Windows 10 vs. 8.1 vs. 7 Performance: Microsoft's latest OS put to the test

[TheBigFatClown]

Well that is where you are I disagree. IMO Windows 7 was a massive step up from Vista and 8 was better than 7 (minus the start screen which I fixed using Classic Shell). So far for me Windows 10 is proving to be better than 8.1 and 7.

https://www.google.com.au/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=vista+was+rubbish

Sounds like you have already shattered your piggy bank and can't wait to be nickeled and dimed to death. Nickeled is not equal to tickled! LOL. I have my eye on Windows 10, but keeping my hands firmly on Windows 7 as well. I don't have anything against Microsoft making money. I just don't like their approach to it. They tried to force everyone by coercion into their ecosystem with Windows 8. When that FAILED, and they realized not everybody would just drop their pants so easily, then they started pretending to care.

*sigh*, so ... now...we wait...

 

[Steve]

Sounds like you have already shattered your piggy bank and can't wait to be nickeled and dimed to death. Nickeled is not equal to tickled! LOL. I have my eye on Windows 10, but keeping my hands firmly on Windows 7 as well. I don't have anything against Microsoft making money. I just don't like their approach to it. They tried to force everyone by coercion into their ecosystem with Windows 8. When that FAILED, and they realized not everybody would just drop their pants so easily, then they started pretending to care.

*sigh*, so ... now...we wait...

Piggy bank remains well intact, Windows 10 was free for all 7 of my systems and it will be free for you as well.

 

[TheBigFatClown]

Piggy bank remains well intact, Windows 10 was free for all 7 of my systems and it will be free for you as well.

Free? Hehehehe. Free to me as a Windows 7 user because I don't really want it and Microsoft alreadys know that. Free because it's a gateway application to lure you into Microsofts world to get your money 1 nickel at a time. No thanks Steve. I am writing these posts on a Windows 7 machine. And I don't embrace something just because I see the word "free" plastered on the box. I have to actually want it. Killing WMC and native DVD playback makes it even harder to care about Windows 10. Or maybe I am just jaded now. But I just really don't care at the moment.

 

[Steve]

Free? Hehehehe. Free to me as a Windows 7 user because I don't really want it and Microsoft alreadys know that. Free because it's a gateway application to lure you into Microsofts world to get your money 1 nickel at a time. No thanks Steve. I am writing these posts on a Windows 7 machine. And I don't embrace something just because I see the word "free" plastered on the box. I have to actually want it. Killing WMC and native DVD playback makes it even harder to care about Windows 10. Or maybe I am just jaded now. But I just really don't care at the moment.

Whatever floats your boat mate. You can buy Windows 7 Pro 64-bit for $25 these days so it is hardly like you are taking the worlds biggest gamble.

If you are happy with Windows 7 then by all means stay there, the upgrade is optional. Hell here are some nutters still running Windows XP because the claim it's still the best, so you have a ways to go

 

[TheBigFatClown]

Whatever floats your boat mate. You can buy Windows 7 Pro 64-bit for $25 these days so it is hardly like you are taking the worlds biggest gamble.

If you are happy with Windows 7 then by all means stay there, the upgrade is optional. Hell here are some nutters still running Windows XP because the claim it's still the best, so you have a ways to go

I have 2 computers so as I have stated in many different posts on this website, I don't really have to make a choice of either 1 or the other. I use them both. But once again, it will be a good long while before or if I ever completely give up Windows 7. Having 2 systems I am under no pressure whatsoever either way.

I just think people's blind obsession with "new and improved" is overkill. I don't want an operating system that literally morphs daily. I want a solid, stable, reliable operating system that I don't have to guess where the kitchen sink is from 1 week to the next. One that is not obsessively compulsively designed to nag at me, and pummel me with advertisements for subscriptions and nickel and dime purchases.

If Windows 10 were a congressional bill I would say there is just way too much damn pork. Are there good parts? Yeah. Are there bad parts? Oh yeah!!!!

