win server 2008 enterprise or win 7 professional?

Easy Rhino · Oct 8, 2009

i am hearing a lot about server 2008 and can get it for free since i am a student. i can also get win 7 pro for free. if you could download either one which would you choose? i can still play games and what not on server 2008, right?

Wile E · Oct 8, 2009

Depends. Win 7 Pro serves my home needs just fine. Server 08 is a bit more finicky with AV apps, and some disk utilities. It won't let them install. But if you need to set up a more complicated network than a standard home network, you may want to consider 2008.

I prefer the ease of use of Win 7, tbh. Not to mention, 2008 R2 is the one based on Win 7, regular 2008 is still Vista based, if that matters to you.

YinYang.ERROR · Oct 8, 2009

I still haven't found a decent free AV for Win2008R2...

Mussels · Oct 8, 2009

i'd go 7 professional.

i run my HTPC off it, and have zero issues - whereas win server has some issues (such as the antivirus stated above)

Easy Rhino · Oct 8, 2009

thanks everyone. ill go with 7

jagd · Oct 8, 2009

Im using rising antivirus free version with win2008 trial (waiting win7 ,did not want to spend for vista) .i seen it is populer at east (japan/china) but not much at west .I will not comment about protection until i install win7 with another av and do full system scan

YinYang.ERROR said:
I still haven't found a decent free AV for Win2008R2...

Deleted member 3 · Oct 8, 2009

Personally I use Windows 2008 standard on all my machines. Don't bother with Enterprise. Using 2008 saves you from disabling a lot of Vista crap, no issues with UAC, file sharing and whatnot.

Easy Rhino · Oct 8, 2009

DanTheBanjoman said:
Personally I use Windows 2008 standard on all my machines. Don't bother with Enterprise. Using 2008 saves you from disabling a lot of Vista crap, no issues with UAC, file sharing and whatnot.

does it perform well with games and whatnot?

1freedude · Oct 23, 2009

Easy Rhino said:
i am hearing a lot about server 2008 and can get it for free since i am a student. i can also get win 7 pro for free. if you could download either one which would you choose? i can still play games and what not on server 2008, right?

I had to buy 7 pro at student price, as my school isn't on MSDN AA, but was able to get 2008 r2 free from dreamsparkle. I already loaded 7 pro on the e7500 htpc. haven't messed with it. in a couple of minutes i'm going to put 2008 r2 on the q6600 (mostly a work machine).

will update later

niko084 · Oct 23, 2009

Easy Rhino said:
does it perform well with games and whatnot?

I agree totally with what he said.
It performs equally and sometimes I have found Server to perform "slightly" better.

If it's free and you don't mind not running an AV or buying a Server license, then I would do Server personally, if anything else it's the :cool:

factor.

I actually have Server 2008 Standard R2.0 x64 on my main machine right now mainly to play around with it.

I also just got my Win 7 Pro x64.

After my new hard drives arrive maybe I'll install both to do direct comparisons, but I figure they will be very minor gaming performance wise.

lemonadesoda · Oct 24, 2009

I run W2K3 as a workstation.

There ARE major issues trying to get an AV or defragmenter onto the machine. Why? Because the installers are often designed to block installation onto "server editions" of windows. Why? They want to charge you 5x the cost of a regular desktop version. Bah!

Fortunately, there are workarounds, and some free software is not fussy about working on "server" editions, e.g. www.defraggler.com

AV is more tricky. I like avast! But it insists on a server license at big dollar. A real problem since I run W2K3 on my netbook

Kreij · Oct 24, 2009

If you can get either free, can you get both free?
Pull them both and then play. You can decide after you have checked them both out.

If you can only get one, and you don't need the server stuff of enterprise, I would go for 7 Pro.

wiak · Oct 24, 2009

7 is alot newer than 2008 aka vista

if its 2008 R2 aka 7 then meybe

with win 7 you get all those media futures, and stuff like h264 decoding and all
btw most server oses are awful when it comes to compatibility with games

Necrofire · Oct 24, 2009

http://www.win2008r2workstation.com/win2008r2/security-software

Just go to win2008r2workstation.com and follow the steps there, especially step 9.

1freedude · Oct 24, 2009

Kreij said:
If you can get either free, can you get both free?
Pull them both and then play. You can decide after you have checked them both out.

