Windows 7 Starter = Practical for gaming?

5499 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by tuanming, Oct 17, 2009

StriderVM

Discussion Starter · Oct 10, 2009

I'm currently using the RTM version of Windows 7 Ultimate and although it's faster than XP, it's using a bit more HD space than Windows XP. So I'm thinking Starter would use less disk space? And it could also be faster since it has less features?

- No wallpaper (Don't care)
- No Aero (Don't care either)
- Fast User switching (Only me using the comp)
- XP Mode (Dual Booting)

Since it should still support DirectX11, I think this version is very viable for me. Does anyone has heard of anything about Windows 7 starter that could impact gaming usage?

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Hard core Rikki

· #2 · Oct 10, 2009

Home Premium of Basic should be more viable. Using the starter edition for 'gaming' wouldnt make real sense, at least comparing with Home Basic (since you can disable aero/wmm in home premium/ultimate, it can suffice, instead of sacrificing usability of the entire OS. With the additional auth work in pro and higher editions, settling on the home versions would make sense if available system ressources or hardware isnt performing enough for your taste).

StriderVM

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 11, 2009

But it's cheaper! I've even have a friend who can get me an OEM disk for $50.

I'm seriously considering it because I won't be using the stuff I mentioned in the first post. Just gaming. With DX11.

Hard core Rikki

· #4 · Oct 11, 2009

With a limit of 4gigs of ram, I doubt it'd be very enjoyable given how limited starter is. Well, the git of it is just how Starter is not really fit for gaming, though will have a smaller footprint than other editions.

Theres been a recent special offer from MS, giving students radical discounts, at just 30 $ for home premium. No need going for a limited version if its possible to get better for even less.

Phil

· #5 · Oct 11, 2009

Starter is only good for Netbook Use, nothing else

.....I wouldn't mind if HTC shoehorned it into one of their Smartphones

Spyhop

· #6 · Oct 11, 2009

StriderVM said:
I'm currently using the RTM version of Windows 7 Ultimate and although it's faster than XP, it's using a bit more HD space than Windows XP.

Whether it does or doesn't, who the hell cares? It's disk space. Not like it's in short supply.

And it could also be faster since it has less features?

Not for gaming.

Phil

· #7 · Oct 11, 2009

Spyhop said:
Whether it does or doesn't, who the hell cares? It's disk space. Not like it's in short supply.

Not for gaming.

Seriously, the term "Im running out of hard drive space" simply does not make sense anymore when this day in age a 1TB drive goes for $70

Squall-Leonhart

· #8 · Oct 11, 2009

No matter what version of windows 7 is installed, the hdd usage is roughly the same.

StriderVM

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 11, 2009

Well, if Squall-Leonhart is correct and HDD usage is roughly the same, perhaps I'll just settle for Home Premium. Maybe I'll just verify it and get an RTM copy of Home Premium to see. I just don't have a fast broadband so it's gonna take some time to download a 2GB ISO file.....

And I plan to use vLite on it anyway. I've already experimented with vLite on this RTM and results are real nice my system is now quite faster than when XP was installed, especially on PCSX2.

Because I live in the Philippines, it's kinda hard to take advantage of any student promo for Windows.

Sure I can buy a new 1TB drive for like $80 here, but there's a 1GB, 4GB and 20GB HDs sitting here I can't use because I've ran out of IDE slots to use. I don't like wasting perfectly working HD's.....

nanaya

· #10 · Oct 11, 2009 (Edited)

Buy an IDE to SATA converter.

Edit-Uh... I mean IDE to USB xp

Squall-Leonhart

· #11 · Oct 11, 2009

StriderVM said:
Well, if Squall-Leonhart is correct and HDD usage is roughly the same, perhaps I'll just settle for Home Premium. Maybe I'll just verify it and get an RTM copy of Home Premium to see. I just don't have a fast broadband so it's gonna take some time to download a 2GB ISO file.....

And I plan to use vLite on it anyway. I've already experimented with vLite on this RTM and results are real nice my system is now quite faster than when XP was installed, especially on PCSX2.

Because I live in the Philippines, it's kinda hard to take advantage of any student promo for Windows.

Sure I can buy a new 1TB drive for like $80 here, but there's a 1GB, 4GB and 20GB HDs sitting here I can't use because I've ran out of IDE slots to use. I don't like wasting perfectly working HD's.....

no free pci slot for an ide card?

StriderVM

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 13, 2009

Well, I do already have one PCI-IDE card. But since my 780G broke down and needed to buy an extra cheap Intel mobo, it's now lacking a PCI slot (Taken over by the dual slot 4850 I have

)

I also have a USB-IDE converter but they're a mess with plugs and stuff so it won't be practical for general usage.

Anyway, I finally tried Windows 7 Start and it was going fine until.......

I noticed starter only allows up to 2GB RAM usage! I didn't know about this limitation...

Oh well, here we go to Home Premium....

46480

· #13 · Oct 13, 2009

Yeah as stated mostly netbooks would benefit from it.

Mad

· #14 · Oct 13, 2009

I've used Windows Vista Starter on some cheap Compaq the office bought, equipped with Celeron 1.2Ghz, 2GB, 250GB HDD, DVD Burner.
It can't logon on Domains, can't open more than 3 programs at the same time.

In Win7 you can open as much programs you want. But still it wouldn't be usable for us. Had to format 1 machine and ghost the others.

Princess Garnet

· #15 · Oct 14, 2009

StriderVM said:
Sure I can buy a new 1TB drive for like $80 here, but there's a 1GB, 4GB and 20GB HDs sitting here I can't use because I've ran out of IDE slots to use. I don't like wasting perfectly working HD's.....

I could maybe understand using a 20GB drive, but 1GB and 4GB? Come on, that's very early 1990s stuff. It's probably 5400RPM, who knows how small of a cache, and all that other stuff, too.

tuanming

· #16 · Oct 17, 2009

This is what people called 'cheap'. It's like saying i don't want to drive my car because i don't want to get it dirty, so i would rather stay home.

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