Which OS should i buy?

[Dudu69]

I'm currently using Windows Vista Ultimate SP2, but a lot of newer games like The Crew and Wolfenstein: The New Order aren't supporting my OS anymore, so i'm looking to upgrade to either Windows 7 or Windows 8. Which one should i buy?

I have a lot of old games. I'm most concerned about the ones from the Win9x era, like all the early Need For Speed games, Test Drive 4, SiN, Road Rash, MDK, etc. How are those two operating systems in regards to backwards compatibility with older games in general?

[Dux]

I havent tested Win8 myself, but i have Win 7 SP1 and it works great with older games, no problems.

They say that you can play some older games on Win8 with compatibility mode set to winXP, but as i said i havent tested that.

Anyway, for now you will do good with Win7. :)

[killalldude]

I'd lean towards Windows 7 for compatibility with older programs. Win 8 is completely new architecture and may not support older programs.

[Guest MrLolololXD]

+2 for Windows 7

[Ryzza5]

Older NFS games (2 and 3) won't install on 64-bit Windows

However newer games are starting to take advantage of 64-bit Windows.

 

I would get another HDD and dual boot your current OS with Windows 8.1 64-bit, which is bang up to date (and in line for more free feature updates), faster than Win7, and has the latest DirectX version.

[TDUFREAK500]

Windows 7, Windows 8 is horrible to use.

[Ryzza5]

The great thing about Windows is that you can download things called programs which can do things like customise the user interface and make it much more like Windows 7 if that's what you want, and you get to keep all the other under the hood improvements.

 

The Windows 8 Start menu returns with Start8! - makes a massive difference for instance.

 

Windows 7 is great of course but don't forget it's already ~5 years old. Also eligible students can get a discounted price on the newest version. i.e. Windows 8 Pro Upgrade - Student Offer - Microsoft Store - Free shipping. Free returns.

[T3hReaper91]

I agree with Ryzza here 100%

 

Yes Windows 7 is a good stable platform but i upgraded to 8 and then got the free 8.1 update and not looked back! Yes it will take a little while to get used too but thats what change does! It is actually faster than Windows 7 and when i first tested it out there was a noticeable FPS increase in Windows 8 over Windows 7!!

 

You get used to the new design in Windows 8 and actually find it no harder to navigate around than Windows 7 even without addon programs like Start8 that i used to begin with and now don't bother with.. I actually find it hard now finding certain things when fixing Windows 7 laptops/PC's just because im used to the Windows 8.