Is Windows 8 Better than Windows 7 for Gaming?
By Windows Talk
Has Windows 8 replaced Windows 7 as the best platform for PC gaming?–PC Pitstop.
It’s been a bumpy road for Windows 8 and its gaming platform. Microsoft recently had to fix issues with version 8.1, which created mouse-pointer problems in certain games, PC world reports. All this only adds to an 18-month pile of criticism following the new operating system from the gaming community. Now that Windows 8 is past its first birthday (and on its second version with 8.1), it’s easier to see through the dust of bad press and jarring first impressions. Can we finally decide if Windows 8 is the best platform for gaming?
Performance Specs and Windows 7
Early complaints with Windows 8 were that its massive size would run games slower than Windows 7 and, in some cases, those complaints were valid. The new OS took on a massive UI overhaul to reflect an experience more similar to Xbox and Windows Phone (known as Metro) while also giving users the option to switch back to the classic view. Keeping both in one OS meant massive space occupied on the hard drive and more RAM to keep operations running smoothly.
Another major difference between Windows 7 and 8 is the use of DirectX. Previous versions of Windows relied on DirectX to power gaming graphics, but Windows 8 uses DirectX only to enhance existing graphics powered by the OS. This seems like a bonus on paper, but the new order of operations can negatively affect performance in games designed pre-Windows 8.
Shared with permission from Windows Talk.
