The lightest Windows. Which version of the Windows operating system is best to install on your computer?

Good day to all!

Quite a lot of questions always surround the choice of Windows OS: which one is better, which one is faster, and what should I choose for my old laptop, and for my PC, but one OS monitors you, and the other doesn’t, etc.

In this article I want to express my opinion about choosing an OS. I think that the topic will be very useful for many. Even experienced users often change Windows and cannot settle on any specific version (let alone those who are not so familiar with PCs).

Also, the article will probably resonate with those who recently bought a computer/laptop and are looking for the optimal system (so that everything works well and doesn’t slow down).

Perhaps it's time to start (otherwise the introduction is too cumbersome).

Selecting the OS version for a laptop/PC

If we are talking about a laptop...

First of all, you need to go to official site manufacturer of your device and see which Windows operating systems are there drivers. Because if there are no official drivers for the OS you want, many problems in the future are possible: you will have to look for them from “folk” craftsmen (and in most cases they are not stable), failures and crashes are possible, some functions may not work at all.

For example, the screenshot below shows the official DELL website with a driver download section for the Inspiron 7572 laptop model. As you can see, official support is only available for Windows 10 64-bit and Ubuntu. The choice is small, and it has already been made for you...

The note!

I would like to add that in some cases, drivers for Windows 10 OS install and work on Windows 7/8 OS, and in some cases they do not. With tricky installation methods (for example, through importing various backups), they can cause serious errors, and you will have to reinstall the OS...

About the choice between x86 and x64 OS (32/64-bit)

If at the dawn of the advent of x64 systems there were many problems with them, now all this is in the past. For them it’s the same as for x86 - thousands of programs have been released and everything works fine.

The main difference between these systems (if we discard everything unnecessary for the average user) is the amount of RAM supported.

If you have more than 3 GB of RAM - install x64 system. The fact is that the x86 system will not see and will not use more than 3 GB of RAM (if you have 8 GB, say, then 3 GB will be visible and used, and 5 GB will be “lying” as dead weight).

If you have 3 GB RAM or less - it is also possible to install an x64 system, but I would not recommend it. An x86 system is generally less demanding than a similar x64 system. Therefore, in order to improve performance, with this amount of RAM it is better to choose x86.

How to find out the current OS, its bit depth, amount of RAM:

1. open Explorer (key combination WIN+E);
2. open "This PC" (located in the menu on the left in Explorer);
3. in any free space of the “This PC” window, right-click and select “Properties” from the pop-up menu;
4. A window will open in which you can get all the information you need about the OS, processor and RAM (see screenshots below).

About versions Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education

By and large, for most users there is practically no difference which of these versions to choose (the main difference here is for various enterprises and companies, where there are certain problems with the legal registration of this whole “business”, and the need to use remote access to corporate networks, setting up various system policies, etc.).

As for Windows 10, then:

1. Home is the main version of the OS intended for ordinary users. It differs from the Pro version by the lack of support for remote access, group policies, data encryption and a number of special features. functions. By and large, all these extras. functions, in most cases, are simply not needed on a home PC;
2. Pro - all the same functions as in Home, only there is support for BitLocker disk encryption, support for Hyper-V virtualization, multiple desktops, Azure Active Directory (a function for working with cloud services). As I said above, all this is practically not used at home;
3. Enterprise (or Ent for short) - this version is used in large companies. It has a certain number of unique functions, for example, such as Direct Access, cloud hosting, Remote Desktop (remote access), etc.
4. Education - version for educational institutions. Almost the same version as Ent, only this one lacks Cortana (voice assistant).
5. Mobile - this version is intended for mobile devices: smartphones, tablets, netbooks, etc. It is aimed at small devices with a screen diagonal of no more than 8 inches, and fully supports touch screens.

About choosing between Windows XP/7/8/10

In general, it is wise to choose an OS not only based on your personal desires, but also based on the availability of official drivers (as I said above) and the requirements of the OS itself. It makes no sense to install modern Windows 10 on a weak machine - and constantly suffer from brakes and freezes...

