Before choosing which system to use, Windows 8 or 10, you need to find out how they differ. Let's take a look at the differences that anyone might encounter, not the systemic intricacies that are important only to developers.

Comparison criteria

When choosing the system on which you will be working in the near future, do not forget to pay attention to the following points:

• appearance, design. It should be borne in mind that the color scheme can be customized, and the interface can be personalized using system settings and third-party programs;
• performance. Different versions of the system will solve the same problems on the same computers for different times: some OS will take more time, some - less;
• device support. Some modern devices work only with the most recent version of Windows, and outdated ones do not always interact with it. Although Windows 10 solves the last problem with the help of the compatibility mode;
• availability of functions. Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 8, so new technologies and services that Microsoft invents are not being added to the old operating system.

By comparing the two versions according to the above criteria, you can understand which version is right for you. Feedback from people who have tested both Windows will also help make the right decision.

Minimum Requirements

Minimum Requirements is a list of the "weakest" components that make up a computer, which are required to install the system. If your graphics card, processor, and any other component does not meet the minimum requirement, you will not be able to upgrade to a new Windows. The only way out is to replace it with a modern and more efficient analogue.

The minimum requirements for Windows 8 and 10 are the same. Although the latest version of the system has acquired a wider range of functions, good optimization allowed us not to raise the minimum performance bar:

• 1 GHz processor;
• RAM - 1 GB or 2 GB for 32 and 64-bit systems, respectively;
• HDD or SSD disk with 16 GB or 20 GB of free memory for 32 and 64-bit systems, respectively;
• the video card must support the technology DirectX version 9 or higher.

Design comparison

Windows 8 is very different from the rest of the versions, as it has an innovative tiled design. The usual desktop is absent, access to applications is carried out due to rectangular tiles. The user has the right to drag them, change colors and dimensions.

Windows 8 has a tiled design

Since the appearance of the G8 caused a lot of disapproval, Windows 10 returned to the familiar design: a desktop with shortcuts and a Start menu. The only difference is that now the system search bar is in separate tab... The interface is similar to the presentation of Windows 7, but slightly modernized: unnecessary elements are removed, system settings are streamlined and intuitive, window frames are flat and rectangular.

Windows 10 brings back the familiar Windows 7 desktop and Start menu

Which design is better and more convenient is up to you. It is recommended to watch several videos comparing the appearance of both systems in order to understand how it looks in reality, in motion, and not in pictures.

Performance

You can find many tests on the Internet, their meaning is as follows: the same components are taken, the same versions of several systems are installed, and the same tasks are performed on them. As a result, the time taken by each of the versions to cope with them is compared.

System process speed

The graphs below clearly illustrate how quickly Windows 7, 8 and 10 cope with the work. From them we can conclude: in most cases, "ten" wins.

Photo gallery: comparison of the speeds of system processes Windows 7, 8, 10

Comparison through programs

For performance comparison, there are also special programs, which specifically load the systems with various tasks, and then give the result for all points. According to the conclusions of these programs, Windows 10 wins in most cases.

Photo Gallery: Comparing Windows 7, 8, and 10 Performance Using Programs

Comparison in applications

Another way to find out the winner is to analyze the speed of the most popular applications: Excel, Mozilla browser, Adobe photoshop etc. According to the results of these tests, the tenth Windows version not always the first, but not much lagging behind.

Photo Gallery: Comparing Windows 7, 8, and 10 Performance in Applications

Video: Comparison of Performance in Windows 7, 8, and 10 Games

Differences in capabilities

Alone Windows functions 8 moved to the tenth version, the second - remained only in it, the third - appeared only in the top ten. The list below will help you understand what this or that Windows can do.

Virtual tables

Built-in support virtual tables appeared only with Windows exit 10. In previous versions operating system it was possible to work with several tables only after installing third-party programs.

