Windows 8 or Windows 7

[Wolf Tfk]

Help windows 8 or windows 7 for gaming?

 

[IInuyasha74]

I would go with Windows 7. I find it all around better than Windows 8, because Windows 8 is much more optimized for tablets and not so much for a desktop top or laptop computer. Also at this point windows 7 has more games that it supports than windows 8, and it probably will continue to support the latest games for many years.

 

[theonerm2]

I would go with Windows 8 because it's getting DirectX 11.2 and Windows 7 isn't. It might be something you don't want to miss out on.

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/DirectX-11.2-Tiled-Resources-Xbox,23322.html

 

[IInuyasha74]

That does sound like a worth while feature to windows 8, but I still wouldn't want it for my desktop, and would be worried about compatibility with games created before Windows 8.
So take your pick, they both have ups and downs.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

There's no difference in Gaming , all my games that ran on 7 run on 8.

 

[theonerm2]

There's no difference in Gaming , all my games that ran on 7 run on 8.

Mine too. They work pretty well. There are some compatibility options for those games that might not work so well. Also, Windows 8 is pretty good for the power user as well as the less knowledgeable user. The start screen is great for those who know little about computers and the desktop is great for long time windows uses. At first I didn't like it.. But once I learned how everything works on it I think It's better. Windows 8 just takes a little more time to get used to because you're learning new things. You don't have to access the fullscreen start menu in order to do certain things you're used to doing. Right click the area where the start button used to be and you will see an awesome list of shortcuts. Direct shortcuts to places like Programs and features, Device Manager, Disk Management, System Properties, run, Event Viewer, Task Manager... Some of these things previously took longer to find. The task manager is way more detailed, the file explorer has way more options and I like the way things are laid out in it, the reset and refresh options are something I've wanted for a while... It's a good version of Windows once you get past the "It's different so I hate it" stage.

 

[jimmysmitty]

I would go with Windows 7. I find it all around better than Windows 8, because Windows 8 is much more optimized for tablets and not so much for a desktop top or laptop computer. Also at this point windows 7 has more games that it supports than windows 8, and it probably will continue to support the latest games for many years.

That's incorrect. A lot of the optimizations under the hood were for the desktop. The task manager, which is super detailed now. The ability to do multiple transfers in one window and pause them. The fact that transfers are more consistent in speeds vs 7 which fluctuate like crazy. The boot times as well. Also I love the search function. Its way faster than 7 is.

The start screen was designed with touch in mind. If anything it makes sense as there were a lot of Windows 7 AiOs with touch screens well before 8 came out and the majority of consumers would probably prefer the AiOs as they take up less space.

That said, I like 7 as well. It was probably one of MS best OS releases with very little issues at launch and hasn't even needed a major SP upgrade like Vista and XP did. SP1 was mostly just the previous patches with a few tweaks. Vista needed SP1 to perform better and SP2/3 in XP changed tons to make XP a better OS.

8 is what I would go for as well because it is more secure. If your system supports Secure Boot it will help eliminate boot time viruses. Have yet to get one 8 machine in yet with any of the fake AVs or FBI/Money scam viruses. As well 8.1 will increase the security for 8 machines and as well add a few nice features like the option to boot to desktop, remove the hot corners and the Start Button is back and can be changed to go to All Apps which is just a screen sized version of the start menu.

This is from a tech who works on PCs daily and I have been using 8 since release. $15 bucks for Pro w/Media Center? Yes, thank you.

 

[DavidWarner]

As everyone said, I don't think there's much difference between the two. If anything, the inclusion of DirectX 11.2 which has low latency present API and mappeable GPU buffers should be more than enough incentive.

 

[JimBob52]

Windows 7 hands down.
I just spent the last week with a Lenovo and an HP i7s 3770 and I can tell you that the consumer complaints are not a problem at all compared to the SECURITY Windows 8 has in store for you. What lies in wait for Techs who troubleshoot and reinstall Windows 8 will be a nightmare. Microsoft has Made Windows 8 a recovery nightmare for people replacing hard drives that have failed motors and need a bare reinstall. FIRST the customer better have the RECOVERY CDs or you can just stop until you get some because you will not be able to run a Dell OEM CD or even a same OEM CD unless its the same model as the one you are working on. Furthermore I did a Windows 8.1 upgrade demo on the Lenovo and see that Microsoft is forcing you to their will by making you sign up for a Microsoft account (xxxxx@live.com) or else you can not continue with the 8.1 upgrade. I dont know about you but Microsoft is moving toward dominating its customers by forcing there will. Microsoft doesn't want you as a customer they want to OWN YOU!
I seriously hope that APPLE soon makes there products more affordable so we can all switch!

