Windows 8 and 10 which is better. Best version of Windows

Which Windows is better? – this is very interesting question. But in my opinion it is not entirely correct, since it is not complete. It doesn't fully define what you want to know.

If you are interested in the XP version number, 7, 8, 10, then the answer is obvious. Based on the principle that each subsequent version should be better than the previous one, the answer already suggests itself. Of course this is Windows 10. On at the moment This latest version and she is of course the coolest. For the newest computers, it should certainly be the best. But questions immediately arise: “Why is it better than the rest?”; "Can it be installed on old computers?"; "Is it possible to install old operating systems on new computers?" To understand the essence of our further discussions, you need to know what an Operating System (OS) is, what it consists of and how it works. This is where we will start.

What is an operating system

From Wikipedia we learn the following definition:
"Operating System, abbreviated as OS (from English operating system, OS) is a set of interconnected programs designed to manage computer resources and organize user interaction." In other words, the OS must manage all computer devices and allow you to enter commands and data from input devices such as keyboard, mouse, scanners, ..., and output the results of command execution to output devices such as a monitor screen or printer.

Composition of the operating system

A modern Operating System consists of 5 important components:

  1. core- the main part of the operating system, which manages all program execution processes and their access to computer resources, and also manages the file system;
  2. drivers- programs that ensure the operation of computer devices and components;
  3. configuration files operating system - contains OS settings specified by the user;
  4. command processor- converts user commands entered from the keyboard into commands understandable to the operating system;
  5. GUI- converts mouse commands into commands understandable to the operating system;

That's all.

But why then are the installation packages so large? Yes, because all versions of Windows are not only an operating system, but also packages of utilities (applications) - programs that provide convenience for working with the OS. Therefore, each version of Windows differs not so much in the kernel itself as in the software package. And this is especially noticeable in the editorial offices of any Windows versions from XP to tens. That's why they differ so much in capabilities and price.

Considering the fact that after version 7, each subsequent operating system (kernel) is a continuation of the previous one, it should be assumed that versions from 7 to 10 differ little from each other and are quite compatible. And this is confirmed by Microsoft itself: all operating systems from Vista to 10 are compatible. This applies primarily to the 32-bit version. Moreover, they are similar in configuration and require a minimum of 1 GB of RAM during installation.

Hence the conclusion is that Windows 7 to 10 as an operating system differ little from each other and there is not much difference in what you want to install. But they differ significantly in the set of programs, settings and appearance (graphic design).

The most noticeable difference in OS is the bit depth (32 and 64 bits). It is this that determines on which computer which Windows is best installed. And if 32-bit axes are completely compatible with any processors, then with 64-bit axes the situation is completely different.

64-bit processors support execution of 64-bit instructions. At the time of writing, not many such commands (directives) had been invented. There are only 75, but not all processors support them. And the older the processor, the fewer such commands it understands. Processors released say in 2007 - 2010 support only 12 - 20 64-bit directives.

If teams are involved in implementing extremely important functions, such as system security, then the new OS simply will not install on an old processor that cannot implement these functions.

32-bit Windows has a kernel and the entire software package will be 32-bit. A 64-bit OS has a 64-bit kernel. And not all programs will be 64-bit, but only those for which there is an urgent need. The rest will still be 32-bit. Since a 64-bit OS allows 32-bit programs to run.

Since the Operating System is not the grace of God, designed to ensure convenient operation of computers, but a business project created to siphon off users’ money, you need to carefully look at what dirty tricks, or advantages and limitations, or innovations in which package are included. Let's see how the different editions differ different versions Windows.

Features of Windows 7 editions

Windows Vista and 7 were developed back in the days when there were only a lot of 32-bit processors. Therefore, they were focused primarily on maximum use their capabilities. And some of the capabilities of 64-bit processors were not fully utilized. I mean support for PAE, NX and SSE2. Perhaps this was done in order to ensure maximum compatibility with the previous version of XP and not scare off Windows fans.

Windows 7 (Starter)

Windows 7 Starter

For example, Windows 7 Starter exists only in a 32-bit version and allows you to work with memory amounts only up to 2 GB. This is an absolutely minimalistic package, intended more for cheap netbooks. Yes, these are the restrictions. On the other hand, it has everything you need:
1.Windows Media Player;
2. Improved taskbar and jump lists;
3. Windows Search;
4. Joining a home group;
5. Archiving and recovery;
6. Expanded capabilities for playing media files;
7. Support Center;
8. Device management (Device Stage);
9. Streaming media files, including Play To technology;
10. Bluetooth support;
11. Faxes and scanning;
12. Basic set of games;
13. Credential Manager;
14. Quantity at one time running applications any; Windows 7 Home Basic

In principle, this edition can be used on weak laptops and especially netbooks. It is intended for users with minimum requirements and combines reliability and speed with a familiar interface. Surf the Internet. Print documents. Watch movies. Listen to music. All this is quite possible. But you can only play light games, mainly from the Windows package. Starter is an OEM version and came pre-installed. I think this is a great solution if money is a problem. But we always want more and better. For me, I would not want to install a disadvantaged version under any circumstances.

