Windows 8: Performance Benchmarks

October 26, 2012 | 09:05

Tags: #windows-7 #windows-8 #windows-8-vs-windows-7

Companies: #microsoft

Testing Methods

With the exception of ATTO, which we used to measure SATA performance, all of our benchmarks use real applications that give you a clearer idea of how each operating system performs in the tasks for which you're likely to use it.

Windows 8: Performance Benchmarks Test Setup
Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

We ran our own Media Benchmarks suite, which can be downloaded so that you can test your own systems. It uses a combination of Gimp image editing, H.264 encoding with Handbrake and multi-tasking with 7-Zip file compression combined with HD video playback. We also tested for graphics performance using one high end and one mid range, using benchmarks from our standard graphics testing and recording average and minimum frame rates. Finally, as well as testing for SATA performance, we also recorded and compared boot times for each OS.

More detailed descriptions for each benchmark and test can be found on their respective pages.

Test System

  • Intel Core i5-2500K (operating at 4.2GHz – 42 x 100MHz and 1.275V vcore; speedstep disabled)
  • Asus Maximus 5 Formula (Intel Z77)
  • 2 x 4GB Corsair 1,600MHz DDR3 memory
  • Samsung SSD 830 256GB SSD
  • Antec CP-850 850W PSU
For high end graphics testing, we used an Nvidia GeForce GTX 670 2GB with the GeForce 306.97 drivers, and an AMD Radeon HD 7850 2GB with Catalyst 12.8 drivers for mid-range graphics results. For SATA performance, we used an OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD.

Operating Systems

  • Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
  • Microsoft Windows 8 Release Preview 64-bit

Discuss this in the forums

Posted by Dave Lister - Fri Oct 26 2012 08:24

Unfortunately being generally slower all round than windows 7 means I will be avoiding this, unless BT think the speed issues will be fixed with some patches ? Sadly I will have to by 3 upgrade copies for friends and family because they have recently moved to SSD's and are still on XP, so need the newer OS's features.

Posted by Stelph - Fri Oct 26 2012 08:36

I think ill be sticking with windows 7 on my desktop since I do my gaming on that and wouldnt want to think the OS was holding back to system, but I do think I will be picking up Windows 8 to go on my Inspiron Duo touchscreen laptop. I think as the article said, its only really the touchscreen features that make this appealing over Windows 7

Posted by Griffter - Fri Oct 26 2012 08:41

i got the beta version just to show ppl how crap it is.

Posted by barrkel - Fri Oct 26 2012 08:45

Crysis 2 not running is the most disturbing result reported here. If many other apps and games also don't run, it's a showstopper - and most apps run on PCs are not available to the public, they are produced by internal IT departments in companies, MS can't test for them all, they must simply be very conservative with breaking changes.

The people most sanguine about the new start menu replacement are those who type to find what they want to launch. I'm not one of them; I work by spatial memory, I often can't remember names of apps, and rely on categorization and position to find them. I have a terminal for apps I start by name. A huge 2D dump like Metro isn't what I need; I replaced Windows 7's menu with a Windows XP-like version using ClassicShell, but I don't use the Programs menu, instead I have folders like Games, Development, etc. where applications would get pinned if that feature was enabled. All in all, it's like early 2000s Linux start menus, and it's what works for me. But I expect ClassicShell will still work with Windows 8.
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