Main > Main Forum

Windows 7 vs. XP64: Better in the short run? The long run?

Pages: << < (5/6) > >>

syph007:

I sure wouldnt pay for windows 7 just to put on a MAME machine.  But if you have it and want to use it go nuts.   The only reason to upgrade OS's for me is if the hardware dies and not readily replaced.   It's not like my XP install on my MAME machine will suddenly stop allowing me to play games if MS releases new OS's.   Now if the mobo dies etc and I need to build a new setup and its cost effective to get newer hardward and the old OS now longer makes sense or works, then sure upgrade.  My moto for ages though has not been to upgrade unless there is a darn good reason.

Beretta:

wow guys it's a topic about xp x64 vs win 7.. this is'nt a topic to end all discussion on OS.

personally i'd vote for linux for efficiency, although i love the terminal on linux damn near every GUI out there i hate.. although they're getting better.

linux scales very well you can run it on almost any thing and it's not a hog like windows.

on the other hand i much like windows GUI for day to day.. but linux has more control over stuff.. infact sometimes TO much control as you can really get into the nuts and bolts.

it's just not as user friendly as windows, for servers it's great though.. and would probably make a great mame machine for a cab.

another problem with linux is driver support.. although it's getting better most device mfg's dont wanna open up their vaults and share the hardwares data sheets or even supply their own drivers for linux.
they're starting to come around but a lot of the driver support is flaky because they're forced to write their own with probing and best guesses.. like trying to build a house without a blue print.

so linux is great on older hardware that people have had time to study.

not as great at hardware that is new or is uncommon that no one has poked and prodded yet.

i look forward to the day when microsoft is forced to share the market but that day has'nt come yet and probably wont for a while even though alternatives are getting better all the time they're still a long ways off from converting windows users.

@ syph007 thats exactly how most people think thats why microsoft has sucha  strangle hold on PC because damn near every computer out there comes bundle with a copy of it rather you want it or not.

they help the PC market my artificially inducing upgrade cycles by killing off support for older OS or making something "New os only" just like they're trying with dx10, the problem here is vista has issues and most developers had already said they're not in a rush to push dx10 because most people was still running XP.

anyway so after the chop their older OS off at the knees then people say i gots to get a new pc so i can have the new windows to do the same crap i was doing 6 months ago.

MS use to be better about supporting older OS, but their killing them off faster and faster as newer versions come out.



Silas (son of Silas):


--- Quote from: Beretta on September 30, 2009, 03:01:29 pm ---...another problem with linux is driver support..
--- End quote ---

That can be very true. Especially with some distros, it can be a total PITA to get some brand new hardware working. In the last couple of years, mainstream distros like Ubuntu are pretty good, but still have issues. The reason my new laptop that I am writing this post on is running Vista is because my chipset isn't supported in Ubuntu until the Beta release of Karmic Koala tomorrow. Vista runs without issue, so your absolutely right, driver support can be a real problem.

Things are a lot better than they used to be. I've never had to wait more than 6 months for a new chipset or device to be supported, but in the Windows world support is there from day 1.

The appeal of Linux for an arcade machine is it works, and it works really well and its free. When I used to run MAME on XP on an old HP laptop, the frame rate struggled on some games. When I rebuilt it with with Puppy Linux and SDLMAME the same games flew. Was it worth it? NO... No way in Hell. It took so long to get it working it would have been easier to just upgrade my hardware.

If you're not dealing with trashcan hardware then mainstream distros can run SDLMAME out of the box with no hassle or Linux knowledge and its still free (and fast  ;) ) 

u_rebelscum:


--- Quote from: Triangel7D on September 30, 2009, 07:16:01 am ---1) Is the upgrade from XP64 to Windows 7 a straightforward upgrade, or a "clean" one like XP32 to Vista64 (where the hard drive has to be wiped)?
--- End quote ---

No.  From what I've read, you'd need to do a fresh install when going for xp to 7 (and from vista 32bit to 7 64bit, and for "downgrading" levels (say from vista ultimate up-down to 7 home).


--- Quote from: Triangel7D on September 30, 2009, 07:16:01 am ---2) Is there a recognizable speed increase in MAME going from XP64 to Win 7?
--- End quote ---

My understanding was it won't be noticeable.  It wasn't noticeable between xp64 & vista64.  I doubt win7 64 will be that much different for mame.  Other things like boot time, GUI speed, other games, other apps, might be noticeable, though.

Triangel7D:

Thanks Rebelscum! That's what I needed to hear, I think. I think I'll be sticking with XP64 for now. At least I can get to work right away now (instead of waiting for the 22nd)!

Pages: << < (5/6) > >>

Go to full version