If you can only get one, and you don't need the server stuff of enterprise, I would go for 7 Pro.

i got 2008 r2 free, but haven't found where i can get 7 free.

my update from the 2008 r2 install...

went super smooth

loaded network drivers for 780i sli (usually pita) gave decent graphics out of the box without 191.07. it played "wall e," 1080p pixelated, but played stutter free. loaded 191.07, and it played full res. don't have speakers so can't comment

oh...it screams compared to xp x64. i don't game, but inventor runs smoother (heavy 3d solid modeling)

System Name	Desktop
Processor	i5 13600KF
Motherboard	AsRock B760M Steel Legend Wifi
Cooling	Noctua NH-U9S
Memory	4x 16 Gb Gskill S5 DDR5 @6000
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte Gaming OC 6750 XT 12GB
Storage	WD_BLACK 4TB SN850x
Display(s)	Gigabye M32U
Case	Corsair Carbide 400C
Audio Device(s)	On Board
Power Supply	EVGA Supernova 650 P2
Mouse	MX Master 3s
Keyboard	Logitech G915 Wireless Clicky
Software	The Matrix

System Name	The ClusterF**k
Processor	980X @ 4Ghz
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 BIOS F12
Cooling	MCR-320, DDC-1 pump w/Bitspower res top (1/2" fittings), Koolance CPU-360
Memory	3x2GB Mushkin Redlines 1600Mhz 6-8-6-24 1T
Video Card(s)	Evga GTX 580
Storage	Corsair Neutron GTX 240GB, 2xSeagate 320GB RAID0; 2xSeagate 3TB; 2xSamsung 2TB; Samsung 1.5TB
Display(s)	HP LP2475w 24" 1920x1200 IPS
Case	Technofront Bench Station
Audio Device(s)	Auzentech X-Fi Forte into Onkyo SR606 and Polk TSi200's + RM6750
Power Supply	ENERMAX Galaxy EVO EGX1250EWT 1250W
Software	Win7 Ultimate N x64, OSX 10.8.4

System Name	Echelon
Processor	Phenom II x3 720 - 4th Core Unlocked
Motherboard	Asus M4A785TD-V EVO
Cooling	Stock
Memory	Adata 4gb ddr3 1600
Video Card(s)	Ati HD 5770
Storage	640gb & 250gb SATA
Display(s)	MAG CRT 17"
Case	CM 690
Audio Device(s)	onboard
Power Supply	600w Cooler Master Silent Pro
Software	Windows 7 Ultimate x64

System Name	Rainbow Sparkles (Power efficient, <350W gaming load)
Processor	Ryzen R7 5800x3D (Undervolted, 4.45GHz all core)
Motherboard	Asus x570-F (BIOS Modded)
Cooling	Alphacool Apex UV - Alphacool Eisblock XPX Aurora + EK Quantum ARGB 3090 w/ active backplate
Memory	2x32GB DDR4 3600 Corsair Vengeance RGB @3866 C18-22-22-22-42 TRFC704 (1.4V Hynix MJR - SoC 1.15V)
Video Card(s)	Galax RTX 3090 SG 24GB: Underclocked to 1700Mhz 0.750v (375W down to 250W))
Storage	2TB WD SN850 NVME + 1TB Sasmsung 970 Pro NVME + 1TB Intel 6000P NVME USB 3.2
Display(s)	Phillips 32 32M1N5800A (4k144), LG 32" (4K60) \| Gigabyte G32QC (2k165) \| Phillips 328m6fjrmb (2K144)
Case	Fractal Design R6
Audio Device(s)	Logitech G560 \| Corsair Void pro RGB \|Blue Yeti mic
Power Supply	Fractal Ion+ 2 860W (Platinum) (This thing is God-tier. Silent and TINY)
Mouse	Logitech G Pro wireless + Steelseries Prisma XL
Keyboard	Razer Huntsman TE ( Sexy white keycaps)
VR HMD	Oculus Rift S + Quest 2
Software	Windows 11 pro x64 (Yes, it's genuinely a good OS) OpenRGB - ditch the branded bloatware!
Benchmark Scores	Nyooom.

