I'm taking the plunge...

[Ghastly]

I like XP and I could always upgrade to 7 down the road...

I just wanted to make sure that he was aware that it's a full install to go to 7 from XP, since based upon the above statement, it seemed as though he might be trivializing the change over.

And dual-boot is a great solution to allow the use of both.

<S>

[OOZ662]

I'd like to make a couple of notes to clarify, as I'm sure the people that mentioned these didn't clarify simply out of being used to the facts themselves.

As I've heard it, XP 64-bit is a bit of a pig. It's somewhat half-assed and drivers can be a bit...wonky. I've never used it, personally, but I have read such things in multiple places.

A 32-bit OS can address a maximum 4GB of system-wide RAM. That means all of the memory RAM and any RAM on expansion cards. I think it may include the little caches on the CPU, too, but don't quote me on that. Basically, if you install a 512MB video card, you'll have a rough maximum of 3.5GB of system RAM. If you install a 1GB video card, you can have 3GB of system RAM. You can install all you want, but the maximum amount of system RAM you can use is 4GB minus any other memory in the computer.
A 64-bit OS, however, has some (at this point, can't wait for the future!) ludicrously high limit of the same type that isn't matched in consumer electronics.
Even then, you run into some problems sometimes...a good example being the game X3:Terran Conflict. The game runs a massive number of scripts and chews the hard drive to pieces using the swap file because the game engine was designed back in the 32-bit era and the program itself has been limited to using 2GB of memory (even though a 32-bit OS will force the same limit). Now that 64-bit has donned and people want their games to be able to use huge chunks of RAM, that game has become a bit...tricky.

[Nefarious]

Is Windows 7 64 Bit going to give me any problems with Aces High?

[Dragon]

no

[TequilaChaser]

Is Windows 7 64 Bit going to give me any problems with Aces High?

I get better performance using windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit running AH than I do running Aces High in winXP Pro SP3

frame rate is always pegged at 75 with everything maxed out and others shadows set to 4096? in Windows7 using hires pack.......in WinXP I have to set my other shadows textures down to 2084? or 1024 and my FPS is droped to 70/68 range 99% of the time..... ( unless like mass launch Scenarios and FSO's )

same PC for both OS's...... windows 7 blows XP away

YMMV

[Nefarious]

Yeah it looks like I was worried over nothing... I went over to Subsim.com forums and Win 7 is ok for SH3 and SH4.  

I think I put together a comparable RIG at magicmicro... I used the ATI 5770 as recommended by Spikes. Everything look ok? I just can't see myself putting one together right now.

$1,121

CURRENT CONFIGURATION
   PARTS : CPU : Intel i7 CPU
   Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz (Quad Core) 8000K
   PARTS : Cooling Fans : Intel i7 CPU Fans
   Intel Socket 1366 CPU fan
   PARTS : Motherboards : Intel i7 Motherboards
   MSI X58M, DDR3, SLI & Cross Fire, GB LAN, IEEE
   PARTS : Memory : DDR3 Triple Channel memory
   6GB (3x2GB) PC3 8500 DDR3 1066 Triple Channel
   PARTS : Video & TV Cards : PCI-Express Video cards
   ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB PCI Express 16x dual head, HDMI
   PARTS : Video & TV Cards : TV Tuner & Capture cards
   NONE SELECTED
   PARTS : Hard Drives
   500.0GB Hitachi 7200RPM SATA2, UDMA 300 8m cache
   PARTS : Cooling Fans : Hard Drive Fans
   NONE SELECTED
   PARTS : Hard Drives
   NONE SELECTED
   PARTS : Cooling Fans : Hard Drive Fans
   2nd Hard drive Fan NONE SELECTED
   PARTS : CD/DVD/R/RW Drives : DVD Recorders
   Lite On 22x DVD Recorder Dual Layer +R/RW -R/RW
   PARTS : CD/DVD/R/RW Drives : DVD Recorders
   NONE SELECTED
   PARTS : Media Card Readers
   NONE SELECTED
   PARTS : Sound Cards
   Realtek HD digital audio (onboard)
   PARTS : Modems
   NONE SELECTED
   PARTS : Networking : Network Cards
   Ethernet network adapter (onboard)
   PARTS : Controller Cards
   USB 2.0 Adapter Card 4 port PCI
   PARTS : Cases / Power Supplies : Cases
   Cooler Master Elite 310 black, Side Window, front USB
   PARTS : Cooling Fans : Case Fans
   Dual Case Fans 80 mm DC fan (two fans)
   PARTS : Cooling Fans : Power Supply
   Ultra LSP 750W ATX Power Supply, SLI & X-fire ready
   PARTS : Keyboards
   NONE SELECTED
   PARTS : Mice
   NONE SELECTED
   PARTS : Speakers
   NONE SELECTED
   SOFTWARE : Operating Systems
   Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit DVD
   SOFTWARE : Office Software
   NONE SELECTED
   PARTS : Monitors
   NONE SELECTED
   PARTS : Assembly and Test
   Standard assembly and test 3-5 business days

