Computersight -

Vista Vs.  XP for Gamers

Ever since the launch of Microsoft’s latest operating system, windows vista, confusion has reigned on the web. Since it’s mostly gamer who are the early adopters of the latest hardware and OS upgrades, it’s no surprise that Windows Vista is on every gamers’ mind.

“Should I switch or should I ditch the idea?” seems to be the question. And the answers are not hard to come by. Quite the reverse, actually; there are just too many answers at this point in time, and all of them contradicting each other in some way or the other. It’s obvious that no previous operating system from the Microsoft stables has generated quite so much buzz-whether it’s Apple fans crying foul for the alleged “copying” of Mac OS X’s prettiness, or Windows fanatics raving about Aero, to confused PC gamers standing in the corner shaking their heads at all the commotion while console gamers happily ignore everyone and everything as they rejoice with their Xbox 360s and PS3s!

Respected geek sites- Extreme Tech, Tom’s Hardware and the likes- have done every Vista review possible, including benchmarking the performance differences between a clean Vista install Vs. an upgrade from Windows XP. Incidentally, an upgrade from Windows XP seems to be better for gaming than a clean install of Vista, according to benchmarks.

Facts remain facts, however, and currently, Windows XP is slightly ahead in terms of performance for most games. This may be because those games were built for Windows XP, or just the fact that Windows XP has lower hardware requirements, but the message is clear; if you want the best performance you can eke out of your hardware for current generation games, stick to Windows XP!

So that’s it? Are we telling gamers not to upgrade to windows Vista? Keeping up the confusion that reigns, we’ll say yes and no! For some of you the answer is Yes, don’t upgrade; for a smaller number it’s No, upgrade immediately, and for the majority….well…. we just don’t know, and you’ll have to make up your own minds.