DV8
02-18-2007, 06:43 AM
I Downloaded a copy of Microsoft Windows Vista All in one (coulda installed any of the 32Bit versions from the same DVD) & have installed Ultimate x86 onto a spare 20 GB hdd for testing.
This is LEGAL, as Microsoft coded a 30 Day FULL Trial into the new OS, so you have time to try it, or if need be, upgrade your system, before it will Die.
To Do this, simply skip over the Add Key Screen at install & it will auto recognize as a trial. If you purchase a liscence key before the 30 days is up, you can keep it, otherwise (if U upgraded rather than fresh install) you'll need to do a system restore back to before you upgraded.
OVERALL, I first notice that Vista requires More Advanced Minimum system requirements than xp. I have a $1000+ Desktop I personally built for Gaming & I thought it would far exceede the requirements, but with Ultimate Edition, (Formerly known as Media Center Edition in xp) it doesn't.
Below are the Ranking which Vista Runs (AFTER Install) which shows what features of Vista Ultimate will be available to me because of my Hardware. The scale is from 1 to 5.9 the latter being the best. My custom Gaming system with a duo core proscessor & 3 GB of ram & 512 MB of vid ram scored a 3.7 , although that is the lowest score I got.
http://www.newporthometown.com/Rating.jpg
Compatibility.
So Far I only have one Major issue, and that is with the video driver from my Biostar GeForce 6100 M9 Motherboard which has 256mb of built in Video Memory Onboard. Using Windows XP And including my PCIe Raedon x1600 512 mb Video Card, it would ALSO recognize the onboard motherboard video memory & my video card using xp clocked at 768 mbps, but Because no Vista Driver is available for the Motherboards Video chipset, it fails to register the 256mb Onboard Video.
& when you're a hardcore gamer THIS REALLY SUCKS !!!
But soon all hardware manufacturers will be releasing drivers for their products (or they will be left behind) so this is only a temporary setback.
So Far this is A Great Operating System, but today is day one. Maybe in 29 more I will feel differently. But it's a Great thing they have released it as a trial, because I can go through & try each one untill I find the best one for my system. then simply purchase a liscence to that version & keep the OS installed forever. That way even tho I have installed a fresh copy, In 30 days I will have tweaked it to fit me (is VERY customizable) and I wont have to lose those settings when I ghost it over to my real Harddrive to keep.
(I installed it on an eide 20 GB harddrive @ 7200rpm BUT my real Boot drive is a 160 GB sata Harddrive at 10,000 rpm which gives faster startup times as well as faster game play response times because of the faster drive speed. I also have two 750 GB sata 7200rpm Harddrives I use for storage, but not in a raid config)
I will post to keep you updated as I go along, but so far so good, if only Biostar would hurry up with that Nvida driver for my chipset I'd be Sittin Pretty !!!
PeAcE
~DV8
This is LEGAL, as Microsoft coded a 30 Day FULL Trial into the new OS, so you have time to try it, or if need be, upgrade your system, before it will Die.
To Do this, simply skip over the Add Key Screen at install & it will auto recognize as a trial. If you purchase a liscence key before the 30 days is up, you can keep it, otherwise (if U upgraded rather than fresh install) you'll need to do a system restore back to before you upgraded.
OVERALL, I first notice that Vista requires More Advanced Minimum system requirements than xp. I have a $1000+ Desktop I personally built for Gaming & I thought it would far exceede the requirements, but with Ultimate Edition, (Formerly known as Media Center Edition in xp) it doesn't.
Below are the Ranking which Vista Runs (AFTER Install) which shows what features of Vista Ultimate will be available to me because of my Hardware. The scale is from 1 to 5.9 the latter being the best. My custom Gaming system with a duo core proscessor & 3 GB of ram & 512 MB of vid ram scored a 3.7 , although that is the lowest score I got.
http://www.newporthometown.com/Rating.jpg
Compatibility.
So Far I only have one Major issue, and that is with the video driver from my Biostar GeForce 6100 M9 Motherboard which has 256mb of built in Video Memory Onboard. Using Windows XP And including my PCIe Raedon x1600 512 mb Video Card, it would ALSO recognize the onboard motherboard video memory & my video card using xp clocked at 768 mbps, but Because no Vista Driver is available for the Motherboards Video chipset, it fails to register the 256mb Onboard Video.
& when you're a hardcore gamer THIS REALLY SUCKS !!!
But soon all hardware manufacturers will be releasing drivers for their products (or they will be left behind) so this is only a temporary setback.
So Far this is A Great Operating System, but today is day one. Maybe in 29 more I will feel differently. But it's a Great thing they have released it as a trial, because I can go through & try each one untill I find the best one for my system. then simply purchase a liscence to that version & keep the OS installed forever. That way even tho I have installed a fresh copy, In 30 days I will have tweaked it to fit me (is VERY customizable) and I wont have to lose those settings when I ghost it over to my real Harddrive to keep.
(I installed it on an eide 20 GB harddrive @ 7200rpm BUT my real Boot drive is a 160 GB sata Harddrive at 10,000 rpm which gives faster startup times as well as faster game play response times because of the faster drive speed. I also have two 750 GB sata 7200rpm Harddrives I use for storage, but not in a raid config)
I will post to keep you updated as I go along, but so far so good, if only Biostar would hurry up with that Nvida driver for my chipset I'd be Sittin Pretty !!!
PeAcE
~DV8