Windows 7 build 7000 already outperforming Vista and XP in "real-world" tasks

You might've heard that crazy rumor making the rounds that Microsoft leaked the Windows 7 beta on purpose to build some positive buzz, and while there's no real evidence (or likelihood) of that of any sort, the seemingly-magical build 7000 is certainly doing well for itself. Following up on wide praise for the fledgling OS, ZDNet's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes pitted the beta up against XP and Vista in some informal "real-word" tasks like boot up, shut down, file maneuvers, installations and other common tasks. On both test systems, an AMD Phenom 9700 setup and an Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2200 number (with ATI and NVIDIA graphics, respectively), the Windows 7 install soundly bested XP and Vista task by task, with few exceptions. Performance testing is never an exact science, but it's clear that Microsoft is taking performance very seriously this time around -- we can't wait for the next conveniently-leaked beta to bolster this rep even further. Next on the benchmarking agenda? Real World: Brooklyn tasks.

[Via Ars Technica]

[Bryant @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:18PM]

AMD Phenom 9700?

Adrian shouldn't still have that box. It should've been returned to AMD a long time ago. The 9700 never went on sale!

[Bryant @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:20PM]

(For those who forgot, the first batch of Phenoms had a critical bug which left them at risk of locking up slightly more often than they should have. They were all stop-shipped, though some 9500s made it through.)

I had a Phenom 9700 engineering sample like the one Adrian has. They were supposed to be returned to AMD after use.

[Cargo Jack @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:24PM]

Can I put Windows 7 on my Lenovo S-10?


Is Vista the New Coke of OS's?

[KarlW @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:09PM]

You know, you could have always blackmailed him in to splitting the eBay cash with you.

That's what I'm going to do, now I know.

[Bryant @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:14PM]

The unbelievable thing is that Windows 7 right now still has some debugging code in it. Once the debugging code is disabled for RTM, it'll be even faster.

[giuliop @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:47PM]

Well, I wouldn't call a little optimisation after 8 years exactly "unbelievable", but I see where this is coming from: Microsoft got us used to such lousy standards that even a minor job seems exceptional. Way to go, Microsoft.

[govista @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:00PM]

Yes MS wants a buzz on this thing so bad. Now they are claiming that it is better. This Windows 7 is just a repacked version of Vista with the updates included which we already have. It's not Apple made Vista sucks it's MS itself so we have to buy this new Windows. I am not going to upgrade it's a waste of money, now that Vista works perfectly for me.

[Will H. @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:01PM]

I've seen Windows 7, and I'm not surprised that it performed so well.

[treats! @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:27PM]

Stick with Vista if you want, nobody will care. Most of us that pay for the latest hardware don't want to stick with a previous version of an OS because its "fine". What they are doing with 7 is no different then what Apple keeps doing with every animal flavor of OSX, Apple just does it more frequently.

I wonder if Apple will beat a dead horse even longer with those tired Mac vs PC ads when Windows 7 comes out? I wish they would spend their time hiring Windows developers to make Apple software not such crap on Windows.

[neener @ Jan 3rd 2009 9:04PM]

Nobody likes a tattletale.

[Student Driver @ Jan 3rd 2009 10:49PM]

@treats!

Nicely done. I have gone through a lot of test code for Apple OS X, and I was on the Vista TAP. For me, the first things that stood out with Vista were the hardening options and the ease of deployment. Apple continued to promise everything in the next release, while MS worked with us to resolve issues with the current software release (whatever application or OS it was) and integrate functions into the new one. I like Vista, and I run it on all my systems, including both my Dell Mini 9 netbooks. I don't see the issue.

[silverblackvoid @ Jan 4th 2009 4:42AM]

i think the fish swims:) please God please

[Inane_Asylum @ Jan 4th 2009 11:35AM]

Windows ME : Windows XP :: Windows Vista : Windows 7

I'm still holding out hope...

[Crand @ Jan 4th 2009 12:00PM]

@ Inane_Asylum

Comparing Windows Vista to Windows ME just shows that you have never even seen Windows ME. That abomination REALLY WAS a bad operating system. The betas didn't even have TCP/IP in them! Vista just fell victim to collective ignorance and good smear campaigning by Apple. Vista > XP. Always has been.

