[client] is linux better than windows?

[Dado Prso]

Is linux a better OS to have for the client? My client is currently running Vista. It has an Nvidia gt 240 and 2GB of RAM. I'm thinking about switching it to linux just for faster boot times, but I've also heard rumblings about linux having a library that allows for faster decode times.

[RYNO MAN]

Windows is a much heavier OS for the hardware to run in comparision to Linux...particularly older versions of Windows (XP, Vista, etc.). Seeing as your machine (client) only has 2 GB of RAM, that means you are running a 32bit Windows OS.

Personally I would reccomend switching over to Linux if all you are using this computer for is streaming games. It will probably get better performance overall. Windows has much more processes to run considering it is a Desktop OS. If you install something like Steam OS (currently in Beta) you will definitely get better performance seeing as it is a OS designed to run and stream games. Beware though, Steam OS is very unpolished and still in Beta. It is also not meant to be run as a desktop OS. You can, but it takes a lot of work and tweaking. But, if all you are looking to do is stream games though, by all means, Linux all the way.

[robert_macoon]

windows 8 basic would work very well too. but agreed that switching from vista to linux in this situation should work out very well (and cheaply) for you. linux can be pretty heavyweight too though, so pick your distro wisely.

[Dado Prso]

Originally posted by po' dad:

windows 8 basic would work very well too. but agreed that switching from vista to linux in this situation should work out very well (and cheaply) for you. linux can be pretty heavyweight too though, so pick your distro wisely.

Originally posted by RYNO MAN:

Windows is a much heavier OS for the hardware to run in comparision to Linux...particularly older versions of Windows (XP, Vista, etc.). Seeing as your machine (client) only has 2 GB of RAM, that means you are running a 32bit Windows OS.

Personally I would reccomend switching over to Linux if all you are using this computer for is streaming games. It will probably get better performance overall. Windows has much more processes to run considering it is a Desktop OS. If you install something like Steam OS (currently in Beta) you will definitely get better performance seeing as it is a OS designed to run and stream games. Beware though, Steam OS is very unpolished and still in Beta. It is also not meant to be run as a desktop OS. You can, but it takes a lot of work and tweaking. But, if all you are looking to do is stream games though, by all means, Linux all the way.

Cool, I'm actually upgrading my mobo, processor, and RAM on my Host PC, so the client will get some new hardware. This is dual good bc for w/e reason I could not install ubuntu on the client listed in OP; it would never list the harddrive as an available disk.

I may try SteamOS. I am fairly linux savy.