I finally bought a second-hand computer that would run Skyrim, Windows 7 x64 is installed on it, but in a language I barely understand, so I planned to replace it with windows 7 x64 in English. Problem is, I can't find that license anymore on our local MSDNAA system, so apparently for now I can only have licenses for:
- XP x86
- XP x64
- Vista x86
- Vista x64
- Windows 7 x86

To play Oblivion and Skyrim with that computer (quad core i7 860, 8GB ram, GTX 285), would you say that I am better off with XP x64 or Windows 7 x86? I suppose XP x64 because of the RAM issue, but am not sure.



(disclaimer: there's nothing illegal here, Microsoft gives free licenses to computer students, because otherwise we stick to open source only and they sure don't want that to happen).

Which version of 7 is it (Ultimate, Premium, etc) for the 64-bit version?


That's actually well known. The actual reason is that schools generally get a contract for various reasons with M$oft to enable their students to have free access to software that could prove useful to them.

It won't stop folks from using open source software at all, though. That implies M$oft's software is better. In many cases, it's actually worse.

Disclaimer: I've been running various forms of Unix as my main dev boxes for years, keeping Windows around for the times when I don't want to deal with compatibility layers and other stuff.