Greetings everyone. I just have a quick question. I'm getting a new computer soon, and I was wondering: What is the best operating system for gaming? Most people say either Windows 98 or Windows XP. Thanks.
-Chris
ID:189925
 Apr 24 2003, 5:02 pm
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Apr 24 2003, 5:05 pm
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Scoobert
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XP, why? Well be cause your not going to get a computer worth having that has 98 on it, and anything else just doesnt cut it. There are few games made for mac's out there. So my vote would be xp. Although in its begining it was bad because little was compatible with it, now it works with almost any game out on the market.
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Windows 98SE is better if you want to play DOS games, like the kickass Commander Keen series. Windows XP basically can't play DOS games. It is possible to get them to work, but it's by no means guaranteed.
If you never have played DOS games and never will, Windows XP might be more your thing; I hear it's much more stable. Consider getting XP Professional if you can afford it, though; some folks have had bad experiences with the Home edition. Regardless, if you end up getting Windows XP you should get all the service packs; they seem to help with some compatibility issues. | |
Heres an idea to help you out. Go down your local computer store then go to the games section. Look around at all the games you would like to buy/already have, then check the OS's they can be used with.
Then simply see which one is most common. The only advice I can give you is stay away from Win2K, its crap. | |
I'd get 98 if i were you... XP seems to get problems that that games like Mech Warrior 3 are too old.... it's rather strange, thats why i stick with 98.
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The most common one isn't neccessarily the best one. Most (if not all) games that can run on Windows 98 can also run on Windows ME - and Windows 98SE is far, far superior to Windows ME.
Windows 2000 isn't actually crap, but it does have very poor DirectX support. Definitely not the OS you want to have on a gaming system. Same goes for Windows NT. To cover all possibilities, I'd eventually like to set myself up with a triple boot system: Windows XP, Windows 98SE, and Linux. Now that would rule. =) | |
Yeah, I know but if you go into the store and see that OS A will run 3 out of 4 of the games you own or want to buy, but know OS B is better, you'll still want OS A.
Also, with Win2K thats what I meant when I said it was crap, I get the same comment off my Dad when ever I bad mouth it. | |
I think 2K has its ups and downs, mostly downs. I have seen many problems with it, but i have to give it credit to spawning XP.
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Scoobert wrote:
There are few games made for mac's out there. (negative game show buzzer) False! But thanks for playing! There are well over 500 very, very good games for the Mac (mostly for use up to Mac OS 9.x - clean porting to MacOS X is still slightly behind, so Mac OS X can run 8-9.x software in 'classic' mode), many of those from the major game producers. The only bad factor in choosing the a recent G4 Mac over an Intel PC is the price - Apple products are still more expensive. Regarding performance and speed, it can be argued objectively that a Mac's G4 processor is a bit faster and more stable than a Pentium or AMD at the same speed, thanks to some neats ways that processor pipelining, processor caching and memory management is handled. And I personally think the cases/bodies of the desktops and laptops Macs are far better looking (unless you customize your Win-tel PC yourself). A local colleague's G4 867Mhz 15" PowerBook laptop outperforms a P4 1.0 Ghz laptop (a Dell and a Sony in my tests) in many operations, came with a DVD-R/CDRW burner, has a much clearer and faster screen, included wireless ethernet, and just looks far cooler than a comparable Intel-based machine. The problem is that it is nearly $3000 (the Intel laptops are about half that price). =( If price is no option, get a Mac - it can run rings around a comparable PC in performance with most native applications (this is not 100% across the board of course) and is far more stylish and better looking. AND it can run Windows 98/XP or Linux software using something like VirtualPC (although you do sacrifice some speed). Since the heart of Mac OS X is a Unix/Linux variant called