XP SP3 32, Vista SP1 32, or 7 64 public RC for me?

[KaiZ]

PC Specs:

Q6600 G0 @ 2.4GHz
2x1024MB TeamGroup Xtreem Dark 800MHz RAM
EVGA 8800GT 512MB Superclocked
Gigabyte P35-DS3L

 

[ten]

Depends on what you want. You're system meets the minimum requirement for each OS.

 

[KaiZ]

I do mostly gaming on my PC, but also listen to music, watch movies, and very rarely some school work.

 

[DarkXeno]

Windows 7 is good but since its not a RTM some games have problems you can check the gaming section to see whats going on. If you don't want the to play around with anything XP SP3 would be your best bet. I say check to see what games you play the most then decide. I hate to recommend an older OS over what Windows 7 is becoming one of the best OS I have tested to date but not a lot of people what to play around to get things to work. Once Windows 7 is RTM I would move to that if i where you.

 

[dingbat]

I would say it depends on what you're using now. If you already have XP 32, stick with it until you need or want 7, either for more memory, DX10, etc. There's no point in going with Vista now, unless you already have it.

I'm currently using 7 x64, but I need the 64 for >4GB memory (XP x64 is awful) and I'm very resistent to change and need time to adjust before I actually buy it. If not for the memory issue, and probably wanting DX10 in the future, I'd stick with XP 32 forever. 7 is nice once you're used to it.

 

[GatoSoft]

I think that if you have the x86 version of Windows 7 you must to install that.
Windows XP is very updated to get some new games working smoothly or (sometimes) stable. Still, Windows 7 have a few issues with some games, but nothing that can't be investigated googling and getting that fixed. One game could be, for example, Fallout 3. It was complex to get it working, but now is doing it fine for me.
Other games like all the GTA series, the Sonic series, even oldies like Final Fantasy 7 & 8, Need For Speed 1 & 2 (not Undergrounds), M.U.G.E.N. or Sonic CD and Sonic & Knuckles Collection for Windows 95 are working excellent. I'm haven't problems with emulator at all, like NEStopia, SNES9X, ZSNES, Gens and his variants, 1964, M.A.M.E., ePSXe, PCSX2, No$GBA, etc.
New games works better in Vista and 7 than in XP, so having in mind that you only have 2 GB. of RAM and not the x86 version of Windows 7, I can recommend you 3 options:
1) The more recommendable if you have the money: buy at least 1 GB. of RAM more (I recommend you 2 GB. more) and install Windows 7 build 7201 x64.
2) If you have Internet: download build 7201 x86 and install that.
3) If you can't apply the 2 options mentioned before at all: install Vista SP2 x86.

That's what I can tell you IMHO
Cheers from Argentina!

 

[Jverse]

+1 Agree, but memory upgrade is a must. $70 with a $20 mail in rebate...hard to beat...(Newegg.com - CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory)

Run win 7 x64 with this RAM, you will be happy.

Jv