By creating as many desktops as you like, you can share the programs you use between them. For example, a browser and a notebook will be open on one table, a photo and video editor on the second, and a game on the third. In other words, the need for multiple desks may arise for people working simultaneously in many applications, or for those who let other people on their computer and want to provide them with a separate desktop.

Multiple desktops can be created in Windows 10

Video: How to use virtual desktops in Windows 10

Charms bar

The Charms Bar is a Start or Start menu that is very different in the Windows in question. In the "eight" by pressing the key with the Windows logo (a square divided into four squares), the user brings up a whole set of tiles that provide access to applications and news. The menu opens in full screen and can be scrolled wide. The list of tiles located in the menu is initially offered by the system itself, but in the future it can be changed by the user.

Charms Bar occupies the entire screen and consists of tiles

In Windows 10, the Start menu has taken on a more familiar look, albeit with a slight difference - the search bar, which helps to search for applications by name, has been moved to a separate window. By default, the Charms Bar opens in a small tab that takes up about 1/6 of the screen and contains a list of all programs in the computer's memory, as well as advertising and news tiles. The appearance, the number of folders and blocks can be configured manually.

In Windows 10, the Start menu is smaller and looks similar to the Start menu in Windows 7

However, Windows 10 has full screen mode, activation of which will cause the menu to open in the entire monitor.

Sync with OneDrive

OneDrive - cloud service that allows you to store copies of many elements of the computer. To work with it you will need an account Microsoft entry... You can send your photos, videos, some types of files and even backups systems with the help of which broken Windows can be restored in the future. The technology is supported in both Windows 8 and Windows 10.

Personal data can be stored in OneDrive so that in the event of a computer breakdown it can be easily recovered

Video: how to use One Drive

Standard Browser

As with all previous systems, Windows 8 uses a standard browser Internet Explorer... Although it has been improved for a long time, it still lags far behind in performance and the number of supported technologies from all popular browsers. Of course, IE is capable of performing standard functions, for example, viewing news and videos, but most users, for many reasons, are in a hurry to replace it.

Windows 8 uses legacy Internet browser Explorer

Windows 10 introduced a replacement for the unsuccessfully updated Internet Explorer - Microsoft Edge. This browser faster, more beautiful and simpler. Modern design and support of many modern technologies makes it competitive. Perhaps it is still worse than most free counterparts, but it's already more enjoyable to use.

Windows 10 has an updated and competitive Edge browser

Voice assistant

The voice assistant, called Cortana, appeared in the desktop version only in Windows 10. It is present in mobile version Windows 8 Mobile, but it was not in the PC edition at this stage of Windows.

With the help of the assistant, you can open applications by voice, request data, perform some actions, for example, minimize or switch a tab, search for information on the Internet, etc. But you need a microphone through which Cortana can hear you.

Windows 10 has a Cortana voice assistant that lets you do simple things using just your voice

On this moment the assistant is not available in the Russian-language edition of Windows, so you will have to choose the language supported by Cortana during the installation of the system or after that by going to its settings. Full list languages ​​with which the assistant is able to interact can be found on the official Microsoft website.

Xbox games

At a conference, Microsoft announced that all games released exclusively for Xbox one will become available in Windows 10. That is, a user with an Xbox Live account will be able to purchase a game released for a game console and play it on their computer. There is no game compatibility with Windows 8.

In Xbox Live, you can buy games from the console and play them on your computer

Disc information

Windows 10 has a built-in service that provides detailed information about what is spent HDD space or SSD disk... It shows how many megabytes each program uses, how much space certain files take. Of course, one can set additional programs on Windows 8, to get the same information, but in the latest version of the system, just go to the computer settings.

Windows 10 can provide detailed information about the disk and programs that consume space on it

Smart split screen

In Windows 8, there are early signs that Microsoft is working on a feature that allows you to split the screen into parts rather than manually dragging and dropping windows and formatting their sizes. In it, it was possible to divide the monitor into two halves: one is given for the desktop and everything that happens on it, and the second is for windows with system settings and parameters. Convenient, but not completely practical.

