Which Operating System should I use?

Andyy

Recently, I have bought all the components for a custom build gaming pc and was wondering which operating system I should use?

I have heard that Windows 8 is buggy and may not facilitate gaming very well and the better option would to use Windows 7.

Any Ideas? Please help!!!!

BloodBath

Makes no odds to gaming.

Whichever you prefer the functionality and style of. I stuck with 7.

I always seen w8 as a tablet os.

segasega

You can download Windows 7 for free and use it for 30 days without having to activate it. So, you could get it and see if you like it, then buy it and activate it before your trial runs out.

uncle_sam_ie

Windows 8 is fine and a bit nipper then 7. If your building a new system and can't find win 7 cheaper then go with windows 8.

deceit

If its just for gaming I would definitely use Windows 8. I switched to windows 8 as I had to for work and in alot of games I'm getting up to a 20% increase in framerates. My eyefinity setup in battlefield went from not playable (not smooth) with one 7970 with max settings to a min of 39fps with windows 8.
I did buy the start 8 start menu to make sure it runs like windows 7 though.

BloodBath

deceit wrote: »

If its just for gaming I would definitely use Windows 8. I switched to windows 8 as I had to for work and in alot of games I'm getting up to a 20% increase in framerates. My eyefinity setup in battlefield went from not playable (not smooth) with one 7970 with max settings to a min of 39fps with windows 8.
I did buy the start 8 start menu to make sure it runs like windows 7 though.

There is no difference.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-8-gaming-performance,3331-4.html

deceit

BloodBath wrote: »

There is no difference.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-8-gaming-performance,3331-4.html

try it at over triple that resolution (5760*1200) with fraps running and there is a clear difference.
I might still have fraps videos of when I tested it. If so can show you. Both where done on same amd drivers and it was either a 17 or 18% increase.

Serephucus

Were you using the same drivers on Win8 as you were on Win7? Was it the same version of FRAPS? There's a lot of other factors that could have affected it, not to mention a fresh install (unless you upgraded).

deceit

Serephucus wrote: »

Were you using the same drivers on Win8 as you were on Win7? Was it the same version of FRAPS? There's a lot of other factors that could have affected it, not to mention a fresh install (unless you upgraded).

Both where fresh installs as I install new once every two months without fail so just did it twice instead. Paid for fraps so used the same version both times and drivers user where the same both times as said previously.

BloodBath

I'm guessing you are mistaken and you actually updated the driver with windows 8. One of amd's recent drivers improved bf3 performance by 15-20%

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6393/amds-holiday-plans-cat1211-new-bundle.

Regardless, even if it's some odd problem with eyefinity setups the op isn't running eyefinity or crazy resolutions. Therefore it makes no difference to him. I really doubt it makes any difference at all.

The 13.1's improved performance another 10-20% over the 12.11's

deceit

BloodBath wrote: »

I'm guessing you are mistaken and you actually updated the driver with windows 8. One of amd's recent drivers improved bf3 performance by 15-20%

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6393/amds-holiday-plans-cat1211-new-bundle.

Regardless, even if it's some odd problem with eyefinity setups the op isn't running eyefinity or crazy resolutions. Therefore it makes no difference to him. I really doubt it makes any difference at all.

The 13.1's improved performance another 10-20% over the 12.11's

I was using 12.11 beta on both and I store my drivers/firmware along with any other files on an ftp so no, I was not mistaken with which version I was running.
I cant see why a frame rate of a 6fps (17%) increase is not possible on minimum framerate when there is a 1.4fps increase on avg frame rate at much lower resolutions? I also would be willing to bet the minimum frame rate difference would be higher than 1.4, maybe 3fps as this is what I base it on as I believe its more important.
I also do believe it could make a difference to him as in the future every fps will count if he doesnt upgrade often and as windows 8 matures it can only improve as its a much lighter OS.
I know the idea of the tiles stuff is **** (I dont like it and never use it but as a gaming os it is the best at this point in time).

BloodBath

Don't get me wrong. There are good reasons to go windows 8.

It does show performance improvements in some applications and has faster boot and shut down times. You can even skip bios checks completely with newer boards so when you turn on your pc it instantly starts loading windows. With an SSD you're looking at windows booting with all programs ready to go in under 10 seconds.

However, from the multiple benchmarks I have seen there is 0 difference in gaming. All results are within the margin of error.

Andyy

I ended up going with Windows 8 Thanks for all your help guys!

Andyy

Andyy wrote: »

I ended up going with Windows 8 Thanks for all your help guys!

You should be fine. Most of Windows 8's complaints are GUI related, the underlying system itself is quite decent.