i am building an AMD x2 dual core gaming computer.I know i can get better for the cpu but that is what i want and what i am getting.What OS would be better windows XP home or 2000 or media center 2005?if i got media center what would i have to get to make it work on my computer.What hardware would i have to have give details and links. Thanks
2007-02-01 15:20:40 · 9 answers · asked by U can't B like me 5 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
no vista.
2007-02-01 15:34:38 · update #1
If you want a kick-*** gaming system and don't care about using your PC as a media center, XP Home is fine. Spend your money on the best graphics card you can and the most RAM. For online gaming, spend the rest on the fastest internet connection you can find. DSL can go up to 6 mbps but cable can go to 12 but costs more.
Don't listen to the people who said ditch Microsoft or to buy Vista. Almost all games run on Windows only and nobody knows what issues they will have with Vista yet. Graphics cards are getting Vista drivers but nobody knows what issues they have yet. There are sure to be many. Stick with the tried and true OS that already has all the bugs fixed, working drivers for video cards and the most support from other users.
2007-02-01 15:34:56 · answer #1 · answered by Aldo the Apache 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don;t think media center requires any special hardware, just a good processor (which it looks like you have as long as its not an X2 3800 or 4000) a large amount of system memory (1 GB would be enough, but 2 GB would be better, especailly if you are gaming), and a high capacity hard drive (easy to come by)
if oyu want a HTPC (home theater PC) or media center PC, then you might also want to get a TV tuner card and a remote. ATI has both and the remote works very well (i hvae RW II) you can use the remote to control the mouse and all, just not type. also the platinium verdions of creative sound cards come with IR remotes. the disadvantage of this tothe ATI RW is that they arre IR to the RW's RF. meaning you have to have LoS to the comp with the creative remote.
so yeah, just a good proc., lots of memory, a big HDD (500GB or bigger if oyu are gonna store movies), a good vid card (which you shold be using anyway for gaming) TV tuner and a remote.
media center is pretty much XP pro with some different settings. XP media center goes for about $109, and pro goes for about $139. home goes for about $89. Note: these are OEM prices, which means that to qualify to buy these you need to buy other hardware that would suggest you are building a new system (such as CPU, mobo and vid card)
the drawback to staying with XP is that you cannot run DX10, but i'm not going to vista anytime soon either...
'luck
2007-02-01 23:35:33 · answer #2 · answered by Jason S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For a gaming machine the only thing that you will want is windows. Other than UT, not many games run nativly on any other os.
as for the flavors of windows. the only difference between home, pro, media center, and any others, is the extra software. media center gives software to manage media. xp pro has extra features, such as remote deaktop (not assistance)
the operating system is exactly the same, xp home has the exact proformance as xp pro.
if you dont want the features, get xp home. put the extra money into the video card. for a gaming machine the video card is the most important.
depending on budget, get home, not pro, or media center; the features will not in any way effect gaming proformance, but cost more, xp home will give more money to put into video card.
2007-02-01 23:29:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
just get xp, its just easier, no stuffin around, atleast with xp you know your games are going to be compatable. media center is more for home entertainment , it was not really designed for standard computer usage.
the main reason you would want media center would be for watching televsion on your computer, you will require a tv tuner to do this and the media center remote control. as fair as I know you can only get media center OEM, you cant buy it retail, but you can get media center in some of the new OS vista. also keep in mind file sharing or network resources that are set to require a domain-joined PC for access will not be available. just get the xp, and if you really want media center, just wait a couple of years an then purchase vista, wait that extra couple of years so they can get ride of all the bugs.
2007-02-01 23:44:20 · answer #4 · answered by Rossie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
for a gaming computer, assuming the games are for windows, I would suggest XP, and as much RAM as you can afford along with a real fast and "heavy on the memory" video card. I suggest XP because it has a "compatibility mode" for some older games.
2007-02-01 23:29:21 · answer #5 · answered by f100_supersabre 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all you should have started with the dual 2 core. Go to pcworld.com and they have the sections there for the info you want to know about. They have a section for building your own computer. Anyway, check it out and they will answer what you need to know.
2007-02-01 23:27:48 · answer #6 · answered by Big C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont know much about computers but if you are building for gaming definatly get the media center because that will be able to connect with your xbox 360. i have media center and it is awesome. i dont really now much technical information. just my opinion i guess. so not really helpful sorry.
2007-02-01 23:24:48 · answer #7 · answered by thecloudgazr 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ditch Microsoft. Try Ubuntu Linux.
2007-02-01 23:29:44 · answer #8 · answered by Larry 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
go with vista.
media center is good too. look at the HCL on microsoft website.
2007-02-01 23:30:36 · answer #9 · answered by marko-pollo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