The screen in Windows 8 can be split in two

Windows 10 has a full-fledged implementation of this feature. Dragging the window off the left or right side of the monitor and releasing it will create a screen split in two. The dragged application will go to one part, and the application that you select from the list of launched ones will open in the other part. After that, using the arrows, it will be possible to divide the monitor into 3 or 4 blocks with different programs.

In Windows 10, the screen can be split into 2, 3 and 4 parts

Enhanced security

In Windows 10, the ways to set a password on account has become more. With Windows Hello, you can install following ways personal identification: standard password input, fingerprint recognition, use pattern key, definition by face. Of course, fingerprint analysis requires a dedicated touchpad, and face scanning requires a Full HD camera with an infrared sensor.

You can set up identification by face or fingerprint to log in to Windows 10

With a previous product from Microsoft. We wanted to make sure the G8 was just as powerful as Windows 7, which was a major Windows update Vista released in 2006.

As a result, we found out that Windows 8 and 7 are almost equal, but the former is slightly 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 a stationary computer and cannot stand home screen new OS, it is worth considering that it is faster and more pleasant to work with. This was very noticeable in our system on Athlon II X4 with reduced power. 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 now clear that the Metro style home screen was an epic flop. In my opinion, this was the only real problem with Windows 8, as I enjoyed using this OS when I installed Classic Shell (the program to return the classic Start menu).

Fortunately, Microsoft is learning from its mistakes and has taken 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, I got the impression that the system turned out to be relatively fast and stable. But I couldn't say for sure how much faster it works compared to Windows 8.1 and everyone's favorite Windows 7.

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

Specifications

All three operating systems were tested in a 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 1 TB;
• SilverStone Essential Gold 750W;
• Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 Pro 64-bit.

Boot, sleep and hibernation

With BootRacer, we measured the time it takes to boot. Windows 8.1 performed best with 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 with a stopwatch showed the same results, although it felt like I could hardly tell the difference. 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, updates, and third-party applications. All of this is reflected in performance. But our hardware was identical across all three OS configurations. Therefore, we can assume that Windows 10 was slower to boot.

Here we measured the time it takes for the system to get out of the sleep state. It was fixed when the desktop was fully loaded. We put the computer into sleep mode with 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. But Windows 10 beat it by 2 seconds.

Many users note how much slower the system "wakes up" compared to a laptop, where the same OS versions are loaded almost instantly. This is because we ran our tests on a desktop computer with Hybrid Sleep set to Windows by default. This combination of sleep and hibernation prevents data loss in the event of a power outage.

The results of "waking up" after hibernation are similar to waking up from sleep. Here Windows 10 takes 21 seconds, Windows 8.1 is slightly slower at 23, and Windows 7 boots in 27.

Synthetic benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 program used in the test has a margin of error of about 5%, although its influence can be reduced. To do this, we need to take the average of three launches, which we did. The results in single-threaded mode showed a slight performance gain 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 point out 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 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 a faster "video playback and transcoding" speed compared to previous operating systems. Microsoft systems... The speed was almost double when reaching 9600 kbps.

The latest synthetic benchmark is 3D Particle Movement. Here we see similar results for all three operating systems. Windows 10 runs a little slower and Windows 8.1 performs better.

Application performance

Microsoft Excel 2013 runs as fast on Windows 10 as it does on Windows 7. On Windows 8.1, the program does not perform well.

Slower than 8.1 and 7. Based on the average of 7 launches of the program, the browser in the new OS was 7% slower.

Please note that the lower the score, the better. Ignore the order of the numbers on the chart. Instead of sorting the operating systems from slow to fast, we fixed the systems in one place. When each operating system always occupies one position, it is easier to evaluate the data. The messy results will not cause difficulties, since there are only three positions.

Interestingly, the indicators Chrome works in Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 were lower than in Windows 7. And noticeably lower.

As you can see, Internet Explorer is slow on all three operating systems. 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 on Windows 10 is the same as Windows 7.