Below I will give the min. those. requirements for each OS, and I will express my brief reputation for each of them.

Windows XP

The legendary OS, which occupied the palm for about 10 years! Compared to all operating systems that came before it, it has become very stable (the number of errors and crashes has decreased significantly. Windows 98 had to be reinstalled almost every month), friendly to people new to PCs (many actions are quite simple and understandable, there is detailed help on performing many tasks). Perhaps these two qualities allowed it to become one of the most popular OS!

Today, Microsoft has stopped official support for this OS, so I would recommend installing it on a PC only in exceptional cases: when there are no drivers for a newer OS; old PC with low specifications; or you need this specific OS to run a specific program (although in this case you can resort to ).

Minimum requirements:

1. Pentium processor with a frequency of 233 MHz;
2. At least 64 MB of RAM (at least 128 MB recommended);
3. At least 1.5 GB of free hard disk space;
4. CD or DVD drive.

Windows 7

The most popular OS today. Mainly due to the fact that:

• low system requirements (especially by modern standards). Many users who worked with Windows XP also work with Windows 7;
• the system is very stable and reliable;
• high performance (the system is optimized for laptops, which are now very popular);
• supports many devices without installing drivers (this is generally the most convenient thing! Imagine, if you previously reinstalled Windows XP, then your network card did not work because there was no driver for it, and if the card does not work, it means there is no Internet. A vicious circle - you cannot download the driver you can, because the card does not work, and the card needs a driver. With Windows 7, the likelihood of such a problem is MUCH lower)!

Recently, I must note, Windows 7 has begun to lose its popularity: firstly, all new laptops and PCs come with Windows 10 pre-installed; secondly, many manufacturers do not release drivers for Windows 7 for their new hardware; thirdly, not all modern equipment works in it.

But overall, I think it will be one of Microsoft's main products for several more years...

System requirements:

• 1 GHz processor;
• 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit) random access memory (RAM);
• 16 gigabytes (GB) (for a 32-bit system) or 20 GB (for a 64-bit system) on HDD;
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver version 1.0 or higher.

Windows 8

This system introduced users for the first time to a new type of design: when you turned on and loaded the OS, you were presented not with the usual desktop, but with a tiled menu (as in the screenshot below).

On the one hand, it’s convenient, on the other hand, it’s convenient on mobile gadgets, but not on PCs/laptops. Because of this tiled menu, the system was subjected to merciless criticism, and I think that is why it did not become such a popular product...

Overall, the system is very stable, productive and reliable. Its capabilities are not inferior to Windows 7 (and rather superior: there are recovery tools, a built-in antivirus/defender, and improved performance).

By the way, according to my personal tests and observations, this OS is the fastest when installed on a disk, when loading Windows and shutting down the PC (although it only gains a few seconds when loading, but still...). Together with the SSD drive, the system simply “flies”...

System requirements:

• CPU. 1 GHz* or higher supporting PAE, NX and SSE2;
• RAM 1 GB (for 32-bit system) or 2 GB (for 64-bit system);
• Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit);
• Video adapter: Microsoft DirectX 9 with WDDM driver.

Windows 10

The newest and most modern system in the Windows line. It has the best stability and reliability (though, in my opinion, it is still inferior in performance to Windows 8).

Many people criticize the system because it "tracks" users. This is partly true... On the other hand, users are “tracked” by browsers, search engines, many programs, and some sites on the Internet (I don’t track).

However, now on the network there are many assemblies of systems with pre-configurations, where everything unnecessary is disabled (including surveillance). I think this minus can be crossed out...

In general, if you have modern PC/laptop, I think there should be no problems with installing and using this OS.

Therefore, if you have 2 video cards and you often play, I would recommend Windows 7, or install 2 systems at once (at least keep in mind that in some games Windows 10 will not switch the built-in adapter to a discrete one, and the brakes may begin) .

There are also some problems with supporting old programs: they are not stable and crash. If you switch to this system, perhaps the solution is to use a virtual machine: .

