January 2, 2009 at 13:05Windows 7 beta 1: Performance. Comparison with Vista and XP
- Transfer
What is the performance of Windows 7 compared to Vista and XP? This is the question that has plagued me the past couple of weeks. Let's answer it already.
Instead of conducting a bunch of artificial tests on the performance of these three systems, I decided to give them several test tasks that we face in everyday life, which have a more real relation to performance in those tasks in which we need it.
I conducted 23 tests, most of the names speak for themselves:
These tests will interfere in an equal battle with Windows 7 build 7000 32-bit, Windows Vista SP1 32-bit and Windows XP SP3 32-bit. Points are awarded very simply: the winner gets the first place (1 point), the second place - two points, the loser - 3 points. Then the points are added up and the system with the least points is considered the winner.
I used two machines of various configurations for testing. Powerful (AMD Phenom 9700 2.4GHz, ATI Radeon 3850, 4GB of RAM) and pretty average (Intel Pentium D E2200 2.2GHz, NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS, 1GB of RAM).
The results are tabulated. In each task, only the prizes occupied by the systems are listed. Hence, the number of points.
Conclusion
In the end, I would like to add that the more I use Windows 7, the more I like it. Of course, this is just a beta build, not a finished version, so it can still change (it is possible that the release will be even faster). Of course, there are still some problems with the interface, new changes in UAC interfere and make impossible the operation of some applications, especially installers, but in general, Windows 7 beta 1 is very stable.
Of course, Windows 7 is not XP and it never will be (thank God). And if he turns you on such words as Activation and DRM, then Windows is not your choice. But if you are looking for a monolithic system that already has everything, then Windows 7 will become a fast and convenient basis for your software and hardware to work.
UPD from me (translator): This article is much shorter thanpreviously laid out . Here are tests of classic everyday tasks in the style of “faster”, and not at all the “parrot wings” of performance tests. If you still think that this is a repeat, please do not minus - I’ll just remove the article.
UPD2 from me (translator): For everyone who is interested in benchmark numbers, look at testing build 6959 . The author of the test is the same (Adrian Kingsley-Hughes).
To make a reservation. I am testing Windows 7 build 6.1.7000.0.081212-1400. This is a beta version, and, as is usually found among such assemblies, beta assemblies usually focus on stability rather than performance. This means that we can hope that the final version will be better than beta.
Instead of conducting a bunch of artificial tests on the performance of these three systems, I decided to give them several test tasks that we face in everyday life, which have a more real relation to performance in those tasks in which we need it.
I conducted 23 tests, most of the names speak for themselves:
- System installation - the time taken to install the operating system.
- Boot time - the time taken to boot Windows to a state where it is already possible to start working
- Shutdown Time - average system shutdown time
- File Transfer (100MB) - move JPEG photos with a total size of 100MB from one hard drive to another
- Moving files (2.5GB) - moving files of various sizes (from 1 to 100MB) from one hard drive to another
- File transfer (100Mb) over the network - transfer 100Mb JPEGs from the tested machine to NAS
- File transfer (2.5GB) over the network - transfer 2.5GB files of various sizes (from 1 to 100MB) from the tested machine to the NAS
- Moving files (100MB) under load - Moving 100MB JPEGs from one hard to another while ripping a DVD to ISO
- Moving files (2.5GB) under load - Moving 2.5GB of various files from one hard to another while ripping a DVD to ISO
- Network File Transfer (100MB) under load - Transfer 100MB JPEGs from the test machine while ripping DVD to ISO
- Network File Transfer (2.5GB) under load - Transfer 2.5GB files of various sizes from a test machine while ripping DVD to ISO
- Compress 100MB files using the built-in ZIP archiver
- Compress 1GB files using the built-in ZIP archiver
- Unpacking 100MB files with the built-in ZIP archiver
- Unpacking 1GB files with the built-in ZIP archiver
- Install Office 2007 Ultimate from a DVD
- Opening a 10-page Word document with text
- Opening a 100-page Word document with text and pictures
- Opening a simple Excel document with simple formatting
- Opening a complex Excel document with formulas and graphs
- Burn DVD - Burn a Windows 7 b1 image using CDBurnerXP
- Opening a 10-page PDF with text using Adobe Reader 8
- Opening a 100-page PDF with text and images using Adobe Reader 8
These tests will interfere in an equal battle with Windows 7 build 7000 32-bit, Windows Vista SP1 32-bit and Windows XP SP3 32-bit. Points are awarded very simply: the winner gets the first place (1 point), the second place - two points, the loser - 3 points. Then the points are added up and the system with the least points is considered the winner.
I used two machines of various configurations for testing. Powerful (AMD Phenom 9700 2.4GHz, ATI Radeon 3850, 4GB of RAM) and pretty average (Intel Pentium D E2200 2.2GHz, NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS, 1GB of RAM).
The results are tabulated. In each task, only the prizes occupied by the systems are listed. Hence, the number of points.
Conclusion
In the end, I would like to add that the more I use Windows 7, the more I like it. Of course, this is just a beta build, not a finished version, so it can still change (it is possible that the release will be even faster). Of course, there are still some problems with the interface, new changes in UAC interfere and make impossible the operation of some applications, especially installers, but in general, Windows 7 beta 1 is very stable.
Of course, Windows 7 is not XP and it never will be (thank God). And if he turns you on such words as Activation and DRM, then Windows is not your choice. But if you are looking for a monolithic system that already has everything, then Windows 7 will become a fast and convenient basis for your software and hardware to work.
UPD from me (translator): This article is much shorter thanpreviously laid out . Here are tests of classic everyday tasks in the style of “faster”, and not at all the “parrot wings” of performance tests. If you still think that this is a repeat, please do not minus - I’ll just remove the article.
UPD2 from me (translator): For everyone who is interested in benchmark numbers, look at testing build 6959 . The author of the test is the same (Adrian Kingsley-Hughes).