Sp3 = +25% ?
 

It is claimed that the SP3 (service pack 3) for Windows XP will give a boost of 10-25%. Will someone who intends to install the SP be a guinea pig and bench the Il2 simulation before and after please?

I read that the other day! It could be interesting.Microsoft must have got their fingers burnt with Vista pretty badly if they are still backing XP to this extent!

lol.. if it gives Xp such a performance boost, they just shot Vista in the foot

I think Vista shot itself in the foot!

Indeed, but with this (and if it's true), Microsoft just handed over the gun :P

Isn't XP limited to 3GB of memory? If so, this will be the limiting factor for XPs lifespan in my opinion. 2GB are becoming standard right now, for gamers anyway.

Gonna try it as soon as it comes out, which AFAIK is sometime around mid-2008...

Actually, SP3 RC 1 has already been released. I have it installed on my 2 XP 32 bit installs. However, I use an XP Pro x64 partition for IL2, so I can't really say if if gives a boost in IL2. As I understand it tho, SP3 is mostly just a 'roll up' of all the securety and other patches since SP2.

I guess I could install IL2 on a 32 bit system, and see what it does.

Just so you understand, I use HyperOS which allows me to have multiple Operating systems http://www.hyperossystems.co.uk/ Right now I have 2 XP Pro and 4 XP Pro x64 partitions, altho my version of HOS will allow up to 22 versions of 2000, XP, and Vista in all 'flavors'.

I must say I am very satisfied with my XP and won't bother with Vista unless they give me a very good reason to buy it. My parents bought a notebook a few weeks back and first thing I did when configuring it was to switch off the redlight-district-style gfx stuff. I mean I was pretty close to puke when I saw the XP screen first time but this Vista stuff is another notch beyond "acceptable". *imagine puking smilie here*

XP vs Vista...
 

Vista requires a multiple of overhead resources (Ram and CPU) compared to XP. It supports significantly fewer of the common programs we hare accustomed to use, work programs, entertainment, and gaming. It is slower. It is the latest Miscroshaft advertise/marketing planned obsolesence. After the initial Vista rollout, XP was not offered by vendors. Buyers were forced Vista. There were so many problems, it was way too buggy and software would not run on it. Now everyone seems to offer XP as people were very unhappy with Vista ( read: purchasers were returning PC systems). So now once again we can buy XP.

XP was a hugh improvement over 98 as an OS, not just new window dressing at a $$ and performance cost. It was also much more stable. Miscrosoft needs need $$ so they offer something new and try to terminate resellers offering what really delivers at a lesser cost to consumers. Perhaps it is geared to business, it does not appear to be welcome to the typical person who has many applications and enjoys gaming. One size does not fit all.

YMMV...Peace