Windows 7 (Home Basic)

As I said at the very beginning, each subsequent version is cooler than the previous one. The Windows 7 Home Basic version contains everything that the initial version plus:

15. “Live” thumbnails in the taskbar;
16. Fast user switching;
17. Connection to wireless networks"on the fly";
18. Sharing to an Internet connection;
19. Supports multiple monitors;
20. Windows Mobility Center (without presentation mode);

This is the cheapest edition on sale. Some problems were identified in managing equipment connected via USB ports. Because of this, I also do not recommend using it. can fail at the wrong moment.

Windows 7 (Home Premium)

Windows 7 Home Premium version

The Windows 7 Home Premium version is even cooler. In addition to all this, it also includes:

21. Glass and advanced navigation in Windows (Aero Shake and Aero Peek);
22. Aero Background;
23. Windows Touch (touch and handwriting input);
24. Creating a home group;
25. Windows Media Center;
26. Playing and editing DVD video;
27. Extended range of games;
28. Scissors, Windows Journal, Sticky Notes;
29. Windows Sideshow (on secondary display);

An excellent solution for most tasks, including games.

Windows 7 (Professional)

30. Location-aware printing;
31. Joining a domain and group policies;
32. Connections to remote desktops (host);
33. Advanced archiving (network and group policies);
34. Encrypting file system(EFS);
35. Windows Mobility Center: presentation mode;
36. Offline folders;
37. Windows XP Mode;

Perhaps the best solution from the entire line. There are all the most necessary applications and nothing superfluous.

Windows 7 (Ultimate)

Windows 7 Enterprise

The coolest configuration among home versions is Windows 7 Ultimate, among professional versions Windows 7 Enterprise. If you don’t go into details, they are almost identical in configuration and differ mainly in the licensing scheme and price. The following features have been added to them:

38. BitLocker and BitLocker To Go;
39.AppLocker;
40. DirectAccess;
41. BranchCache;
42. Multilingual user interface(language packs);
43. “Corporate” search;
44. Improvements in the deployment of virtual environments (VDI);
45. Booting from virtual hard drives(VHD);

Of course, this is an extremely superficial description of the applications and features included in Windows 7. To decide whether you need all this. You need to at least know what is what and what you eat it with. The Internet can help in this matter. It’s a pity that it’s not possible to describe everything in detail in one article.

Comparing the above-described capabilities of different editions of Windows 7 Home Premium the best option. It will be more than enough for you.

Before moving on to considering the Windows 8 and 10 kits, I would like to remind you that Windows 8 was developed at a time when only 64-bit processors were already being produced. This is probably why it implemented software support for PAE, NX and SSE2. This increased the security of data and the OS itself. But it led to the incompatibility of the new OS with 32-bit processors.

How to determine if your processor supports PAE, NX and SSE2

Microsoft released the program Coreinfo v3.31, which shows you the mapping between logical processor and physical processor. The topology of the logical processor is hardwired into the program. The compatibility of the technologies present in your processor is marked with asterisks. The program is launched from command line. As a result of its work, you will receive approximately the following information:

CPU test

In the picture I have highlighted everything that will interest you first. The first two lines are the name and topology of your processor. The next three are NX, PAE and SSE2. All of them should be marked with asterisks as in the figure. And although Microsoft specifies these exact sets of instructions for all 64-bit Windows from 7 to 10 as mandatory, their processor support is only sufficient for Windows 7 and 8. For Windows 8.1 and 10, this is no longer enough. The fact is that in the lists of 64-bit processor instructions there are already more than 75. And old processors, released, say, in 2005, support only 15. Naturally, they physically cannot execute the remaining instructions. Therefore, 64-bit versions of Windows such as 8.1 and 10 will no longer work.

To find out if your old processor is suitable for working with Windows 10 or 8.1, you need to go to the Microsoft page System requirements for installing Windows 10 or 8.1. In the "Processor" line, find the word highlighted in blue. This is a link to the Windows Processor Requirements page. On this page below the text there are tables of correspondence between Windows versions from 7 to 10 groups of processors. Knowing the name of your processor on the Internet, you can find enough details about it and then compare it with the entries in the table.

Features of Windows 8 and 8.1 editions

Now let's look at the capabilities of the Windows 8 and 8.1 editions. Windows 8 was originally designed exclusively for mobile devices. touch screens and was called Windows 8 RT (RunTime). It includes sensory optimized versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote.

Then Windows 8 and Windows 8 PRO appeared for desktop computers with advanced touch screen control capabilities. Edition 8 includes everything that is available in Windows 7 Home Premium. And the PRO edition is equal to Windows 7 Ultimate. Both versions do not contain MS Office components.

