XP or Vista for gaming

[Skibsted]

There seem to be a lot of threads about whether to use XP or Vista via bootcamp. Some of the threads say Vista is better and some say XP is better.

I'm only going to use my Windows partition for gaming - nothing else.

I have a 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Macbook Pro with 3 GB RAM.

Please help me to decide.

Thanks in advance

Skibsted

[CWallace]

Vista supports DirectX 10, but your video card evidently does not (it will play DirectX 10 games that don't require DX10, just without the DX10 eye-candy), so you're likely better off with XP from a performance standpoint.

[aki]

i worried a lot xp or vista but i installed vista32 at the end and no problems......i think after sp1 vista is pretty good and yur mac is fast enough to run it ok....there is no real reason to go xp now on a new mac i think....

[Skibsted]

i worried a lot xp or vista but i installed vista32 at the end and no problems......i think after sp1 vista is pretty good and yur mac is fast enough to run it ok....there is no real reason to go xp now on a new mac i think....

What about the RAM discussion? I have read somewhere that Windows will only use 2GB of RAM even though you have 3.
Is this true?

[Stridder44]

Vista supports DirectX 10, but your video card evidently does not (it will play DirectX 10 games that don't require DX10, just without the DX10 eye-candy), so you're likely better off with XP from a performance standpoint.

This is true. However, the difference in fps between Vista and XP is like 1-2 fps (in XP's favor). Not a big deal. Even with your video card not being able to take advantage of DX10, Vista would still be a good choice.

[nomar383]

What about the RAM discussion? I have read somewhere that Windows will only use 2GB of RAM even though you have 3.
Is this true?

I think Vista32 only recognizes 3 instead of 4, not 2 instead of 3

[Skibsted]

hmmm,
So Vista it is?

[nomar383]

hmmm,
So Vista it is?

I use XP only because I find it slightly less annoying than Vista, I think it is just a personal preference.

[Skibsted]

What about the fact that Vista has a lot of background processes that drain performance? Isn't that an issue?

[nomar383]

Try Vista first, and if you don't like it then switch back to XP. I know it will be a pain at first, but that might be the only way for you to tell if you really like Vista

[Chaszmyr]

It really doesn't matter much, either will be fine.

[TheLordsServant]

I have to vote that, after my personal experience, XP is better for gaming than Vista is.

[Skibsted]

Thanks for your responses guys.
As this thread can confirm, there are a lot of controversy about which operating system is better.

I think I'll try XP - this OS does not take up a lot of hard drive space and I now what I get.

[Stridder44]

What about the fact that Vista has a lot of background processes that drain performance? Isn't that an issue?

That would be the FUD and BS. Vista is not made for older systems. It has, despite what many would like to think, many new features and under the hood changes. It's a lot smarter than XP with memory management. I have no idea why people install it on their P4 with 512 RAM and wonder why their computer suddenly goes so slow.

The "controversy" is from people who either simply hate Microsoft to being with or have yet to even try Vista for more than 5 minutes. You want numbers? Try this: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=2144497&FTVAR_STKEYWORDFRM=&STARTPAGE=6&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear&#lastunread

... so, if there is interest, i can format my results ... but one fact is pretty clear to me at least ... pick Vista ... forget XP

Granted this thread is from February, and Vista 64 is now more preferred, but you get my point (I hope, for your sake).

[Skibsted]

That would be the FUD and BS. Vista is not made for older systems. It has, despite what many would like to think, many new features and under the hood changes. It's a lot smarter than XP with memory management. I have no idea why people install it on their P4 with 512 RAM and wonder why their computer suddenly goes so slow.

OK, so when you see my computer specs (mentioned earlier) do you then think my MBP can handle Vista?

[TSE]

Yes, your computer can handle Vista just great. If you want to speed up the computer a bit, don't use Aero, and don't use any of the eye candy or background widgets, toolbars, etc. when you are playing games.

I have Vista Home Premium 32-bit installed on my MacBook Pro with less ram and it runs just great.

Personally, I think to enjoy Vista, you must have ATLEAST:

-A Core Duo processor, clocked in atleast 1.66 GHZ
-2 GBs of RAM
-100 GBs of Hard Drive space (my partition only has 80 GBs, wish I made it bigger.)

[Skibsted]

Yes, your computer can handle Vista just great. If you want to speed up the computer a bit, don't use Aero, and don't use any of the eye candy or background widgets, toolbars, etc. when you are playing games.

I have Vista Home Premium 32-bit installed on my MacBook Pro with less ram and it runs just great.

Personally, I think to enjoy Vista, you must have ATLEAST:

-A Core Duo processor, clocked in atleast 1.66 GHZ
-2 GBs of RAM
-100 GBs of Hard Drive space (my partition only has 80 GBs, wish I made it bigger.)