Otherwise, this system is rightfully considered the best, and its championship (in my opinion) is just around the corner (unless Microsoft releases a new OS).

Those. requirements:

• Processor: at least 1.5 GHz or SoC;
• RAM 1 GB (for 32-bit systems) or 2 GB (for 64-bit systems);
• Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit systems) or 20 GB (64-bit systems);
• Video adapter: DirectX version no lower than 9 with WDDM 1.0 driver.
• Display: 800 x 600.

The article raises a provocative question - so I’ll ask you not to be too rude in the comments.

Good luck to everyone and make the right choice!

Before installing the operating system, many people have the question R12; Which Windows 7 is better to install on your computer? There are several editions of the operating system. This:

Starter

Ultimate

Well, there is also a version called Enterpise (Corporate), but I think the name speaks for itself and we are not considering it. And here the Russian mentality comes into force and says R12; The bigger, the better. And what more, who knows, as long as there is more. Okay, if the chickens don’t eat money, then let it be, although it’s not clear what and why. But if you are planning to buy a licensed Windows operating system, and your family budget is bursting at the seams (but you still really want to), then you should read this article on how to choose the most suitable Windows for your computer, while saving 5 thousand rubles.

First, let's look at the cost of each of them. Here is an approximate summary of prices for Windows 7 operating systems (prices are considered for boxed versions, i.e. boxes with disks):

Starter R12; price around 1500 rubles

Home Basic R12; 3000 RUR

Home Premium R12; 5000 RUR

Professional R12; 8500 RUR

Ultimate R12; up to 11500 RUR

Now let's look at how all these releases differ from each other. First of all, the higher the version of the program, the more functionality, features and bells and whistles it has. Let's start with the most stripped down and go ascending

Windows 7 Starter

The main difference between this edition and other versions is that it is released only in 32-bit format. There is no 64 bit version. The most incomprehensible thing about it is that there is no ability to create and play DVD discs (as if the eggs were cut off). It also does not have support for such graphical capabilities as an effect Aero. There are no scissors or notes in it yet. No remote desktop connection possible. You cannot change the wallpaper on your desktop. In short, there is nothing in it and I don’t even want to write anything about it anymore (but I will). Trimmed as much as possible. It was also deprived of support for multiple monitors and printing over the network. Well, in principle, this is the most basic thing that does not exist. But she flies with a bang!

Conclusion: just right for netbooks, old computers and devices with low performance.

Home Basic

This version is practically no different from the previous version. Except that it now has a mobility center. That's basically all the differences. She didn't go far. I can’t even say why there is such a difference in price. Microsoft has its own cockroaches in its head and we can clearly see this in the recently released Windows 8 OS.

Conclusion: also suitable for low-performance laptops or older computers.

Home Premium

Here we are already seeing the emergence of a 64-bit version for more powerful computers that support 64-bit architecture, or in other words, quad-core processors. There are more graphical options, such as enabling an effect Aero and automatic change of desktop wallpaper. It is possible to create and play DVD discs. A fully functional Windows Media Center has appeared. There is support for multiple monitors, scissors (I’ve never used them and I don’t even understand what to cut with them), notes. There is support for tablet computers. In principle, this is a more complete version of the operating system. And you can already think about buying it.

Conclusion: suitable for more powerful computers and laptops. Not bad for games.

Professional

What are the main differences between this version of Windows and the previous one? It has the ability to run applications that you previously used on Windows XP, which is good news, since they will not work in previous versions, but this feature is implemented here. You can also make a restore point and backup data via the network. It is possible to print based on the network location and connect to a remote desktop.

Conclusion: suitable for more powerful computers and laptops. Well suited for games, including online ones.

Ultimate

In short, it contains everything that Microsoft came up with for the Windows 7 operating systems. But here’s the question. Do you need it? Unlikely. What are the differences from previous versions? Basically, this is a BitLocker function to protect data from theft located on computer hard drives or removable media. There are also improvements to virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), enterprise search areas, direct boot from a virtual hard disk, DirectAccess, BranchCache, AppLocker. If these words mean something to you (which I very much doubt), then you can think about buying this version.