It turned out that the initial ideas were not implemented as well as desired. And how I want money. Therefore, a new version 8.1 appeared very quickly. With her, everything is practically the same, only supposedly improved. And the Windows 8.1 Enterprise edition was added, which is equal in composition and capabilities to the previous PRO edition. And the PRO edition and simply 8.1 have become more modest. In general, everything was put in its place as it should be. But a strange limitation appeared. Edition 8.1 supports memory up to 128 GB, and PRO and Enterprise editions up to 512 GB. Apparently they were going to live for a very long time.

Main Windows Honors 8.1 became a 64-bit version. It was implemented new system security using new 64-bit directives. Therefore, Windows 8.1 x64 could not be installed on older processors that did not support them. Only users of x32 versions did not notice this. Of which there were very few.

In general, as you can see, the equipment is very good everywhere. Therefore, you can install whatever your heart desires. The main limiter will be the set of x64 processor directives. It is most logical to use the PRO version. You will receive everything that can be used at home.

Features of Windows 10 editions

Now let's look at the capabilities of the Windows 10 editions. Everything here is quite similar to 8.1: - Windows 10 Home has all the basic operating system features included in the Windows 8 PRO version. Which already speaks about initially greater capabilities than the eight;
- Windows 10 Pro (Professional) for small businesses and home users who need advanced system capabilities corresponds to Windows 8 Enterprise or Windows 7 Ultimate;
- Windows 10 Enterprise (Corporate) for medium and large businesses. The Windows Enterprise edition has all the features of the Professional edition, plus additional features, which are relevant for use in enterprises. But in essence it differs little from the previous version.

For those who want to buy: if you want to get the maximum benefit for home use, then the Home version will be more than enough.

Which Windows is better - Answers to questions


Now, having all the necessary information at hand, you can answer more specific questions quite fully and accurately.

Which Windows is better? Or which windows is better?

As I already said, the latest version is always better than the previous ones. Therefore, this is 10. Based on the set of programs and capabilities that can be used at home, this will be the HOME version or, if you really want, then PRO.

Answer: The best option for home use is Windows 10 HOME.

Which Windows is better: 7 or 10?

Considering the principle that the latest development is better than the first, then this is again 10. As you remember, the home edition of the top ten is no worse than the PRO edition of the seven. And Windows 10 Pro (Professional) includes almost all the features of Windows 7 Ultimate.

Answer: Windows 10 is better than 7 (if only because it is much more secure).

But here you should take into account the fact that Windows 7 already works well on 2 GB of RAM and on any older processors. For 32-bit tens, 2 GB is not enough. With this amount of memory it works slower than the 7. In addition, ten cannot be installed at all on 32 processors, since they do not have support for PAE, NX and SSE2. And x64 doesn't want to work with older 64-bit processors that don't support the new 64-bit instructions.

New OS for new hardware. In addition, in 2020 all kinds of windows support 7.

Which Windows 7 is better for gaming?

This question could be answered immediately when considering windows capabilities 7. Theoretically, any edition other than the initial edition is suitable for games, due to its limitations. But in reality Windows 7 Home Premium will be the best solution. Although for games in any case it is necessary to install additional packages such as: Adobe Flash Player, Visual C++, ...

Which Windows 10 is better?

For home use, Windows 10 Home is sufficient.

This is how it all began in 2015.

Now everything has changed.

As a result of the latest reinstallations, it turned out that there are already several versions of Windows 10. The first version was released in July 2015. Its number should apparently be 1507. Subsequent version numbers are 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, 1803, 1809. Version numbers correspond to the year and month of release. In each subsequent version, improvements and improvements are made. But these improvements and improvements through updates are not carried over to older versions. That is, installed old version Windows does not receive these innovations. To get them you need to reinstall Windows to a new version. Therefore, all versions exist in parallel. And they are updated separately, independently of each other. The update history of all versions is located at https://support.microsoft.com/ru-ru/help/4018124/windows-10-update-history.

I believe that Microsoft has entered into a conspiracy with other corporations that write software. And they began to include checking the Windows version in new programs. Already the latest versions of Photoshop and Skype do not support Windows versions lower than 1803. There are other programs. Soon there will be a lot of them. Windows version 1703 and earlier home and PRO builds are no longer supported. This means there will be no more monthly updates for them. Microsoft itself recommends installing the latest version of Windows 10. According to it, version 1803 and especially 1809 are the fastest loading and most productive.

So when choosing an installation windows package 10, now you also need to check the assembly version. At the moment, version 1809 has been released and is recommended. If you do not use it, then you simply will not be able to take advantage of new features and new programs. Starting with version 1809, there will be only Corporate and educational builds. Their support will be provided for no more than 30 months. And then install the new version again.

Which Windows 7 is better to install?

The best solution is the one that best suits your needs. For home using Windows 7 Home Premium would be the best solution. But that was the case at the time when it was sold because it was the most best ratio price/quality. Now you can download and install any one, except the initial one. Maximum is probably the most common build.

Which Windows is better for a laptop?

A laptop is the same as a desktop computer, only portable. Therefore, the same rules apply to him. Considering that you probably want to use a new software, then Windows 10 Home is quite suitable for you.