There is nothing to say here, as Illustrator CC works the same on all three systems.

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

Storage performance

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

Tests with Samsung 850 Pro 512GB SATA 6Gb / s Drive

Q32T1's sequential test CrystalDiskMark program showed similar results for three operating systems.

In the 4K Q32T1 random benchmark, Windows 10 and 8.1 perform similar read speeds, while Windows 7 is slower. This difference grows when you look at the write speed, where Windows 7 is much inferior to other operating systems.

A sequential test showed that the results for Windows 10 and 8.1 are again identical, while the results for Windows 7 are lower.

The 4K random benchmark results indicate that all operating systems have roughly the same performance, but this time Windows 7 is slightly faster than Windows 10.

Storage performance with Samsung SM951 NVMe SSD

The following tests were conducted on a Samsung SM951 256GB NVMe SSD that was installed in an 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 benchmark, we see similar performance again.

The sequential test results are also close.

And a random 4K test diluted the numbers. Windows 10 is marginally better at reading speed, while Windows 8.1 is slightly better at writing speed.

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

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

Here again, we see that the results for Windows 10 are similar to Windows 7 and slightly inferior to 8.1. I stress that a little.

Gaming performance

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

Surprisingly, Metro Redux with GTX 980 performs better on Windows 10. Although it could be driver related.

In Hitman, numbers gradually drop as they move from Windows 7 to 8.1 and then to 10.

Tomb Raider demonstrates the same performance on all three operating systems.

Finally, we launched Crysis 3. And here Windows 10 did a great job and performed better at both resolutions.

Faster, slower, better?

We saw roughly the same results in most benchmarks that affect encryption speed, storage performance, and game and application performance. But it is difficult to sum up, since there are many nuances that we cannot control.

We tested operating systems on the same hardware, using the same benchmarks and methods. But it cannot be said 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 into account the average values.

So, a short conclusion:

A computer with relatively modern hardware is capable of running Windows 7 normally. Hardware that works well with Windows 7 should be able to handle Windows 10 without any performance issues.

It used to take time to release new windows achieved the same performance level as its predecessor. The most striking example is the transition from Windows XP to Windows Vista. Although the problems were partly related to the "raw" drivers under new platform Vista itself was greedy for resources.

Therefore, it shouldn't be surprising if some aspects of Windows 10 performance improve after a few months, and even more so 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 cannot measure the future performance of Windows 10. If we could, we would not be able to compare it with previous versions of the OS. DirectX 12, for example, will only be supported on Windows 10 and later operating systems. The DX12 API Overhead benchmark in 3DMark will come in handy here, but it will be useful for comparing different hardware and is only available on Windows 10.

Benchmarks aside, Windows 10 is a complete working operating system. But it should be said that when working with her, surprises cannot be avoided. I have installed Windows 10 on seven computers (six of them were upgraded from 8.1). The update was very easy and fast. A lot of applications (1TB) were installed on one computer, but the system ran smoothly.

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

In terms of games, I found a strange lag in StarCraft 2. It's not immediately noticeable, but scrolling and issuing commands take a little longer than it did before. And in competitive play, the slowness is felt.

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

Although I never launched the app or created an Xbox account, this program became a problem. Fortunately, there is a command in Powershell that disables it, which allows StarCraft 2 to play properly. This discovery upset me a little, but I'm glad the problem can be easily resolved using the internet.

Microsoft improves and optimizes every product. Each new version of the operating Windows systems has a number advantages or disadvantages before the previous product, but each time a new OS is different its shell and the presence of new options.

It is impossible to say which version of the operating system is better: each software is different decent performance and versatility indicators. Most people like the old Windows builds with a comfortable and well-established design, but they are devoid of a program Microsoft support, unlike the new ones, which are improving every day based on user feedback.

