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So I'm building a new system, just ordered all the parts, it's super awesome. I will be using the computer primarily for gaming. I just don't know if I should go with windows 7 or 8. I can get windows 7 through my university of 35 bucks, but they don't sell windows 8 yet. Should I just go with windows 7? Any noticeable advantages (or disadvantages) with windows 8?

There are plenty of people complaining about Windows 8, but if you're gaming, both should work. Since you can get 7 for cheaper, I would go with that.

7. It's a well-understood "problem" at this point and there's no getting used to a new interface, plus $35 is cheap.

For that scenario, definitely Win7. Enjoy Microsoft's .EDU discounts while you've got access to them.

If you're getting Win7 for $35 there's zero reason to not go for it. Windows 8 is pretty nice but Win7 is also nice.

I've found the majority of people complaining about Win 8 haven't used the release version. I'm using it on several computers, it's really no different than 7, though it feels a bit faster, but I have no proof of that. If you're buying an OS why would you go with the old version of windows? It's not like microsoft is going to scrap win 8 and go back to 7. They've decided on the direction the platform is going, you might as well jump on. Also....you could always install a copy of xp sp3, keys are easy enough to come up with and do the $40 upgrade price.

As someone who rarely used the Start Menu (what a total relic) I find Windows 8 an improvement - especially when running multiple displays. I'm running it on my gaming rig and my dual display workstation (both systems are using Nvidia GPUs). Performance is excellent and I like the new look of the desktop.

I use Task Scheduler to boot directly to the desktop by launching explorer.exe at login.

Okay, 8 might have some nice things, but I doublechecked the price. $100 for Windows 8 (not Pro), or $35 for Windows 7 (which may be pro?).

Go with 7. It's cheaper, and unless you REALLY need something from 8, it will work just as well.

superjawes wrote:

Okay, 8 might have some nice things, but I doublechecked the price. $100 for Windows 8 (not Pro), or $35 for Windows 7 (which may be pro?).

Go with 7. It's cheaper, and unless you REALLY need something from 8, it will work just as well.

You can get Windows 8 Pro for as low as $40 http://goo.gl/7Xfqm

End User wrote:

superjawes wrote:

Okay, 8 might have some nice things, but I doublechecked the price. $100 for Windows 8 (not Pro), or $35 for Windows 7 (which may be pro?).

Go with 7. It's cheaper, and unless you REALLY need something from 8, it will work just as well.

You can get Windows 8 Pro for as low as $40 http://goo.gl/7Xfqm

That's an upgrade version. Unless you already have a legal copy of XP SP3, Vista, or 7, it does you no good. Seeing as this is a fresh build, too, it doesn't make a lot of sense to install any of those to get a $40 copy of Windows 8 when you can go straight to a functional copy of 7.

To be fair, you can clean install the upgrade version of Windows 8. But $35 for Windows 7 is cheap and there's really not real downside.

Microsoft is so screwed if they can't even persuade enthusiasts to part with $100. The death spiral begins.

End User wrote:

Microsoft is so screwed if they can't even persuade enthusiasts to part with $100. The death spiral begins.

Yes, because enthusiasts would rather pay $35 than $100, Microsoft is in a death spiral

End User wrote:

Microsoft is so screwed if they can't even persuade enthusiasts to part with $100. The death spiral begins.

It's a matter of versions and licensing...

Assuming the school sells FULL Pro versions (that's how they did it back in my day).

The $100 Win8 version is the OEM non-Pro version.
The $35 Win7 Pro school version plus the $40 Win8 Pro Upgrade would be $75. Save $25 and get a better version...

Alternatively, run the $35 copy of Win7 until school gets a copy of Win8... Assuming that would cost about the same, that's two FULL (probably Pro) licenses for maybe $70...

That's what I'd do, then you can move the licenses around to better suit future builds.

superjawes wrote:

End User wrote:

Microsoft is so screwed if they can't even persuade enthusiasts to part with $100. The death spiral begins.

Yes, because enthusiasts would rather pay $35 than $100, Microsoft is in a death spiral

Canary in the coal mine.

End User wrote:

superjawes wrote:

End User wrote:

Microsoft is so screwed if they can't even persuade enthusiasts to part with $100. The death spiral begins.