Yes, and there is also no option to select the system language from 35 different ones (Do you need this? Unless, of course, you are a polyglot).

Here's a quick look at the different editions of the Windows 7 operating system.

Conclusion: I think the most optimal of them for home work is Home Premium or Home Extended. Well, you can still think about buying Professional Also not bad for home use. You don't even have to look at the rest.

You can see more details in this summary table of the capabilities of different OS versions

You can also view a detailed summary table of the features of these releases on the official Microsoft website.

Many disputes still circulate on the Internet on the topic benefits the last operating system from Microsoft before the legendary and beloved “seven”. Of course, everyone must make a choice for themselves - it is influenced by many subjective factors, ranging from simple habits and ending software, which is supported in a particular operating system.

Essential Windows 7

More than 7 years have passed since the release of this operating system, but it is still most popular and used around the world. Microsoft is cyclical in many ways: XP was stable and successful, then a frankly disastrous one was born Vista, which the community received with hostility. Even after numerous patches and updates, Vista has not become better or more stable. And the developers themselves, who at first tried to convince them of the breakthrough of their Vista, soon abandoned this idea and began to create a real good operating system.

In 2009, after the appearance of the seven, the first comparisons of the new system were made with the good old XP. Seven was good optimized, required few resources and thus was loved by users. No one even had a question about which OS to choose - Vista or Seven.

The next OS, Windows 8, was unable to fully replace Windows 7. Users did not like the new navigation and focus on mobile platforms, so the previous operating system was still considered better. Perhaps conservative users were simply frightened by the abruptness of the transition to a new concept. The release of update 8.1 did not fundamentally correct the situation. The outdated Windows 7 required a worthy successor. And so it became new ten.

Worthy continuation

Windows 10 continues the series of extremely successful operating systems XP and 7. The new OS gained its share of popularity due to free trial access to it for owners of licensed copies of Windows 7 and 8. The new OS is better than the eight in everything - in performance, optimization and functionality. It is also, like Windows 8, used on mobile devices, tablets, and so on. Let's compare and understand this issue: what is better - the good old “seven” or the completely new “ten”?

Performance Comparison

To identify the fastest OS of the two presented, you need to test them on absolutely identical computers with the same hardware. The following PC configuration was used for testing:

• Processor Core i5 3.4 GHz;
• 8GB RAM;
• Video card GeForce 980 GTX;
• 1TB hard drive manufactured by Crucial.

Two operating systems were tested on this computer in turn. The first test was loading time. Here seven takes the lead by one second: 6 seconds for 10 versus five seconds for 7 Windows. Of course, you shouldn’t take these data seriously, because in everyday life such differences are difficult to notice. But the purpose of these tests is to determine who is better at computing and performing functions.

The next measured action is waking up from sleep mode. Ten it took 10 seconds for this, and the seven took a full 17 seconds. Here the difference is much more noticeable; the previous OS copes with the task almost twice as slow.

WITH coming out of hibernation same situation: ten copes with it better than the seven by 6–7 seconds. Let's move on to performance tests of various programs and standard software for ordinary Windows users.

Program performance

Let's start testing with an office software package Microsoft Office and determine which operating system copes better with the task. In all utilities of this package both operating systems run equally fast. It is worth mentioning that the eight behaves much worse in this situation.

The browsers chosen for testing were Mozilla And Chrome. Surprisingly, the browser from Google feels much better Windows 7 than by 10. Distinctive feature Windows 10- exclusive browser Edge, which was created specifically for this operating system. The development has paid off: dozens of users don’t even wonder which browser to use. Edge performs better than Chrome and Firefox in terms of performance and speed.

Next comes Adobe products, which are known to be very demanding on PC resources and operating system. In a programme Photoshop CC Windows 10 and 7 show themselves practically the same: 21.8 seconds versus 21.4 seconds.

