Quick Vista question

[Mr. Casual]

Which version of Vista is the best if I just want to have it so games that require Vista work?

I've got all the parts for my custom PC in a list, and I'm trying to calculate total costs and all that stuff.

Is the cheapest version the best for what I want, or is it crappier Quality-wise? Am I paying for a lot of programs I will never use if I buy the bigger sets? The only program that came with my current PC that I still use is Itunes but I can find that on the web anyway.

I've got some experience with the OS itself via my Grandma's laptop (That she bought because they are the "Thing" to have and she has no clue how to use it) and its a lot different, but in some ways its easier. I like the varying thumbnails options.

Anyways, is the most basic version the best to get?

EDIT: Whoops, didn't see the PC help forum. Move there if you want.

[PhreQuencYViii]

Home Premium. You can get it cheaper at college if your going to one. Mine was 70 I think.

[Mr. Casual]

Home Premium. You can get it cheaper at college if your going to one. Mine was 70 I think.

Would this be good for me? Does System builders mean people who make custom PCs or what? Or is this for guys who make them for a living?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116202

[PhreQuencYViii]

I dunno, it'd probably work. I'd get the version that has SP1 though.

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Vista-Home-Premium-Upgrade/dp/B0013O54P8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1208674384&sr=8-2

I got something like that, an upgrade edition. There is a loophole to do a clean install with an upgrade version. I was also using 64 bit lately, it's pretty nice compared to how it was a year ago.

[Mr. Casual]

Actually I think I'll just get this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116469

EDIT:

Something I was wondering about when it comes to the bit size.

Is one simply made for weaker CPUs or what? It probably shouldn't be an issue with my PC as I'm going Quad Core for my CPU.

[PhreQuencYViii]

32bit and 64 bit, well, 64 bit can use more RAM and 64 bit programs. I used 64 bit just because I could, but theres a lot of older stuff that doesn't work with it, hardware wise. I didn't run into any software problems.

You should get this. I am! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

Why would you get the 222$ Vista? Save the cash and get the upgrade for 100$ or so and use the exploit.

[Taemos]

Would this be good for me? Does System builders mean people who make custom PCs or what? Or is this for guys who make them for a living?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116202

The OEM edition (if I'm not mistaken) is only supposed to be installed on one machine, meaning you can't install it to a different computer later. I've always been confused by Microsoft's licensing terms, so don't take my word for it.

If that's the only computer you plan on installing Vista on, then I don't see any problems going with that.

[Mr. Casual]

I'm going to use it on only one machine, so I might get the OEM version. So, the 64 bit version allows you to use more RAM? That probably means 4+ gigs but I can't be too safe. I've already got a set of 4 gig Ram cards selected.

I'll get this version then. Its OEM home premium 64 bit. And its pretty cheap.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116204

[PhreQuencYViii]

64 bit means you can use 4GB and up. 32 bit lets you use up to 3GB.

What I did: Bougth 32bit upgrade, and later downloaded and burned a SP1 64 bit disc and used my key. I'm not certain, but I think that OEM is either 32 or 64bit, not either or. Mine lets me use whichever.

[Mr. Casual]

64 bit means you can use 4GB and up. 32 bit lets you use up to 3GB.

What I did: Bougth 32bit upgrade, and later downloaded and burned a SP1 64 bit disc and used my key. I'm not certain, but I think that OEM is either 32 or 64bit, not either or. Mine lets me use whichever.

Well, this one is primarily 64 bit. I can't really think of any really old programs I'd use for the 32 bit, unless some emulators require it, but I kinda doubt they do.

As for the loophole and upgrade thing, that just sounds like too much of a hassle, and the one I want is about $100.

[PhreQuencYViii]

The problem is if you have hardware that doesn't have 64 bit drivers. My scanner didn't work.

[Mr. Casual]

The problem is if you have hardware that doesn't have 64 bit drivers. My scanner didn't work.

Well, I HAVE a scanner but I seldom use it anyway. This PC is going to be used for mainly gaming, and thats why I have 4 GB of ram, and a lot of other "Fast" things like a 10,000 RPM HDD with 160 gb of storage (probably more than I'll ever need to be honest), a Quad Core CPU, the ability to get more Ram if need be, and a decent Video Card. I might need to upgrade that for Dawn of War 2, though.

If my scanner, keyboard, mouse, and monitor suddenly don't work because of my new OS, I'll be kinda irritated, but less irritated if only my scanner doesn't work.

I'll probably replace my monitor one of these days, but only after my machine is completed and I have the OS and everything installed.

Is there a specific way to check to see if my hardware supports 64 bit? Like in Dxdiag or something? Just to make certain.

[the_steadster]

Keyboard, mouse and Monitor will be fine, no problems there.
I bought 64 bit OEM ultimate, and it let me use the same key to install 64bit or 32, however it does only come with the 64 bit disc, you needed to download or borrow a 32 bit one

[PhreQuencYViii]

a Quad Core CPU

Which quad? You should get the 45nm Core Duo if it's the lower end quad, it's faster.

[Mr. Casual]

Which quad? You should get the 45nm Core Duo if it's the lower end quad, it's faster.

