Windows 7 or 8

[Red.dwarf4ever]

Hello
This is my first post and I think this question may have been asked before, but here goes....

I am considering building a new gaming pc.....target approx £600...

I have looked at one on Amxxxx web site and there is a vibox gamer 2 pc, which looks very good ( built a frw pcs in my time but hard to keep,up with cpu gpu mobo etc etc ) but comes without an OS.

I have a vista home basic disk which i could use, but considering windows 7 or 8. The reports i have rad in window 8 is that it is strongly geared to a touch screen and as such is not so suitable for a conventional keyboard and mouse.....i have windows 7 on a laptop and find it very easy to navigate.

So which should i choose 7 or 8 ???

Both are a cheap,upgrade from vista.

Not even sure if i could use vista with this vibox 2 pc as the drivers may not be available, although vista and 7 drivers do overlap a little.

Would like opinions on anything or all i have mentioned.

My current pc is very very old, i have upgraded to the max the mobo will take and its doing quite well but will soon need to be retired as game plying is difficult to say the least. Company of heroes will only play at the very minimum levels.

Best wishes

 

[Digerati]

I have a vista home basic disk which i could use

Maybe, maybe not. Please note a common misunderstanding among many users is they assume they can use their old Windows license on a new computer, or with their upgraded motherboard. The fact is the vast majority of Windows licenses are NOT legally transferable. Only the "boxed" full Retail license can be transferred to a new computer (or upgraded motherboard). It is illegal to use an OEM/System Builders license that came with or was purchased for one computer on another computer. A disk “branded” with a computer maker’s brand name, or is labeled with “OEM", "OEM/System Builder”, “Upgrade”, “Academic Edition”, or "For Distribution with a new PC only", is not transferable to a new PC (or upgraded motherboard) under any circumstances. These OEM licenses are inextricably tied to the "original equipment". And most importantly, as users, we agreed to the terms of the end-user licensing agreement (EULA) when we decided to continue to use the software on the original computer. And that makes it legally binding.

With that in mind, if you need to buy a new license I recommend 64-bit Windows 7 or 64-bit Windows 8, or one of the many free Linux alternatives.

So Windows 7 or 8? I say 8. Why? Because it is more secure. And it is newer which means support for will be available for more years to come, and it takes better advantage of the newer UEFI based motherboards.

Yes, the new user interface is not very popular but W8 users who have taken the time to become familiar with it have learned to like it. But for those who still don't like the new UI, there are ways to make W8 look and behave like W7 - which is what I have done.

 

[Mohammed K. Ansari]

Red.dwarf4ever

If You Are Going Out Of Your Way To Buy A Gaming PC, Definitively A x64 Bit Version Of Any Windows Will Add That Extra Boost To Your PC's Performance.

As For OS Choice, I Would Say Give Windows 8 A Try, I Know This Is A Windows 7 Forum, But, Yes Am A Vivid Fan Of Windows 7, It Was Hard For Me To Move From The Familiar Windows 98/XP . Vista Was An Experience I Would Like To Forget.

So Yes, Try Out Windows 8, and I Strongly Recommend The Windows 8 Pro Edition With A Legal Licence, If You Dont Wanna Run Into Troubles

And

Digerati

Is A Real Microsoft MVP For Mentioning The End User Licensing Agreement (EULA).

Nice To Know, Microsoft Keeps A Tab Around All Forums Too.

 

[Red.dwarf4ever]

Wow so much legal jargon from microsft.........
Of course we only use legit copies of windows........
Now i still dont know if windows 7 or 8.......would be interested to see how to make 8 behave and look like 7......
Thanks

 

[Digerati]

Is A Real Microsoft MVP For Mentioning The End User Licensing Agreement (EULA).

Nice To Know, Microsoft Keeps A Tab Around All Forums Too

If you knew anything about me, or the MVP program, you would know that comment (1) is insulting to me personally, and (2) shows a complete ignorance of the MVP program.

