Author Topic: 98SE, 2000, or XP? (Read 416 times)

Grits · « **on:** January 10, 2005, 11:56:40 AM »

When I upgrade my MB/CPU I am going to have enough stuff to build a second rig. I am thinking about using the second one (my current setup) for the surfing/non-gaming rig.

My question is, I have 98SE, win2000 and XP disks, which one would be the absolute best from strictly a gaming perspective? I have had zero problems with XP, but if 2000 is better as a purely gaming OS I'll use that.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2005, 12:04:48 PM »

Although its better now, you are going to have a harder time with drivers on Win2k. If you have the choice, might as well go XP. Lets face it, eventually they will stop making drivers for 98. If you already had it installed, I wouldnt see a reason to upgrade unless there was something you were unhappy with. Since you have nothing on there now, why go backwards?

Halo · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2005, 09:20:52 PM »

98SE, ugh! I've always spent as much time farting around trying to keep it running as I have using any applications on it.

XP to me is wonderful. Whole new ball game.

Of course, XP system has much more horsepower too, but from what I've read, XP (I use Home edition) is just a much better and much more stable design.

Grits · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2005, 10:17:42 PM »

XP it is then. I've got no complaints with it, just wanted to make sure before I bought another copy/license.

Kev367th · « **Reply #4 on:** January 12, 2005, 12:09:48 AM »

All have their advantages/drawbacks -

98SE - 'Cleaner' than both XP and 2000, but needs OS mods for memory over 512mb to 760mb.
2000 - Stable, mature. Lacks the bell and whistles of XP
XP - Personally I hate it,,bloatware. Lot of overhead, uneccessary crap running in the background. But, looks good.

My boss wanted us to go from 2000 Pro to XP Pro at work,,soon put a stop to it

.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 12, 2005, 12:52:46 AM »

For a business? Not much reason to upgrade to XP, 2000 is perfectly stable and functional. If anything, I'd say its more secure than XP out of the box. Some of the "features" of XP are its biggest security flaws. Like "remote access". Brrrrr .

Ghosth · « **Reply #6 on:** January 12, 2005, 09:01:06 AM »

98SE is still the gamers standard.
It will do almost everything XP will do with half the system resources. Granted you have to be a bit more "hands on" and it helps if you know what you are doing.

Yes someday they will quit making drivers for it. But that day is not today.

Grits · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2005, 11:13:31 AM »

Like I said, I have all three CD's, all I have to do is get another license for the one I want to use. I never really had any trouble with 98SE, however the system will have a 1G of ram so that probably rules it out. I use 2000 Pro at work and it is rock solid too, I have not used it at home, but it works flawlessly at work. I have had XP since January and I have not had any trouble with it either, but it does use a lot more system resources. Also I just set up a system with 98SE and I could not get the newest nVidia drivers to install, I had to use some several months old. They still work, but at some point that is going to be a problem.

I dont particularly need (or like) the bells and whistles of XP for my game system so maybe 2000 for that and leave my "everything else" system with XP?

38ruk · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2005, 10:18:40 PM »

i used win2k pro for quiet awhile before, never had a driver issue , as implied in this thread, the only issue i had is it needed service pack 4 before it would run AH , it was rock solid , and the driver for all of my devices were the same as xp. The Pro version has some overhead as well , but it is easily remidied by shutting off services, 1 draw back is there isnt a msconfig utility, but it not a big deal. plus there is no need to activate it , you can put it on as many pc;s as you want, well just dont tell BIll . <~~> 38~~

Roscoroo · « **Reply #9 on:** January 12, 2005, 10:35:34 PM »

98 is slowly getting left behind ... some of the new games wont even play on it without major file edits ..

it will run on 1 gig of ram with sp 1.5 and a small edit .. but you have to install and get it set up with 512 ram befor you do the edit and bump the ram up ..

I myself mostly use 98 still ... but i do have a dual boot setup with XP ..

Kev367th · « **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2005, 12:54:23 AM »

Msconfig equivalent for Win 2000/XP

http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

Works real nice.