With Windows 8 I boot from cold to loading up my game of choice in about 8 seconds, it'd be less if I didn't have a password.

SSD + Win 8 is very nice.

Less time spent power button to gaming is awesome.

Seriously that's about the only difference between Windows 7 and 8 unless you want to jump on the "UI is garbage" bandwagon.

It's one click and you're back to desktop.

So easy to set up shortcuts to apps/games and such... most people just haven't given 8 a chance or are terrible with computers.

I work in IT and I love Windows 8.

I wouldn't recommend it for my companies end-users though - they are far, far too much like many people in this thread and on this site...

All my Steam games, all my MMOs, everything works exactly like it did on Win 7 pro (I'm all x64 bit of course in 7 and 8) I've only had ONE compatibility issue -

My Razer Nostromo works in 8 but it isn't fully supported so I can't rebind the buttons - so I don't use it right now.

Anyone who tells you they have less FPS using 8 or that some games don't run is blowing hyperbol up your behind.

Tip - they aren't using 8 they are just quoting from something they heard somewhere from somebody else who doesn't know what they're talking about.

Originally posted by sschrupp

I upgraded my gaming desktop and laptop from Windows 7 to Windows 8. No driver problems, no gaming problems, no problems with 3 monitor support, no decrease in performance, no problems with anything that I can find.

The start screen took a tiny bit of time to get used to. Now I actually prefer it. I can get to anything I want faster than I could in Windows 7 (just start typing and it brings up everything on the fly, no more clicking through menus and sub-menus to find stuff, not to mention placing programs in the start screen!), and I can hit the Windows key to simply go back to good ole desktop if I want. If you're incapable of learning a new interface you can even get software to make the interface act like the old one.

I was hesitant at first to make the switch because I've heard so many people say "Omergard the start screen SUX!! You can't do anything! It's impossible to blahblahblahblah". Yeah, those people must be spouting what some other people heard some other people mention from some other person that saw a screenshot from someone that copied it and put an out of context comment on based on what they heard from someone that knew someone that saw it once.

Unfortunately it DOES take a little while for a person to learn how to do things a little differently than what they've done for the past 20 years. I'm glad I gave it a chance, personally.

Personally, I don't see why you navigate through folders or subfolders to find things. Windows 7 has something called "Pin to taskbar" or hell even go out and get Rainmeter and get a launcher from there and set that as a shortcut. Typing and bringing things up, same thing in win7, no change there. Press windows key, start typing, ???, profit. Everything you've stated hasn't changed from windows7 beside the fact that the startscreen blows and is completely unnecessary. Also the fact that you need a windows ID to do 99% of win8 functions is crap. All that changed from win7-win8 is being able to run it on a flash drive (small footprint) and the anti-virus, but who trusts windows defender? I dont.

Overall, if you want the ghettro tablet design on your pc, and don't want a start button anymore, go win8. If you want an OS that runs perfectly, and doesn't change things that didn't need to be changed in the first place, go win7.

Originally posted by BadSpock

With Windows 8 I boot from cold to loading up my game of choice in about 8 seconds, it'd be less if I didn't have a password.

SSD + Win 8 is very nice.

Less time spent power button to gaming is awesome.

Seriously that's about the only difference between Windows 7 and 8 unless you want to jump on the "UI is garbage" bandwagon.

It's one click and you're back to desktop.

So easy to set up shortcuts to apps/games and such... most people just haven't given 8 a chance or are terrible with computers.

I work in IT and I love Windows 8.

I wouldn't recommend it for my companies end-users though - they are far, far too much like many people in this thread and on this site...

All my Steam games, all my MMOs, everything works exactly like it did on Win 7 pro (I'm all x64 bit of course in 7 and 8) I've only had ONE compatibility issue -

My Razer Nostromo works in 8 but it isn't fully supported so I can't rebind the buttons - so I don't use it right now.

Anyone who tells you they have less FPS using 8 or that some games don't run is blowing hyperbol up your behind.

Tip - they aren't using 8 they are just quoting from something they heard somewhere from somebody else who doesn't know what they're talking about.

I really wish you knew what you were talking about too. Numerous game dev's (including STEAM) have stated they won't support windows 8. Hence why STEAM is moving to Linux.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/07/steams-newell-windows-8-catastrophe-driving-valve-to-embrace-linux/

http://store.steampowered.com/about/

Windows 7

Since you are purchasing a GAMING PC (minimum CPU  i7, 8GB RAM, 1GB+ GPU?)