But which one is 32 or 64 bit? Here you need to know:

What kind of processor is installed on the laptop, 32 or 64 bit, fairly new or very old? - the answer to this question will help clarify whether you can install Windows 10 at all.

As practice has shown, it is better to install Windows 10 if you have 4 GB or more of RAM. Based on this, we can safely assume that 64-bit will be better.

What does windows 10 1607/1703/1709/1803/1809 mean?

These are the release dates of Windows 10 editions. The first pair of numbers indicates the year. Second month. Therefore version 1607, this is the edition released in July 2016. According to Microsoft, edition 1803 is the fastest and most secure. Many programs in new versions support it, and even 1809. Earlier versions become obsolete and their support is discontinued.

If you noticed, since 2017 new editions have been published twice a year. In March and September. Support for older editions was 18 months. Starting with edition 1809, Microsoft promises to provide 30 months of support.

For 2 gigs of RAM, which is better to install Windows 8.1 or 10?

Both theoretically and practically, Windows 8.1 is lighter than 10. Accordingly, it will work faster. I can say for sure that 32-bit versions of both Windows will work, but in any case not very fast. I recommend reading how to speed up your computer.

With 64-bit Windows, things are somewhat more complicated. If the processor is too old and does not support the necessary lists of 64-bit instructions, then you will not be able to install them. Neither one nor the other. Read above on how to check the processor.

Windows 8, like one of its predecessors, makes it easier for Windows 7 users to switch to Windows 10. It, like Vista, is one of the most unsuccessful projects from Microsoft. Despite this, users who were lucky enough to work in the “Eight” quickly adapt to the new tiled interface of the “Ten”. It was thanks to the unsuccessful Windows 8 that the developers were able to smoothly transfer the user audience from the classic desktop interface for two decades, where a mouse and keyboard are used as input and control devices, to its mobile version - a tiled one, where the computer is controlled using touchpad or display.

Today we’ll look at how the G8 is inferior to Windows 10, and we’ll study the main differences between operating systems so that every beginner can choose the optimal OS for themselves.

Negative user reviews

In this indicator, the G8 is inferior only to Vista:

  • lack of a Start menu;
  • a qualitatively new interface concept, extremely inconvenient for desktop devices;
  • lack of drivers for many devices compatible with Windows 8;
  • inability to disable Metro or change it to Aero;
  • incompatibility with a huge number of programs, especially outdated ones, the development and support of which has been discontinued;
  • there is no way to fine-tune the interface;
  • on older devices with weak graphics systems, if it works, it’s very bad;
  • a completely different interface concept, which is why users had to spend a lot of time relearning and changing habits.

The list of flaws in Windows 8 is far from complete, and there is no point in continuing it: users rated the new interface negatively (especially due to the lack of Start), which, to a large extent, also applies to Windows 10.

New browser

Unlike all other Microsoft operating systems, Windows 10 is distinguished by the presence of an integrated Edge browser, which replaced the slow IE. Edge is a new word in surfing global network. It combines a minimalistic interface and functionality necessary for quick opening pages and support for a huge range of Internet technologies (Flash, JavaScript). The G8 is equipped with another version of the impractical Internet Explorer, which only lazy people use.

Notification Center

The Action Center in Windows 10 has made its way to computers, and here it performs almost all the same functions as on mobile devices. Thanks to new feature users have access to a list of so-called “hot actions” (activating and disabling WiFi/Bluetooth), switching the interface to tablet mode, and quickly creating notes in OneNote. Notifications about important events (incoming mail, availability of updates, virus detection, device connection) also pop up here and shortcut keys for connecting to new devices are displayed.

In the settings, you can specify which applications are allowed to display pop-up information windows, and which ones are blocked. Here you can also set the types of system alerts that Windows 10 is allowed to display.

Phone Manager program

Thanks to a new tool that has finally arrived in Windows 10, users are able to connect their mobile devices to your computer, exchange data between devices and synchronize them. In addition to being tailored to work with devices on Windows Phone, the utility supports many third-party portable devices. Even a smartphone running Android and iOS can be configured in a few clicks. Before synchronization, you can select the types of data that should be excluded from the process.

Tablet mode

The developers of Windows 10 have added to the new OS the function of adapting interface elements to the size and type of display used. This way, additional options for touch control of the device are enabled on the tablet, and in most applications designed for a tiled interface, the font size and the width of the ribbon panel with tools are increased.

It is turned on in the system parameters and contains several additional options.

Windows

When working with a considerable number of applications, especially on large displays, the user faces the question of conveniently placing several windows on one screen. Unlike Windows 7, where you can only place two windows side by side, the “ten” supports expanding any application to ½ or ¼ the size of the display.

In Windows 8, using the Modern UI mode was quite difficult due to problems with closing windows that opened in full screen mode.

Moreover, interface elements are placed in one of the corners, without overlapping other maximized windows. Using a combination of the “Win” key and the keyboard cursor block, windows can be minimized, expanded, and moved.