The people still using Windows XP are satisfied. They are not constantly trying to achieve a state of nirvana that is pretty much unachievable by people constantly "searching" for "new and improved".

Can I ask you what you do on Windows 10 with the "majority" of your computing time that makes the experience so much more superior over Windows 7? What activity do you spend the most time on that makes Windows 10 a must have OS?

I think your on Windows 10 because its new, supposedly hip, and because it's new.

Bullet points are wonderful to ponder from the comfort of ones bed but applying them to your personal daily experience might be a good idea also.

 

[Qamdy]

I don'nt know what you saying I just know windows 7 is still better then windows 8 or windows 10. I recently upgrade my pc with windows 10 and I just downgrade it due to some issues. I was very impressed with edge browser but after 3 days it start the main problem like hanging and not responding the result was affecting other programs too. I decided to come back to my old windows 7 pro and I am fine with this. win 7 is far better then win 8 and win 10.

 

[Ascaris]

Why would Asus be bothered to provide correct Windows 10 audio drivers for my "ancient" P55D-E Pro motherboard? I noticed that drivers for Windows 10 are readily available for Haswell gen boards (think 8 and 9 series boards), but Ivy Bridge is very sketchy, and Sandy bridge and older are non existent.

The upgrade with my Sandy-era Asus P8P67 Deluxe went just fine, with everything working, including the Realtek ALC889 audio (which I am guessing is similar to what your P55 series board uses). That might be because I was using the updated Realtek driver with Windows 7 before the upgrade.

It's very annoying that vendors like Asus stop providing updated drivers for boards that are EOL'd, but you don't have to get them from Asus. Place like station-drivers.com have them for just about anything, and even if you don't know French (as I don't), it's still not hard to figure out what is what.

Windows 10 worked really well when I tried it. Everything worked right off the bat, with no freezes, BSODs, or anything else like that. I still didn't like it... it's beyond ugly, and painful to my eyes with the vast expanses of white pixels (the first thing I change in any OS, going back to Windows 3.1... except 10, which offers me no way to do that). Not being a masochist who enjoys eyestrain or wearing sunglasses while using the PC, I've gone back to 7 until 10 offers full control of the colors.

 

[lripplinger]

The upgrade with my Sandy-era Asus P8P67 Deluxe went just fine, with everything working, including the Realtek ALC889 audio (which I am guessing is similar to what your P55 series board uses). That might be because I was using the updated Realtek driver with Windows 7 before the upgrade.

It's very annoying that vendors like Asus stop providing updated drivers for boards that are EOL'd, but you don't have to get them from Asus. Place like station-drivers.com have them for just about anything, and even if you don't know French (as I don't), it's still not hard to figure out what is what.

Windows 10 worked really well when I tried it. Everything worked right off the bat, with no freezes, BSODs, or anything else like that. I still didn't like it... it's beyond ugly, and painful to my eyes with the vast expanses of white pixels (the first thing I change in any OS, going back to Windows 3.1... except 10, which offers me no way to do that). Not being a masochist who enjoys eyestrain or wearing sunglasses while using the PC, I've gone back to 7 until 10 offers full control of the colors.

I ended up being able to upgrade to Windows 10 after all! VIA, the maker of the audio chip on my old board actually made a driver package not long after this post. And HP surprised me with a driver package for my printer, so I did the upgrade to Windows 10 again, and all is right with the world now. But the fact that I had to go to VIA to get the driver was annoying. I am relieved the VIA actually cares enough about their customers to make the proper driver with software. Shame ASUS can't be bothered to post this stuff on their website.