Comparing Windows 7 and 10: What's the Difference

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

• habitual design and convenient location all options,
• recovery center and stable performance,
• easy 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 parameters. In addition to fast performance and ease of management, "ten", in contrast to 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 widespread popularity of Windows 7, the OS is obsolete an option that is gradually losing its former multifunctionality and quality of work. If the user appreciates convenience location functionality"Sevens" and old design then Windows 7 is a great choice. This OS fit for people of the third age or old school - for those for whom the convenience of work is more important productivity.

Windows 7 or 8: version features

These operating systems are very similar in appearance, however, Windows 7 has a larger potential and the best performance as well as a comfortable and familiar design. According to statistics, users do not have a choice between version 7 and 8, many return to the "seven" after testing Windows 8.

Windows 8 did not become a breakthrough in the computer manufacturing industry like 7 or 10. This operating system has inconvenient desktop, start menu and item layout. The G8 was originally aimed at the operation of mobile devices and one should not expect any special performance in games or general performance from this OS. OS is tailored for work on touch gadgets, as well as increased energy efficiency, and on stationary PCs may not be as comfortable as the counterparts of 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 stationary PC and on mobile platforms. Choosing the tenth version, you get wide-profile and a stable operating system with a wide range of functions and additional configurations. Windows 10 is the most demanded an operating system that only gets better every day. "Ten" allows:

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

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

So what to choose

To receive you need to best performance and the ability to use all available configurations, recommended perform a clean install of the operating system. Installing Windows by upgrading significantly degrades 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 improves and the software is rotated and the performance of the operating system is improved. However, ordinary users, to whom a slight increase in power will not give special advantages, choose the OS based on their own comfort of using the software. The choice of an operating system is a matter of habit and in many respects it all depends on the nature of the user.

One of the marketing promises Windows 10- even more fast work(the corresponding slogan sounds like "Designed for speed"). Compared to Win 8.1, the system should turn on faster, wake up from sleep mode, etc. But is it really so? Check it out!

Test device and raw data

For tests, a top-end multimedia laptop was taken - ASUS UX-501... Configuration: Intel Core i7 (Overclocked to 3.6GHz), 16GB random access memory, a GeForce 960M GTX graphics card and a 128 GB SSD. This is one of the most interesting devices 2015 year.

A clean installation of both versions of Windows, software (drivers, test programs) was performed. The test was carried out in a room with a temperature of 23 degrees, the "Optimal" power consumption mode was selected, all tasks using the command Rundll32.exe, advapi32.dll, ProcessIdleTasks were installed, all proposed Microsoft updates, all the optimization features offered by Windows are included. All tests were performed three times, the arithmetic mean was entered in the tables.

Testing

1. Boot time

The Windows® Performance Toolkit was used - a set of tools that manufacturers of Windows devices and programs use it when they want to test the runtime and speed of their products on average computers. The result of version 8.1 is on the left, "tens" is on the right, the unit of measurement is seconds:

The difference can not be called a big one, but it is clear that Microsoft still decided to spend time and do better, an already excellent indicator - Windows 10 is 0.7 seconds faster than its predecessor. On a top-end device like the UX-501, the owner of the device will not notice much difference, but on a regular laptop or PC, the difference can become much more noticeable.

Winner: Windows 10

2. Launch Internet Explorer

While working with a computer, we constantly open and close applications. The long loading time of an important program for the work is not only annoying (and nerves, as you know, are not iron), but also interferes with work or surfing the Internet.

Measurements are performed using the Windows Assessment Toolkit. The unit of measurement is milliseconds:

Again, not everyone will notice an improvement in the indicator from 0.9 seconds to 0.45 seconds - but such an indicator in any case warms the soul, Microsoft took care of the user here too.

Winner: Windows 10

3. Typing, web browsing and video chat

To carry out these tests, the benchmark tool PCMark 8 was taken. It simulates scenarios from real life: surfing the Internet, working in Office 2013, Adobe Creative Suite and other programs that are usually used at home and in the office for work. The exact time to complete the task is measured, down to milliseconds:

The differences are minimal - only 1%. True, it's all the same in favor of Windows 10.

