Windows 7 vs Windows 8.1 Pro/Not Pro - Best for games?

[internalmemory]

As the title says it all. I'm building my computer but essentially all I need is to decide on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 (with the Windows 8.1 addition download for classic features). Also I am debating on standard or Pro edition since I believe 100 additional dollars for "Ultimate" is just not relevant to any PC user who has a conscious lol.

I have seen in recent articles how Windows 8-8.1 are less demanding on resources and that they can utilize more modern games better (i.e. BF4), but on the other hand I've seen people who debate that W7 is more efficient with performance. My theory is that more modern and future PC games will be designed for performance on 8, while older games are more proficient with 7.

 

[jhughes86]

I refused to switch to from 7 Pro until 8 got better and since 8.1 hit I made the switch and it seems to only get better with the more updates that come out. As far as resources go Windows 8 actually uses the least amount of resources since Windows XP.

 

[USAFRet]

1. You don't need Win7 Ultimate, or Win 8/8.1 Pro. You're spending money for features you will never ever use.

2. Win 7 vs Win 8/8.1. Currently, performance is very, very similar. In the gaming world, some games have been reported to be 1-2FPS faster in Win8, some the other way around.

With Win 8.1, you can easily cause it to boot directly into Desktop mode. And it looks and acts little different that Win 7.

 

[internalmemory]

Okay, thanks, so I'll be able to like customize the look and feel and have everything I need with standard OEM of W8.1? Mostly I want it to be nothing but a 2,000+ gaming console and movie player maybe, with perhaps MS Word on it for school if I feel like writing an essay on my HDTV. But I hate it when an OS seems to lock you out of changing various little things like you could in XP where you could change your theme and colors and font size and boot screen and log in screen, etc.

 

[quarrel]

Go with the new windows for sure. I have it and I have no issues with games at all. Its seems to even run faster and smoother.

 

[Kwtsoss]

1. You don't need Win7 Ultimate, or Win 8/8.1 Pro. You're spending money for features you will never ever use.

2. Win 7 vs Win 8/8.1. Currently, performance is very, very similar. In the gaming world, some games have been reported to be 1-2FPS faster in Win8, some the other way around.

With Win 8.1, you can easily cause it to boot directly into Desktop mode. And it looks and acts little different that Win 7.

So, I have like some old games to play (max payne, and others) and i am building a pc...should i ho with win 7 64bit or win 8.1 64bit. I dont know which should i pick...please help!

 

[USAFRet]

1. You don't need Win7 Ultimate, or Win 8/8.1 Pro. You're spending money for features you will never ever use.

2. Win 7 vs Win 8/8.1. Currently, performance is very, very similar. In the gaming world, some games have been reported to be 1-2FPS faster in Win8, some the other way around.

With Win 8.1, you can easily cause it to boot directly into Desktop mode. And it looks and acts little different that Win 7.

So, I have like some old games to play (max payne, and others) and i am building a pc...should i ho with win 7 64bit or win 8.1 64bit. I dont know which should i pick...please help!

As said earlier...it probably does not matter. Performance is very, very similar.