? Yes. They are bitterly disappointed. The other issue is printers. Their old printer is not supported. Or scanner, whatever.

If I want to run 64-Bit and it means I need a new printer, I go buy one. Other people are not as receptive to this and understandably so.

I blame myself for not thinking the whole thing through enough. I'm a relative newcomer having come late to the game with only 10 years of computing under my belt. But I know better.

I guess what I'm trying to say is do your homework. Make sure the hardware you have and all the software will run on 64-Bit.

 

[schneiderguy]

Originally posted by: Smilin
Ultimate has a decent backup too. Is that in home premium anyone?

Fair warning on the dreamscene - the final version of it doesn't run on multiple monitors like the beta did. Not sure if that applies to you but it pissed me off pretty good.

The final version works on my two 19inch monitors, heres a screenshot *shrug*