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

I've never had issues reinstalling 8.

 

[JimBob52]

I've never had issues reinstalling 8.

You must have used the recovery partition or the factory CDs then?

 

[IInuyasha74]

I would go with Windows 7. I find it all around better than Windows 8, because Windows 8 is much more optimized for tablets and not so much for a desktop top or laptop computer. Also at this point windows 7 has more games that it supports than windows 8, and it probably will continue to support the latest games for many years.

That's incorrect. A lot of the optimizations under the hood were for the desktop. The task manager, which is super detailed now. The ability to do multiple transfers in one window and pause them. The fact that transfers are more consistent in speeds vs 7 which fluctuate like crazy. The boot times as well. Also I love the search function. Its way faster than 7 is.

The start screen was designed with touch in mind. If anything it makes sense as there were a lot of Windows 7 AiOs with touch screens well before 8 came out and the majority of consumers would probably prefer the AiOs as they take up less space.

That said, I like 7 as well. It was probably one of MS best OS releases with very little issues at launch and hasn't even needed a major SP upgrade like Vista and XP did. SP1 was mostly just the previous patches with a few tweaks. Vista needed SP1 to perform better and SP2/3 in XP changed tons to make XP a better OS.

8 is what I would go for as well because it is more secure. If your system supports Secure Boot it will help eliminate boot time viruses. Have yet to get one 8 machine in yet with any of the fake AVs or FBI/Money scam viruses. As well 8.1 will increase the security for 8 machines and as well add a few nice features like the option to boot to desktop, remove the hot corners and the Start Button is back and can be changed to go to All Apps which is just a screen sized version of the start menu.

This is from a tech who works on PCs daily and I have been using 8 since release. $15 bucks for Pro w/Media Center? Yes, thank you.

You really shouldn't start off your post saying that I am incorrect and giving wrong information. Windows 8 was originally designed for tablets, smart phones, and other portable devices because Windows wanted to make an OS that worked on everything and not just on desktops and laptops. Its true after they finished the majority of the work they went and optimized some aspects of it to make it more desktop friendly but that because before hand it hadn't been really worked for the desktop at all.

I don't see how you can possibly look at the tablet like interface, the advertisements by Microsoft using it pretty much exclusively on tablets and tablet-PC's, and all the information out about Windows 8 development and not see it was designed, developed, and created with tablets in mind and not desktop PC's.

 

[jimmysmitty]

Windows 7 hands down.
I just spent the last week with a Lenovo and an HP i7s 3770 and I can tell you that the consumer complaints are not a problem at all compared to the SECURITY Windows 8 has in store for you. What lies in wait for Techs who troubleshoot and reinstall Windows 8 will be a nightmare. Microsoft has Made Windows 8 a recovery nightmare for people replacing hard drives that have failed motors and need a bare reinstall. FIRST the customer better have the RECOVERY CDs or you can just stop until you get some because you will not be able to run a Dell OEM CD or even a same OEM CD unless its the same model as the one you are working on. Furthermore I did a Windows 8.1 upgrade demo on the Lenovo and see that Microsoft is forcing you to their will by making you sign up for a Microsoft account (xxxxx@live.com) or else you can not continue with the 8.1 upgrade. I dont know about you but Microsoft is moving toward dominating its customers by forcing there will. Microsoft doesn't want you as a customer they want to OWN YOU!
I seriously hope that APPLE soon makes there products more affordable so we can all switch!

Some of the OEMs have made it difficult to actually get to the BIOS. For example, Toshiba uses F2 for BIOS entry. But with Windows 8 you have to press and hold F2 before you turn the PC on.

As for reinstalling on OEM machines, its a piece of cake. I have ripped copies from what we sell at work and as long as UEFI and Secure Boot are on, it loads the DVD and the install is a snap. Don't even have to input the product key since its loaded into the BIOS.

Its not that hard. Now installing Windows 7 to a X79 server grade mobo, that's hard since it wont see the SATA controller when in AHCI or RAID by default and half the drivers on the DVD don't work.

I would go with Windows 7. I find it all around better than Windows 8, because Windows 8 is much more optimized for tablets and not so much for a desktop top or laptop computer. Also at this point windows 7 has more games that it supports than windows 8, and it probably will continue to support the latest games for many years.

