Speed: Is it improving?

Never have seen these so called w8 speed increases outside of boot times. Throw a couple of hundred windows updates onto w8 and lets see how snappy it is, lol.

True

That's why every 5 years we do an Upgrade as opposed to installing the next Service Pack.

Here is my story with updates and slowness, on an XP machine, actually 2 of them.

I have a Acer Aspire 3000 laptop, which needed a fresh install of the OS to work, and seeing the hardware was so old, I opted to just install XP again, as it is known to be very responsive on old hardware.

I installed a fresh copy of XP, on a cleanly formatted partition, so no Repair Install garbage here.

Lappy was happy and ran very smoothly. I wanted to put some programs on it, but newer programs like the latest MS Office, which was 2010 back then and Google Chrome required packages, which in turn required SP1, 2 and 3.

Two days of downloading, installing, rebooting and installing more updates from MS later, the laptop was barely working, and the OS was very bloated, taking up almost 6GB before installation of any other software. Speeds were so slow I wished to kill myself. All this trouble to refresh that laptop and the supposedly old, trusty and snappy OS was working very, very slow. Programs took very long to execute and complete whatever they were doing. I pulled a few tricks to speed it up a bit, but it was not as fast as a brand new out-of-the-box XP install.

I have another laptop, which is literally from the stone age, much older than the one in the above story, and it runs on XP which has never been updated, and it runs actually faster than the newer laptop after all the updates.

Moral of the story - yes, updates bloat and slow down the OS. When your OS needs too many updates to keep performing its basic functions properly, you are better off installing the newest version the hardware can take, because at least you will gain more features in addition to the slowness, and not just tons of extra slowness with the same old features, just slower.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Enterprise
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    i7 920
    Motherboard
    DX58SO
    Memory
    Kingston 8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gainward GTX580 Phantom
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG D2342P-PN
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 1.5TB
    Seagate Barracuda 500GB - eSATA
    PSU
    Corsair 850W
    Keyboard
    Razer Anansi
    Mouse
    Razer Naga Epic
    Internet Speed
    50Mbps/50Mbps
@Dellius

Exactly the same happened on my Aspire 7720. I downgraded (self install) to xp 64 just to see how the fresh install was flying fast. Two days and 5gb of updates made it crawling slow. Pity, that's why I choose fresh XP's to run in VM's and a more decent updated OS like Win7 as a host.

On the Aspire laptop, I decided to go back to Vista which came preinstalled initially. The only thing to mention: they gave me x86 Vista and I replaced it with x64 SP2, same legal key and no worries. Maybe will try 8 in VHD here to see it go but it's not like it's gonna replace the good old Vista on this machine soon. The only annoying lagging thing is after more than 3GB memory (out of 4GB) allocation for render work it begins to be less responsive just when it gets the memory back. Then it will become normal in a minute or so. I'm curious how W8 will handle such a situation, and if the memory management is slightly different.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
I remember Xp SP3. I fondly called it the "vistafication of XP." It slowed things down on my Dell tower back then. I had everything running pretty and smooth and I thought I had all the updates installed up to SP2. Nope. Installed it, and notice a hit to performance.

Now, Windows 7 on the other hand has had a service pack and hundreds of updates, still goes strong.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
I'm too much of a cheapskate and just downloaded server 2012 RTM on Dreamspark student for free. Unfortunately it doesn't have the hybrid shutdown tech that speeds up startup and shutdown a lot. So down to the speed comparison:

500 GB 5400 RPM HDD
2nd Gen Core i7 Mobile CPU @ 2.2 GHz
8 GB RAM


Same Programs and Apps on startup.

Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit from Boot loader menu to desktop after the HDD light stops
30 seconds

Server 2012 Data Center RTM from bootloader menu to Metro Screen
1 minute and 12 seconds

Start Up Ram Usage (including delayed services)
Windows 7 Pro 64 bit SP1 - 1.35 to 1.4 GB usage
Server 2012 Data Center RTM - 800 to 900 MB

WinRAR Compression Benchmark:

Windows 7 Pro 64-bit SP1

winrari72670qmbenchmark.jpg

Server 2012 RTM:

Capture2.JPG

Fritz 12 Chess Benchmark:

Windows 7 - 9950 KNodes / sec
Server 2012 RTM - 10020 Knodes/sec

Capture.JPG

After idling for 5 minutes, server 2012 definitely feels faster in launching apps and multitasking than windows 7.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 with Media Center
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    Core i5 4300U @ 1.9 GHz
    Motherboard
    Surface Pro 3
    Memory
    8092 MB DDR3-L 1.35 V SDRAM @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4400 @ 200 MHz
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built-in 3:2 display
    Screen Resolution
    2160 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    256 GB SSD + 128 GB micro SD
    PSU
    36 Watt power brick
    Cooling
    Active
    Keyboard
    On Screen Keyboard
    Mouse
    Surface pen
    Internet Speed
    300 / 20 TWC
    Browser
    IE 11 Metro, IE 11 Desktop
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I have been using windows 8 for the majority of the weekend, and on my SSD it is flying.

I used to be at the stage where i had to wait on the OS to keep up, no matter if it was Xp, 7 or Ubuntu x64. Now it seems like Win8 is waiting for me to keep up with it.

I have had a couple of problems, such as when im gaming and i scroll down the side of the screen to move the map, it minimizes the game and brings up the settings menu, which is very annoying, especially when im in the middle of an attack of some sort.