I mention the EULA because it is important users understand the law and their legal obligations. It is a disservice to pretend the illegal use of software licenses is okay, or to allow readers to believe they doing nothing wrong as "Ignorantia juris non excusat".

Being a "good" provider of advice does not mean only providing what users "like" or "want" to hear.

And MVPs do not work for, represent, or speak for MS in any way. Though I am proud the help I have provided to readers has been recognized by Microsoft the last 7 years, I have no problems bashing MS when bashing is due - which if you bothered to research before criticizing, you would see I have done often.

would be interested to see how to make 8 behave and look like 7......

First, sorry for the uncalled for distractions.

I use Start8 to bring back the W7 Start Orb and boot directly to the traditional desktop (instead of the new "metro" Start screen) in W8. Others like and use Classic Shell.

 

[Mohammed K. Ansari]

Dear Digerati,

i did not mean to offend you or criticize you.
just as a light heart'ed joke , said about you mentioning the EULA.

take it with a pinch of salt.
please do not take it as an insult, in my mode, i just wrote about it for name sake.

cheer's to your 7 years and counting experience.
i will surely call on your expertise

 

[Digerati]

please do not take it as an insult, in my mode, i just wrote about it for name sake.

I appreciate that. I would ask you consider in the future how you would feel if someone pre-judged you and posted such a "joke" in a technical forum based solely on your profile information - that is, your name?

It would be inappropriate, for sure - and most likely, totally inaccurate.

 

[Digerati]

I feel I need to come back in and apologize for getting so defensive in my last two replies. As a WASP (white Anglo-Saxon Protestant) (I doubt that is "politically correct", but that describes what I am), I am not used to, nor hardened to criticisms based solely on a label.

When I first joined the military the Vietnam War was still going on and that was really the only time I was criticize for what I was - and that was a long time ago.

So, my apologies again.

 

[marc8484]

OK, we done with the trolling? I still do not see the original post's question answered. All this EULA blah blah we already know, and it's far from answering anything about which version of Windows would best process gaming.

So what is the answer, if it's W8, why and how is this performance increased compared to W7?

 

[davehc]

Red.dwarf.

"I have read in window 8 is that it is strongly geared to a touch screen and as such is not so suitable for a conventional keyboard and mouse....."

Totally untrue. Microsoft, rightly or wrongly, depending on your point of view, have given priority to a new touchscreen based desktop. The desktop can also be used, without alteration, as a mouse touch screen. fwiw, I use it as a start menu.
But Windows 8 is a dual purpose OS. unfortunately, if you do not want to go down my path and customise the new desktop as a start menu, then it is necessary to download and install a third party start menu. There are several available, mostly free. Having done that, it is also, with the help of options in most of those third party menus, to boot straight into the better known legacy (Windows 7) desktop. Almost (?) 100% of programs which would run in Windows 7, will also run in Windows 8. Having done the above, you need never look at the new "touchscreen" again.

As said above, and in particular for gaming, 64BIt is the way of the future. I am not a gamer but have read on the web good reports of the gaming ability of Windows 8.

Windows 8.1, an update/replacement for Windows 8, has the choice of automatically booting up to the legacy desktop.
When looking at new computers, keep a close eye on the ram. I mange with 4gbs, but as you are a gamer I would suggest a little more. Windows 8 is using ram more efficiently, but....

Have a read about gaming experience on the windows 8 forums (We have a companion forum)

Back to the beginning. If you have the fluid choice of 8 or 7 - definitely 8 (8.1) performance wise, it is a little improved over 7, but is slicker all round, with a couple or do of extras.

 

[TrainableMan]

Perhaps this TuneUp Blog article from last year will answer some performance questions you have.

Or UsabilityGeek.

Or Techspot.

Or PCMag.

All found with a simple search:
performance "Windows 7" versus "Windows 8"

 

[realray]

windows 7 for now, but i can't say that windows 8 is no better than 7 in the future.