well dont even consider vista for one. so its between win 7 n xp. personally if you can afford it, go win 7 as its the latest n with all the updated graphics for games, it ll be worth it 😉 but if you just want a pc to work on and light gaming, then xp should be fine!
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XP,Vista or W7 ?
- Thread starter Kurrosh
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Huntn
macrumors Penryn
I currently have Windows 32 bit Vista installed on my MBP. Actually I've been happy with it's performance. I also have the 64bit Windows Vista install DVD. I'm holding off on 7 for now so the question is there any reason to upgrade my 32bit Vista install to 64bit, and would it break anything?
Thanks!
Thanks!
flopticalcube
macrumors G4
It could. I upgraded from XP x86 to 7 x64 and most games could simply be dragged over from the old install to the new. You may have to google a bit if you run into trouble.
Winni
macrumors 68040
Nothing has changed since the last five million people have asked the same question here. Use 64-Bit Windows 7, preferably a Professional or Ultimate edition. That also allows you to use the "XP mode" to run Office 2003, in case it has compatibility issues with native Win 7. (The XP mode is basically a seamless Windows XP Virtual Machine; it's not available in the Win 7 Home editions.)
Win 7 performs better than its predecessors Vista and even XP, and it provides a much better user experience than any other version of Windows -- and -- pre-Leopard versions of Mac OS X. The only feature that you will miss from OS X is Quick Look; but it offers many other features instead that OS X does not even remotely have - but, which I must admit, are mostly only relevant in business/corporate/large network environments; in other words: In professional IT.
Huntn
macrumors Penryn
For the reasons you mention it is better but at some point it will no longer be supported.
Huntn
macrumors Penryn
For gaming what do you think about 64 bit Vista vs 32 bit Vista? Yes, I know 7 is better 🙂, but regarding Vista, would games perform any better as 64 bit Vista? Thanks!
flopticalcube
macrumors G4
Huntn
macrumors Penryn
Where? I've looked around and have not seen that price. That would make me consider an upgrade. 🙂
MS Upgrade.
edit: ok just found one at $50... wait, that is with a computer purchase... so they are making you pay to buy a computer and then upgrade it's OS? Apple does not do that, really. Apple offers free upgrades with new computer purchases.
Just curious any complications upgrading? Did you do fresh? Sometime in the future, I would prefer to not go fresh if that is possible.
flopticalcube
macrumors G4
Pre-release sale in August. I got mine from Amazon. With XP you aren't given an alternative to a fresh install but most apps just slid over without many problems. Since it was a 32 bit to 64 bit transition, I reinstalled some of the apps.
Huntn
macrumors Penryn
CylonGlitch
macrumors 68030
Yeah, I ordered back then. But I kinda wish I didn't because I would buy the family pack upgrade for $150 and upgrade my kids computers as well. But since I already spent the money on one; it's a bit annoying to buy more licenses then I need now. 🙁
I guess I could sell the copy I have and then buy the family pack... sounds like more work then it is worth.
razorboy1969
macrumors newbie
I have Windows XP Home installed on my mbp. All games running seamlessly (Fallout 3, NWN 2, Assassin's Creed etc.). Been considering an upgrade to Windows 7 x64 to take advantage of more RAM usage, but i guess i'll hold off for a while longer. The 20Gb install space is a little too much for me to take (i partitioned 50Gb for Windows as XP takes less than 10Gb install space). I use Windows exclusively for gaming and couldn't care less for the its other applications.
Huntn
macrumors Penryn
The nudge will be when new games come out that no longer run on XP. 😉 I like XP too, but currently am using 32bit Vista.
Kinda goes with my thinking on this. Have never run Windows on my iMac, but am sorely tempted to start doing so shortly. As much as I'd get away with XP for current PC games, I'm leaning heavily towards getting Windows 7 Home with an eye on the future. Though all new games won't run at max settings on my iMac, many probably will.