Yes, because enthusiasts would rather pay $35 than $100, Microsoft is in a death spiral

Canary in the coal mine.

Choosing a different metaphor doesn't strengthen your point. At the end of the day, we're still arguing of which version of Windows you should use on a new system.

Wake me up when people are (seriously) considering alternatives to Windows for gaming machines.

superjawes wrote:

Wake me up when people are (seriously) considering alternatives to Windows for gaming machines.

Are you kidding me? There are at least 5 alternative gaming platforms out there. You don't need Windows for gaming.

superjawes wrote:

Wake me up when people are (seriously) considering alternatives to Windows for gaming machines.

End User wrote:

Are you kidding me? There are at least 5 alternative gaming platforms out there. You don't need Windows for gaming.

Gaming on all other platforms is frustrating and ugly compared to Windows gaming.

JustAnEngineer wrote:

Gaming on all other platforms is frustrating and ugly compared to Windows gaming.

I love gaming on my PC (just about to jump in to Borderlands 2) but I am absolutely stunned by what you just wrote. Do you live under a rock?

thanks for the replies peeps, I just decided to buy windows 7 from my school. It says "windows ultimate 7" on the disk so, that is even better than professional right? For 35 bucks i'd said I nailed it. Probably just going to stick with windows 7 for a while, I can always upgrade later. I have a random question about gaming with wireless keyboard/mouse. Is there going to be a significant delay, that would actually effect performance on a fps like CS:GO? Also do wireless mouses/keyboards all use polling I/O instead of interrupt? Is that a significant waste of processor cycles?

I have got a i5 3570k and GTX 660 if that is relevant.

Your Core i5-3570K has at least thirteen billion core clock cycles per second. You're not going to miss ten thousand of them spent on your mouse.

There's no harm in going with Windows 7. Windows 8 is fine too, really, it's very easy to avoid the start menu entirely, and then there are quite a few nifty new features, and it's generally much snappier too. Always good to embrace change =)

Chose wrote:

thanks for the replies peeps, I just decided to buy windows 7 from my school. It says "windows ultimate 7" on the disk so, that is even better than professional right? For 35 bucks i'd said I nailed it. Probably just going to stick with windows 7 for a while, I can always upgrade later. I have a random question about gaming with wireless keyboard/mouse. Is there going to be a significant delay, that would actually effect performance on a fps like CS:GO? Also do wireless mouses/keyboards all use polling I/O instead of interrupt? Is that a significant waste of processor cycles?

I have got a i5 3570k and GTX 660 if that is relevant.

Thirty-five bucks for Win7 Ultimate is pretty close to theft. You should do fine with it. (Now check and see if you can get Visio 2010 or Office 2013 Pro for a similar discount.)

The only problem that some wireless peripheral combinations can create, especially older ones, is input lag. If you've got it, you'll notice it right away. Otherwise, don't worry about it.

ludi wrote:

The only problem that some wireless peripheral combinations can create, especially older ones, is input lag. If you've got it, you'll notice it right away. Otherwise, don't worry about it.

Incorrect. ALL wireless peripheral devices can have batteries die in the middle of a game...

That's not to say that they aren't functional or usable (wireless is always nice to avoid tangles), but I use wired devices for this reason.

Yeah, CPU cycles are not a concern in any way. Input lag is *IF* your particular wireless device has significant amounts of it. From what I've heard, many don't have significant lag so do your research (I'm still on wired myself but that's more because i haven't had a need to replace my mouse in years while my mechanical keyboard is kinda heavy anyway).

As for batteries dying in the middle of a match, that's pretty ludicrous. They all have low battery indicators so replace your batteries when they get low (even if you don't, that's like only once every three months?). Buy some Eneloops so you can have pre-charged batteries on hand (most NiMHs lose a lot of charge over time so precharging isn't useful but Eneloops don't).

I was trying to be a little silly on the wireless front.

But it is possible. One of the best wireless mice I used had the indicator right under my hand. Doesn't really help having the indicator if you can't see it.

At any rate, I'm happy with my wired stuff. There don't seem to be many wireless mechanical keyboards anyway. There are a lot of good wireless devices out there, but I prefer what I have.