 

[kanehi]

Just got used to 8.1 and now have to learn about Windows 10. I believe people's problems with Windows is that they don't adapt well with a new OS as they're comfortable with previous versions. Window's 10 menu is actually cluttered compared to Windows 7's. As far as speed goes I use an SSD drive and the speed difference is minuscule, 2 secs is not that significant

 

[Pauly1651]

I downloaded the free version of W10 onto my Dell, Core2Duo with 4GB Ram, 250GBSSD, and NVidia Graphics card. I left it on for one day and really could not see that it was any "better" than Windows 7, in fact, it appeared that the laptop actually was less snappy than before the "free upgrade" to W10. I did a clean install of Windows 7 back on and got the snappy back into my laptop. Windows 10 is another hyped up Microsoft creation, it is not better, just different.

 

[Pauly1651]

I don'nt know what you saying I just know windows 7 is still better then windows 8 or windows 10. I recently upgrade my pc with windows 10 and I just downgrade it due to some issues. I was very impressed with edge browser but after 3 days it start the main problem like hanging and not responding the result was affecting other programs too. I decided to come back to my old windows 7 pro and I am fine with this. win 7 is far better then win 8 and win 10.

I agree 100 percent, this just a repeat of when MS was touting W8 as the best OS ever...Windows 7 64 bit is still far better.

 

[MrTroubles]

The only reason I went from 7 to 10 was because I am getting a dx12 GPU.The ironic thing is most programs that worked in Win7 work,but only 50% of my expensive games do.So I rebought them on Steam and only half of the Steam replacement games work.Win 10 has cost me a lot of money and lost games so far and that's why I switched for better gaming.Now I don't have money left for the newest games...Bummer.

 

[stansfield]

I have persevered with w10 from the first build. Got interesting catching up with each development but now have decided I have had enough. Its loaded with crap I don't need, I don't want a store, I don't want it calling home, there is just too much garbage for me whose needs are every-day computing with 40 years experience.
It tries to be all things to all men and I don't think it works and the constant "app" promotion leaves me cold.
This article shows virtually no difference in performance with w8.1 (in fact in lots of areas w8.1 is better) which I can get along with and will be reverting to 8.1 which I have been using on my main computer and am quite happy with after modifying. Call me a dinosaur but does any serious PC user want all the useless stuff contained in windows 10. Ok for kids maybe but I sure aint a kid any more!

P.S The only thing I like is the edge browser which is fast and when add-ons are available might catch up with Firefox.

 

[Steve]

The only reason I went from 7 to 10 was because I am getting a dx12 GPU.The ironic thing is most programs that worked in Win7 work,but only 50% of my expensive games do.So I rebought them on Steam and only half of the Steam replacement games work.Win 10 has cost me a lot of money and lost games so far and that's why I switched for better gaming.Now I don't have money left for the newest games...Bummer.

Which games don't work? I have over 400 games on my Steam account and I haven't found one that doesn't work in Windows 10. I don't understand why 50% of your games wouldn't work in W10 but are find in W8.1.

I have persevered with w10 from the first build. Got interesting catching up with each development but now have decided I have had enough. Its loaded with crap I don't need, I don't want a store, I don't want it calling home, there is just too much garbage for me whose needs are every-day computing with 40 years experience.
It tries to be all things to all men and I don't think it works and the constant "app" promotion leaves me cold.
This article shows virtually no difference in performance with w8.1 (in fact in lots of areas w8.1 is better) which I can get along with and will be reverting to 8.1 which I have been using on my main computer and am quite happy with after modifying. Call me a dinosaur but does any serious PC user want all the useless stuff contained in windows 10. Ok for kids maybe but I sure aint a kid any more!

P.S The only thing I like is the edge browser which is fast and when add-ons are available might catch up with Firefox.

There is a single command which you can run in PowerShell that removes all of that stuff. Or you can do them individually as stated in this very article.

 

[edwaleni]

Try Browsermark for browser performance.

http://web.basemark.com/

As far as the earlier comments on the "other" testing methodologies.

Indexing is a setting in the Control Panel and not something you really benchmark. Technically, following the authors SSD recommendation will improve indexing.

Paging performance is really up to how the application uses memory and how the OS responds to that application request. Again, since paging uses disk, an SSD would provide the requisite levels of performance or use a small SSD for caching.

