Windows 7 Questions

[schmidT]

Hi there,
Since i love battlefield game and ATM waiting for BF3. I wanted to upgrade my OS to win 7. So i have something to ask:

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Win7?
2. Which is better 32-bit version or 64-bit version?
3. I have Dawn of War 1 game, do i able to play DOW1 after upgrading it to win7?

Also, i heard from someone that Directx 11 is likely unstable...is that right?

Thank you

[Baron_Fel]

1. many over XP, some over Vista
2. go x64, you can use 4GB RAM that way
3. yes

DX11 is not "unstable".

[Jinoruizraged]

1. many over XP, some over Vista
2. go x64, you can use 4GB RAM that way
3. yes

DX11 is not "unstable".

Hopefully Frostbite 2 will be able to utilize high amounts of RAM.

1. Nice taskbar functionality though administrator privilidges are a real pain sometimes. Another bugger is inherited from Vista where you can't play oldish games easily.
2. 64bit is the near future of software.
3. Yes

[lucid enigma]

You probably heard that DX11 is un-used which is fairly true so far! :(
I don't have too much DX11 software but it all works fine.

[l4nd0fc0nfu510n]

Hi there,
Since i love battlefield game and ATM waiting for BF3. I wanted to upgrade my OS to win 7. So i have something to ask:

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Win7?
2. Which is better 32-bit version or 64-bit version?
3. I have Dawn of War 1 game, do i able to play DOW1 after upgrading it to win7?

Also, i heard from someone that Directx 11 is likely unstable...is that right?

Thank you

1. It's the best available version of Windows, in my opinion.

2. 64-bit. It allows you to use more than 2 GB of RAM.

3. I have that game as well, and I can play it on Windows 7 64-bit.

DirectX 11 works fine.

[marie pavie]

The disadvantages are that it costs money.

[schmidT]

hi thank u for the replies..
ill decide to upgrade my pc now :)

[iBMe]

Do it, Windows 7 is great.

[PhamousVegas]

Also, i heard from someone that Directx 11 is likely unstable...is that right?

Odds are since you have a PC w/ Windows XP your GPU doesn't support DirectX 11, and to be honest I wouldn't even be sure if it supports DirectX 10.

So you probably won't be able to play Battlefield 3 anyway unless you upgrade your GPU.

And only go x64 if you do have 4GB of RAM or more, otherwise there is no point and I would just suggest x86.

[jon_infektion]

1. It's the best available version of Windows, in my opinion.

2. 64-bit. It allows you to use more than 2 GB of RAM.


I have more then 2GB of RAM on a 32bit system, other then that I support your argument

[PhamousVegas]

I have more then 2GB of RAM on a 32bit system, other then that I support your argument

The limit is closer to AROUND 3.5GB, add or take.
But you aren't going to get all 4 gigs or more in a x86 Operating System.

[jon_infektion]

The limit is closer to AROUND 3.5GB, add or take.
But you aren't going to get all 4 gigs or more in a x86 Operating System.

That is a bit more accurate. Though it doesn't seem like much of a difference by number 2-3.5GB can mean the difference of running some games

[PhamousVegas]

That is a bit more accurate. Though it doesn't seem like much of a difference by number 2-3.5GB can mean the difference of running some games

Not really the difference between running a game or not, but performance wise I would say you would notice it quite a little bit.
Really all depends on the speed of the RAM though.

[HerBDerb]

And only go x64 if you do have 4GB of RAM or more, otherwise there is no point and I would just suggest x86.
I would actually suggest as long as he has a processor that supports x64 architecture, to go x64.
Seeing as RAM is probably the most commonly upgraded part of a computer.

[PhamousVegas]

I would actually suggest as long as he has a processor that supports x64 architecture, to go x64.
Seeing as RAM is probably the most commonly upgraded part of a computer.

I guess, if he plans on upgrading it.
TBH I would assume if he's just upgrading to Windows 7 from a 10 year old OS now, that he doesn't plan on upgrading much if anything... but if he does plan to, definitely get x64. :P

[Crab]

Gotta watch out for driver incompatibilities on x64 though :/ Can't run 32 bit drivers, only 32 bit software.