Virtual tables

Microsoft has finally intercepted the experience of the creators of MacOS and Linux and introduced support for multiple virtual desktops only in Windows 10. There is no answer to the question: “why wasn’t this in Windows 8?”

The “Task View” button located on the taskbar will display an interface where you can manage virtual tables: change, delete them, or add them. When one of the tables is closed, all its active applications are moved to the neighboring one.

Unfortunately, there is no function for dragging desktops to change their order. But to switch between them, to create and close tables, there are hotkey combinations.

Now you can create your own interfaces for work, games, entertainment and Internet navigation.

The most joyful event for Windows users with the release of the “ten” was the return of the full-fledged “Start” menu, which was removed from Windows 8. But now the new menu will combine classic shortcuts, both in the “seven”, and some elements new Windows interface 8.

“Start” is divided into two functional areas, where on the left are links to pinned or frequently used applications, settings and shutdown buttons, and on the right are tiles of active programs and shortcuts for calling programs integrated into the “top ten”.

The search built into the menu works on local computer and on the Internet.

Powerful command line

Unlike Windows 8, the computer OS has added functionality, which is good news system administrators and experienced users.

Improving the selection function is one of the important changes on the command line. Now you can select its contents in fragments (as in a regular notepad), rather than copying all the contents or tedious lines one by one.

The text in the window wraps when you resize it, which was not the case in Windows 8. The need to scroll to view the contents of the command line has disappeared.

Additionally, it is worth noting the presence of new key combinations for working with CMD and the appearance of a function for adjusting its transparency in the range from 30 to 100%.

Other Features

Subtle, but still differences in operating systems that should be taken into account if you want to switch to Windows 8 or “top ten”:

  • availability of disk analyzer and support Xbox One in Windows 10;
  • Windows Hello in the “ten” provides the opportunity to protect your device using biosensors (for example, a fingerprint scanner);
  • The Recycle Bin is now displayed in Start without cluttering up your desktop space;
  • Windows 8, unlike its brother, did not collect almost all possible information about the user (passwords for websites and WiFi, chat history in instant messengers, email messages) for sending it to Microsoft servers;
  • Windows 10 practically does not give the user the opportunity to refuse updates or select updates to install, installing all available updates.

In conclusion, we can say that Windows 8 was only an intermediate link between the classic represented by the “seven” and the innovation in the world of window OS users, therefore, if you are not afraid of forced installations and unknown updates, feel free to choose the “ten”.

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Microsoft Company improves And optimizes each its own product. Each new version of the Windows operating system has a number of benefits or shortcomings before the previous product, but each time a new OS different its shell and the presence of new options.

It is impossible to say which version of the operating system is better: each software different decent performance and versatility. Most people like the old builds of Windows with a comfortable and established design, but they do not have a Microsoft support program, unlike the new ones, which are improving every day based on user feedback.

Comparison of Windows 7 and 10: what is the difference

Despite the peak of popularity of Windows 10, many users remain loyal to Seven. Windows 7 has:

  • habitual design and convenient location of all options,
  • recovery center and stable performance,
  • light software filling that does not load the processor.

Most users prefer the seventh OS, but if the “seven” is significantly ahead of the eight in functionality and performance, then Windows 10 is serious competitor, winning in many respects. In addition to fast performance and ease of use, Windows 10, unlike Windows 7, has:

  • light system backup and recovery center,
  • constant upgrade and shell optimization,
  • work with the latest drivers and application support,
  • support DirectX 12 and Microsoft Edge.

Despite the wide popularity of Windows 7, the OS is outdated an option that is gradually losing its former multifunctionality and quality of work. If the user appreciates convenience layout of the functionality of the “seven” and the old design, then Windows 7 will be an excellent choice. This OS will do for people of the third age or the old school - for those for whom ease of use is more important productivity.

Windows 7 or 8: version features

These operating systems are very similar in appearance, but Windows 7 has more potential and the best performance, as well as a comfortable and familiar design. According to statistics, users do not have a choice between versions 7 and 8; many return to the “seven” after testing Windows 8.

Windows 8 did not become a breakthrough in the computer industry like 7 or 10. This operating system has inconvenient desktop, start menu, and item layout. G8 was initially aimed at running mobile devices and you shouldn’t expect any special performance in games or general performance from this OS. The OS is designed to work on touch gadgets, as well as increased energy efficiency and on stationary PCs may not be as comfortable as its counterparts in the seventh or tenth version.

Which is better – Windows 8 or 10

Windows 10 is multifunctional: It will be convenient to use the OS both on a desktop PC and on mobile platforms. By choosing the tenth version, you get wide-profile and stable operating system with a wide range of functions and additional configurations. Windows 10 is the most in demand an operating system that gets better every day. "Ten" allows:

  • use new browser Microsoft Edge,
  • work with several virtual tables,
  • use option analysis disk space,
  • use notification center,
  • launch games for Xbox One.