System Name	Desktop
Processor	i5 13600KF
Motherboard	AsRock B760M Steel Legend Wifi
Cooling	Noctua NH-U9S
Memory	4x 16 Gb Gskill S5 DDR5 @6000
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte Gaming OC 6750 XT 12GB
Storage	WD_BLACK 4TB SN850x
Display(s)	Gigabye M32U
Case	Corsair Carbide 400C
Audio Device(s)	On Board
Power Supply	EVGA Supernova 650 P2
Mouse	MX Master 3s
Keyboard	Logitech G915 Wireless Clicky
Software	The Matrix

win server 2008 enterprise or win 7 professional?

Easy Rhino

Linux Advocate

Wile E

Power User

YinYang.ERROR

New Member

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

Easy Rhino

Linux Advocate

jagd

Deleted member 3

Easy Rhino

Linux Advocate

1freedude

niko084

lemonadesoda

Kreij

Senior Monkey Moderator

wiak

Necrofire

New Member

1freedude

Processor	C2duo e6750@ 2800mhz
Motherboard	GA-P43T-ES3G
Cooling	Xigmatek S1283
Memory	2x2Gb Kingstone HyperX DDR3 1600 (KHX1600C9D3K2/4GX )
Video Card(s)	HIS HD 6870
Storage	samsung HD103SJ
Case	Xigmatek Utgard
Audio Device(s)	X-FI Titanium Pci-e
Power Supply	Xigmatek NRP-PC702 700W
Software	win7 ultimate -64bit

Processor	Xeon x5650
Motherboard	SABERTOOTH X58
Cooling	Fans
Memory	24 GB Kingston HyperX 1600
Video Card(s)	GTX 1060 3GB
Storage	small ssd
Display(s)	Dell 2001F, BenQ short throw
Case	Lian Li
Audio Device(s)	onboard
Power Supply	X750
Software	Mint 19.3, Win 10
Benchmark Scores	not so fast...

System Name	Back to Blue
Processor	i9 14900k
Motherboard	Asrock Z790 Nova
Cooling	Corsair H150i Elite
Memory	64GB Corsair Dominator DDR5-6400 @ 6600
Video Card(s)	EVGA RTX 3090 Ultra FTW3
Storage	4TB WD 850x NVME, 4TB WD Black, 10TB Seagate Barracuda Pro
Display(s)	1x Samsung Odyssey G7 Neo and 1x Dell u2518d
Case	Lian Li o11 DXL w/custom vented front panel
Audio Device(s)	Focusrite Saffire PRO 14 -> DBX DriveRack PA+ -> Mackie MR8 and MR10 / Senn PX38X -> SB AE-5 Plus
Power Supply	Corsair RM1000i
Mouse	Logitech G502x
Keyboard	Corsair K95 Platinum
Software	Windows 11 x64 Pro
Benchmark Scores	31k multicore Cinebench - CPU limited 125w

System Name	ICE-QUAD // ICE-CRUNCH
Processor	Q6600 // 2x Xeon 5472
Memory	2GB DDR // 8GB FB-DIMM
Video Card(s)	HD3850-AGP // FireGL 3400
Display(s)	2 x Samsung 204Ts = 3200x1200
Audio Device(s)	Audigy 2
Software	Windows Server 2003 R2 as a Workstation now migrated to W10 with regrets.

Processor	Ryzen 5900X
Motherboard	Gigabyte B550I AORUS PRO AX 1.1
Cooling	Noctua NB-U12A
Memory	2x 32GB Fury DDR4 3200mhz
Video Card(s)	PowerColor Radeon 5700 XT Red Dragon
Storage	Kingston FURY Renegade 2TB PCIe 4.0
Display(s)	2x Dell U2412M
Case	Phanteks P400A
Audio Device(s)	Hifimediy Sabre 9018 USB DAC
Power Supply	Corsair AX850 (from 2012)
Software	Windows 10?

System Name	Chuck
Processor	Core i5-2500k @ 4.5Ghz
Motherboard	msi P67A-C43
Cooling	hyper 212, 2 120mm fans
Memory	8GB DDR3 1600MHz
Video Card(s)	XFX 6870
Storage	60GB sata3 sandforce ssd, 1TB samsung hdd
Display(s)	Yamakazi Catleap
Case	Possibly Antec, not sure
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	Rosewill 600W