[Spikes]

You will absolutely love Win 7. Many use it here with 0 issues.

Build looks good!

[Tigger29]

Send me $1121 and I'll build you a better system than that!

But still... everything looks good.. and you'll love Win7.  I use it and never looked back ('upgraded' from windows XP).  If you have to pay for an operating system anyway, then definitely go with 7.  Also with XP you'd only be able to use 3 to 3.5GB of your 6GB of ram.

[gyrene81]

Nefarious, Windows 7 64bit is a dream compared to Windows XP. Took a few hours to tweak it so it's running as lean as possible while maintaining needed functionality but, the difference in the way AH performs on my system now is so much better than before.

Might also want to order another drive from newegg or somewhere to store files you want to keep. It doesn't have to be huge but, it's a good failsafe to have in case your main drive crashes.

[Dragon]

In looking at the site, you can add the 320GB Western Digital for 51 bucks.  Or opt for a second 500GB Hitachi for 53. 


I'd add one of them.

[Tigger29]

Hard drive space isn't so much of an issue with me.  I simply don't keep a lot of files.  I'm not so much of a music/movie buff that I have to constantly keep downloading large files.

I have a 150GB Velociraptor drive with Windows and my programs installed on it.  I also have a 320 GB WD Blue drive on which I keep a backup image of the velociraptor, and I use it for 'miscellaneous' files and storage.. etc.  Anything 'critical' I keep backed up on CD.

BTW, if you purchase (or already have) a Western Digital hard drive, you can get a free version of Acronis by clicking on this link.

It's pretty cool software...

[shppr01]

I am going to buy a system from magicmicro.com after a colleague recommended them...

I am thinking about this:

http://magicmicro.com/smoreinfo.asp?iid=2761

or even this:

http://magicmicro.com/smoreinfo.asp?iid=2331

Should I go with Windoze 7 or keep XP? Would appreciate any input. I like XP and I could always upgrade to 7 down the road...

Ive used Win 7 for a while now and have no problem with it so far. I would go with that ,but get the win 7 ultimate . it has a nifty option to run XP as well !

[OOZ662]

it has a nifty option to run XP as well !

This is true, but it doesn't load any actual device drivers. It's a bit like a more fancy booting of XP's safe mode.

[Reschke]

Not bad but I would spend a little extra on two parts.

I have had really good experiences with the Thermaltake power supplies and am running a TR2 750W in one system right now and have been for a while with no trouble. Also on the CPU cooler I use a Coolermaster...they don't offer mine (V8) but the Hyper212 that they offer from Coolermaster is a good one from my experience building stuff for other people as well.

Oh and just to echo others....Win7 64bit Ultimate here on my machines at home and they all run it flawlessly. As well as going with at least a GTX260 type card on the video.