Older AMD machine, needs a re-install, help me pick the best OS Please!

Atomizer · Nov 13, 2015

I am working on fixing a fancy old AMD XPS machine here's the specs:

64 bit windows Vista SP 1
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 940
GPU: 2x ATI Radeon HD 4850's
8gb of ram
Dell Wireless 1505 Draft WLAN Mini-card
Realtek RTL8168C Ethrenet adapter

Anyways, this fairly alright system is running windows Vista home premium.
It frequently crashes to blue screen on startup and when trying to connect to the internet, and its slow as hell due to all the bloatware on it. I don't want to purchase any upgrades as I think this can be fixed with a different OS and Formatting of the 1TB harddrive.

Option 1: Move up to Vista Pro with a format
Option 2: Move down to XP Pro
Option 3: Move to Win 7 and potentially not be able to find Drivers for all components, I wasn't able to find any win 7 driver for the GPU or the WIFI adapter.

I think my best option is to go back to XP. I'm fixing this for my gf and I think Vista is this machine's biggest problem but I want your opinions if it might be worth it to use a better version of Vista, as I avoided the Vista OS like the plague, and I don't know anything about it, or even why its bad.

Xtergo · Nov 13, 2015

Windows XP for that machine, make sure you get a good antivirus and get ccleaner but why don't you try Ubuntu ?

dudeman509 · Nov 13, 2015

XP??? No one should use XP anymore. Doesn't support >4 gigs of RAM anyway, and XP x64 was crap.

That machine will run 7 just fine. Or 10 if you prefer.

SinxarKnights · Nov 13, 2015

Vista isn't really bad. It had issues at launch since pretty much the entire core of Windows was redone. Once SP 1 came out it was fine but was replaced by Windows 7. The major issue with Vista today is that there is no TRIM support for SSDs.

There is no reason to upgrade to pro Vista when you have a home copy already. Just reinstall it. If you are intent on spending money on it just grab windows 10 for $100 (retail version) that way when you want to get rid of that PC you can transfer the license to something else.

Martell1977 · Nov 13, 2015

I'd go with Windows 7 and for drivers, most Vista drivers will work for 7 so there shouldn't be an issue there. For the GPU's that will be easy to get from the AMD website. Despite all the patches MS has done to try to make Vista better, it's still a dog compared to 7.

GPU Driver:
http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/desktop/legacy?product=legacy2&os=Windows%207%20-%2064

unksol · Nov 13, 2015

Under NO circumstances should you install XP.

Vista pro would make no difference either. Vista or 7 would both be fine. 10 would also work fine. The CPU is perfectly fine to run any of them.

For Vista -10 you may need to get the catalyst 12.6 x64 pack.AMD says legacy is 13.x but it may not install catalyst. Used 4850s in crossfire on 7 for years and have one in a Windows 10 box now.

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Older AMD machine, needs a re-install, help me pick the best OS Please!

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