With regards to screen paging performance, (rarely tested anymore) is still done using the Passmark Performance Test tool.

https://www.passmark.com/

Those of you who are avoiding Win10 (like me) for other non-technical reasons, be warned that MSFT is pushing up several KB's via Windows Update that provides the same level of "use monitoring" in Windows 7 that Windows 10 has out of the box. You can uninstall 2 of the KB's yourself and it breaks the activity and stops them from uploading further. The EULA with MSFT and Windows is pretty much like your smartphone now. They now have the right to collect data on how you use your PC all the time. If you are uncomfortable with it, be a nutter and stay on XP/Vista or move to Linux. I still know people running Windows 2000, for how much longer, who knows?

My surprise in this testing report is the lack of variance in encoding. The i5 used has some advanced vector and floating point features that reportedly Win10 exposes. Which probably means the test software wasn't looking for it.

As far as its use for desktop software, there used to be some Office automation test tools that could test the OS ability to handle OLE and DDE and certain .NET functions, but they have fallen by the wayside pretty much as the demand has waned to understand these. Mostly because the tests simply showed how well the hardware was able to overcome the limitations of Office coding.

Clearly benchmarking is about 3 areas today:
- Gaming (3D & Encoding)
- Browser performance (Cloud)
- Responsiveness (disk)

 

[stansfield]

Which games don't work? I have over 400 games on my Steam account and I haven't found one that doesn't work in Windows 10. I don't understand why 50% of your games wouldn't work in W10 but are find in W8.1.

There is a single command which you can run in PowerShell that removes all of that stuff. Or you can do them individually as stated in this very article.

Did that using powershell, still don't want it.

I also used "say no to windows 10" to cut out all the intrusive stuff and a firewall to block MS
But why should I have to do all this to use an OS for my own purposes?

 

[Steve]

Did that using powershell, still don't want it.

I also used "say no to windows 10" to cut out all the intrusive stuff and a firewall to block MS
But why should I have to do all this to use an OS for my own purposes?

You don't have to do any of that

But if you want to customize the OS for your own purposes as you say, well then you can. I find it hard to complain about something that can be fixed for free in a matter of seconds.

 

[Opium]

This is a well written review with unwanted conclusion that MS want to see. I feel that Windows 7 will be another Windows XP again. Unless there are some major benefit, I won't upgrade to Windows 10.

I've installed Windows 10 on my another partition for months. Just put it there after several trial. I can't stand the shitty UI and ugly flat design W10 deliver. It's been 20 years. MS just don't know how to make their UI look and feel right.

Hello! Mac uses flat design, but not on their icons! They only use it in windows frame and buttons! W10's icons look like graffiti from 3 years old kids. HiDPI support is **** in W10 too. Some general use functions are buried so deep that you have to google it.

So what's the reason to update? Absolutely 0!

 

[TheRealDennis]

Win 7 is what made microsoft what it is and I will forever use it.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Win 7 is what made microsoft what it is and I will forever use it.

Ohh please! I still love Windows 7 even though I've moved to Windows 10. But Microsoft was over 20 years old by the time Windows 7 came out.

 

[bazz2004]

I left updating my reserve desktop drive to Windows 10 from W7 until a few days ago. I did spend a bit of time working with my W7 installation but can't think of any reason why people would want to stonewall the Windows 10 offer. It's free, a better OS by far and Microsoft are keen to improve it further. You can change settings to improve privacy if that's an issue.

