Choose your operating system: Windows 7 or Windows 8.
Choose your operating system: Windows 7 or Windows 8.
With DX12 arriving, I’m expecting MS to follow the same path as DX11 did with XP—optimizing performance without forcing full upgrades or limiting compatibility. They shouldn’t push gamers into outdated setups like they did previously. By the end of summer 8.2, you’ll likely see a restored start menu and access to your latest supported OS, offering real stability and speed improvements over the Metro UI. Benchmarks suggest these gains are more meaningful for demanding productivity tools rather than limited gaming experiences.
It depends on what you prefer. I used Windows 8.1 for six months, but my games ran poorly except for BF4. I switched back to Windows 7 and am very satisfied. The only issue with Windows 7 is the longer startup time, though it's still much better than Windows 8.1.
I moved to version 8.1 instead of 7, and I was doubtful at first, but it works much better. My motherboard offers many features that only function with 8, so I recommend adding a poll.
I hope you've got Windows 8.1 update installed. If the start screen isn't to your liking (I've mentioned this many times), consider downloading a new start menu. Once that's done, everything should work fine. You can boot directly to the desktop without issues. It should function just like Windows 7. Also, the Classic Shell is available for download. Plus, Windows 8.1 will soon support a modern start menu that lets you run apps in a window.
MS revealed DX12 will join Windows 7. That should be fine. It’ll be interesting to check how performance changes between the two platforms.