Performance won't be an issue with either, but compatibility wise I'd go for Win 7 for the time being.

Though If you are a fan of Android like systems you could go Win 8, but be prepared for some things that need fixes.

Steam works perfectly fine on 8 - been using Steam to playing some Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion (awesome game) and recently some Vanguard now that it's F2P and is suprisingly enjoyable old-school experience.

Also been playing some PlanetSide 2 - also works JUST fine in Windows 8.

GW2 I don't get any worse or better of frame rate on 8 Pro than I did on 7 Pro.

WoW same performance on both.

Lots of IT people are snobs who just follow whatever bandwagon they read about on the same websites where the snobs there diss on everything new and different.

Once you work in IT with really smart people at a great company for a while you realize how bad at IT most IT people are and how little they actually know.

My company has actually been specializing in taking over accounts from our competitors in the region and fixing everything that they have screwed up or did completely wrong. And they are supposedly "certified professionals" which goes to show how little that actually means.

Anyone telling you OP that you'll have problems on a Windows 8 machine is wrong.

Nvidia and AMD have had drivers out for months.

Intel/AMD chips no issues with either, SSD is definitely the way to go with 8 though - it's actually a HELL of a lot easier to configure a system properly for SSD use with 8 than it was for 7.

Most people who install a SSD with Windows 7 do it wrong and drastically reduce their drives life span and performance.

I used two different guides that were something like 20 combined pages for all the tweaks to do SSD in Windows 7 the right way.

Windows 8 does it all out of the box automatically (if you do a fresh/clean install on a SSD.)

That right there is reason enough to go with 8, as if you are buying a gaming PC in 2013 you WILL have a SSD or you are doing it wrong.

AND Steam is just trying to score points with their fanbase - just taking cheap shots like all the iTards who think Win8 UI is ugly and actually like their iOS garbage interfaces.

Functionaly, at the level any competant programmer would be working with - Windows 7 and 8 are functionally the same operating system. Hence why most software and hardware that isn't ancient has zero compatibility issues.

Less is More.

I'm not saying 8 is worse than 7, but it has a buttload of extra stuff I'lle never lay my hands on, so I'd rather pass on that and go for 7.

Heya, I use win7. I'm afraid to go to win8, because I have this strange feeling it's going vista way.

There are big changes (luckily performance is not so bad as with vista), some are potentialy problematic. It seems Microsoft wants to push more security through their systems and driver companies may have problems to obey it (especially as agreeing with this may mean, in next itteration the loop will be tightened even more).

I think right now it's win8 = possibly better future, but uncertain, win7 = stability, but most probably not any progress in future.

I will personaly wait for win9 :) It's kinda rule in software world, that every other version is the good one :)

I was skeptical about Win 8 at first, but for $40 I said what the heck. Upgrading from Win 7 to 8, I found out after a few days that 8 seemed a bit sluggish at times. Then I decided to do what I normally do is format the hardrive and start fresh. So thats what I did, and now the boot time is cut in half compared to when I had windows 7. Performance in Win 8 is slightly better.

The interface takes some getting use to, but if you are like me and prefer a similar setup with a start button on the desktop, then you can download a free app to add a similar start button back in. I use pokki Win 8 start menu. https://www.pokki.com/windows-8-start-menu . 

Some have mentioned that there DVD/ROM is not being properly recognized.  Win 8 doesnt come with DVD playback. Thats because MS wants you to grab there Microsoft Windows Media Center or purchase there codec pack (Cha-ching). I know for a limited time it was free for those who purchased Win 8, but not sure if its still free. I believe there are alternatives out there now that will add the dvd playback function to the system.

As far as software and drivers, I have had no problems. All games load without a problem. And dont worry about the statements that allot of developers are not going to support or build there game around Win 8. They just mean they will not develope it for the use in there Metro UI. It will still install via the desktop.

All in all, Win 8 is not a bad OS, especially for the price, but if you have windows 7 and dont feel like blowing $40, then there is no need to upgrade as the performance is close to the same other then the boot time.