 

[TheBigFatClown]

There are a lot of reasons not to upgrade.
1) People get tired of having to relearn new stuff that is not really new, just different.
2) Forced updates, constantly morphing operating system that won't be declared 'done' until approximately 10 years from now.
3) The UI still feels cheap, rigid, and stiff but it's "different" from past operating systems and Microsoft wants to keep that as a distinction between old operating systems even though it's viewed in a highly negative manner by many people, including me.
4) Better than Windows 7 but in what practical sense? There are a lot of bullet points you can list on paper but in the real world, what does it matter? SandyBridge is better than Nehalem, IvyBridge is better than SandyBridge, HasWell is better than IvyBridge, Broadwell is better than Haswell, and SkyLake is better than Broadwell. Do you recommend everyone throw anything away that is older than current generation Intel CPUs? True they aren't free but part of motivating people to part with their hard earned cash is out of "need" and also out of "want".
Sure Windows 10 does things better but there is a price to pay which isn't worth it to some people.

The biggest load of shinola that Microsoft uses to push people into upgrading to Windows 10 is fear. "Windows 10 is more secure". Whoopity do I say. They've released patch after patch after security patch for Windows 10 already and it's been out about half a year now. If you use common sense you can be just as secure on Windows 7 in my opinion. So striking security as the ultimate reason for jumping over to the "dark side" I find no compelling reasons that are all that practical. But maybe that's to my detriment. Maybe I need to study Windows 10 more. Maybe Microsoft should treat their consumers with more respect when touting reasons to upgrade. Instead of treating paps or grandpa or little Timmy like a dunce who can't use a mouse and keyboard to do what they want, maybe they should be more specific about the reasons Windows 10 is leaps and bounds better than Windows 7.
I've heard most of them, I still don't get the "buzz" factor that most people, besides myself, seem to experience.

Windows 8 revealed the true nature of what Microsoft wants to accomplish with their OS. A dumbed down shopping application for the masses. And I can already buy all the movies, games, and whatever else they sell on the internet with Windows 7 and my browser of choice. So, you can keep beating the Windows 10 drum all you want. But in reality, it's not that important to a lot of people. Just my opinion. I am sure adoption will increase slowly over the years out of necessity versus need or want. I may relinquish my Windows 7 someday. Anything is possible. But with 2 computers, there's certainly no hurry to do anything so drastic as dropping Windows 7 all together.

Edit: I still use my Windows 7 system pretty much daily, much more so than I use Windows 10. It feels right. It's that x-factor you just can't quite explain but you know it's there.

 

[bazz2004]

My computers are quite old and include two desktops running Windows XP sp3. None of them came with Windows 10 and I followed th upgrade path. I really like XP but my hardware won't upgrade easily and the cost of a W7 upgrade would be silly for these old units. A reinstall of XP takes nearly forever and when these desktops die they are definitely history. There's nothing wrong with Windows 7 though I reckon the longer you take to move with the times the harder it will be when you actually implement the upgrade. You will feel even more upset about Microsoft when you run out of time on the free upgrade and are required to pay for it.

 

[TheBigFatClown]

My computers are quite old and include two desktops running Windows XP sp3. None of them came with Windows 10 and I followed th upgrade path. I really like XP but my hardware won't upgrade easily and the cost of a W7 upgrade would be silly for these old units. A reinstall of XP takes nearly forever and when these desktops die they are definitely history. There's nothing wrong with Windows 7 though I reckon the longer you take to move with the times the harder it will be when you actually implement the upgrade. You will feel even more upset about Microsoft when you run out of time on the free upgrade and are required to pay for it.

Something doesn't add up here. Are you saying you bought Windows 10 to put on your quite old desktops? If they are too old they won't even be supported by Windows 10. They must be capable of supporting the NX bit or they won't be compatible. I guess there are hacks around that but it seems to fly in the face of logic. Especially if you are upgrading for the security aspects of Windows 10.

Windows 10 will be free on most OEM desktops so there's no "rush" to get it now for those types of consumers. I already have a free copy as well. Your logic to upgrade now is a psychological one. Upgrade so you don't have to pay later even though you may not want it now. That's certainly one way of looking at it but not very compelling.

 

[bazz2004]

I haven't bought any copies of Windows 10 and have only upgraded my computers from W7 and W8.1 because it's free and the OS is superior. The XP desktops are not going to be upgraded. I rather expect that this time next year you will be on board with Windows 10 too.