Other then this and a few other glitches/bugs i am very happy with it, and i wouldn't go back to 7 unless i found out my games didn't work in here or that i found out MS was breaching my privacy with it such as Origin :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Professional
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel i5 3750k
    Motherboard
    P8Z77-LX 3
    Memory
    16GB Vengence Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX770 Windforce OC
    Sound Card
    C-Media 7.1 Surround Card
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 24" & AOC 23.5" 3D & 19" LG
    Screen Resolution
    3840*1080 & 1440*900
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 500GB SSD
    WD 1.5 TB
    WD 500Gb
    PSU
    Silverstone 800MW
    Case
    inWin DragonRider
    Cooling
    X31 Kraken CPU Coller, 4 * 140mm LED Akasa, One 92mm Fan Akasa
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95
    Mouse
    R.A.T Contagion
    Internet Speed
    150Mb / 10Mb
    Browser
    Chrome x64
    Antivirus
    ESET Nod32
    Other Info
    I'm an old windows 7/Xp User
I'm too much of a cheapskate and just downloaded server 2012 RTM on Dreamspark student for free. Unfortunately it doesn't have the hybrid shutdown tech that speeds up startup and shutdown a lot. So down to the speed comparison:

500 GB 5400 RPM HDD
2nd Gen Core i7 Mobile CPU @ 2.2 GHz
8 GB RAM


Same Programs and Apps on startup.

Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit from Boot loader menu to desktop after the HDD light stops
30 seconds

Server 2012 Data Center RTM from bootloader menu to Metro Screen
1 minute and 12 seconds

Start Up Ram Usage (including delayed services)
Windows 7 Pro 64 bit SP1 - 1.35 to 1.4 GB usage
Server 2012 Data Center RTM - 800 to 900 MB

WinRAR Compression Benchmark:

Windows 7 Pro 64-bit SP1

View attachment 9174

Server 2012 RTM:

View attachment 9175

Fritz 12 Chess Benchmark:

Windows 7 - 9950 KNodes / sec
Server 2012 RTM - 10020 Knodes/sec

View attachment 9176

After idling for 5 minutes, server 2012 definitely feels faster in launching apps and multitasking than windows 7.

Nice comparison + screenshots. Thanks for sharing.

Notice that winrar uses only 1.5GHz while fritz chess goes up above 2.0Ghz: this is noticeable in speed.
No worries, I had winrar using all the power once, but you could fry eggs on the laptop, so that's no good!

I'm surprised about the slower boot on the newer os. You should try Brink's tutorial here:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/7806-fast-startup-force-use-all-users-windows-8-a.html
Even if you said that the option is not available, the registry settings may work.

I never used Server 2012 before but it seems to be in most part identical to Win8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
On the Windows 7 screenshot, Power plan was set on high performance during the WinRAR benchmark, but the screenshot was taken after I changed the power plan to "Balanced" which makes the CPU use "Intel SpeedStep Tech" to downclock it to 1.5 GHz at idle then back to normal frequency at load. In High Performance plan during the Fritz benchmark on both Windows 7 and Server 2012, windows forces the CPU to run at normal 2.2 GHz frequency even if the CPU is idle so that explains the discrepancy.

I only use the High Performance plan when doing benchmarking. I always leave it to "Balanced" since my CPU most of the time is idling and it generates less heat.

Unlike Windows 8, Server 2012 doesn't have that option to force fast startup in Local Group Policy Editor per Brink's tutorial. Start Up time isn't a big deal for me as I usually do something else while the laptop is booting.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 with Media Center
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    Core i5 4300U @ 1.9 GHz
    Motherboard
    Surface Pro 3
    Memory
    8092 MB DDR3-L 1.35 V SDRAM @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4400 @ 200 MHz
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built-in 3:2 display
    Screen Resolution
    2160 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    256 GB SSD + 128 GB micro SD
    PSU
    36 Watt power brick
    Cooling
    Active
    Keyboard
    On Screen Keyboard
    Mouse
    Surface pen
    Internet Speed
    300 / 20 TWC
    Browser
    IE 11 Metro, IE 11 Desktop
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I just want to add that in addition to Fast Startup, WEI isn't also available in Server 2012. Server 2012 does not support Hibernation since I get no option of enabling hibernate on the OS, even if I use Command Prompt powercfg.exe /hibernate on. I get error that hibernation is not supported, thus I don't have the hiberfil.sys on my root directory. Unfortunately, Fast Startup requires to have hibernation so like I said in the previous post, I don't have any complaints with the startup time. I love its post boot performance compared to Windows 7. I also notice much less HDD activity when idle. I guess they improved superfetch/prefetch and indexing service significantly compared to Windows 7.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 with Media Center
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    Core i5 4300U @ 1.9 GHz
    Motherboard
    Surface Pro 3
    Memory
    8092 MB DDR3-L 1.35 V SDRAM @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4400 @ 200 MHz
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built-in 3:2 display
    Screen Resolution
    2160 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    256 GB SSD + 128 GB micro SD
    PSU
    36 Watt power brick
    Cooling
    Active
    Keyboard
    On Screen Keyboard
    Mouse
    Surface pen
    Internet Speed
    300 / 20 TWC
    Browser
    IE 11 Metro, IE 11 Desktop
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I have had win 8 on my Dell Inspiron b130/1300 that has a 1.7ghz processor 1gb of ram and it seems to run pleasantly and suprisingly quick. running the consumer preview of it. question is when it is released will it work as well or be like vista....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8 professional
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron b130
    CPU
    1.7 ghz
    Memory
    1gb
@theveterans

Thanks for the new info. I didn't knew all that stuff regarding Server 2012.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
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