Drive performance

For this testing, we selected a Samsung hard drive with 6 GB/s bandwidth and 512 GB of memory. According to the results of the program CrystalDiskMark, the speed of reading information is not significantly different: 794 MB/s for 10 versus 786 MB/s for seven. Disk writing speed varies by 50 MB/s in favor of “ tens».

Computer games

There are many rumors that seven is still better for modern games. It is generally accepted that already released games run extremely unstable on the new operating system.

Games that were released before the release of Windows 10 were selected for testing: Bioshock Infinite, Metro Redux, Crysis 3. In the first two game projects both systems produce identical results: 130 frames per second on the “ten” versus 129 on the “seven”. In Crysis 3, a computer running the Windows 10 operating system took a slight lead (by 5–10 frames per second).

Based on the test, we can draw the following conclusion. The inability of computer games to run on the new OS is a myth. Compatibility and optimization problems were also present on Windows 7, however, this did not prevent gamers from enjoying their games.

The only place where 10s users may experience compatibility problems is with very old game projects that were released even before the release of Windows 7.

Performance Conclusion

Based on the results of all tests, we can conclude that both operating systems cope with basic tasks in approximately the same way. If we compare them as two independent projects, then "ten" looks much better. Firstly, at one time Microsoft needed a certain number of updates before 7 became the most popular and stable operating system. Windows 10, in turn, Almost immediately after the release it became fully operational.

Let's move on to the interface and navigation of both systems.

Appearance and interface

Comparing design and usability is entirely subjective. Many users are so accustomed to the navigation and appearance of the “Seven” that it will be very difficult for them to switch to a new generation of operating systems.

The design of the Desktop, windows and menus in the “top ten” is made in “ flat" And " square» directionality. This trend began in Windows 8. “Seven” is the standard of classic design. It is almost impossible to choose the best or worst interface - it's a matter of taste.

In the top ten two modes available: Tiles from Windows 8 and the standard Desktop. There is no trace of anything like this in the old “Seven”, as well as support for mobile platforms. If you are going to transfer all your existing devices to a system from Microsoft, then the choice is definitely on the side of the “ten”. The Start menu in the new OS is a hybrid between the classic launch and figure eight tiles. Compared to Windows 8, ten is more friendly to desktop computers and mouse and keyboard controls.

The next plus in the piggy bank - presence of a voice assistant. This system performs functions similar to Google voice search and in addition searches for the files and documents you need on your computer’s hard drive. The downside for Russian-speaking users is that Cortana has not yet learned our native language. But those who use English at least at a basic level will like this function. Another plus is the new proprietary browser. Although, most likely, this is a criticism of the Internet Explorer developers themselves, rather than Windows 7.

Overall, the new OS looks brighter and more colorful, making it look better at high resolutions. This is a definite advantage for owners of large and modern monitors, as well as tablet users.

Of course, the “seven” is less demanding on the configuration of your computer. However, if you are going to purchase a completely new system, then be sure to install Windows 10:

• Firstly, she has great prospects, and the differences in everyday work from the “seven” you are used to will be minimal;
• Secondly, all future updates, software, games will gradually switch to support only this operating system;
• Third, synchronization with mobile devices and tablets only available at 10.

Switching from seven to ten, having an average computer or laptop and not planning to update it regularly and in a timely manner, makes sense only when necessary (for example, supporting a new game or a program you need in Windows 10).

Video on the topic

Which Windows 7 is better to install? What is the best Windows 7 - the fastest and most reliable? In this article we will talk about choosing Windows 7 for a specific case and how all versions of win7 differ.

