What is best Windows version for hardcore gaming?

I am wondering what is the best Windows version for hardcore gaming?

I am really getting into gaming and am wondering if my Windows 7 64 bit version is compatible with most games? I particularly like shooter games and action adventure games.

Some games are not working on my system not sure why... have tried different compatibility modes and sometimes that works sometimes it doesn't.

Anyone know if Windows 7 64 bit is good for gaming at the moment or should I consider installing a different Windows version just for gaming with a duel boot scenario.

Current system is not really a gaming system is just an OEM:

Acer Aspire M3910
Intel i7 870 quad core
4g Ram
320 GT Geforce Nvidia

I have Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit (I have never used Home Edition), I only play FPS games and so far, none of the games I have played have crapped out on me... and I have played a lot.

+1 on trying to play Hardcore Games with on board card... you would be hard pressed to even start some of the games now a days, more so when they are console ports and a lot of them, not even ported correctly, much less coded or beta tested for pc.

I would also slap another 4 GB of Ram just for good measure.

Thanks for replies... yeah I need to upgrade the video card... it is not an onboard video card it is in a PCI express x16 2.00 slot that is one thing I checked before I bought the computer and have opened the case to confirm it... but it is a fairly low end graphic card that nvidia only sells for oem use and it is directx 11 with 3d capabilities so should be ok to install and run games... I am thinking I will upgrade my psu and get a gtx 560 ti though... as far as the RAM goes... I was thinking maybe just 2 more gigs some people say more than that can actually slow you down some for gaming... I maybe wrong though... thanks for replies.

*Edit: Next time I buy a computer am thinking I will build my own.

To DarkXeno,

I like games like Kane and Lynch and Kane and Lynch 2, Hitman, Crysis, Crysis 2, Tombraider Underworld, Batman A A, Mass Effect 2, I also want to get Battlefield 3 when it comes out. I have played all these games on my computer with exception of Battlefield 3 ofcourse... but they run fine and smooth even at highest settings... I also installed Doom 3 Demo but for some reason it will not launch... I get no error... I just get the windows blue circling icon for a few seconds then nothing.

Some games say they won't install because of they need 32 bit system... am gonna try DOSbox maybe and nevermind a dual boot system would be a waste anyway because all new games will more than likely work on 64 bit.

Also had medal of honor game launch briefly and then crash... with error just saying it stopped working and had to close... a few other older Activision games would not install or crashed with same kind of system error.

I used to play a lot of world of warcraft but got tired of spending so much time to keep up with high end content so my level 85 warrior sits and rots with two or three ilvl 359 epics till I get bored enough to jump on him and play for fun or until next expansion and I level him some more... some people say games like Crysis 2 tax your system most but I actually found that world of warcraft... put most demand on my system and the games I am playing now have great frames per second even on high settings.

there are great strides ahead on the gfx front - DX11 will bring advances, as will gfx cards themselves, newtech is buzzing at the mo'..
all this coupled with Intel's new range of CPU's and some very clever advances from mobo designers..
hey, slap in some SSD's or hybrid-drives and super-fast RAM, and you'll be fine sailing..

- well, for once - things are looking good on the PC front

- let's hope those sensible gamehouses out there realize the full potential by churning out some truly playable product..

- heck, some reworked oldies wouldn't go amiss, either - I can think of quite a few titles that would benefit from an overhaul, using the newtechy gfx stuff..


PS: for the OS - go with W7 Ultimate 64-bit, it's a brilliant bit of kit....

- you can't go wrong..

if by hardcore, you mean 'maximum experience', then 7 x64 with its dx11 eye-candy and multi-gig ram goodness certainly hasn't got a fluffy centre.

get an (big) ssd, and those 'loading' progress bars will move.

there's minimal (if any) performance difference between home premium, ultimate etc

the only issues i've had after using 7 x64 for gaming in nearly two years are uac/admin related - and easy to solve. hardware/driver support is a non-issue.

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if you mean softcore, then strangely enough i've got a little 32bit netbook with an nvidia ion gpu, which runs maybe 10% smoother on xp compared to 7 - not sure why, a driver thing? it can play stuff like hl2 and early cod's very well on xp and 7, and surprisingly playable on more modern games (on low settings of course) with xp once you've got a mouse plugged in and overclocked the blighter - shooters on a mousepad doesn't do it for me

I think w7 and my 64bit is a better gamer than xp. Maybe mostly because my new system is more powerful and more system ram. And all my games I have tried to play work- but is some older games that may not.

W7 can be quirky about installs or patches but I figure it out and they then run great. I have not had to use compat mode yet. I do install as admin tho and let the games install to default folders too- I have not made another say c: games- I have had no real probs.

The compat list here will help too. Best I know w7 was is better about gaming than vista was- I never had vista tho. A dual boot system is not a bad idea either- if you know how to do it and set it up right. Think I read you should install and set up xp first then w7.