Winner: Windows 10

4. Performance in Word, Powerpoint and Excel

PCMark measures the speed of work when working in basic office applications- for example, the processing time of a large table in Excel:

And here the gain is much more obvious: it seems that office workers connected with calculations should really upgrade to the top ten.

Winner: Windows 10

5. Grand Theft Auto V

God bless him, with the office - let's play! The test passes Best game 2015 - GTA V, its own built-in benchmark is responsible for measuring FPS (frames per second).

The first "defeat" of the new OS from Microsoft. But it is worth remembering that the "ten" supports DirectX 12, which makes games up to 50% faster than before. The case is small - to finally wait for such games.

Winner: Windows 8.1

6. Adobe Creative Suite

Good performance is needed not only by gamers and nervous housewives, but also by IT professionals. A case in point is Adobe Creative Suite:

And again the victory - more than convincing, as much as 17% - for Windows 10. Microsoft has worked on the use of resources and drivers, so for every self-respecting IT specialist “ten” is not a luxury, but an urgent need.

Winner: Windows 10

7. Battery life (office)

Microsoft promises that Windows 10 will take better care of the weak batteries of Windows laptops. PCMark 8 runs performance tests until the battery is fully discharged:

In all three tests I ran, Windows 10 ran 9 minutes longer. Honestly, I would like more, but thanks for that.

Winner: Windows 10

8. Battery life (games)

When we "cut" into something very interesting, not only time flies by very quickly, but also the battery charge. Unfortunately, even with the current driver from NVIDIA, when playing GTA V, the operating time in the top ten was reduced, all tests show a decent “minus” of 13 percent:

Winner: Windows 8.1

9. Battery life (movies)

When watching a 1080p video clip through Windows Media Player on Windows 8.1 laptop shut down after 2 hours and 25 minutes. In Windows 10, this figure turned out to be much better - 3 hours, or + 25%. Apparently, the "ten" is more rationally related to this scenario of use - background activity is minimized, only the video player works "seriously":

Winner: Windows 10.

The final score is 2: 7 not in favor of Windows 8.1.

Verdict

Windows 10, even at the very beginning of its life cycle, is already faster than Windows 8.1. But miracles do not happen: in the winning scenarios for the "dozen" use cases, the increase in speed is most often minimal, significant progress has been achieved only in terms of video viewing. Also, let's not forget that the tests were carried out on a "clean" version of the system, Windows with a large number of installed games, programs and drivers will run much slower over time.

And how (faster, slower) does Windows 10 work for you, dear readers? Share your opinion in the comments!

Which windows is better? Is a very interesting question. But in my opinion, it is not entirely correct, since it is not complete. It doesn't completely 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. At the moment this is the latest version and it is of course the coolest. For the newest computers, it should be the best for sure. But then the questions arise: "Why is she better than the others?"; "Can I install it on old computers?"; "Is it possible to install old operating systems on new computers?" To understand the essence of our further reasoning, you need to know what the Operating System (OS) is, what it consists of and how it works. This is where we start.

What is an operating system

From Wikipedia we learn the following definition:
"An operating system, or OS for short (from the English operating system, OS), is a complex of interconnected programs designed to manage computer resources and organize user interaction." In other words, the OS is obliged to control all computer devices and allow entering 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 a printer.

Operating system composition

A modern Operating System consists of 5 important components:

1. core- the main part of the operating system, which manages all the processes of executing programs and their access to computer resources, and also manages the file system;
2. drivers- programs that ensure the operation of devices and computer components;
3. config files operating system - contains the OS settings specified by the user;
4. command processor- converts user commands entered from the keyboard into commands understandable to the operating system;
5. graphical interface- 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 the convenience of 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 a dozen. That is why they differ so much in terms of features and prices.

