Windows 7 or Snow Leopard on a PC

[tubbiesss]

Hi,

I am in a slight dilemma here in choosing which OS to install on my PC.

I was planning to have SL installed in the system and run Win7 Bootcamp, but things didn't go according to plan.

First, I only found out, after my purchase, that the 5970 couldn't run through the MDP, and ironically I got the 5970 for its MDP to plug an ACD.

I am now still having my fingers crossed that 10.6.5 would have 5970 support.

Then I realize that apart from this, there are also minor drivers/utilities/applications compatibility issues such as gaming mouse/keyboard, VGA's MSI Afterburner, soundcard utilities.

In all honesty, I am very much comfortable with Win7, but what I had in mind when purchasing the new computer was: since I can have both worlds by running Parallels, hey why not.

 

So going to the questions:

- is it worth the wait for a 5970 support (if ever) and install SL considering that I am already very comfortable with Win7? currently the main thing I'd miss from SL is Preview, and Plex.

- if I install all drivers and utilities in Parallels, would their effect be brought over to SL? for example, if I increase my mouse DPI in Parallels, will the effect be also carried over to SL?

- if I have my storage drive formatted as a Mac partition, would accessing it through MacDrive slow down any read/write speeds?

- would Bootcamp performance be exactly the same as running Win7 normally?

 

The last 2 questions is most deciding I guess because if its exactly the same, I could just go ahead and install SL using the DVI port, then run Bootcamp until the release of 5970 support.... or until forever

Or better still, if anyone could make the MDP on 5970 to work that'd be awesome!

 

Would truly appreciate any given inputs.

Thanks in advance.

[tubbiesss]

Any help would be much appreciated.

[3.14r2]

- would Bootcamp performance be exactly the same as running Win7 normally?

1. BootCamp (at least the original version) CAN NOT run on a BIOS based PC (read any computer except Mac)

2. You don't need a BootCamp to run Windows on a BIOS based PC

- if I have my storage drive formatted as a Mac partition, would accessing it through MacDrive slow down any read/write speeds?

Don't know about the speed, but there would be some problems with data store reliability. However, if you need JUST READ support, there is an Apple provided Windows driver for HFS+ read support in the latest BootCamp.

- if I install all drivers and utilities in Parallels, would their effect be brought over to SL? for example, if I increase my mouse DPI in Parallels, will the effect be also carried over to SL?

I doubt that. You should adjust thous settings separately (for Windows and for SL). Or use Logitech mouse with DPI adjustment button.

[tubbiesss]

1. BootCamp (at least the original version) CAN NOT run on a BIOS based PC (read any computer except Mac)

2. You don't need a BootCamp to run Windows on a BIOS based PC

Don't know about the speed, but there would be some problems with data store reliability. However, if you need JUST READ support, there is an Apple provided Windows driver for HFS+ read support in the latest BootCamp.

I doubt that. You should adjust thous settings separately (for Windows and for SL). Or use Logitech mouse with DPI adjustment button.

Thank you for your reply.

I didn''t know I couldn't run Bootcamp on a PC. I initially wanted to run Bootcamp so that the whole system behaves like a Mac, but knowing that now its no longer an option.

 

So there will be reliability issues with MacDrive? And the way you word it, it seems it'll be the same with MacFuse.

 

That has just been brought to my attention, so since the DPI adjustment is done within the mouse internal memory, its gonna work in Mac? But that would mean all settings on Parallels, such as VGA fan speed, wouldn't take effect on MacOSX?

Thats a shame because it would mean most of my hardwares wouldn't be able to take advantage of the additional utilities.

[3.14r2]

So there will be reliability issues with MacDrive? And the way you word it, it seems it'll be the same with MacFuse.

A think so. It is better to use a native files system for both OS's. Moreover, both Windows and OS X can safely read NTFS and HFS+ (provide that the appropriate drivers are installed). Read-only support is much more fail-safe then read-write support.

 

so since the DPI adjustment is done within the mouse internal memory, its gonna work in Mac?

It does in fact - I'm using Logitech G9 mouse in both OS's, in both OS's it works the same.

 

But that would mean all settings on Parallels, such as VGA fan speed, wouldn't take effect on MacOSX?

Parallels or VMware Fusion, just like any other VIRTUAL machine, has no control other the hardware it is running on. It is a virtual environment where hardware is emulated using software methods. So the virtual machine has it's own "hardware" to control. Very basically speaking it is a program that allows you to run an OS inside it.

[tubbiesss]

Thanks again for the reply 3.14r

It does in fact - I'm using Logitech G9 mouse in both OS's, in both OS's it works the same.

Cool mouse you got there. I have a G700 on order. I assume all the extra buttons can't be put to use?

 

A think so. It is better to use a native files system for both OS's. Moreover, both Windows and OS X can safely read NTFS and HFS+ (provide that the appropriate drivers are installed). Read-only support is much more fail-safe then read-write support.

Parallels or VMware Fusion, just like any other VIRTUAL machine, has no control other the hardware it is running on. It is a virtual environment where hardware is emulated using software methods. So the virtual machine has it's own "hardware" to control. Very basically speaking it is a program that allows you to run an OS inside it.

So there goes the idea of running Parallels to do most of my stuff on.

Thing is there are many little things which I prefer the Windows ver. for a handful of applications. Such as MS Office, WinRAR, Nero to name a few, as opposed to the Mac counterpart.

 

I am stumped how many are taking the Hackintosh path and not being bothered by most hardwares which aren't performing to its fullest. I found that if I am to run MacOSX, only 1 of the GPU on my 5970 is put to use

If I may ask, how are you running your system, 3.14r? MacOSX exclusively, Parallels, or Bootcamp?

[3.14r2]

...If I may ask, how are you running your system, 3.14r? MacOSX exclusively, Parallels, or Bootcamp?

I have a dual boot system. One HDD with Windows 7 and the other one with OS X (Leopard). I do a lot of CAD using AutoCAD (3d and stuff like that), so need Windows with all the stuff one could get only with true hardware machine (not a virtual).

[tubbiesss]

I have a dual boot system. One HDD with Windows 7 and the other one with OS X (Leopard). I do a lot of CAD using AutoCAD (3d and stuff like that), so need Windows with all the stuff one could get only with true hardware machine (not a virtual).

I think I might try a dual boot route too, and even try Parallels and test things out and see if I'll miss any Windows stuff.

Thanks again for all the input 3.14r