FreeBSD, you get a nice stable OS, wrapped up in a slick and easy to learn/use graphical interface. (and all this is coming from a die-hard RedHat Linux/Windows XP user!!!) =D Linux OSs are slowly playing catch-up in the game area too - Mandrake Linux, for example has a special gaming version of Linux that has improved support for newer video configurations and joysticks, and there is WineX - a gaming version for the Wine Windows emulator that is dedicated to letting you play Windows games in Linux - I've seen Warcraft 3 and Quake 3 run quite nicely on a friends RedHat 8.0 distribution using WineX. But although all the good Linux OSs are free, a decently supported WineX does cost a little money (but not as much as Windows XP). You could also bite the evil Microsofty Licensing bullet, get your self a cheap P4 1.5Ghz machine for around $500, and install both Windows 98SE *and* Windows XP Professional in two partitions. Then you get the best of both worlds! Heck, while you are at it, make a 3rd partition for your favorite distro of Linux so you can compare performance! =) | |
Crispy wrote:
To cover all possibilities, I'd eventually like to set myself up with a triple boot system: Windows XP, Windows 98SE, and Linux. Now that would rule. =) I have a dual-boot SUSE Linux/Win XP Pro machine (AMD Athalon 1.3Ghz machine, GeForce 2 MX video card, 768MB RAM, 20 GB HD - $425), and I bounce back and forth between the two all the time, although I tend to stay over on the SUSE side more often unless there is a game that won't run well (or fast) under Wine/WineX. The nice thing is that I don't have to re-install the Windows games on the Linux side - I just reach across to the WinXP partition from SUSE to access all my Windows programs and files... On the WinXP side I also have SoftMac - a very cool free Mac emulator that supports up to Mac OS 8.6, so that I can tinker with games/programs for that platform too. Unfortunately it does not support networking yet. | |
as an addendum... a quick look at macgames.co.uk gives me (realize that some of these games are listed as "coming out in 2003"):
Civilization III, Masters of Orion 3, Alien V Predator 2, Black & White, BloodRayne, CelticKings, Desent 3, Dungeon Siege, Fallout, Giants Citizen Kabuto, Halo, Heavy Metal FAKK, Harry Potter, Heretic 2, Hexen II, Max Payne, Medal of Honor, Myth II, Nascar Racing, Payback, Quake III, Red Faction, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Rune,Soldier of Fortune, Star Trek Elite Force II, Star Wars Jedi Knight II Jedi Outcast, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Game of the Year Edition, Tomb Raider (various versions), Tony Hawks Pro Skater 4, Unreal Tournament 2003, WarCraft III, Worms Blast, StarCraft BroodWars (and that's just the arcade/action section!) For Adventure: Alpah Centari, Alice, Baldurs Gate, Diablo II, Fallout 2, IceWind Dale, Never Winter Nights, Myst 3D, Summoner... Simulations: MS Flight Sim, F/A 18 Hornet, X-Plane... Sport: 4 x 4 Evolution 2, F1 Champ, various soccer games, Total Immersion Racing... Strategy: Age of Empires II, Heroes of Might & Magic IV, Sim City 4, The Sims (and all the add-ons), all the WarCraft games. --------------- So, who ever says that the Mac doesn't have many games is on crack! =p | |
--------------- Many is a relative term and I'm sure the number of PC games out dwarfs the Mac ones. But anyway those who use Macs at least get to play the games over at Spiderweb Software(http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/) first since Jeff produces the games on a Mac first then releases them for PC :P. So being a Windows user I'll have to wait even longer for Blades of Avernum. | |
If you notic, almost if not all of those games are out for pc. Now im not saying mac doesnt have the potential to become a great gaming computer, but windows is a much better option.
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You could also bite the evil Microsofty Licensing bullet, get your self a cheap P4 1.5Ghz machine for around $500 Eck! Nah, I'm not getting no cheapy $500 computer. I'm looking to spend $1000+! Macs seem a bit sketchy to me right now. They crash all of the time... I'm thinking of getting a Pentium 4, 2.4 GHz (or more), 512 RAM (or more) and 80GB (or more). I'm thinking of getting either this one: http://www.bestbuy.com/ detail.asp?e=11210217&m=488&cat=490&scat=491 or this one: http://www.bestbuy.com/ detail.asp?e=11216313&m=488&cat=490&scat=491 Then I'll probably buy a flat panel monitor with it, also. | |
Gah! More falsly informed babble!