Someone recommended me to get this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

[PhreQuencYViii]

The 45nm e8400 is faster then that quad. Not much stuff uses Quad yet. I was going to get that too till the 45nm caught my eye.

[madhatter256]

Get the 8400.. You only need a quad if you want to encode video while gaming ;).

[Mr. Casual]

Get the 8400.. You only need a quad if you want to encode video while gaming ;).

You mean like recording movies from games? I might want to do that, actually. I'll look into the other thing Phrequency mentioned though.

[PhreQuencYViii]

You mean like recording movies from games? I might want to do that, actually. I'll look into the other thing Phrequency mentioned though.

Like ripping movies and stuff while playing games. :110: Get the dual core 45nm dude. There's reviews around that show it kicking the quads ass.

[Mr. Casual]

All right, I got one replaced on my grand list.:dance:

BTW, does better PC hardware make the internet faster? Sometimes some internet apps slow my PC down, and stuff like Utorrent does, too.

EDIT:

One more thing, regarding my PC. If I have a DVD burner on my PC, how do I check to see if it will compatible with my new case? Do I have to open my PC to see?

Same thing for my current HDD and maybe RAM. But I might just leave those in this PC, as my mom might want my old PC. She said she wanted me to build her a PC good enough to play the Sims 2, but my PC I KNOW can do that already.:lol:

[PhreQuencYViii]

All right, I got one replaced on my grand list.:dance:

BTW, does better PC hardware make the internet faster? Sometimes some internet apps slow my PC down, and stuff like Utorrent does, too.

EDIT:

One more thing, regarding my PC. If I have a DVD burner on my PC, how do I check to see if it will compatible with my new case? Do I have to open my PC to see?

Same thing for my current HDD and maybe RAM. But I might just leave those in this PC, as my mom might want my old PC. She said she wanted me to build her a PC good enough to play the Sims 2, but my PC I KNOW can do that already.:lol:

A better PC should make the computer more responsive, at least.

Almost all DVD drives should fit in almost all PC cases. I have a funky little cube case, and can stick whatever I want in it.

Your HD will probably be compatible. The RAM, I dunno. I imagine you'll be getting DDR2 RAM, and have DDR1 now, so if thats the case, no. Even if it was, your probably better off getting some nice RAM for a nice system.

[Mr. Casual]

I'm gonna leave the current HD in there. My mom said she'd pay for my OS and a few hundred dollars in cash for my current PC.

She must REALLY want to play the Sims 2.:lol:

One of the games I'll get for my new PC will definitely be Spore, which is coming out in September, hopefully.

[PhreQuencYViii]

AND Duke Nukem Forever, which will COME OUT THIS FUCKING YEAR! It better. Oh, and Starcraft 2.

[Mr. Casual]

Also, Fallout 3, Dawn of War 2...and I want to try Supreme Commander out as well.

[PhreQuencYViii]

Then theres Duke Nukem Forever, Unreal Tournament 3, Duke Nukem Forever, and Duke Nukem 3D. Also, you might want to just get 32bit Vista for now bud, I just fixed my PC, and started using it a lot....I had a lot of compatibility problems. It works well enough, but you can always step up later. Even on the new PC I want to build like yours, I'm going to do 32bit for awhile.

[Mr. Casual]

I think Oblivion is my most "Graphically intensive" game that I own, and even after craploads of tweaks that make it look better and I set trees and grids to load way past the minimum and I still get around 75 FPS. I get around 50 FPS in heavily heavily wooded and grassy areas, and around 30 or so when I'm in a heavily wooded and grassy area with lots of enemies around. I find 30 to be "Playable", so its all good. And its all on a resolution thats not tiny as hell! :lol:

I just had to take screenshot of my character. I already played the 360 version for 200+ hours. On this one I'll probably have a profile for just goofing around, and thats that one. I can fly, shoot nuclear explosions at the ground (from a mod, not a custom spell, it has a mushroom effect, too) and kill hordes of enemies.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/927/screenshot32xq6.jpg

Speaking of Vista...I'm not too fond of it. I've already disabled several of its "Features" like updates, because every time it installed them, my PC would restart and would need to be fixed with the installation CD due to not starting up. Its also annoying how it double prompts me for every single thing, and editing program files (I like modding my PC games) is a MAJOR pain sometimes. Once I disable all that crap, it becomes a little more tolerable.

BTW, I have a program that I paid for on another PC. Anyone know how I can migrate it over to this one? Its a media conversion program. I'd also like the copy of photoshop on that PC brought over, too, but I'm not sure if its still on that PC or not...

[PhreQuencYViii]

So you built that computer finally?

[Mr. Casual]

Actually its been built for about 2 weeks, I think. I didn't want to make an update pic until I got a new monitor, but then I decided "Oh what the hell, I'll just use my old one for now".

I'm loving it so far, except for Vista. I wanted Vista just for compatibility issues, and the only program that came with it that I like is Windows Movie maker.

I did a benchmark test on Oblivion earlier, I had like double the grids running than normal, 200 objects and trees set as the maximum, and I went into a crowded town and summoned 50 weak Goblins :icon_bigg

It didn't lag like crazy, it was actually really smoothe, even better FPS rate than some Youtube videos of it.

My tree limit is really high, so high you can see the trees on the farthest mountains on the horizon.