First, you need to decide on the bit capacity of the system that will suit you, depending on the characteristics of your hardware (motherboard, processor and RAM). And so, there are two types of Windows 7 architecture, this is x86 or otherwise called 32bit, in fact it is the same thing, and x64 or 64bit, this is also the same thing. Despite the fact that many people use the spelling “x32”, if we speak correctly, then x32 is absurd, the same as if we write “86bit”. If you see something like “x32” or “86bit”, then you need to understand that this is written by amateurs who have no idea what they are writing about.
In general, x64 or 64bit Windows 7 is an operating system with support for multi-core processors, if you turn on the task manager and in the PROCESSOR tab, you will see one or more processor load graphs. If you have only one graphics, that means one processor core - in this case, it makes sense for you to install x86 or 32bit Windows 7, if there are two or more graphics, then it makes sense to think about x64 or 64bit Windows 7. You can also find out information about the number of cores in the processor through special programs, such as CPU-Z or analogues, or in the description of your motherboard or laptop. In addition to the processor, the choice of bit depth is also greatly influenced by the RAM. It makes no sense to install x64 if you have less than 2Gb of RAM. 64bit win7 will work even with 512 MB of RAM, but this work cannot be called normal, all the RAM will be loaded, and even viewing websites or videos will be slow. If you don't have enough RAM, then x86 WIN7 is ideal. And so the conclusion, roughly speaking, is that 32bit win 7 is for less powerful PCs, and 64bit win7 is for more powerful PCs. If you have more than two cores and more than 2 GB of RAM, then you can already install a 64-bit Windows 7 system; if there is less, then a 32-bit Windows 7 will do.
Now all that remains is to decide on the version of Windows 7 or which Windows 7 to download for installation for specific needs. You can download absolutely all versions of Windows 7 for free from our website, original images of tsshtvschtsy7, here you will also find the best builds of win7.
Most often, people choose it, since it has all the features and functionality available in all other versions of the Windows 7 line. But advanced gamers give preference, since in addition to ample opportunities, it does not have unnecessary services that, although not significantly, take up hardware resources , thereby slowing down games and the overall performance of the PC. Ordinary users with simple needs from a laptop choose , it is suitable for those who do not have a powerful laptop and it is enough for them to browse websites, stick to YouTube, watch videos and listen to music, work with documents, simple toys, and, in fact, what they are limited to 95 % of all users. In addition, if you buy an official Windows 7 license, then for the money, Windows Home is the ideal ratio in terms of functionality and capabilities to the price of a Win7 key. If you buy the maximum Windows 7, then it is expensive, but if you buy the home basic or starter version of Windows 7, then it is cheap but the functionality is completely dull. And the windows7 home premium version is the ideal combination of price and quality.
To find out in more detail how the versions of Windows 7 differ, you can study the table of features and services available in the entire Win7 line.

Probably many people have encountered, at least once, the choice of an operating system for your desktop computer or laptop. In this article we will try to decide on the choice of operating system, let’s remember a little history to begin with.

Before the advent of Windows Vista, there was no such choice. On laptops and computers, Windows XP was mainly used. Before this, Windows 98 SE was quite popular. Windows ME failed completely and did not find wide popularity among users. Here came Windows Vista, which was formerly known as Longhorn.

Many had high hopes for Windows Vista; it was installed on all new laptops and computers, so to speak, by force. Windows Vista is a completely redesigned Windows XP, which could not be called a variation on the Windows XP theme. The first versions of Windows Vista were full of bugs. It was simply impossible to use it. Most of these bugs were fixed in Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2, but Windows Vista's image was damaged. It just didn't sell. Therefore, Microsoft decided to create a new operating system with a new name, which was essentially a well-developed and optimized Windows Vista. This is how Windows 7 was born.

Now let's compare Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Methodology for comparing Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7

Before moving directly to the results of the study, it is worth saying a few words about the principles and methodology of this comparison.

This study focuses on comparing the performance of different versions of Windows.

Comparisons of power consumption and battery life were intentionally omitted due to large measurement uncertainty. It is very difficult to create approximately equal conditions for all operating systems. In practice, with proper configuration, you get approximately the same battery life. It's worth noting here that Windows Vista can manage power more flexibly than Windows XP. This eliminates the difference in battery life due to Windows Vista's greater consumption of system resources. In Windows 7, Microsoft has made power management even more flexible.

Comparisons between on and off times were also missed. As in the previous case, the measurement error is large. You can, of course, intend something there, draw thoughtful conclusions, although the real measurement error will be several times higher due to the difference in on/off time between different versions Windows. The practical value of such information is low. The laptop doesn't turn on and off that often.