Windows 7 is pretty nice. Not really any reason not to use it. Well, over XP/Vista of course :P Still drives you crazy by making you restart every other update :o

I think DX11 isn't being used because a) it's too new, not many cards support it b) I kind of doubt DX11 actually offers much benefit over DX9 (DX10 is still a little questionable too)

Shouldn't this be in Hardware and OS discussion?

[jon_infektion]

Not really the difference between running a game or not, but performance wise I would say you would notice it quite a little bit.
Really all depends on the speed of the RAM though.

That as well.

[PhamousVegas]

Gotta watch out for driver incompatibilities on x64 though :/ Can't run 32 bit drivers, only 32 bit software.

I've been using x64 for a LONG time and not once did I have any compatibility issues.
But I do guess that could vary since his Hardware is most likely older.

[T@F]

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Win7?
Games run better,better looking op system and most important it more stable than any other op system i'v used.
disadvantages not found any unless you want to run very old games like ff7,but i'm sure you can find stuff on the net to get them to run.

2. Which is better 32-bit version or 64-bit version?
64bit as you can add more ram,also runs 32bit stuff fine as well.

3. I have Dawn of War 1 game, do i able to play DOW1 after upgrading it to win7?
Yes you should not have a prob as long as you can get 64bit drivers for all you're hardware.

Also, i heard from someone that Directx 11 is likely unstable...is that right?
Not unstable imo,but can be a little buggy at times,but i guess that down to the drivers for the card rather than dx11.

[PhamousVegas]

Games run better

I agree with every other statement... but
A LOT of people report better performance in games with Windows XP x86 than Windows 7 x64.

[lucid enigma]

I agree with every other statement... but
A LOT of people report better performance in games with Windows XP x86 than Windows 7 x64.

Lower budget PCs would probably be better with XP.
System requirements are obviously higher for playing in Win7, most notably memory requirements though which isn't too expensive to achieve.
Importantly, if the system is good enough then so will its performance with either OS.
I certainly don't suffer any performance problems with my Win7 though mine is a fairly powerful system.

On compatibility issues, I'd say I do play older games and do have some issues.
Not many though and as for it being a x86/x64 problem, I don't know.
It could be, though it could well be any of a number of different things.
I say you should always keep an older system if poss.
I have a 32-bit XP box that would certainly tick the boxes for most software that doesn't like 64-bit Win7.
I also use DosBox and VirtualBox which normally does the job sufficiently and let's me stick to one machine! ;)

[T@F]

I agree with every other statement... but
A LOT of people report better performance in games with Windows XP x86 than Windows 7 x64.

Prob depends on how old there hardware is i guess.
But i find my games run better in win7 than xp.
it's not always about higher fps as long as you get good fps in win7 the games do seem to run a lot smoother imo.

[Scared]

64 bit is the future, there is practically no reason to be running 32bit any more (also, Windows 7 keys work for both 64 and 32bit).

[MADDOGGE]

Did OP say whether he is upgrading PC's as well? Win7 64 is imo the best OS MS has put out to date. I have used it since the open beta and love it.

The major problem for a gamer with 64 bit OS's is they don't run 16 bit programs. So if you enjoy really old Win95/98 games and even some early XP ones:confused: as I do, you will either need to maintain a legacy rig running XP or duel boot a 32 bit OS as a work around for playing them on a 64 bit OS. Those games I install on my Vista32 partition and then put a shortcut on my Win7 64 desktop or game explorer page. Being 32 bit games, they play just fine on 64bit they just can't be installed on it because of the 16 bit installer or DRM.

[Baron_Fel]

I think DX11 isn't being used because a) it's too new, not many cards support it b) I kind of doubt DX11 actually offers much benefit over DX9 (DX10 is still a little questionable too)

It offers alot of benefit and is actually being used more than DX10 ever was.

