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Which OS?


dragon246665

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Hello good people of the tech forum, I've been building a computer from scratch, and I'm getting down to buying my last part, the OS. (I saved this one for last because, lets face it, this is probly the most boring thing you can buy when building a computer.) I'm going with Windows 7, but I'm a bit confused about which "version" to buy. I can either buy this, the 100 dollar version, or this one, the 200$ one.

 

The reason I ask this is because I think I heard someone say that the 100$ one only works if you have a previous Windows OS on your computer already, and that its only an "upgrade", hence the cheaper pricetag, whereas the 200$ one is the full fledged OS in all its as-excited-as-you-can-get-about-a-200-dollar-disk glory.

 

So my question is, would the cheaper one cover me? Or do I need to shell out 200 because I'm starting from a blank slate?

 

Also, feel free to comment on the rig I've built:

Case: RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black

Motherboard: ASUS SABERTOOTH P67 (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz

GPU: MSI N560GTX Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5

RAM: G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB)

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache

(The rest isn't cool and spec-ish, so I won't bother posting it)

 

Thanks for any advice!

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You'll only need the $100 OEM version if you're building the computer from scratch.

 

Basically the differences are:

 

OEM ($100)

-Can only install on one computer (License is tied to that computer only)

-If you upgrade a major computer part you need to contact Microsoft I believe to reactivate the OS again (As it will think you've installed it on a new computer. You won't be charged for this.)

 

Retail ($200)

-Can move OS to another computer

-You get tech support from Microsoft (Useless in my opinion)

-You get a fancy retail box

 

I personally have a computer with an OEM version of Windows 7 and it works great for me, not worth paying for the retail version at all.

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Might as well go for the 64 bit Retail of Windows 7 Ultimate in my opinion.

 

Make sure you GET THE 64BIT VERSION. 32bit can only read 3.5GB and under of RAM. At least if something goes wrong, you can re-install it AND get 32+64bit versions.

 

If you think nothing'l go wrong, 64bit OEM. But I do advise to get at least Premium or Ultimate, not home edition.

Popoto.~<3

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Might as well go for the 64 bit Retail of Windows 7 Ultimate in my opinion.

There is the issue that ultimate is $100 more expensive, and most of the features are not needed.

 

 

[hide=Comparison picture]167444-windows7_editions_guide_original.jpgThanks google.

Ignore the versions Starter, Home Basic, and Enterprise. The 3 that you are looking at are Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate.[/hide]

 

Don't be fooled by the 'windows XP mode'. It basically runs windows xp within windows 7 in a virtual machine, and this is only needed for a select few programs which are usually corporate programs that are written SPECIFICALLY for windows XP. Most XP programs run in 7 just fine. Hey, I've played a game designed for 2000 on my computer running 7 home premium.

 

OEM version, original equipment manufacturer version, is for system builders. It is identical to the retail version, apart from you can only use the install with the same motherboard that it was originally installed on, ie you can not change motherboards. You can call microsoft and have them give you a key, but this is against the terms of service and is illegal. Regardless, it is doubtful that they will flag you up on it, and by the time you build a new system we'll be on a new version of windows anyway. Gandorf's advice on this is good.

 

Make sure you install the 64bit version for it to recognise all of your RAM.

 

I'm running home premium and I never have the need for any of the features of professional/ultimate. If you ever feel you are going to add more than 16GB of RAM then go for professional, but unless you need the languages there is no reason to go for ultimate.

 

TL;DR either Home Premium or Professional, not ultimate, and 64bit OEM version.

RIP TET

 

original.png

 

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." - Friedrich Nietzsche

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OEM ($100)

-If you upgrade a major computer part you need to contact Microsoft I believe to reactivate the OS again (As it will think you've installed it on a new computer. You won't be charged for this.)

 

 

 

I just wanted to make a side note on the OEM bit that I quoted above.

I always buy the OEM operating systems, as I always build my computers.

 

On my first computer, I suffered both a motherboard failure, and a hard drive failure (the HD that held my OS).

However, when replacing both pieces with different brand, or version components, I never had to contact

Microsoft to reactivate my OS.

 

So, hey, upside, you may not even have to call Microsoft to reactivate. :D

 

...not sure about a cpu replacement though.

 

 

~Kevill

 

EDIT:

 

Oh yeah, I'm in complete 100% agreement with Guydabest's post above too. :P

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On my first computer, I suffered both a motherboard failure, and a hard drive failure (the HD that held my OS).

It should be fine and not require reactivation if it's the same motherboard I think. edit: You only need to call microsoft when using the same hard drive on a different motherboard, AFAIK.

The ToS legally covers you so if your motherboard fails you are legally still allowed to use the copy of windows on the replacement motherboard of the same type. It's not like they enforce the ToS massively though..

RIP TET

 

original.png

 

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." - Friedrich Nietzsche

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The motherboard I initially got with my OEM build failed twice and I changed manufactures and didn't have to worry about calling them. It installed properly and has worked perfectly. I even changed my HDD to a SSD and it's still all good. I use Home Premium 64bit, which is what all the tech guys at the shop said is best. Unless you need the features of Professional or Ultimate I wouldn't bother.

 

Cheers,

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One thing, if you can find the Professional oem version for only say $20 more, go for it. The reason? You can't disable that [developmentally delayed]ed automatic restart prompt after windows updates unless you have access to group policy, which Home Premium doesn't. You can change a registry value so it won't actually restart, but the annoying prompt still comes up every 4 hours.

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