Should I keep my PC?

Gilliatt · Post by **Gilliatt** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 6:10 pm

I will buy a new PC in November or December (mine is 8 years old) and am wondering if I should keep this one to play older games.

Basically, here are my main interrogations:
- Is Windows 7 DOSBox friendly? (So I could play the Bard's Tale series, the Gold Box games, etc.)
- Does it have a compatibility mode like Windows XP? (If not, does it play older Windows' games like Baldur's Gate, Might and Magic VI +, Morrowind, VtM: Bloodlines, Knights of the Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights, Wizardry 8, to name a few?)
- It will also be the first time I buy a widescreen monitor, so I was also wondering if playing the above mentioned games on such a monitor is problematic.

Keeping this PC is not a problem, but if I can do everything on the new one, I don't want to keep it only to collect dust. So that's why I ask.

In case you wonder why I don't wait until I get the new PC and try the games to see for myself, it's because I also need a new desk and plan to make it myself next month, so I was wondering if I should make a desk for one computer or for two computers.

To sum it up, should I keep this PC and its monitor to play older games when I get the new one?

Thanks in advance for your comments!

sesobebo · Post by **sesobebo** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 10:02 am

I can't say for games running via dosbox as I haven't played any, but at least Baldur's Gate, Bloodlines, KotOR and NWN should work fine, and between experience from other similarly old games that I have played and Windows 7's "XP mode" (which I haven't had to try yet), I will assume that You should get the others running as well.

As for the wide screen aspect, here's a handy site.
Personally, I'd at least keep the old monitor as secondary one, as some games (KotOR...) need some hacks/hacking to convert them to wider formats (unless You're fine with Your characters gaining some weight and stretching along Your new monitor q: ).

Kipi · Post by **Kipi** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 11:32 am

WIn7 does have compatibility mode for Xp. Also, if you have one of the certain versions of Win7, there should also be Virtual XP -software, which will emulate XP and thus make most of the old games to work.

Also, Win7 does support DosBox, I use it regulary myself.

Still, if you don't have anything against having the old computer around, I still suggest that you keep it. Truth to be told, even though XP mode and Virtual XP do tend to run old games fine, there are always exceptions. And some game may even run too fast in new computer.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:53 pm

I also can vouch for W7 being compatible with DosBox; if it wasn't it wouldn't be on my Netbook!!

My Netbook is an Asus X32A, and although I had to purchase an external DVD drive, it's blown me away; great machineand I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a Netbook or even a small laptop.

Gilliatt · Post by **Gilliatt** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 7:32 pm

Thank you for your comments!

My original plan was to keep both the PC and the monitor, and you have convinced me that it might prove useful even though I will play most games on the new one.

candesco · Post by **candesco** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:23 am

1 friendly warning: the XP mode in Windows 7 is ONLY built in Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate. Starter and Home Premium doesn't have the XP Mode.
See here an overview of the Windows 7 versions and what features they have:
Which one is right for you? - Microsoft Windows

Widescreen and old games shouldn't be a problem. I have myself a 22 inch TFT from LG (W2261V)and run sometimes old games like Diablo II and Dungeon Keeper with it without problems.
You run the games in 1024x768, 800x600 or sometimes lesser.
About Windows 7 and Dosbox; here's what the dosbox wiki says:
DOSBox and Windows Vista and Windows 7 - DOSBoxWiki
As it seems it can run at both versions. 32 bit and 64 bit.
If you want to keep the pc that's up to you. If you don't have any plans with it then you can sell it or give it to your little brother or sister if you have any.

Gilliatt · Post by **Gilliatt** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 2:30 pm

Thank you for your comment!

By the way, I read somewhere that AMD and Intel will introduce new CPUs in the next months, so I have decided to wait and see what they will look like before changing my PC.

Ares2382 · Post by **Ares2382** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 7:48 am

From what I remember BG deffinatly works, but if you want to play it on a widescreen monitor you'll need to download a widescreen mod for it (this goes for any of the infinity games you might want to play).

I think Kotor also has a widescreen mod.

Can't remember NWN, I think it might actually support widescreen formats (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

robertwillton · Post by **robertwillton** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 11:34 am

robert willton

If you want to play widescreen games so no problem you can play them on windows 7 i think it can run both ver. 32 and 64 bit and also windows 8 will launch in few months.So, no need to keep your old pc either you can sell it or do what you want to do.