Given the fact that after version 7, each subsequent operating system (kernel) is a continuation of the previous one, it should be assumed that versions 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 at least 1 GB of RAM when installed.

Hence the conclusion 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 width (32 and 64 bits). It is it that determines on which computer which Windows is better to install. And if 32-bit axes are fully compatible with any processors, then with 64-bit the situation is completely different.

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

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

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

Since the Operating System is not the grace of God, designed to ensure the convenient operation of computers, but a business project created to pump out 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 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 enough 32-bit processors. Therefore, they were focused primarily on the maximum use of their capabilities. And some of the capabilities of 64-bit processors have not been fully utilized. I mean support for PAE, NX and SSE2. Perhaps this was done in order to maximize compatibility with the previous version of XP and not scare away Windows fans.

Windows 7 (Starter)

Windows 7 Starter

For example, Windows 7 Starter exists only in 32-bit version and only allows you to work with memory sizes up to 2 GB. This is a completely minimalistic package, aimed more at 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 restoration;
6. Expanded possibilities of playing media files;
7. Support Center;
8. Device management (Device Stage);
9. Streaming media files, including Play To technology;
10. Support for Bluetooth;
11. Faxes and scanning;
12. Basic set of games;
13. Credential Manager;
14. Quantity at the same time running applications any; Windows 7 Home Basic

In principle, this edition can be used on weak laptops and especially on netbooks. It is designed for users with minimal requirements and combines reliability and speed with a familiar interface. Browse the internet. Print documents. Watch movies. Listen to music. All this is quite possible. But here it will be possible to play only light games, mainly from windows package... Starter is OEM version and was shipped preinstalled. I think this is a great solution if there is a problem with money. But we always want more and better. For me, I would not like to put the prejudiced version at all under any circumstances.

Windows 7 (Home Basic)

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

15. "Live" thumbnails in the taskbar;
16. Fast switching users;
17. Connecting to wireless networks "on the fly";
18. General access to the Internet connection;
19. Support for multiple monitors;
20. Windows Mobility Center (without presentation mode);

This is the cheapest edition available. There were some problems with controlling equipment connected via USB ports... For this reason, I also do not recommend using it. can fail at the wrong moment.

Windows 7 (Home Premium)

Windows 7 Home Premium

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

21. Glass and Windows Advanced Navigation (Aero Shake and Aero Peek);
22. Background pictures 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. Expanded set of games;
28. Scissors, Windows Journal, Notes;
29. Windows Sideshow (on the secondary display);

An excellent solution for most tasks, including games.

Windows 7 (Professional)

30. Printing based on location;
31. Joining a domain and group policies;
32. Connections to remote desktops (host);
33. Extended backup (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 there is nothing superfluous.

Windows 7 (Ultimate)

Windows 7 Enterprise

The coolest package among the home versions is Windows 7 Ultimate, among the professional Windows 7 Enterprise. If you do not go deep into the intricacies, then they are almost the same in terms of configuration and differ mainly in the licensing scheme and price. The following features have been added to their composition:

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 determine if you need all this. It is necessary at least to know what is what and with what it is eaten. In this case, the Internet to help. It's a pity there is no way to describe everything in detail in one article.

Comparing the above features of different editions of Windows 7, Home Premium would be the best option. It will be more than enough for you.

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

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

Microsoft has released a program Coreinfo v3.31 which shows you the mapping between logical processor and physical. The logical processor topology is hardcoded into the program. The technology in your processor is marked with an asterisk. The program runs from the command line. As a result of its work, you will receive approximately the following information:

Processor test

In the figure, I emphasized everything that will interest you in the first place. The first two lines are the name and topology of your processor. The next three are just NX, PAE and SSE2. All of them should be marked with asterisks as shown in the picture. And although Microsoft specifies these sets of instructions for all 64-bit Windows 7 to 10 as mandatory, their processor support is only enough for windows 7 and 8. For windows 8.1 and 10, this is no longer enough. The fact is that the lists of 64-bit processor instructions already contain more than 75. And old processors, released, say, in 2005, support only 15. Naturally, they cannot physically execute the rest of the 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 Windows 10 or 8.1, you need to go to the Microsoft System Requirements page to install Windows 10 or 8.1. In the line "Processor" 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 correspondences of Windows versions from 7 to 10 processor groups. 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 see the capabilities of Windows 8 and 8.1 editions. Windows 8 was originally designed exclusively for mobile devices with touch screens and wore Windows name 8 RT (RunTime). It includes sensor-optimized versions of new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote.