Microsoft Company invests more resources to support and optimize version 10, which is the most popular and popular version after the gradually dying “seven”. The eighth version is designed to work mobile platforms on Windows based and has a number shortcomings in the interface: it is difficult to get used to the OS and master the basic functions, which is significant distinguishes"eight" from 10 and 7 versions.

So what to choose

In order to receive best performance and the ability to use all available configurations, recommended Perform a clean installation of the operating system. Windows installation through updates significantly impairs performance computer and may cause some drivers or applications to malfunction.

It is believed that each subsequent version of Windows is better than the previous one: in new versions is improving and the software is rotated and the performance of the operating system is improved. However, ordinary users for whom a slight increase in power will not give much benefits, choose an OS based on their own comfort in using the software. Choosing an operating system is a matter of habit and largely depends on the nature of the user.

Which Windows is better than 7 or 10? This question is raised by many users, because before reinstalling the operating system, it is not always completely clear which of these versions will be the most acceptable. The debate about choosing one OS or another will most likely not stop for a long time, and everyone finds their own advantages among these versions. Let's try to figure out all the advantages, disadvantages, performance of the “seven” and “ten”.

Almost all users of Microsoft operating systems have moved from one stable version to another. At one time, XP was considered the most successful and functional. The appearance of Vista did not impress many, primarily because it had many shortcomings and bugs that were not corrected even through the release of patches and updates. The developers themselves, understanding all the shortcomings of the newly-made OS, began to develop a conceptually new operating system, as a result of which Windows 7 was born in 2009, which really turned out to be stable and practical to use.

Evolution from “seven” to “ten”

After some time, specialists from the OS Windows development company felt the need to create an improved operating system, the graphical shell of which was as similar as possible to the one that began to be implemented in mobile devices. This was primarily due to the need to enter the market with a new mobile platform that would compete with Android and iOS in the mobile platform market, and accordingly bring the desktop version as close as possible to the mobile one.

However, most users did not like this solution and the 8th version, in fact, like Vista, did not gain as much popularity as XP and the “seven” had before. As a result, the developers made a “Solomon” decision - to combine mobile version with the classic desktop, which ultimately led to the emergence of Windows 10.

In terms of performance and functionality, this release was noticeably better than the 8th version.

Let's figure out how Windows 7 and 10 differ, and which version will satisfy more topics or other requirements.

Comparative characteristics of the “seven” and “ten”

All testing will be done on a computer with the following characteristics:

  • processor core i5 3.4GHz;
  • RAM 8 Gb;
  • Video GeForce 980 GTX;
  • HDD 1Tb.
  1. Operating system loading and unloading speed

Turning on the computer, and, accordingly, the time parameter for loading the OS in these two versions is actually the same: 5 seconds. 7 versus 6 sec. in version 10.

But with regards to waking up from sleep mode, the latest version is clearly superior to the previous one and has a significantly lower rate. If for a complete shutdown on the 10 it takes only 10 seconds, then on the 7 it takes up to 17. That is, this indicator varies almost twice. The same applies to exiting hypernation mode (the difference is also about 7 seconds).

  1. Appearance and graphical interface.

Comparing the design of two objects is always a subjective thing, because each person has his own taste and vision. Before comparing these two operating systems, it must be said that the user’s transition from “seven” to “ten” will be quite painful, because in some graphical aspects these operating systems differ radically.

The design of the 10th version is made in a strict direction: flatness and sharp corners. Windows 7 is more familiar to those who have been using this OS as the main operating system on their computer for decades. It all depends on the specific taste of the person himself.

In the “ten” there is a choice of desktop display: classic and in the form of tiles, which was introduced in the 8th version. This parameter can be attributed to more new version, as in the seven there is no such choice at all. The Start menu in 7 is also more familiar, but in 10 it is presented as a hybrid of classics and tiles.

In general, we can note the fact that the “ten” looks much more colorful and prettier than its predecessor. If we also take into account the fact that there is voice assistant, then in the graphical shell option, Windows 10 is much more attractive.

Program and game performance

On startup Microsoft office, software downloads take approximately the same amount of time. No significant differences were found here.

When testing the work Mozilla browsers and Chrome, the “seven” has proven itself much better. The loading and display speed of pages is much faster here. It is worth noting that the newly created Edge browser, which is installed only on 10, is generally not inferior in response time to the above-mentioned browsers on 7, but this question is subjective, since such an application simply does not exist in 7.

As for working with hard drives in general, the throughput and copying speed to different partitions are approximately the same.

Based on the use of new modern toys, we can say that they work approximately the same. When comparing the performance of Crysis 3, the fps indicators did not actually differ, although this parameter was still higher in the 10th version. The only thing is that in a more modern version of the operating system there may be difficulties in launching those games that were released even before the advent of the “seven”: they will simply be impossible to install.

Conclusions

Based on the above, we can say that if you are planning to purchase Windows OS, then the choice, of course, should fall on version 10. If you currently have “seven” installed, then you shouldn’t bother too much and rush to switch to a more modern version, because from the above we can say that the two separate products are approximately the same.