Dracon wrote: Nah, I'm not getting no cheapy $500 computer. hmmm... I got a 1.3Ghz AMD machine, with 768MB of RAM, CDRW drive, 20GB HD for $435 - it runs both Windows XP pro and SUSE linux quite well... certainly not a 'cheapy' to me... in fact most manufactuers of PCs use the same parts, so often you are paying for the name, not the quality. Macs seem a bit sketchy to me right now. They crash all of the time... eh? where did you here that crap? The Mac OS X box we use for web design has been running non-stop for several weeks, where as my office Windows XP Pro machine has to be rebooted every 2-3 days... Mac OS 10.2 (Jaguar) is generally far more stable than a comparable Windows OS. Now if you are referring to back in the days of Mac OS 7-7.5, then you would be correct - it had really shoddy memory management. But that was in the late 80's - early 90's... | |
digitalmouse wrote: Yeah, that's probably what my school has... cheap bastards. Well, I believe I found a computer suiting my needs! Gateway ----------------------------------------------------- Pentium 4 2.533 GHz 768 MB DDR SDRAM (I didn't even know they made 768 MB RAM computers!) 160 GB HDD (Hey, the upgrade from 120 GB to 160 GB was only $20) 48x CD-Rom drive/16x DVD-Rom drive Windows XP Home Edition (Maybe, prehaps I'll even get Professional) 128MB NVIDIA GeForce MMX440G ----------------------------------------------------- Total:$1,399.00 of course, if I can get more money, I'll think about buying a Mac, or prehaps even upgrading to a 1028 MB Computer. I'm just getting ready for Half-Life 2 *evil smirk* | |
Theodis wrote:
But anyway those who use Macs at least get to play the games over at Spiderweb Software(http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/) first since Jeff produces the games on a Mac first then releases them for PC :P. So being a Windows user I'll have to wait even longer for Blades of Avernum. Yeah. Damn Jeff! Damn him to Avernum! =P --Crispy, proud owner of the entire Exile series (including Blades of Exile) P.S. Am I the only one who thinks that "Avernites" (the name for people who live in Avernum) sounds like a brand of mineral water? | |
Dracon wrote:
I believe I found a computer suiting my needs! Gateway NOOOO!!! No Gateway. I suggest going to a magazine shop and try getting the April issue of Computer Shopper Magazine and building your own! The magazine has a list of some of the best websites for buying computer parts. Plus it's completely custom! Who wouldn't like that. I'm going to do that without a doubt when i have the money for a new computer! I myself don't suggest buying one premade. There are parts that are just as good as those, if not better, on the internet, and just cooler looking things! Such as cases that have see-through windows in them and neon lights! =] Even completely see-through cases, though they scratch rather easily and are more expensive. Another thing is some of those companys overload you with all this useless software that you'll never need, though I must admit some of it useful. Well that's just one mans opinion. P.S. I don't know your capabilities, but if you don't know how to build your own computer it has a step by step guide on putting together your computer. Resonating Light | |
Yeah, you are probably right. I'm thinking of going with a custom made HP or Compaq. I can get a 1028 MHz, 120 GB, 2.66 GHz Pentium 4 with a NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200 for the same price. Know of any other sites where you can custom build computers online?
-Chris | |
Dracon Dracon, your still hitting the companys that will give you computers that will be utterly worthless in notime. If you dont want to build your own(recomended) then just go Vaio. I have one and have never been happyer with a computer. I have only had one problem for the 1 and a half i have had it and that is that the hard drive broke, but i think thats cercumstantiol. Besides that, it has been a great computer, nice looking case, and i dont have to say its a "Gateway, Compaq, IBM, HP(their just exspensive compaqs), or something like E-Machine. My recomendation is to build your own, its remarkably easy. Just simply place the wires in the only place they will fit, and boom, you have your own. Dont go mac for games, just not what your wanting. Build your own if you want the most bang for your buck.And if all else fails, buy a sony vaio.
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