[Tyrax Lightning]

I vouch for Windows 7 being worth the trouble. I personally use Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. :cool:

1: Windows 7 has more advantages than can easily be listed. The biggie among them is that Windows 7 is getting full service attention from Microsoft, but XP is getting it's service terminated & will eventually lose it's safeness, if it hasn't already. Last I heard, XP service was getting shut down sometime in 2011, but I can't remember the exact date. :eek:

2: 64-bit ftw! 32-bit has a Max RAM Operation Capacity of 3 - 3.5 GB of RAM, but 64-bit Max RAM Operation Capacity last I heard has yet to find a limit at all! The RAM needs are only gonna get larger as time goes on, & sooner or later, 3.5 GB of RAM is gonna stop being adequate... maybe sooner rather than later...

3: I can't speak for Dawn of War, but I haven't had any problems playing stuff on W7 that I also previously played on my old XP running bucket of bolts I had before my Computer Build. :)

One note for ya... If your XP Rig is very old, like mine was, then it seriously may be worth your time, cash, & effort, to build a new Gaming Computer from the ground up. I did this for my build, though in my case, my old bucket of bolts had a Integrated Graphics Chip that I tried out, hated the guts of, & wanted to ditch forever to go back to Graphics Card Power. (NEVER use a Motherboard with an Integrated Graphics Chip! I found out the hard way long after starting to use it that they were built for weak stuff business applications & SUCK HARD at Gaming needs... :eek:) Still, I seriously think that if ya wanna build a newer, better Computer, the transition from one OS to another is a darn good time for it.

If ya need assistance, ya know where us Forumites are. Make darn sure ya don't get a PC from a Store, those tend to totally suck & rip ya off. Store Personnel do NOT love your Computer or give a damn if your Computer will work for you or not. They just want your money, & once they have it, they couldn't care less if your Computer blows up because the Store Computer didn't have a competent amount of Ventilation Power. :mad: I've seen loads of victims of this on the BioWare Social Site PC Tech Help Forums... :(

If ya wanna check out my Computer Build, I made a BioWare Social Site Thread for it here: New Computer Showoff! (http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/13/index/2780740) :D I also made this Thread partially to stick my Parts in a place where I could re-reference them when needed because my rl memory is too useless for such a job. :p My Gaming Computer, I would call perhaps mid-end. I am kinda poor so I can't ever afford state-of-the-art at any time, so I aimed for 'Bang for Buck' kinda stuff, including on my Graphics Card. Because of this, my Graphics Card only benchpresses up to DirectX 10.1. Even with this, i've had no serious problems. If ya can afford a DirectX 11 Card, it may still be worth considering doing it nonetheless. Plan your Parts (with our help if needed) before starting to buy them for assembly.

If ya can't afford to build a new Computer, we can try to help ya upgrade your existing one as well. My Case & all stuff in it came out to a cost of about $800ish bucks, which I think is buff. :cool: Loser Store Computers that suck tend to go for the $1,000 - $1,500 range. :eek:

Hope this helps.

[schmidT]

Wow...looking at people's comments here...i think i will change to Win 7 x64. But i have questions here:

1. What will be the best type of Win 7 X64? i 've seen like Home Premium, Ultimate, etc...

2. Is there a change i could buy Win 7 x64 NOT OEM? so that if i upgrade my GPU/motherboard later i don't have to buy a new Win 7 x64 OS? i've heard that OEM will only allow you to install on one type of hardware only.. correct me if i am wrong.

3. The reason i want to have Directx 11 GPU card is that so i could save years to buy a new one. I heard 450 from Gforce has DX 11? or Will you recommend me the best GPU for years to come?

Thank you so much in !

[Baron_Fel]

Get Home Premium.

You can get Retail and not OEM but itll cost more.

Dont get anything less than a GTX 460 768MB.

[Tyrax Lightning]

1: Ya can compare the Versions of Windows 7 here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/compare/default.aspx. I personally use Home Premium partially because i'm poor & partially because I didn't have nearly enough use for Professional & Ultimate's extra features to justify spending extra on them. You might not need to either, but I don't know your situation fully, so ya can use this Page to make your own more informed decision. :)

2: Buy OEM if ya can do your own Computer Work & Diagnosis, & if ya don't change Hardware much. Buy Full Version if ya do change Hardware much, &/or are Computer Illiterate, &/or if ya can actually stand Microsoft Tech Support. :p

3: My apologies, I am not fully expertised in Graphics Cards. I was assisted with my Graphics Card choice myself.

Hope this helps.