Originally posted by Falcomith

I was skeptical about Win 8 at first, but for $40 I said what the heck. Upgrading from Win 7 to 8, I found out after a few days that 8 seemed a bit sluggish at times. Then I decided to do what I normally do is format the hardrive and start fresh. So thats what I did, and now the boot time is cut in half compared to when I had windows 7. Performance in Win 8 is slightly better.

The interface takes some getting use to, but if you are like me and prefer a similar setup with a start button on the desktop, then you can download a free app to add a similar start button back in. I use pokki Win 8 start menu. https://www.pokki.com/windows-8-start-menu . 

Some have mentioned that there DVD/ROM is not being properly recognized.  Win 8 doesnt come with DVD playback. Thats because MS wants you to grab there Microsoft Windows Media Center or purchase there codec pack (Cha-ching). I know for a limited time it was free for those who purchased Win 8, but not sure if its still free. I believe there are alternatives out there now that will add the dvd playback function to the system.

As far as software and drivers, I have had no problems. All games load without a problem. And dont worry about the statements that allot of developers are not going to support or build there game around Win 8. They just mean they will not develope it for the use in there Metro UI. It will still install via the desktop.

All in all, Win 8 is not a bad OS, especially for the price, but if you have windows 7 and dont feel like blowing $40, then there is no need to upgrade as the performance is close to the same other then the boot time.

the cheap version of win 8 is the win 8 pro 32 bit version only though, if you want to get the 64 bit version, it costs about the same as win 7 64 bit, in which case you are much better off getting the win 7 version in any case.  As for boot times, win 7 has a hibernate function that effectively allows you to 'intant on' which is a lot faster than win 8 can boot up anyway, more so if you have a SSD. All in all, there is really not a single convincing argument that can be used in win 8's favour.

Originally posted by itspreach

The performance difference between the two as seen in numerous benchmarks is miniscule.  Having said that, as with any newish OS, your biggest obstacle is driver support. 

Having said that, I reccomend Windows 7 (64-bit obviously) personally.  Windows 8 was designed for tablets and phones and pawned off to desktop users as a viable OS.

Time to dispell some miths win 8 is 2 OS built into one framework only the one you need runs . On over all system ops Win 8 is about 5% faster  if your game uses mitl-cores then Win 8 is even faster something like 15% as for driver support it's not even a subject on new hardwere  but 64 bit driver support is better over all then 32 bit  that said  Win 8 x86 is a rebild of win 7 in fact thay went line by line through the code and cut the fat 95% of win 7 drivers work on win 8 . ON the tablet side  win 8 is a rewite of the Xbox360 os so it was built for gameing on the back of XNA  what it gives you is access  to meny games and apps made for the mobel platform on you home pc  in short win 8 is faster and it screams if you install the os to a SSD  as service packs come out win 8 will only get faster 

Originally posted by VoreDock

Originally posted by itspreach

The performance difference between the two as seen in numerous benchmarks is miniscule.  Having said that, as with any newish OS, your biggest obstacle is driver support. 

Having said that, I reccomend Windows 7 (64-bit obviously) personally.  Windows 8 was designed for tablets and phones and pawned off to desktop users as a viable OS.

Time to dispell some miths win 8 is 2 OS built into one framework only the one you need runs . On over all system ops Win 8 is about 5% faster  if your game uses mitl-cores then Win 8 is even faster something like 15% as for driver support it's not even a subject on new hardwere  but 64 bit driver support is better over all then 32 bit  that said  Win 8 x86 is a rebild of win 7 in fact thay went line by line through the code and cut the fat 95% of win 7 drivers work on win 8 . ON the tablet side  win 8 is a rewite of the Xbox360 os so it was built for gameing on the back of XNA  what it gives you is access  to meny games and apps made for the mobel platform on you home pc  in short win 8 is faster and it screams if you install the os to a SSD  as service packs come out win 8 will only get faster 

if you can provide some kind of evidence to back up those claims it would be appreciated, but i suspect you can't. And it also disagrees with personal experience in any case. So far from dispelling any 'myths' you are in fact, not making the case for Win 8 any more attractive at all. i suspect your misunderstanding about the os's relation to xbox 360, is due to the start screens similarity to an xbox interface for xbox live, or at least, some of its features and probably is one of the reasons why it is such a useless addition to the win8 experience as a whole.  .. but have to say.. 15 percent, ..  as statements go its pretty rubbish, especially without any supporting evidence.

I am sticking with windows 7 until they come up with something better than windows 8.