UNIX Operating Systems

[Nique]

I'm thinking about building a new PC. I know that normal OSs have upper limits on how much processing power and RAM they will utilize, but how useful would a UNIX-like OS be in overcoming that?

[Aldurin]

There's probably a few versions out there that throw out many of the frustrating limits that other operating systems have. My recommendation is to go where the nerds graze, and ask on a linux forum (many of those people probably help develop one variation or another, so they'll definitely know and probably enthusiastically answer) should what NPF knows not be sufficient.

[synkr0nized]

Could you explain more what you are going for / what you think is limiting or would limit you?

Typically hardware dictates a build's limits far more than software.

[rpgdemon]

Plus: What will you be doing on UNIX with all that power?

Like, on a PC, anything that you need a lot of power for, you will be able to have the power because if you are limited by the OS, the developers would be too, and as such the software wouldn't get developed.

On a UNIX-based platform, you may not be capped, but to what end? What will you actually do with that power, if you're not just running a server or something?

[Nique]

i want to go out to multiple monitors and other devices and run lots of shit all at the same time

maybe 64 bit windows 7 is good enough?

[Sithdarth]

i want to go out to multiple monitors and other devices and run lots of shit all at the same time

maybe 64 bit windows 7 is good enough?

Probably, especially the devices part. The whole 'Nix ecosystem has come a long way in terms of drivers but there are still are some issues.

[Azisien]

Can't comment on Windows 8 multiple monitor experience. But I run Windows 7 Home Premium with 3 monitors and use Actually Multiple Monitors (software) to improve the experience. I'm quite happy with it.

If you want to be gaming/streaming video on all the monitors at once, you'll probably want SLI/CrossFire graphics to split the heavy load. I know if I run video on all three monitors on my one GTX680, it starts chugging.

[synkr0nized]

i want to go out to multiple monitors and other devices and run lots of shit all at the same time

maybe 64 bit windows 7 is good enough?

Windows XP is good enough.

So anything you build now with Windows 7/8 will be fine. Or with OS X. Or a Linux distro. But those are not needed if you prefer Windows.

[shiney]

It's the 32-bit addressing that causes limitations in hardware performance. Using a 64-bit Windows OS would solve that. Linux/Unix too. If you want an easy nix system, go with Ubuntu as it's graphically pleasant and very easy to set up. But to make use of +5gig of RAM, you'll need to ensure you have a 64 bit OS.

Don't do Windows XP 64 bit; the support is terrible. I ran it for 6 months, upgraded to Win7 64. Even its support is nothing to write home about but it's much better than XP was.

[Arlia Janet]

The RAM limits for 64 bit Windows 7. (http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/max-memory-limits-for-64-bit-windows-7/4254) Even these can be tweaked a bit.

I really like OpenSUSE as a linux distribution. It has very good documentation and is easy to work with.
What on Earth do you possibly need all that RAM for? Are you from 10 years in the future where 128 GB ram chips are common?