Vista Speed / Performance Tips

[Thunderbird8]

I'm going to install Vista pro 64 on my Mac Pro and having never used it (Vista) before, can someone tell me how to clean up the system so it runs as fast as possible with no 'bells and whistles?'

I know on XP the graphics settings appear in the bottom right and you can set the system for 'appearance' or 'performance'? I want to run Flight Sim X and a few other games, this is the one and only thing I will be using Windows for.

Thanks.

 

[AndyClarke]

I'm going to install Vista pro 64 on my Mac Pro and having never used it (Vista) before, can someone tell me how to clean up the system so it runs as fast as possible with no 'bells and whistles?'

I know on XP the graphics settings appear in the bottom right and you can set the system for 'appearance' or 'performance'? I want to run Flight Sim X and a few other games, this is the one and only thing I will be using Windows for.

Thanks.

Yes the best thing to do is install XP instead of Vista. I removed Vista from my machine last month as I am fed up with driver problems etc. I am so much happier using XP if I really have to boot into Windows now.

 

[Infrared]

Yes the best thing to do is install XP instead of Vista. I removed Vista from my machine last month as I am fed up with driver problems etc. I am so much happier using XP if I really have to boot into Windows now.

Aw no! That'd mean living with 1.99GB of RAM tops.

For FS-X, RAM helps tremendously.

If you'd said Server 2008...

 

[Neil321]

Aw no! That'd mean living with 1.99GB of RAM tops.

For FS-X, RAM helps tremendously.

If you'd said Server 2008...

I'm not 100% certain on this but i think XP can support around 3GB of RAM

 

[Infrared]

I'm not 100% certain on this but i think XP can support around 3GB of RAM

In general, you are quite right. However, some Macs can't
use more than 1.99GB due to a problem with the EFI BIOS
compatibility layer.

 

[Stridder44]

Thunderbird, don't let the FUD get to you. The complainers of Vista are a) running it on old hardware, b) are very biased against Windows in the first place, or c) have only used Vista for 10 minutes when it was first released (which, at the time, was bad). I've been running Vista x64 since SP1 came out and it's been awesome. There are tons of drivers and they're all solid too. Anything made in the last 3 years is pretty much covered, and if it isn't, well, blame the manufacturer for not supporting their products properly.

Just do a clean install of Vista. Changing graphic settings is pretty much the same in Vista (simply right click on the desktop, and goto "Nvidia Control Panel" or "ATI Control Panel"). As far as programs running properly, I've had no issues (even Oregon Trail worked!). Being able to actually use more than 3 GB of RAM is awesome. There's no doubt, 64-bit is the future. If you need any help or have any more question just let me know.

 

[aki]

yes i worried a lot about vista or xp and read many many posts but last i installed vista and the truth is i never thought about it again

it runs same as xp and no problem

and its not slow or anything

theres no reason not to install it i think

(i wanted to install 64bit but the driver stuff was too irritating for me so i just installed 32..... when apple is properly supporting 64 i will do that maybe)

 

[operator207]

Thunderbird, don't let the FUD get to you. The complainers of Vista are a) running it on old hardware, b) are very biased against Windows in the first place, or c) have only used Vista for 10 minutes when it was first released (which, at the time, was bad). I've been running Vista x64 since SP1 came out and it's been awesome. There are tons of drivers and they're all solid too. Anything made in the last 3 years is pretty much covered, and if it isn't, well, blame the manufacturer for not supporting their products properly.

Just do a clean install of Vista. Changing graphic settings is pretty much the same in Vista (simply right click on the desktop, and goto "Nvidia Control Panel" or "ATI Control Panel"). As far as programs running properly, I've had no issues (even Oregon Trail worked!). Being able to actually use more than 3 GB of RAM is awesome. There's no doubt, 64-bit is the future. If you need any help or have any more question just let me know.

I hate to admit it, but I have to +1 the above comment.
I run XP Pro in VMware fusion (for work), but my wife runs Vista Ultimate 64bit on her Sager laptop. Its an excellent laptop, and Vista just hums away on it.

She has every bell and whistle running on it, and she has only had a handful of problems. Mainly growing pains for a few apps, and iTunes burning problem with 64bit Vista.

I will put this another way, EVERY other computer my wife has had, 98 2000 or XP, it needed to be reinstalled at least 3 times a year. She has gone 1 year and no reinstalls.

 

[Thunderbird8]

Thanks very much for the help (those who actually gave any), I think that yes, my hardware should run it no problem, and I only want it for a few games anyway, so with all my RAM showing, DX10, and the fact that future games will need i then it's the option for me.

I do like XP by the way, very mature product, it's just that I feel Vista 64 will do more for my specific needs than XP does.

 

[asme]

Simple, plebeian tip:

Turn off all aero effects and switch the appearance to "Windows Classic" style. That should free up a nice chunk of RAM.

 

[Stridder44]

Simple, plebeian tip:

Turn off all aero effects and switch the appearance to "Windows Classic" style. That should free up a nice chunk of RAM.

I haven't noticed any difference with Aero turned off/on, but there probably is some performance gain to be had. One thing I DID turn off (with Aero enabled) was the window animations.

Normally, when you minimize/maximize a window, it kinda of fades out/in. It makes me feel like my mouse clicks are laggy/has down syndrome. With it turned off, it's all instant. But that's just my preference.

 

[Infrared]

I haven't noticed any difference with Aero turned off/on, but there probably is some performance gain to be had. One thing I DID turn off (with Aero enabled) was the window animations.

Normally, when you minimize/maximize a window, it kinda of fades out/in. It makes me feel like my mouse clicks are laggy/has down syndrome. With it turned off, it's all instant. But that's just my preference.

Yeah. I think people see that fading and think aero's a resource
hog and that's why it's slow. It's meant to be slow - there'd be
no visible fading otherwise

 

[retrofraction]

when configuring the background, turn off Transparencies you should get a tiny but good boost in vista.

well vista is a growing program the more you use it the faster it learns to do things, so every day use should make you programs work faster.

 

[neilhart]

For your stated use, 64Bit Vista is over kill (my opinion). Also I have my video server running on 32Bit Vista (which is also over kill) and having dailiy experience with XP, I found Vista to be infuriating until I had dummied it down. I admit the visuals are interesting but that's about it.

As far as memory goes, most people don't use anywhere near what they have so the argument of 3.3Gigs in XP vs more in 64Bit does not mean much.

Now if you Mac Pro is pumped up with 8 cores and lots of memory why not Vista.

An opinion...
Neil.