Windows 8.1 runs smoother on DX9/DX10 games compared to older versions!
Windows 8.1 runs smoother on DX9/DX10 games compared to older versions!
Hey, I just installed an NVMe SSD for my AM4 board. This seems to be my first Windows setup—I've kept it in good shape mostly because I only use it for gaming and not anything else. I didn’t think it was necessary to reinstall, so I made a raw copy of the regular SSD and moved it over to the NVMe drive. I have a compact 60 GB SSD with a customized Windows 10 installation (most features turned off), which I transferred from the old W8.1 setup. This was intended for testing DX12, but I didn’t do it until now. The system has the latest updates except for the Creators Update, so it’s version 1607 with all relevant patches applied. What I noticed is that games like FSX, Elite Dangerous, and others are running poorly. I manage around 90 FPS in FSX on Windows 8.1 (I copied the entire FSX directory from AppData to W10), but only about 15 FPS on Windows 10. (I double-checked—VSync is off.) DX11 games are similar, though not exactly the same. Except for Elite Dangerous, it’s roughly 15–20 frames lower than W8.1 Hitman on DX11, which shows some stuttering on Windows 10, but not on Windows 8. In DX12 Mode, performance improves significantly—about 140 FPS at 1440p compared to around 80 FPS in DX11. (On average, 64 FPS for DX12 and 49 for DX11 on W10.) Anyone else who’s run both W8.1 and W10 installations and can share their experiences? Did you disable any service that helps games run better? Yes, I tested with maximum performance settings, and both had the same GPU drivers. I turned off almost everything except RTTS and HWInfo for OSD.
You'll only learn the truth by trying. Making comparisons like W8 outperforming W10 without accounting for your existing W8 base and using copies of those files on W10 is unfair. Treat each version equally and compare outcomes afterward. (Once you've installed a fresh W10/games setup)
SHA-2 refers to the family of cryptographic hashes or the basic structure, while SHA-256 and others are specific digests with longer outputs. The encryption method remains consistent. I didn't find any W8 files on W10. Before cloning the W10 installation onto the new SSD, I securely erased the previous storage. A clean installation was performed, and the Steam Library passed inspection. The outcomes match: Windows 10 underperforms compared to Windows 8.1 in DX9/DX10 games. The minor hiccups in Hitman during DX11 are still present but reduced. Performance in DX12 is unchanged from previous results. Elite Dangerous lags about 10-15 FPS versus Windows 8.1 FSX performance. Unknown what's happening with that...
Ensure the installer contains DX redistributable files. Execute the installer. Custom DX elements might be needed for better speed. Look inside the games installer directory—most applications install this during setup but retain a separate DX file in their folders. Test it and verify performance improvements.