Tests results: Windows 8 faster than Windows 7, but really?

09 Jul 12 21:32 by in category Software

While Microsoft is spending half a billion to promote Windows 8, others have tried to find reasons on why to start using Microsoft’s latest operating system. Michael Muchmore from PCPro has tested Windows 8 against Windows 7 on speed and Windows 8 beats Windows 7 in all his tests. The most significant difference is that Windows 8 booted up 21 seconds faster than Windows 7, also IE10 seems to be an incredible improvement over IE9 when it comes to speed. On some tests Windows 8 was almost 2 times faster.

While Windows 8 might be faster, another journalist, Harry McCracken of Time Techland raised some interesting points. While he doesn’t object that Window 8 boots faster than Windows 7, he wonders how often you actually fully boot the system and he also wonders how much faster Window 8 will come out of suspend mode. And besides the time you’re waiting on the PC, how quickly do you get things done in Metro? Will we really get used to it and do things as fast as we are used to do with Windows 7, or will it even be faster thanks to Metro?

And of course, is Windows 8 still fast when the OEMs are done with it? When a new computer comes with numerous trial ware applications, will Windows 8 not become just as sluggish as any other Windows version and what if you’ve installed a lot of software and you’re using it for a year?

Interesting questions and of course time will tell. But one thing is clear, Windows 8 and it’s Metro GUI, might be a technology shift, not everyone is ready to make that shift and not everyone is convinced this is the way to go.

Be sure to check out the test results of PCPro and then head over to Time Techland to read their thoughts.

14 Comments on Tests results: Windows 8 faster than Windows 7, but really?

bean55
Posts: 6322
Posted on: 09 Jul 12 22:06
Very interesting articles, Only time will tell
BradWright
Posts: 225
Posted on: 09 Jul 12 22:11
Yes, really. My desktop computer at home (AMD quad core, 4 GB RAM, 750 GB HDD with three equal partitions) is dual bootable (Windows 7 and Windows 8 RP). Booting into Windows 8 is considerably faster than booting into Windows 7. Once booted, however, I don't see any difference.
Dee
Posts: 12810
Posted on: 09 Jul 12 22:18
Windows 8 does have better support for the latest hardware.

Example: Native support for SATA3
Native support for USB3 including UASP over USB3 to support NCQ
Native Thunderbolt support
More advanced TRIM support for SSDs.
DrageMester
Posts: 19885
Posted on: 09 Jul 12 22:27
Quote:
Windows 8 and it’s Metro GUI, might be a technology shift
There's no "f" in that word!
Dee
Posts: 12810
Posted on: 09 Jul 12 22:29
Actually, without Metro, Win8 is rather nice.
Thanks to power8
Kenshin
Posts: 13160
Posted on: 10 Jul 12 09:09
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dee View Post
Actually, without Metro, Win8 is rather nice.
Thanks to power8
Especially when you can have 512GB SSD plus 64GB (8GB * 8) DDR 3 RAM for under US$1,000. Though it ran fine even with 60GB SSD and 4GB RAM. One troubling thing's that I bought a retail copy of Windows 7 Ultimate less than one year ago for nearly US$300 and Microsoft is promoting Windows 8 so heavily that they offer a nearly free upgrade to Windows 8 for every NEW Windows 7 buyer. I'm not eligible.
macnavarra
Posts: 75
Posted on: 10 Jul 12 10:35
would be of my intress to know if you can use the upgrade version from 7 to 8.
Without the hassel from windows VISTA to windows 7 where i was sugessted to format my windows VISTA installation and do a clean install of winddows 7.
debro
Posts: 13329
Posted on: 10 Jul 12 15:25
I've found windows 8 to be quicker than windows 7 on the same hardware.

Without the metro interface, I'd almost suggest that windows 8 is much better than windows 7.

As Dee mentioned, you can use 3rd party (free) software to add a start bar. Its just that you shouldn't have to.

Apart from the FUBAR metro interface, it's a great improvement. But ... it's got metro.

FFS.
ChristineBCW
Posts: 1299
Posted on: 10 Jul 12 15:41
Productivity speed... I turn on our Compaq SLT/256, get WordPerf 5.1 running, type my letter and dump it to our Deskjet 500 in 1min 24sec when the page is in my hand. And 40 seconds of that is print-time, but it's a long letter...

I still love XTreeGold... tag things all over the place, Moves, Zips, so easy.
bean55
Posts: 6322
Posted on: 10 Jul 12 15:44
I guess the main Question is Better for What?

If you are into Facebook,Twitter or extreme browsing then maybe it will be better for you.
I found nothing there that helped my work or home environment personally, so I am one of those it does not really help.
DukeNukem
Posts: 1606
Posted on: 11 Jul 12 16:20
I haven't seen Win 8 yet, but it's going to need to be pretty awesome for me to drop Win 7. It took me forever to leave XP Pro (Vista was just a chrome-plated turd IMHO) and I just don't like to pack up and leave just because something new is the flavour of the month. I might just use Win 8 if I get a tablet, but that's about it.
BradWright
Posts: 225
Posted on: 11 Jul 12 19:12
Quote:
Originally Posted by debro View Post
I've found windows 8 to be quicker than windows 7 on the same hardware.

Without the metro interface, I'd almost suggest that windows 8 is much better than windows 7.

As Dee mentioned, you can use 3rd party (free) software to add a start bar. Its just that you shouldn't have to.

Apart from the FUBAR metro interface, it's a great improvement. But ... it's got metro.

FFS.
I'll keep saying this 'till the moon turns blue. So don't use Metro. Just go directly to the Desktop view after booting into Windows 8, put icons and/or folders for everything you do on the desktop, and go. I do this with Windows 7 and never use the start menu anyway. It's actually quicker and easier than the start menu because everything is right there in plain view.
Kenshin
Posts: 13160
Posted on: 12 Jul 12 18:43
Quote:
Originally Posted by BradWright View Post
I'll keep saying this 'till the moon turns blue. So don't use Metro. Just go directly to the Desktop view after booting into Windows 8, put icons and/or folders for everything you do on the desktop, and go. I do this with Windows 7 and never use the start menu anyway. It's actually quicker and easier than the start menu because everything is right there in plain view.
That was how things were organized with Windows 3.1 and some preceding versions. I always liked to see all the links with respective names for programs and files on the hardware at once and every time.
ChristineBCW
Posts: 1299
Posted on: 14 Jul 12 15:53
Kenshin, yes, and just about every computer user has "their own computer" that they get used to, and they want to tailor it to move their favorite 'objects' in their own location.

I think my own Start Button usage is still 99% based on Tap-The-WinKey-Then-Shutdown usage!

But when I stroll thru someone else's computer, the Start Button is MY ONLY CHOICE. I can't wait to read more lies about "Win8's admin & management is sooo much cheaper..." Yeah. Right.
Tell us, what do you think about

Tests results: Windows 8 faster than Windows 7, but really?

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