I want to...

[AzureOctive]

I want to play World of Warcraft on the highest settings without slowdown from my computer, play the Sims 2 on it's highest settings and potentially play Sims 3 next year... Also would like to actually play Black and White 2. Should I invest in a 32 or 64 bit version of windows? Which will have better driver support? I know that windows XP 64 version is crap for drivers... Where is the best investment?

What kind of graphics cards should I be looking at?

I got horribly boned on a Geforce 7900 GTX graphics card before and don't want to make the same mistakes twice

 

[Whiffen]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/facts/top10.mspx

I don't think it will make that much of a difference but the 64bit is a bit better.

As for graphics I would have thought a 7900 GTX would over kill that game.

Right now you can get a 8800 GT for 150$ That should do it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318

 

[TL93]

My ATi Radeon 9250 256MB PCI ran The Sims 2 at its highest [without edge smoothing]. No lag except when lots of objects or sims in the place where the camera is. I'd keep it if it ran Crysis but no it doesn't have to upgrade to a X1550 PRO PCI =(

Anyways, the 8800 GT or the 9600 GT will serve you well =D

 

[AzureOctive]

so windows hasn't given up on xp 64 bit version? Is this the future or will vista 64 bit version be the better investment?

 

[Whiffen]

XP would probably be a better buy for now. Eventually we will all be shoved to Vista but it still has a few bugs to work out. Vista isn't all that bad though, its a bit slower and has less driver support but its getting better.

 

[nickc]

vista 64 bit version has better driver support than XP 64 will ever.

 

[AzureOctive]

haha good, 'cause I just purchased Windows Vista Ultimate took care of my 32 or 64 bit problem Ultimate is AC/DC so to speak