[Thomas195 @ Jan 4th 2009 1:01PM]

Several sites list the AMD Phenom 9700 for sale. They are listed as discontinued now, but they were available to anyone (and apparently still are while old stock lasts).

[Jason @ Jan 4th 2009 1:42PM]

I just finished installing it on an old laptop (1.7ghz pentium m 400mhz fsb 1 gb of ram intel graphics ... pos basically) and its running great! faster than xp was for sure! only problem is no wirless card drivers and the graphics divers wont install properly, everything else works tho! try it for yourself, I think you will like it!

[OneLove @ Jan 4th 2009 5:59PM]

I installed windows 7 and it rocks! (please send working key).

I was mostly interested in the media center improvements which are sooo nice. I even using the sidebar now. :)

The media center setup wizard found all my hybrid tuners and even added analog OTA channels for dual tuners. I havent checked the QAM.

I cant go back to vista. Noooooooo!!

[Inane_Asylum @ Jan 4th 2009 7:22PM]

@Crand:

I *did* have ME on my computer at one time...albeit not for very long. It lasted about 3 or 4 days, which is admittedly shorter than Vista's lifespan on my Toshiba (which it shipped with). Vista started farting out on me at around 2 weeks. This was on a "Designed for Vista" laptop, and not just a "Vista Capable" machine. Not even close to a month into using it, I started getting "Windows Explorer has stopped working and has to restart," then every window closes, and the desktop refreshes. After searching around, it was a widespread bug, with no apparent fix. Vista having shipped with System Restore off, by default, I was screwed, and shortly thereafter was taken by Ubuntu.

My analogy is only to show that ME was a building block towards XP, as Vista is towards Windows 7. To say Vista only failed because of Apple is a rather extreme statement. Yes, it had an effect, but as an OS, it left a *lot* to be desired.

[ProfessorKaos @ Jan 4th 2009 7:37PM]

Is windows 7 64 bit only? and whats the release date?

[Peto @ Jan 5th 2009 5:19PM]

thats beautiful :)

[Mike P. @ Jan 10th 2009 11:24PM]

@Inane_Asylum

Uh, sorry, Windows XP is NT-based, while Windows Me was built on old bones (a.k.a., Windows 4.x: Windows 95, 98, 98 SE). Worlds apart.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:19PM]

Hey MS:
How about you leak the 64-bit version too? If I want 32-bit, I can stick with XP. What I care about in terms of Windows 7 performance is the 64-bit version, not the 32-bit version.

[Bryant @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:20PM]

Well, you could wait until the beta program actually starts.

[geoffsy328 @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:23PM]

This pirated copy must be really inconvenient for you.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:16PM]

That's not what I'm saying. I didn't even download it. I have better things to do than to reconfigure my entire machine to run an OS that will expire in a few weeks anyway. And that includes when the real beta program comes out. I don't even run Vista SP2 for the same reaons (I run Vista Ultimate 64-bit SP1).

What I'm saying is we're going to hear benchmarks, it is useless to me to hear 32 bit ones. Who would run 32-bit Windows 7 or Vista?

[Zeo @ Jan 3rd 2009 8:01PM]

I would prefer if there where no 32 bit version, you would still need a 64 bit capable computer to run it so why not.
At least that way everybody would feel motivated to make 64 bit windows better.

[Levi @ Jan 3rd 2009 8:50PM]

I have a Pentium 4. Would a 64 bit operating system not run as well as a 32 bit on it?

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 3rd 2009 8:53PM]

Depends on your Pentium 4. Many of them won't run 64-bit code at all.

If your processor will run 64-bit code, it should run it faster than 32-bit code. But then again, maybe not. That's why I'd like to see the 64-bit benchmarks.

Zeo:
I agree, although it's selfish of me. I wish there were no 32-bit version so that everyone had to commit to running 64-bit and thus the 64-bit OS would be tested well with all apps and hardware.

[xtriker360 @ Jan 3rd 2009 11:18PM]

+1 for the 64bit windows 7 only.

[Matthew C @ Jan 4th 2009 1:35AM]

THose of us who are satisfied with our investments in core duo machines appreciate the 32 bit version. Also, BTW this copy expires in June, and the release candidates will probably be out by then.

