Windows XP/Windows 7 Multi Boot

A few questions - how much RAM have you allocated to your respective OSs? And does Aero Snap work? Since the non-OP-but-currently-asking-questions-poster has taken to writing on my Public wall please feel free to post the screenshot here, I'd love to have a look.

My experience with VMs is greatest with VirtualBox, and I have to say that running 7 x32 within 7 x64 was a pretty crappy experience and certainly not one I'd recommend people pay for. What's your reasoning, if you don't mind me asking?

 

I've dedicated 2GB to Win7. There're 4GB in my system. All parts of Aero3D work. Considering the hardware in my computer I really don't think those scores are half-bad.

The reason why I'm using a VM is simply to try to get used to Win7. Must admit I really do not have much love for it. Also, while running in the VM, I can actually have 100Hz refresh rate with my monitor. Something that is completely unachievable when running Win7 natively (I've tried) due to some immense, yet apparently deliberate, cock-up by Microsoft.

I need to mention a caveat here. I've not tried playing games in the VM. I am, however, frequently using productivity tools (e.g. Visual Studio 2010 and other work-related stuff).

 

What don't you like about Win7? Is it the task bar (easy fix)?
I perhaps may help on that front to make your experience better.

There is no issue with Hz with Windows 7.
Contact your GPU manufacture and complain why there Win7 drivers doesn't support 100Hz. My CRT works fine from 60Hz all the way up to 240Hz. And my laptop supports 40 and 60Hz.
So, it's not a Windows thing.

What I like about Win7, are:
-> Instant search bar
-> Ability to search Control panel item, and sub items within a panel and jump directly to it, based on the selected result.
-> Pinning folders and projects on programs that is the taskbar and/or start menu.
-> Right-click menu on the start-menu programs pinned to it, which allows you to jump directly to stuff on programs.
-> Areo Snap (SUPER ULTRA USEFUL)
-> Zoom feature

Aero Snap, Zoom, and new task bar system (but not the icon group, but luckily you can get it back old-school) is what made purchase Win7 Pro.... TWICE.

 

Thanks for the offer. I've stated it before. There are several niggles I have with the UI of Win7 (and also Vista).

I'm afraid there is, and this is actually the main show stopper for me.

Since Win2K there's been a "feature" in Windows that will limit OpenGL software to 60Hz and Direct3D software to 75Hz. To bypass these limitations, for which there is no apparent reason, one had to use socalled refresh rate override tools.

The most prominent of which is PowerStrip. While PowerStrip supports Win7 it no longer supports modern graphics cards, because a) ATI, nVidia et al refuse to release the low-level specs for their GPUs and b) demand has declined massively because of the widespread adoption of TFT monitors.

nVidia actually has a similar functionality in their XP(!) drivers. That functionality has been completely removed in the Vista/Win7 driver versions, because Microsoft will not WHQL-certify drivers that contain refresh rate override features. ATI has a very rudimentary refresh rate override, but it's so rudimentary I'd rather not speak more of it.

Lastly, Win7 enforces strict EDID-based configuration of monitors. The old monitor "drivers" (basically text files containing the settings for the monitor) exist in name only. Apparently, there's an override functionality for the EDID data (aptly named EDID override), but I've not been able to force higher resolutions and refresh rates for my monitor this way.

As it stands, Win7 limits my Viewsonic P75f+ (have a look at the specs) to 1024x768@85Hz, while in XP I'm happily running 1152x864@100Hz. Believe me, the difference is noticable! And gaming in Win7 is of course a no-go, since no sane person can stand looking at flickering 60Hz images on a CRT for more than a few minutes.

I'm currently trying to see if I can stand gaming on a TFT. If so, this might be my solution and I'll fork out the cash for a good one (hence my PM to you regarding the U2410 ), although as it stands I'd really miss my CRT for gaming.

EDIT: I should perhaps stress to add that I've verified all my findings regarding Win7 and refresh rate issues using native Win7 installs (hooray for TrueImage! ).

 

HAHA I remember this ViewSonic monitor. I had.. well have.. the NEC FE791SB. i can never get myself to throw it, CRTs are too awesome. But sadly with age, the image is shifted to a point of not being able to fix it, and repair shop don't know how to fix it. That is why I got the Dell U2410 (well I had several TN panels, which I returned, except for 1 which I put for my mom computer. i could not stand TN's, then I got stored did some deep rechar for several months, and found and cash out for the U2410) . Despite the specs said 1600x1200 at 75Hz, I could do 85Hz at that resolution just fine with my old CRT. I recalled that ViewSonic didn't use good phosphor, that is why I went with the NEC one. The result is at 75Hz my CRT didn't flicker at all (well today it does as the phosphor reached or passed it's end of life.. now even 100Hz makes the screen flicker.. not crazy of course... but visible).

I don't think there is such a thing as OpenGL and Direct3D limitations.. other than vSync.
Else 120Hz monitors won't work, which does in reality, and so is 3D feature.
And when I used to my CRT installed, and had VSync ON, games was running fine at 85fps which was my refresh rate. Although, newer games, I noticed I had to force VSync off, else it blocked at 60fps. In fact, on my laptop, even if I force VSync On via drivers, if i set my monitor to 40Hz, the game still goes at 60Hz and I get tearing.

I think new games can only do 60Hz and 120Hz... This is most likely games not supporting VSync for 75Hz or maybe OpenGL and DirectX new specifications.

As a CRT fan, I can assure you that the Dell U2410 will provide you awesome game play experience.
It's THE monitor with the minimal ghosting...
Look at this (TFT Central - and this was with the faulty early A00 panels, which had a dithering problem (hence terrible color calibration reported), sever back light bleeding, and tint issue (LG production problem. All fixed on the late revision A00)

Check the number of layers at the worst case. This means no ghosting will be available, even if you try to see them. Of course, i am obligated to say that if you are crazy FPS hardware player, with reflexes and vision of the speed of the wings speed of Hummingbirds: you might find it slow, and should get a "TN pro-gamer panel, 1ms response time display". Anyway, amazing monitor, I don't know how it is for Denmark, but in Canada there is a 21 day return window... which DELL pays the return shipping if you are not happy with it, not restock fees. But for sure, call and ask, as it's different for the U.K.

What I particularly enjoy with the U2410 (beside the colors for a non-professional level) is how blacks are great. Of course it's a LCD, so 0 back light bleeding is impossible, but it's near super minimal. In fact, I cannot see it at all unless the whole screen is black. At 50% (default) brightness, the screen is way too bright, I put mine at 20-30%. Only in the morning when the sun hit my monitor directly, I increase it to 50-60%, but that's just my setup. And I see no ghosting or input lag, even when I use Adobe RGB color profile. It provide a very close CRT feel.