That's incorrect. A lot of the optimizations under the hood were for the desktop. The task manager, which is super detailed now. The ability to do multiple transfers in one window and pause them. The fact that transfers are more consistent in speeds vs 7 which fluctuate like crazy. The boot times as well. Also I love the search function. Its way faster than 7 is.

The start screen was designed with touch in mind. If anything it makes sense as there were a lot of Windows 7 AiOs with touch screens well before 8 came out and the majority of consumers would probably prefer the AiOs as they take up less space.

That said, I like 7 as well. It was probably one of MS best OS releases with very little issues at launch and hasn't even needed a major SP upgrade like Vista and XP did. SP1 was mostly just the previous patches with a few tweaks. Vista needed SP1 to perform better and SP2/3 in XP changed tons to make XP a better OS.

8 is what I would go for as well because it is more secure. If your system supports Secure Boot it will help eliminate boot time viruses. Have yet to get one 8 machine in yet with any of the fake AVs or FBI/Money scam viruses. As well 8.1 will increase the security for 8 machines and as well add a few nice features like the option to boot to desktop, remove the hot corners and the Start Button is back and can be changed to go to All Apps which is just a screen sized version of the start menu.

This is from a tech who works on PCs daily and I have been using 8 since release. $15 bucks for Pro w/Media Center? Yes, thank you.

You really shouldn't start off your post saying that I am incorrect and giving wrong information. Windows 8 was originally designed for tablets, smart phones, and other portable devices because Windows wanted to make an OS that worked on everything and not just on desktops and laptops. Its true after they finished the majority of the work they went and optimized some aspects of it to make it more desktop friendly but that because before hand it hadn't been really worked for the desktop at all.

I don't see how you can possibly look at the tablet like interface, the advertisements by Microsoft using it pretty much exclusively on tablets and tablet-PC's, and all the information out about Windows 8 development and not see it was designed, developed, and created with tablets in mind and not desktop PC's.

What you stated was that Windows 8 was optimized for Tablets. That is untrue or they wouldn't have optimized certain parts that wouldn't be used as much by tablets. How many people with tablets will run 2-3 transfers at once? How many will utilize the task manager that complex? None.

Windows 8 is to be meant as a one in all OS but the GUI could have been in development for AiOs since tablets just recently started becoming much more popular but AiOs with touchscreens have been around since Vistas release.

But now since Tablets are the "hot" item they will market towards those people. That doesn't mean that's what it was only designed for. The majority of Windows 7 advertisements were for laptops. Did that mean 7 was designed for laptops? Nope. Its just that when 7 came out laptops became much more affordable as well and everyone was buying them up (another of the Desktop PCs are dead times).

The fact is that PCs for the mass majority are moving towards AiOs, Tablets with docking systems and mobile devices. We enthusiasts will still remain but MS, Intel etc all follow the market and what sells.

8 is a great OS. It was fine before 8.1. Its better with 8.1 but it was by no means worse than Vista or 7. It runs great and actually is focused on the areas that need the most work such as security. 8.1 will only strengthen that.

 

[IInuyasha74]

Windows 7 hands down.
I just spent the last week with a Lenovo and an HP i7s 3770 and I can tell you that the consumer complaints are not a problem at all compared to the SECURITY Windows 8 has in store for you. What lies in wait for Techs who troubleshoot and reinstall Windows 8 will be a nightmare. Microsoft has Made Windows 8 a recovery nightmare for people replacing hard drives that have failed motors and need a bare reinstall. FIRST the customer better have the RECOVERY CDs or you can just stop until you get some because you will not be able to run a Dell OEM CD or even a same OEM CD unless its the same model as the one you are working on. Furthermore I did a Windows 8.1 upgrade demo on the Lenovo and see that Microsoft is forcing you to their will by making you sign up for a Microsoft account (xxxxx@live.com) or else you can not continue with the 8.1 upgrade. I dont know about you but Microsoft is moving toward dominating its customers by forcing there will. Microsoft doesn't want you as a customer they want to OWN YOU!
I seriously hope that APPLE soon makes there products more affordable so we can all switch!

Some of the OEMs have made it difficult to actually get to the BIOS. For example, Toshiba uses F2 for BIOS entry. But with Windows 8 you have to press and hold F2 before you turn the PC on.

As for reinstalling on OEM machines, its a piece of cake. I have ripped copies from what we sell at work and as long as UEFI and Secure Boot are on, it loads the DVD and the install is a snap. Don't even have to input the product key since its loaded into the BIOS.