Huntn
macrumors Penryn
I travel a lot and since I like playing games, and generally speaking you would not find me doing anything serious on Windows, a dual boot computer was the answer for me. I've been very satisfied with 32bit Vista for the games I've played, everything from Oblivion to Crisis.
That you say "you would not find me doing anything serious on Windows", is interesting. 🙂 I'm neutral on this as I've yet to try Windows 7, but the little I know I find encouraging & I'd be surprised if I occasionally didn't do at least some "serious" work on it.
Though I see myself having Macs always (overall I rate them very highly!), I'm not sure I'll ever buy another iMac. Frankly, the graphics even on the high-end 21" (& I don't want 27" on my work desk) leave something to be desired for the price.
A Mini & a Windows 7 desktop PC may be the way for me to go in future. Another reason why I'd probably go for Windows 7 over XP now is 7's OS X-like design.
Huntn
macrumors Penryn
Maybe W7 has turned a corner, but if there is a registry floating round in there somewhere, it will be substandard to the MacOS imo. My guess is there is a element of prejudice involved, but there is a feeling of comfort I get in the MacOS that simply is not there in Windows. I've been in Windows from W95 to Vista and any OS that constantly requires system utilities to keep things running smoothly is highly suspect. 🙂
Quite agree, having read quite a bit about Window 7's registry. Some W7 users are enthusing about how fast it runs now, but I expect a different story to emerge later as the registry gets clogged up. That said, you're probably reasonably okay if you're not downloading loads of stuff on a regular basis. Presumably, I'll likewise be using it mostly for gaming.
wallaby
macrumors 6502a
Heh, I have the exact same specs in my Macbook Pro as you do. I never thought I would be able to play Crysis, but I guess you proved me wrong!
As to OP, it's hard to say. The choice is definitely XP vs 7, there's no reason to bother with Vista. XP is familiar, lightweight, and functional. There's nothing wrong with it being 8 years old, this is just evidence of its stability and the fact that MS has had a hard time coming out with anything worth upgrading for. Windows 7 is different. I'm sure some people love all the glam and glitz but to me it just looks amateurish in the GUI department. For my uses, which is occasionally gaming on Steam, there really is no difference between XP and 7. It just looks different. And they moved around the control panel AGAIN. I would go with whatever you can get for cheaper. Or if you want to future-proof, 7 might be preferable.
ayeying
macrumors 601
I personally found a decrease in FPS when I went to Windows 7 on my MacBook Air.
I've been playing DiRT2 for a few week now and so far, under Windows Vista, the same settings gets me an average of 25-30 fps. Under Windows 7, my FPS is dropped to only 15-20 fps, nearly unplayable.
Both OS are 64-bit, and drivers are the newest nForce 195.something drivers. For me, Vista seems a better choice over Windows 7. Of course I wouldn't consider Windows XP due to their crappy support for SSD.
I've been playing DiRT2 for a few week now and so far, under Windows Vista, the same settings gets me an average of 25-30 fps. Under Windows 7, my FPS is dropped to only 15-20 fps, nearly unplayable.
Both OS are 64-bit, and drivers are the newest nForce 195.something drivers. For me, Vista seems a better choice over Windows 7. Of course I wouldn't consider Windows XP due to their crappy support for SSD.
Huntn
macrumors Penryn
Give it a shot! Sometimes the frames did drop into the teens, though...
Probably a driver issue, but THAT SUCKS. What would motivate me to upgrade to 7 would be better performance. I've seen no indication of that. Even the reviews that fawn over 7 admit that performance is not significantly improved, and it sounds like for gaming you might be disappointed.
Hence the need for one of the many utilities I was referring to. System Suite does a good job of cleaning the registry. 😉
ayeying
macrumors 601
No, nVidia put out the same drivers for both Vista 64-bit and Windows 7 64-bit. It's the exact same drivers... just reduction in performance in Windows 7, most likely an OS fault here rather than drivers.
I'm not sure if this is relevant but I've always found a Aero lag under Windows 7 that I didn't get in Windows Vista.