Benchmarks: Windows 7 RTM versus Vista, XP
Summary: Microsoft is hoping Windows 7 will succeed where Vista failed. Our tests with the RTM build suggest that, at least in terms of performance, Windows 7 may deliver the goods.
Windows Vista's less than stellar reputation and poor uptake are due in large part to the heavy demands it makes on system hardware. When Vista appeared in the autumn of 2006, PCs and notebooks were less powerful than today's machines. But even with modern hardware, anyone using a Vista-based system soon senses that this is an operating system suffering from the software equivalent of having the handbrake left on.
Microsoft cannot afford a repetition with Windows 7, and so has optimised all of the OS's major system components. From startup to login, everything in Windows 7 is faster.
Microsoft has now finalised Windows 7 and announced its Release To Manufacturing (RTM). Build 7600.1685 has been chosen for the RTM, and ZDNet used this version test the performance of Windows 7 against Vista and XP on various platforms.
Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.
Talkback
Typo!
:S
Spotted!
Windows 7 (E) - don't pre-order at these prices.
hehe
Yup :D very good.
superfetch works at low I/O priority in Vista, it doesn't monopolize
Win7's superfetch is worst than Vista because free RAM is waste RAM; but stupid users complained for cache used by superfetch... and you'll get a worst product such as Win7.