Its not that hard. Now installing Windows 7 to a X79 server grade mobo, that's hard since it wont see the SATA controller when in AHCI or RAID by default and half the drivers on the DVD don't work.

I would go with Windows 7. I find it all around better than Windows 8, because Windows 8 is much more optimized for tablets and not so much for a desktop top or laptop computer. Also at this point windows 7 has more games that it supports than windows 8, and it probably will continue to support the latest games for many years.

That's incorrect. A lot of the optimizations under the hood were for the desktop. The task manager, which is super detailed now. The ability to do multiple transfers in one window and pause them. The fact that transfers are more consistent in speeds vs 7 which fluctuate like crazy. The boot times as well. Also I love the search function. Its way faster than 7 is.

The start screen was designed with touch in mind. If anything it makes sense as there were a lot of Windows 7 AiOs with touch screens well before 8 came out and the majority of consumers would probably prefer the AiOs as they take up less space.

That said, I like 7 as well. It was probably one of MS best OS releases with very little issues at launch and hasn't even needed a major SP upgrade like Vista and XP did. SP1 was mostly just the previous patches with a few tweaks. Vista needed SP1 to perform better and SP2/3 in XP changed tons to make XP a better OS.

8 is what I would go for as well because it is more secure. If your system supports Secure Boot it will help eliminate boot time viruses. Have yet to get one 8 machine in yet with any of the fake AVs or FBI/Money scam viruses. As well 8.1 will increase the security for 8 machines and as well add a few nice features like the option to boot to desktop, remove the hot corners and the Start Button is back and can be changed to go to All Apps which is just a screen sized version of the start menu.

This is from a tech who works on PCs daily and I have been using 8 since release. $15 bucks for Pro w/Media Center? Yes, thank you.

You really shouldn't start off your post saying that I am incorrect and giving wrong information. Windows 8 was originally designed for tablets, smart phones, and other portable devices because Windows wanted to make an OS that worked on everything and not just on desktops and laptops. Its true after they finished the majority of the work they went and optimized some aspects of it to make it more desktop friendly but that because before hand it hadn't been really worked for the desktop at all.

I don't see how you can possibly look at the tablet like interface, the advertisements by Microsoft using it pretty much exclusively on tablets and tablet-PC's, and all the information out about Windows 8 development and not see it was designed, developed, and created with tablets in mind and not desktop PC's.

What you stated was that Windows 8 was optimized for Tablets. That is untrue or they wouldn't have optimized certain parts that wouldn't be used as much by tablets. How many people with tablets will run 2-3 transfers at once? How many will utilize the task manager that complex? None.

Windows 8 is to be meant as a one in all OS but the GUI could have been in development for AiOs since tablets just recently started becoming much more popular but AiOs with touchscreens have been around since Vistas release.

But now since Tablets are the "hot" item they will market towards those people. That doesn't mean that's what it was only designed for. The majority of Windows 7 advertisements were for laptops. Did that mean 7 was designed for laptops? Nope. Its just that when 7 came out laptops became much more affordable as well and everyone was buying them up (another of the Desktop PCs are dead times).

The fact is that PCs for the mass majority are moving towards AiOs, Tablets with docking systems and mobile devices. We enthusiasts will still remain but MS, Intel etc all follow the market and what sells.

8 is a great OS. It was fine before 8.1. Its better with 8.1 but it was by no means worse than Vista or 7. It runs great and actually is focused on the areas that need the most work such as security. 8.1 will only strengthen that.

I question if you know absolutely anything about this subject. It was designed for tablets specifically, not so much optimized. As for running multiple transfers at once, I have a 1GHz Pentium 3 system that can run three or more transfers at a time using Linux. If it can do it, tablets easily can. As for the task manager bit, yes windows 8 has a much better task manager, on my Sony Ericcson phone I have an even more detailed if slightly less simplistic task manager and I used it frequently.

You are right that the community is turning towards tablets and all in one PC's which is again the reason that Windows 8 is designed for them. Yes it works on desktops because they added enough into it to make it work on desktops which was simple to do once it was mostly created, but the specific focus of the design and creation of Windows 8 was for tablets. Its the worst operating system created since Windows 98, but at least WIndows 98 and 95 were revolutionary for their time unlike Windows 8 which feels like a huge step back. Like with Windows Vista me, and pretty much everyone I know and have talked to who uses any non-touch screen computer is skipping WIndows 8 because its terrible.