With the previous product from Microsoft. We tried to make sure that the Eight was not inferior in performance to Windows 7, which was a major Windows update Vista, released in 2006.

In the end, we found out that Windows 8 and 7 are almost equivalent, but the first is a little faster. This led us to this conclusion:

“Windows 8 turned out to be more interesting than Windows 7. Even if you are not going to part with your desktop computer and cannot stand the start screen of the new OS, it is worth considering that it is faster and more pleasant to work with. This was very noticeable in our underpowered Athlon II X4 system. Perhaps a great start for the OS. And the modern Metro style should make Windows 8 a cross-platform OS that will unite PC, laptop and tablet.”

It's clear now that the Metro style opening screen was an epic failure. In my opinion, this was the only real Windows problem 8 because I had fun using this OS when I installed Classic Shell (a program to bring back the classic Start menu).

Fortunately, Microsoft is learning from its mistakes and took into account the shortcomings of Windows 8 when developing version 10. We consider it the best OS, at least for its excellent appearance and functionality for different devices and form factors.

When I installed Windows 10, it seemed like the system was relatively fast and stable. But I couldn't say for sure how much faster it is compared to Windows 8.1 and everyone's favorite Windows 7.

This is what we plan to find out today. The authors of the techspot.com portal tested various aspects of the operating system: boot and shutdown times, speed of copying files, encryption, browsing the Internet, performance in games and some special programs.

Specifications

All three operating systems were tested at clean install with all updates. Then we installed other programs. The same hardware was used for each configuration. Only the OS changed.

  • Intel Core i5-4670K (3.4 GHz – 3.8 GHz);
  • Asrock Z97 Extreme6;
  • 8GB DDR3-2400 RAM;
  • Nvidia GeForce GTX 980;
  • Crucial MX200 1TB;
  • SilverStone Essential Gold 750 W;
  • Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 Pro 64-bit.

Boot, sleep and hibernation

Using BootRacer, we measured the time it takes to boot. Windows 8.1 showed the best result - just four seconds. This is against six seconds for Windows 10. The report was conducted from the appearance of the Windows logo to the loading of the desktop.

Manual measurements using a stopwatch showed the same results, although I had a hard time detecting the difference in feel. With a fresh installation it was one or two seconds.

These results will vary depending on the hardware used, the configuration and state of the operating system after months of use, installing updates and third party applications. All this affects performance. But our hardware was identical for all three OS configurations. Therefore, we can assume that Windows 10 was slower to load.


Here we measured the time it takes for the system to wake up from sleep. It was recorded at the moment the desktop was fully loaded. We put the computer into sleep mode using a special shortcut.

Windows 7 took the longest to wake up from sleep - an average of 17 seconds. Windows 8.1 did it faster - in 12 seconds. But Windows 10 beat its result by 2 seconds.

Many users note how much slower the system “wake up” is compared to a laptop, where the same versions of the OS boot almost instantly. The reason is that we conducted tests on desktop computer, where Windows is set to Hybrid Sleep by default. This combination of sleep and hibernation allows you to avoid losing data in the event of a power outage.


The results of “waking up” after hibernation are similar to emerging from sleep. Here, Windows 10 takes 21 seconds, Windows 8.1 is a little slower and takes 23, and Windows 7 boots in 27.

Synthetic benchmarks


The Cinebench R15 program used in the test has an acceptable error of about 5%, although its influence can be reduced. To do this, you need to take the average of three runs, which is what we did. Results in single-threaded mode showed a slight increase in performance from Windows 7 to 8.1 and from 8.1 to 10. Nothing interesting here. But this greatly affected the results in multi-threaded mode. They indicate that Windows 10 is 7% faster than Win 7, and only 2% faster than Windows 8.1.


Next, we ran the PCMark 7 program and got interesting results: Windows 8.1 naturally faster than Windows 7 by almost 100 points, and Windows 10 is ahead of it by an average of 600 points. Further testing showed that for some reason Windows 10 has faster "video playback and transcoding" speeds compared to previous operating systems. Microsoft systems. The speed was almost twice as high, reaching a bitrate of 9600 kbps.


The latest synthetic benchmark is 3D Particle Movement. Here we see similar results for all three operating systems. Windows 10 is slightly slower, while Windows 8.1 performs better.

Application Performance


Microsoft Excel 2013 runs as fast on Windows 10 as it does on Windows 7. The program performs worse on Windows 8.1.


Works slower than in 8.1 and 7. Based on an average of 7 runs of the program, the browser in the new OS was 7% slower.

Please note that the lower the result, the better. Don't pay attention to the order of the indicators on the graph. Instead of ranking the OS in order from slow to fast, we stuck the systems in one place. When each operating system always occupies the same position, it is easier to evaluate the data. The confusion of the results will not cause difficulties, since there are only three positions.


Interestingly, Chrome performance in Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 was lower than in Windows 7. And noticeably lower.


As you can see, Internet Explorer is slow on all three OSes. But the new Microsoft Edge browser, which is exclusive to Windows 10, is faster than Firefox and Chrome.


