Best OS ( Operating system) for lots of mods

[elMestre]

Hi there

Note for admins: I kinda feel that this post belongs to support - mods, but it doesn't fit in the mandatory tags

I've been watching lots of videos around with lots mods, but I'm unable to run them on my system without lots of crashes.

So, I would like to discuss which is the best OS/config to make KSP run with lots of mods without crashes

Also will be nice to discuss about certain mods that will improve this (as texture management) or making it worst.

An it will be great if someone knows about a tool / tutorial / guidelines to read the crash logs, in order to determine which mods causes the memory leaks.

So please, everybody: Lets try to build/set the best Kerbaling machine

My personal thoughts and experiences:

• Windows 32

  The most widely spread system. Almost everybody uses it, we all know that you can set a bunch of mods before making it, but not so many as I want.
  Here I played the most time, and I'm somewhat unsatisfied. Almost every mod worked, but I just want more of them.

• Windows 64

  Buggy and unstable, Squad itself canceled it (at least in the short time). Anything else to discuss?

• Linux 32

  Why?, really, I mean why? If you are using a Linux you should go 64 bits

• Linux 64

  Ah!, what really is worth to discuss. I read a lot about and I found absolutely different impressions. Ones who stand that is the Holy Grail, and people who says thats is even more unstable than Win32.
  The only thing I get for sure is that you can't play without a nVdia properly configured with proprietary drivers.
  The issue: setting up things in Linux requires tremendous amount of time and terminal, but when I get my tower back, I will give it a try even if I have to spend a couple days setting it.
  Also, can't say if there is a distro is better or worst than others (yes, we know you can set up whatever you want in Linux, but also it requieres time and I don't have so many free time)
  

• Mac OS Mavericks

  Only 32 bits.
  Again mixed impressions. I read people to standing that it works great, and people who saying it doesn't work.
  My impressions after a couple months with a MbP retina 2013 is that is worst than in Windows.
  You can install less mods than window sand even so, if don't set up textures to half resolution it will crash constantly.
  Also, if you have a retina screen, you have to set the resolution (trough terminal, edit config files or 3rd party programs) to a non retina one in order to tun it smoothly.
  Is just barely better than not being able to play

• Hackintosh

Oh Gosh, WHY? we´re talking about run a GAME without CRASHES

Well, thats what It comes to my mind in order to improve the use of more simultaneous mods, but please, feel free to share anything that can improve it.

Happy Kerbaling

[Hannu]

I installed Linux Mint for KSP. I allocated 200 GB partition from one of my data HDDs. I had some problems with partitions (false detection of corrupted GPT) and I had to ask help from Linux forum. I fixed that, installed Linux, and loaded and istalled Nvidia graphics drivers and KSP with several mods. In spite of problems and my low level Linux knowhow it took just couple of hours to set everything up and start to play KSP. When I turn on my computer, Grub ask if I want to use Windows 7 or Linux Mint. Very simple and problem free. Visual enhancing modes and best possible textures make KSP incredible fine.

I do not know is Linux Mint best possible Linux. And I do not even want to use time to find it out. It works fine enough with 64 bit KSP (better than 32 bit almost stock KSP in Windows 7) and takes minimum effort for set up and maintenance.

[RobotsAndSpaceships]

Linux, you get stable 64 bit. There will be some problems along the way, but in the end it'll be worth it.

[Musil]

Nonsense... I am on a Mac and have never had problems with mods, even at full res. The only thing that just won't run is EVE at high res, but that's not mandatory for the AVP, so who cares?

[Elthy]

Why would anyone on Earth still use Windows 32 bit? Of course the 64bit .exe is unstable, but the 32bit one should still be used on 64bit.

I had some problems with the limitations of 32bit, but opengl+ATM/DSS enable quite much mods, the only thing to blow that limit are those extreme resolution textures of some EVE mods.

MacOS is no good choice since you wont get powerfull hardware for it...

Linux is propably only worth the amout of work if you realy, realy need those HD textures. Im a big fan of graphical improvements, but i wont set up a whole OS just for better clouds.

[Camacha]

Why would anyone on Earth still use Windows 32 bit? Of course the 64bit .exe is unstable, but the 32bit one should still be used on 64bit.

Since Vista there is little reason to still use 32-bit Windows, some very specific user cases excepted.

[elMestre]

Could you give us more details on your system?