Then came Windows 8 and Windows 8 PRO for desktops with advanced touchscreen controls. 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 the money oh, how you want. Therefore, it seems like a new version 8.1 appeared very quickly. Well, everything is practically the same with her, 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 just 8.1 have become more modest. In general, we put everything in its place as it should be. But there was a strange limitation. 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.

The main difference between Windows 8.1 is the 64-bit version. It implemented a new security system 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. There were quite a few of them.

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

Features of Windows 10 editions

Now let's see the possibilities of editions of Windows 10. Everything here is quite similar to 8.1: - Windows 10 Home (Home) has all the basic basic features of the operating system included in the version of Windows 8 PRO. That already says about the initially greater opportunities 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 (Enterprise) for medium and large enterprises. Windows Enterprise edition has all the features of the professional edition, as well as additional functions that are relevant for use in enterprises. But in fact it already differs little from the previous version.

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

Which Windows is better - Answers to questions

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

Which Windows is better? Or which windows is better?

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

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

Which Windows is better than 7 or 10?

Considering the principle, the latest development is better than the first, then this is again 10. As you remember, dozens of home editions are not worse than the PRO edition of 7. 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 Widows 7 already works well on 2 GB of RAM and on any old processors. For a 32-bit tens, 2 GB is not enough. With this amount of memory, it works slower than the seven. In addition, a dozen is completely not installed on 32 processors, since they lack support for PAE, NX and SSE2. And x64 doesn't want to work with older 64-bit processors that don't support 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, you need 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 recent reinstallations, it turned out that several versions of Windows 10 already exist. The first version was released in July 2015. Its number should be apparently 1507. Subsequent version numbers are 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, 1803, 1809. The 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, the established old version Windows does not receive these innovations. To get them you need to reinstall Windows on new version... Therefore, all versions exist in parallel. And they are updated separately, independently of each other. The update history for all versions is located at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4018124/windows-10-update-history.

I believe that Microsoft has colluded with other software corporations. And they began to include checking the version of Windows in new programs. Already the latest versions of Photoshop and Skype do not support Windows versions below 1803. There are other programs as well. There will be a lot of them soon. Windows version 1703 and earlier home and missile defense builds are no longer supported. This means that there will be no more monthly updates for them. Microsoft itself recommends installing the latest version of Windows 10. According to its words, 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 the new features and new programs. Starting in version 1809, there will be only Enterprise and Education builds. Their support will be carried out 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 will be the best solution. But it was at the time when it was on sale as it was the best price / quality ratio. Now you can download and install anything except the initial one. Maximum is probably the most common build.

Which Windows is better for a laptop?

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

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

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

As practice has shown, Windows 10 is best installed 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 the editions of Windows 10. The first pair of numbers means the year. Second month. Hence version 1607 is the July 2016 revision. As reported by Microsoft, 1803 is the fastest and most secure. Many programs in new versions support it, and even 1809. Earlier versions become irrelevant and their support is discontinued.

If you have noticed since 2017, new editions come out twice a year. In March and September. Support for old editions was 18 months. Starting with revision 1809, Microsoft promises to provide support for 30 months.

For 2 gig of RAM, which is better to put 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 not very fast anyway. I recommend reading how to speed up your computer.

With 64-bit Windows, things are a little more complicated. If the processor is too old and does not support the required lists of 64-bit instructions, then you will not be able to install them. Neither one nor that. How to check the processor read above.