As MCraze say, try Windows 7. Just download it from M$ and get a key. Remember it's still RC so it can be a bit "buggy", the file search function needs an upgrade
I guess XP-64 ain't available anymore (it's basically W2003 Server) but it's rock stable compared to XP 32. I can run my box for days without restart.
The RAM issue:
A 32 bit OS can't adress more than 4GB but Windows can't find more than 3 so even if you have more ram it won't be found/ used. The limit (in theory) on 64 bit OS is 16 exabytes (or 16.8 million terabytes), guess it's a while before I hit the roof there.
I have 6GB RAM and the only "problem" I use to run into is when I forgot to turn on virtual memory after I run defrag
For the CPU it (according to "The Net") seems you should go for faster dualcore than more cores, I would suggest around 3 GHZ core speed, then you can decide if you want 2, 3 or 4 (or 8 ) cores
I have no good advice for GFX since I switched for nVidia to ATI some months back, it's a pain in "a place" to learn new CP
but your choice of motherboard can be of interest here if you wanna use 2 or more GFX cards.
nVidia's solution is SLI and AMD/ATI's is Crossfire.
Check out some mobos from ASUS, with either nVidia or AMD chipset if you are in for AMD CPU, if you are going for Intel CPU you should go for a mobo with Intel chipset too. I guess it's needless to say, stay miles away from VIA.
[i]EDIT: sorry, forgot, Windows 7 comes with DX 11 too
I guess XP-64 ain't available anymore (it's basically W2003 Server) but it's rock stable compared to XP 32. I can run my box for days without restart.
The RAM issue:
A 32 bit OS can't adress more than 4GB but Windows can't find more than 3 so even if you have more ram it won't be found/ used. The limit (in theory) on 64 bit OS is 16 exabytes (or 16.8 million terabytes), guess it's a while before I hit the roof there.
I have 6GB RAM and the only "problem" I use to run into is when I forgot to turn on virtual memory after I run defrag
For the CPU it (according to "The Net") seems you should go for faster dualcore than more cores, I would suggest around 3 GHZ core speed, then you can decide if you want 2, 3 or 4 (or 8 ) cores
I have no good advice for GFX since I switched for nVidia to ATI some months back, it's a pain in "a place" to learn new CP
but your choice of motherboard can be of interest here if you wanna use 2 or more GFX cards.
nVidia's solution is SLI and AMD/ATI's is Crossfire.
Check out some mobos from ASUS, with either nVidia or AMD chipset if you are in for AMD CPU, if you are going for Intel CPU you should go for a mobo with Intel chipset too. I guess it's needless to say, stay miles away from VIA.
[i]EDIT: sorry, forgot, Windows 7 comes with DX 11 too
I'm Norwegian, what's your excuse?