I have serious issues at full res textures (game crash in 3~4 scene changes)

In case anyone is interested mine is:

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013) [MacBookPro10,1]

OS: Yosemite 10.10.2

Intel Core i7 2,4 GHz

RAM 8 GB

Nonsense... I am on a Mac and have never had problems with mods, even at full res. The only thing that just won't run is EVE at high res, but that's not mandatory for the AVP, so who cares?

- - - Updated - - -

Maybe I was not clear, but I was listing KSP versions, not the OS itself

thanks for the notes on OpenGl.

I already knew Active Texture Manager

As for DDSLoader, my though that ATM already does the same process (PNG-> DDS) making DDS depreceated.

But thanks to you, I looked again and the info i found in reddit leads me to thing they will work even better together

Edited March 17, 2015 by elMestre

[InterCity]

I use Ubuntu 14.04 64bit, and haven't had a single bit of issues with KSP, but I rarely go overboard with parts, since I only have an Ivy Bridge laptop I5. I'd recommend it, ksp's performance is far superior to its windows version.

The only problem with Ubuntu (or linux in general) is that you'll have to learn some basic terminal commands to make sure it runs. Opens up a lot of space for tinkering, though

[Stone Blue]

Well, as far as Windows is concerned, the OS is a RAM hog to begin with...ESPECIALLY with all the services "necessary" for network/internet connectivity...

For example, on "MY" regular Win install, I have everything pared down so that at idle, my system sits at about 1.2-1.3GB of RAM usage...This is with antivirus, firewall, and network/internet connectivity...And not just RAM usage, but running at about 20K-22K threads...

So I found that installing a separate, streamlined, dual-boot Windows install/partition, and ONLY using it with KSP, no antivirus/firewall, an network/internet connectivity and all unnecessary Services disabled, (I dont really need internet connectivity while running KSP, as I do KSP and mod updates manually, and if I need to look up anything on the net while playing, I have a separate tablet i can do that on), I can pare down RAM system usage to about 650-700MB (a savings of over 50%), and around 12-15K threads, which lets me run KSP heavily modded, closer to maximum levels, without the crashes... I only have 6GB of RAM, but once TOTAL RAM usage (KSP plus all other system usage), gets to 4-4.1GB, KSP will crash... (My computer NEVER utilizes the extra 2GB of RAM...??)...So by trimming 6-700MB from non-KSP RAM usage, it definately helps keep KSP from crashing...

You can go to http://www.blackviper.com/ and use the various listed Service configurations, to see what Services you can safely turn off...You can turn off QUITE a lot of them, if you just remove the networking/internet requirement of your computer...If you DO, just make sure you turn off your wireless, or unplug your Ethernet (basically isolate your computer) while playing KSP on your streamlined Win install, so you dont catch a virus, malware, or open your computer to remote control...

Edited March 17, 2015 by Stone Blue

[Deutherius]

Why would anyone on Earth still use Windows 32 bit?

My laptop only has 3 GB of RAM, not to mention some of it is allocated for the integrated graphics card. I don't ever plan on expanding the RAM. Why should I waste my 64-bit win keys when I can use the 32-bit ones? What benefits would the 64-bit version bring me? (I honestly can't see any. No 64-bit exclusive programs that I need.)

[Stone Blue]

elMestre, yeah, as to ATM vs DDS Loader, they do NOT do quite the same thing...IIRC, ATM just shrinks the .mbm/.png textures, and keeping them in the same file format, while DDS Loader (with the converter), actually can shrink and CONVERT the .mbm/.pngs to .dds...

[Elthy]

My laptop only has 3 GB of RAM, not to mention some of it is allocated for the integrated graphics card. I don't ever plan on expanding the RAM. Why should I waste my 64-bit win keys when I can use the 32-bit ones? What benefits would the 64-bit version bring me? (I honestly can't see any. No 64-bit exclusive programs that I need.)

Afaik Windowskeys are not locked for a 32/64bit version, i used my purchased key which came with a 32bit installation DVD with my 64bit installation...

I expirenced that both DSS/ATM can be better depending on the used mods.

[Deutherius]

Afaik Windowskeys are not locked for a 32/64bit version, i used my purchased key which came with a 32bit installation DVD with my 64bit installation...

I have the OS keys from the DreamSpark Premium university contract, and AFAIK they are product specific. Anyway, the point is that 64-bit OS would not add anything meaningful over 32-bit version for me.