The speed of WinRAR in Windows 10 in single-threaded and multi-threaded modes is lower than in 8.1 and 7.


Photoshop works best with Windows 8. The result for Windows 10 is the same as Windows 7.


There's not much to say here since illustrator CC works the same on all three systems.


With 7-Zip the situation is the same as with WinRAR: Windows 10 shows lower performance compared to 8.1 and 7.

Storage Performance

We took it for testing solid state drives type AHCI (Samsung SSD 850 Pro) and NVMe (Samsung SM951) with motherboard Asrock Z97 Extreme6.

Tests with Samsung 850 Pro 512 GB SATA 6 GB/s drive


CrystalDiskMark's sequential benchmark of the Q32T1 showed similar results across the three operating systems.


In the random 4K Q32T1 test, Windows 10 and 8.1 show similar read speeds, while Windows 7 is slower. This difference grows when you look at write speed, where Windows 7 is far behind other operating systems.


The sequential test showed that the results of Windows 10 and 8.1 are again identical, while Windows 7 is inferior.


Random 4K test results indicate that all operating systems perform roughly the same, but Windows 7 is slightly faster than Windows 10 this time around.

Storage performance with Samsung SM951 NVMe SSD

The following tests were performed on a Samsung SM951 256GB NVMe SSD, which was installed in the Ultra M.2 slot on motherboard Asrock Z97 Extreme6. Please note that this media does not work with Windows 7.


Here, Windows 10 and 8.1 show similar results.


In the 4K Q32T1 test we again see similar performance.


The results of the sequential test are also close.


And a random 4K test diluted the performance. Windows 10 is slightly better in read speed, and Windows 8.1 is slightly better in write speed.


In the HandBrake test, Windows 10 performs about the same as Windows 7, and Windows 8.1 is noticeably faster than both.


The Hybrid 4K benchmark revealed almost no difference between the operating systems, but Windows 8.1 is still slightly faster.


Here again we see that Windows 10 scores are similar to Windows 7 and slightly behind 8.1. I emphasize that it is not much.

Gaming performance


As expected, Windows 10 with DX11 doesn't show much in the way of performance compared to previous versions OS. At least this applies to BioShock.


Surprisingly, Metro Redux with GTX 980 runs better on Windows 10. Although this may be due to drivers.


In Hitman, the performance gradually drops when moving from Windows 7 to 8.1, and then to 10.


Tomb Raider demonstrates the same performance on all three OSes.


Finally, we launched Crysis 3. Here again, Windows 10 did a great job and showed better performance in both resolutions.

Faster, slower, better?

We saw roughly identical results in most tests that cover encryption speed, storage performance, and gaming and app performance. But it is difficult to summarize, since there are many nuances that we cannot control.

We tested operating systems on the same hardware, using the same benchmarks and methods. But this is not to say that compatibility with graphics drivers, for example, did not affect the results. And technologies like Intel's Turbo can spoil the accuracy of the indicators, even if you run all tests three times and take average values ​​into account.

So, a short conclusion:

A computer with relatively modern hardware can run Windows 7 normally. Hardware that works fine with Windows 7 should also run Windows 10 without any performance issues.

Previously, it took time to release new Windows achieved the same level of performance as its predecessor. Most shining example- this is a transition from Windows XP to Windows Vista. Although the problems were partly related to the "raw" drivers for the new platform, Vista itself greedily absorbed resources.

Therefore, it would not be surprising if some aspects of Windows 10 performance improve in a few months, and even more so in the next year. But the most important thing is that today you can freely upgrade to Windows 10 and not suffer from the slow operation of the OS.

We can't measure the future performance of Windows 10. Even if we could, we wouldn't be able to compare it to previous versions of the OS. DirectX 12, for example, will only be supported on Windows 10 and later OSes. This is where the DX12 API Overhead test in 3DMark comes in handy, but it will be useful for comparing different hardware and is only available on Windows 10.

If you forget about benchmarks, Windows 10 is a full-fledged working operating system. But it’s worth saying that surprises cannot be avoided when working with it. I installed Windows 10 on seven computers (six of them were upgraded from 8.1). The update was very easy and fast. There were a lot of applications installed on one computer (1 TB), but the system ran smoothly.

I ran into a few small problems. My photo and media libraries, which number thousands of files, take a very long time to load in Windows 10. In 8.1 they loaded instantly. Of course, this problem will be fixed soon.

Speaking of games, I noticed a strange delay in StarCraft 2. It's not immediately noticeable, but scrolling and issuing commands take a little longer than it used to. And in competitive play you can feel the slowness.

I searched on Google and found users complaining about the same problems. All resources blame the Xbox app. It is built into the operating system and cannot be removed using conventional methods.

Although I have never launched the app or created an account for Xbox, this program has become a problem. Luckily, there is a command in Powershell that disables it, allowing you to play StarCraft 2 normally. I was a little disappointed by this discovery, but I'm glad that the problem can be easily solved using the Internet.



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