And levi - to be on the safe side, got eith the 32 bit version, unless you have over 3 gigs of ram (and entirely compatable hardware.)

We have yet to see if 64bit 7 is as picky as vista when it comes to driver signatures, but it is likely that it will be.

One final question: Do atom cpus support 64 bit?

A dual core atom and 1-2 gigs ram would run 7 fine, but im just curious.

[eggothewaffle @ Jan 4th 2009 2:03AM]

Err...Core 2 Duo supports 64-bit OS's.

[Turd @ Jan 4th 2009 3:35AM]

Core Duo doesn't though.

[Andir3.0 @ Jan 4th 2009 1:34PM]

My 64-bit Debian Linux on my core2duo says it does.

[Andir3.0 @ Jan 4th 2009 1:36PM]

wait, core duo? who the hell still has one of those short lived processors?

[Setnev @ Jan 4th 2009 3:13PM]

A 64-bit Only OS wouldn't be a bad idea, but i think that with such a low system footprint, they will possibly be looking to replace XP on netbooks, which are running Atoms which are not 64-bit capable.

[IVSTINIVS @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:23PM]

I'm waiting for the Windows bashers...

[ProfessorDex @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:25PM]

Why, so you can take lessons?

[Paul Chapel @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:53PM]

Well, I'm happy. It only took them eight years for this incremental upgrade. Yay.

[giuliop @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:25PM]

And when it's out, it will be more like 10 years. Double yay!

P.S. Where have the idiots that thought every OS had to be slower than the previous one because "it's always been so" hidden?

[Pierre @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:51PM]

snow liger is gonna be better
*bash*

[bill cant fart @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:54PM]

Snow Liger?! Is that a future Ubuntu distro?

[Paul Chapel @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:56PM]

Seriously, dude, people treat Microsoft like the mentally challenged kid in class.

"Oh, look, he can tie his shoes. Such a smart boy! Oh, joy, he can comb his hair! This is awesome!"

Microsoft took EIGHT YEARS to leak a beta that runs faster than another eight year old operating system (XP) and after releasing 10 different versions of a sub par OS that is universally hated (Vista) and people here are all in a tizzy because the beta WORKS WITH THEIR GAMES.

Well, knock me over with a Zune! How wonderful. It's the greatest OS ever made! It can work with my games and runs faster than a operating system older than dirt. What other amazing things can come from the coffers of Redmond? There is no limit to what they can achieve now!


Uh, okay, I admit, I've been downloading it all night.


/snark

[cloud858rk @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:00PM]

Are we talking about Zoids?!?

[giuliop @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:09PM]

@bill

The snow liger is renowned for its, well, snowy magic skills.

@Paul.

Cannot be more true. The worst thing though is when people do that but don't realise it; see most of the excited posts here.

[mik @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:09PM]

@ bill cant fart
No it'd have to be Lazy Liger or Loose Liger or Livid Liger or something of that nature...

[bill cant fart @ Jan 3rd 2009 8:10PM]

Leaping Ligers!!

[Decoy @ Jan 3rd 2009 10:41PM]

@ "All Apple" Paul Chappel

"Oh, look, he can tie his shoes. Such a smart boy! Oh, joy, he can comb his hair! This is awesome!"

That's how you talk to mentally challenged peeps? You're an asshole.

[John @ Jan 3rd 2009 11:15PM]

@bill can't fart:

take less beano.

[Ellianth @ Jan 4th 2009 3:03AM]

Hey Paul, go get a job at one of these companies and develop an OS that can do as much as windows can (and more) and in less time. Then come back and run your mouth. If they rushed out an unfinished product you'd be the same one complaining that they rushed it so just shaddap you damn hypocrite.

P.S. For something to be universally hated everyone has to hate it. You are NOT everyone!

[giuliop @ Jan 4th 2009 6:17AM]

@Ellianth

You mean an OS that's finally a little bit faster in less than 8 years and with a couple of thousand people working on it? Is that supposed to be hard?
Oh sorry, I forgot we're talking talking about the mentally-challenged kid. Sorry sorry, I shouldn't have so "high" expectations.