[elMestre]

Well, I spend the day managing servers and using terminal, is more a point of : I don't want work after-work.

Anyway noted: next week, when I'm back home, I will set up a Linux Gaming Environment (Never though I will said that)

I use Ubuntu 14.04 64bit, and haven't had a single bit of issues with KSP, but I rarely go overboard with parts, since I only have an Ivy Bridge laptop I5. I'd recommend it, ksp's performance is far superior to its windows version.

The only problem with Ubuntu (or linux in general) is that you'll have to learn some basic terminal commands to make sure it runs. Opens up a lot of space for tinkering, though

Edited March 18, 2015 by elMestre
quote

[xtoro]

I didn't read through all the replies, but all I have to say is: Linux 64-bit

That's the way to go, and the most stable. Nowadays you don't need to know much to get it working. Installs easily and if you DO have any issues, google is your friend.

Running Kubuntu 64-bit latest build.

[daniel l.]

Dont ever use linux to play ksp i am cursed with it!!!! I tried to update to 0.90 and it bugs out on me!!!

[kenbobo]

32-bit isn't that bad. I run upwards of 30 mods on my Windows 8.1 laptop made for work. It's quite fast, 60 fps on fastest and half res textures.

[xtoro]

Dont ever use linux to play ksp i am cursed with it!!!! I tried to update to 0.90 and it bugs out on me!!!

Odd. Did you post about it in support? What linux distro are you using? I really did nothing. Fresh install, it installed itself and all drivers no problem, I didn't have to do anything. Then it updated everything. I plopped ksp into my home folder and it runs perfectly. In fact, I've never once had a crash. I also leave it running for weeks at a time, I just ALT+TAB out of it to do other stuff, or close my laptop lid and it goes to sleep. Open the lid and it resumes like nothing happened.

[cantab]

The only stable 64-bit version of KSP runs on 64-bit Linux. It's that simple. If you are fortunate enough to own hardware that works well with one or more Linux distributions it offers the potential of the ultimate KSP experience. At least if your idea of said ultimate KSP experience is tons of parts all with detailed high-res textures and playing it all in a gorgeous rendering of the real solar system.

But I think you'd have to be considering using Linux much of the time for it to be worthwhile. If you like messing about with your computer, want to get away from Windows annoyances, and are willing to try something new it's certainly something to consider. But if you're otherwise firmly happy with Windows then rebooting just to play one game is a hassle. I'm in the inverse situation myself - I normally run Linux and I own a few Windows-only games and have hardly played them.

[magnemoe]

Well, as far as Windows is concerned, the OS is a RAM hog to begin with...ESPECIALLY with all the services "necessary" for network/internet connectivity...

For example, on "MY" regular Win install, I have everything pared down so that at idle, my system sits at about 1.2-1.3GB of RAM usage...This is with antivirus, firewall, and network/internet connectivity...And not just RAM usage, but running at about 20K-22K threads...

So I found that installing a separate, streamlined, dual-boot Windows install/partition, and ONLY using it with KSP, no antivirus/firewall, an network/internet connectivity and all unnecessary Services disabled, (I dont really need internet connectivity while running KSP, as I do KSP and mod updates manually, and if I need to look up anything on the net while playing, I have a separate tablet i can do that on), I can pare down RAM system usage to about 650-700MB (a savings of over 50%), and around 12-15K threads, which lets me run KSP heavily modded, closer to maximum levels, without the crashes... I only have 6GB of RAM, but once TOTAL RAM usage (KSP plus all other system usage), gets to 4-4.1GB, KSP will crash... (My computer NEVER utilizes the extra 2GB of RAM...??)...So by trimming 6-700MB from non-KSP RAM usage, it definately helps keep KSP from crashing...

You can go to http://www.blackviper.com/ and use the various listed Service configurations, to see what Services you can safely turn off...You can turn off QUITE a lot of them, if you just remove the networking/internet requirement of your computer...If you DO, just make sure you turn off your wireless, or unplug your Ethernet (basically isolate your computer) while playing KSP on your streamlined Win install, so you dont catch a virus, malware, or open your computer to remote control...

If you have an 64 bit windows and 4gb ram or more ksp will crash at 3.7-3-8 GB, it don't matter how much ram you have and how much is free, I have 24 GB and it don't matter for KSP if it has 22 or 5 GB free as 3.8 GB is maximum for 32 bit windows programs.