What version of vista will be the best for a gaming only system or should I just stay with XP. My new system will only be used for gaming and any internet will be for downloads and real time weather.

Unless you are forced to Vista from some reason, stick with XP Pro for Flight Sim.You will lose 15% performance going to Vista for gaming, that is according to MS. And if you try to run Vista 64 you will have driver headaches.In a couple of years, when say SP2 for Vista rolls around, drivers have all been updated, DX10 is stable and actually well used and implemented, and you can afford a new Uber-Computer to run it all, then it might be time to move.But, that is just my opinion.* Orest

EXACTLY what Orest said!

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2068718,00.aspCheers,Noel.

I am assuming that DX10 API comes with Vista Basic?If so, I have no use for 'Aeroglass' or 'Media Center' so I am thinking I may as well save some money and go with Basic anyway.

>I am assuming that DX10 API comes with Vista Basic?>>If so, I have no use for 'Aeroglass' or 'Media Center' so I am>thinking I may as well save some money and go with Basic>anyway.Yes. DX10 is integral with every Vista version.But you already have a dual-core CPU. Can you say for sure that in two years time you wont have a quad-core CPU running in a 2x2 setup? Basic only suports a single CPU (dual-core is a single CPU as far as Vista is concerned). So, as long as your sure you actually want Vista and its slower gaming platform, it's incomplete driver support, its lacklustre retro-compatibility, its system resource consumption, its intrusive installation barriers, its ridiculously complex licensing structure which can lock you out of your own OS at its whim, and you like sharing details of your home computer with the company that merely supplies you with some software, you should do fine with Vista Basic. Also the 32-bit version only supports 4 gig of RAM, so you can forget using 8-gig or more to run FSX entirely dynamically.And of course Vista introduces new levels of safety and security for computer users. Levels which have already been hacked, cracked and broken before the OS is even officially released.;(Also, if like me you run any kind of employer-supplied software you MUST ensure that Vista is suitable for it. My employer has declared it a disciplinary offence to install Vista onto a machine that carrries software licensed to them.Oh and FSX wont be patched for DX10 until late next year, and instead of buying the new Operating System you could buy new hardware to continue to run FSX under XP.So tell us. Why do you want Vista again? ;)Allcott

Home Premium is what I'll be getting, may upgrade it to Ultimate later if I see the need (all the Vista versions are on the same CD, you can go between them by paying an upgrade/unlock fee...)

Nothing less than Home premium if you make the switch.Regards, MichaelKDFW

Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe nForce4 SLI-x16 / AMD

Wohaaa,Slow down there....IF I was to go with Vista and all that.I have no intention of dumping XP for a good while yet.

Well after playing with RC2 and knowing the headaches that await with the initial rollout you can always do what I did in the meantime.Adapt XP to the visual styling of Vista:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/163541.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/163542.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/163543.jpg

Do you mind sharing with us how you got that? Was it one package or did you have to get various items from different sites? etc...Looks great. That to me looks just like it, except for the sidebar.

Sure,It's a mixture of the following items which may seem daunting but it really IS NOT, just a handful of items:www.stardock.com - Object Desktop ($49.95) OR Just WindowBlinds ($19.95) - You can try them FREE so it won't cost you anything to get it all checked out.WindowBlinds (USED TO BE HORRIBLE) But the newest version 5.1 runs GREAT using DirectX now for the effects instead of GDI like it USED to use. There will be a version 5.5 sometime in Jan. to be even better which will also be working with Vista as well. This is the "MAIN" software to do the "SKINNING" and with that alone and a skin package called AEROGLASS V5 you pretty much get the major look out of the way. I got the skin from one of the following sites and there are TONS of other variations just as close as well:http://wincustomize.com/Index.aspxhttp://www.deviantart.com/http://www.skinbase.org/Here is AeroGlassXP which is good: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/36147673/Another nice one Vista RC2-RTM - update 2: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/42852311/What's amazing is what you see, with the buttons glowing OUTSIDE the window as well just like the real thing of course with the "GLASS" look of the border as well as all the Vista Variations as well.For the cursors, you can get them free here:http://bronch.com/downloads/risherz/aero-cursors.zipIt is JUST like the real deal with the glowing circle rotating by the cursor when busy.The GADGETS" are for DesktopX (part of Object Desktop or separate for $14.95). You can get FREE widgets though from either Yahoo: http://widgets.yahoo.com/ or Google: http://desktop.google.com/en/Although I used Yahoo gadgets, the DesktopX ones seem to have some ones I preferred.There are LOTS of gadgets available for free to add anytime you want to DesktopX here:http://www.wincustomize.com/Skins.aspx?Lib...vanced=1&mode=1The sounds I added directly from my RC2 version of Vista except for the Startup sound which is BUILT IN to Vista now. I found a sound pack through Google but they are not the real sounds.The icons are courtesy of Vista Icon Pack V3 available here:http://winui.net/VIPv3/download/VIPv3_SP.exehttp://img181.imageshack.us/img181/9249/presentation6wf3.pngHomepage: http://vistaiconpack.com/I wouldn't install any BOOTSCREENS though but the LOGON screen is perfectly fine.The Vista Wallpapers can be found here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/brajeshwar/se...57594389648659/Don't forget to select different sizes on the right Hand Side for the 1900 X 1200 size imageIf you want a FLIP3D kind of effect for task switching although I think that is a waste of resources you can try out:http://www.otakusoftware.com/topdesk/That's pretty much about it. And you can try this all FOR FREE and if you don't like it, take it off.Me, I feel like my system has been upgraded and since I've ALWAYS liked the AQUA look from a MAC I feel like I FINALLY got that happy medium.The Graphical Feel of a better Interface and the usability of PC software.Have Fun!!Forgot that IE7 & Media Player 11 I think are good enhancements directly from Microsoft's website.My NEWER choice of gadgets:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/163573.jpg

NONE. It's exremely important for everyone do NOT succumb to the Vista upgrade hype. Unless your system is less than 6 months old it will not run Vista well. Getting drivers will be difficult. If your system is more than a year old and you try the "upgrade" it will be a nightmare. Several utility programs will stop working because they won't be given access to the O/S "Kernel. " Vista is not an "update" to XP but a rewritten O/S. If you think you are having heartache getting FSX to run on a two year old machine, wait till you try a new operating system. DONT DO IT.If your XP machine is working reasonably well there is NO REASON to upgrade you DO NOT NEED IT. There are only 2 scenarios wherein acquiring Vista would be the correct path (1) A brand new computer with the O/S installed (I didn't even want to do that; I bought my new machine now so I could still get XP Pro), (2)When MS stops supporting XP. Personally I will wait for that (scheduled to be 2009). The important thing is DONT DO THE UPGRADE. YOU DONT NEED IT.Regarding DX10-that stuff will take too long to be stable. The **** with it.Vista?Dont want it!Dont need it! Dont Care!>What version of vista will be the best for a gaming only>system or should I just stay with XP. My new system will only>be used for gaming and any internet will be for downloads and>real time weather.

No way...that's Vista...not XP

(2)When MS stops supporting XP. Personally I will>wait for that (scheduled to be 2009). The important thing isI wont even get it then. I'll be damned if MS is going to forceme into another piece of crap. XP is bad enough. I'll wait forWindows Kazunga. That should be about 2020