Thanks for your response.
So if I understand you correctly, you think I should pick Vista because it runs great. But does it run better than XP? I guess that is the ultimate questions:-)

[stainlessliquid]

If you get Vista then youll be able to use it in your next computer. If you get XP then youll have to buy another OS later.

[Skibsted]

Well, the thing is that I have XP but money is not really an issue.
If you were to convince me that Vista is better for gaming - I would buy that.

If I were to go with XP, should I choose 32 or 64 bit and should I choose SP2 or SP3 - I mean are there any problems with bootcamp and SP3?

[aki]

...if u go xp choose xp32bit - people say 64 is not worth trouble - and sp3 is working ok

but again i think if u have a new mac vista is better....any speed difference is very small or nothing after sp1....vista is easier to use....its like panther or leopard yes you could run panther but like why... unless u have some reason

the ooooooonly thing for xp would be if you HAVE to play some old game that vista can't but for such games i use parallels xp

[Skibsted]

...if u go xp choose xp32bit - people say 64 is not worth trouble - and sp3 is working ok

but again i think if u have a new mac vista is better....any speed difference is very small or nothing after sp1....vista is easier to use....its like panther or leopard yes you could run panther but like why... unless u have some reason

the ooooooonly thing for xp would be if you HAVE to play some old game that vista can't but for such games i use parallels xp

Thanks for the reply.
Now I'm leaning towards Vista:-)

[Stridder44]

Thanks for the reply.
Now I'm leaning towards Vista:-)

Just read the other threads that are asking a similar question:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=501774


Thanks man. I found that out earlier. It can't be upgraded so I decided to suck it up and do a fresh install and then copy my files over. Don't know if it's because of the fresh install or what but Crysis runs better on Vista 64. My previous copy of Vista 32 wasn't that bad. It was only about 1 month old and the only thing I do in Boot Camp is play games (Crysis, MSFS X, Grid, GTR2, Doom 3). I leave all my other surfing and crap to Leopard since it gives me the secure feeling when surfing as if my Mac is wearing a condom I somehow don't get that same feeling when on Bootcamp; however.

Not long ago I was in your situation too. I was gonna install Windows and all I cared about was gaming on it (Leopard for everything else).

[Skibsted]

Just read the other threads that are asking a similar question:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=501774




Not long ago I was in your situation too. I was gonna install Windows and all I cared about was gaming on it (Leopard for everything else).

Thanks for your input. So it seems more people are recommending Vista beacuese it's newer and because you'll have an OS that will last longer.
But is the performance the same?

[Skibsted]

Just to give you guys an update.
i have decided to go with XP due to the fact that it seems to give a better framerate when playing games and it takes up less hard drive space.

I have bought the Windows XP pro SP3 version.
Any issues I should be aware of?

Thanks

[Photo Monkey]

From a non-technical view, when will the first game arrive that doesn't run on XP? That's when you need Vista.

[Skibsted]

From a non-technical view, when will the first game arrive that doesn't run on XP? That's when you need Vista.

I know - but I'm sure games will support XP for at least another year. By that time I'll prob have a new computer anyway.
Any known issues with bootcamp and XP SP3?

[dukebound85]

From a non-technical view, when will the first game arrive that doesn't run on XP? That's when you need Vista.

halo2? lol

[Skibsted]

halo2? lol

Yeah, I guess there are like 2-3 games that only run on Vista - but if that's it, then I'm not convinced.
I'm sure more games eventually will be Vista only, but since microsoft have had so many problems with Vista, I'm pretty sure they will support XP for quite some time.

[dukebound85]

i also like using dx 10 which is only vista sadly

[Skibsted]

i also like using dx 10 which is only vista sadly

I bet you do, but my graphics card is pretty old (Radeon X1600) so I won't be able to take advantage of the dx10 technology anyway...

[stainlessliquid]

You wasted money getting pro, it has no features you can use that Home doesnt have, get your money back if you can

[Siron]

You wasted money getting pro, it has no features you can use that Home doesnt have, get your money back if you can

I may be mistaken but doesn't Pro support dual processors. I don't think Home does.

[Siron]

i also like using dx 10 which is only vista sadly

DX10 is much better than DX9. I have played Crysis on both and it plays and looks better on Vista.

Check this out http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/pcs/directx-9-vs-directx-10-worth-upgrading-to-vista-for-243099.php
and here
http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9550

[Stridder44]

I may be mistaken but doesn't Pro support dual processors. I don't think Home does.

This is why I hate XP. Home edition doesn't even dual proc. support?

[Skibsted]

This is why I hate XP. Home edition doesn't even dual proc. support?

I guess this is why we are using macs:-)

[TSE]

Does the 8600m GT support DX10?

[stainlessliquid]

I may be mistaken but doesn't Pro support dual processors. I don't think Home does.

Yes but he has a MBP, those dont have 2 processors. So its a waste of money.