The last point that was missed is the user-friendliness of the interface. Since convenience is a very subjective criterion, it is not very correct to compare it. Here you already need to decide for yourself whether it is convenient or not to use this or that operating system. Windows XP and Windows Vista are quite similar in terms of interface, but in Windows 7 it has been significantly redesigned. Some things have become much more convenient.

The comparison was carried out on an Asus N61Vn laptop with an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 processor, 4 GB of RAM and an nVidia GeForce GT240M video card. The original 32-bit versions of Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3, Windows Vista Ultimate Service Pack 2 and Windows 7 Ultimate with the latest updates were used.

Now you can proceed directly to the testing itself.

Performance comparison between Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7

To evaluate gaming performance, we used 3DMark03 3.60, 3DMark05 1.30 and 3DMark06 1.10 utilities from Futuremark, as well as the AquaMark 3 test, which is based on the Aquanox 2 game. They allow you to fairly objectively evaluate the performance of both the video card and the processor with memory. In all cases, the default settings were used. The resolution was set to 1024x768 pixels. To increase accuracy, each test was repeated 3 times, and the result was averaged.

Futuremark 3DMark03

In this test, Windows XP leads by a fairly large margin. Then, with a slight difference, come Windows 7 and Windows Vista.

Futuremark 3DMark05

In this test, Windows XP still leads by a wide margin, but Windows 7 and Windows Vista showed almost the same result.

Futuremark 3DMark06

Overall result:

SM2.0 subtest result:

SM3.0 subtest result:

CPU subtest result:

In general, the situation is still the same. Windows XP leads by a fairly large margin. Windows Vista and Windows 7 show approximately the same results. Due to improvements and optimizations, the result of Windows 7 is slightly higher than that of Windows Vista.

AquaMark 3

In this test the situation is similar to 3DMark06. Windows XP leads by a wide margin, Windows Vista and Windows 7 are approximately on the same level.

Now let's look at performance on normal tasks. For this, HD Benchmark 3.0.5 is used, which allows you to evaluate performance when encoding 720p video, as well as PCMark05 and PCMark Vantage from the same Futuremark.

HD Benchmark

First pass, fps:

Second pass, fps:

PCMark05

Overall result:

CPU performance:

Graphics Performance:

In general, the situation resembles the previous ones. Only in the hard drive test, Windows 7 took the lead due to a better optimized disk write caching algorithm. In the graphics test, Windows Vista was faster than Windows 7.

PCMark Vantage

Since this program requires DirectX 10, which is not supported on Windows XP, results will only be presented for Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Overall result:

Memory performance:

TV and Movie Playback Performance:

Gaming Performance:

Music Playback Performance:

Communication performance:

Office application performance:

Hard drive performance:

Overall the results are almost the same. Windows 7 showed slightly better results than Windows Vista.

conclusions

Based on the information received, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. Currently, Windows XP is faster than Windows Vista and Windows 7;
2. Windows 7 shows comparable performance to Windows Vista. Subjectively, the Windows 7 interface works faster than Windows Vista. If this is important to you, then it makes sense to upgrade to Windows 7;
3. If you don't need DirectX 10 support, there's no point in upgrading to Windows Vista or Windows 7;
4. As an alternative to Windows XP Mode in Windows 7, you can use VirtualBox.

As you can see, the software is bloated, the demands on system resources are growing, and meanwhile performance is declining. Demand on system resources increases energy consumption, and energy consumption accordingly increases the release of heat into the atmosphere, which can lead to global warming, and therefore reduces the time we spend on planet Earth!

Windows XP today is the most complete, stable and productive, and therefore for the universal salvation of humanity we need to use Windows no higher than 2000 or XP, or even switch to Unix/Linux, otherwise, if we do not give up using Windows such as Vista, 7 and similar system resource hoggers, we have every chance of disappearing from the face of the Earth forever!

It is also known that a new version of the operating system, Windows 8, is being prepared for release. In which, most likely, the demands on system resources will increase even more compared to its predecessors...