New Computer - Win 7 or Win 8

Me personally...Windows 7....I usually wait a good year, at least, before upgrading. I let microsoft and those brave enough to stay on the cutting edge to work through the bugs and crap...then it's smoother sailing for me when I upgrade. Just my 2 cents...

Not an easy, straight forward decision to make.

I was faced with the very same decision a few months ago and chose Windows 7 which I like, and am used to, for my new audio computer.

Our XP machine finally died recently and it will be replaced with a desktop also running Windows 7.

For me it's a personal matter, I hate the looks of Windows 8.
I don't think there's much difference under the hood.

If you have any intention of using a touchscreen, Windows 8 is a must.

Dell business machines are still available with Windows 7 (including installation disks).
Otherwise you'll have to buy Windows 7.

edion2


Hello,
 
I am upgrading my studio computer.  I am looking at a Core i7 3.4Ghz with 16GB of 1600Mhz  RAM.  The studio computer I'm replacing is an old Core 2 Duo 1.6Ghz running Win XP.  My work computer for my CAD software is running Win 7 64bit.  I really like it.
 
I'm realizing that most new computers come preloaded with Win 8.  I heard some grumblings about Win 8 is not very good at CPU intensive (Audio) environment.  Win 8 is great for average all-around users but not for intense Graphis or Audio.
 
Any comments on Win 7 or Win 8 ??
 
How difficult is it to go BACK to Win 7 if I had to purchase one with Win 8 already installed ??
 
Thanks
Ed

I'm not sure where you heard that... Windows 8 has a faster core than Windows 7 if anything.  Other than being irritated with the start screen or a lack of support for any hardware you may have, there's no reason not to go with Windows 8.  Windows 7 is certainly not a bad choice either of course.
 
Check into the downgrade licensing for Windows 8, there are conditions with that that are complicated and I don't understand them muc myself.

I had no need to upgrade from 7 to 8, but I did.  I had a friend who's a longtime CW user that swore I'd like it better.

I do like it for reasons that have nothing to do with music creation.  But realize going from Sonar 8.5 to X1 was a PITA, and 8 is simply an early nuisance with whatever hardware you have.

8 is very intuitive though (and MS has always sucked at that) so as everyone has said, it's a subjective decision.

 

I'd wait a bit and let things shake out with Win8.

• BIOS updates
• Core motherboard hardware driver updates
• Audio interface firmware and driver updates
• Plugin updates
• Application updates
• Updates to the OS itself

All these need to happen for Win8 to be absolutely rock-solid (across the board) as a DAW platform.
Early adoption doesn't guarantee problems/issues... but it does increase the likelyhood.
That said, Win8x64 is running pretty well here.  But, I've got a small set of Apps/Plugins and an audio interface that's know to (currently) work well under Win8x64.

Win 8 seems to gel with x2a a bit better.
I don't like the new interface, but its so easy to switch to traditional.
The new interface is completely pointless for desktop computing IMHO and I see it as just a marketing trick to create more exposure for the touchscreen tablet market. Which explains why they have done it. Pretty much advertising windows based tablet computing on desktops. 

Win 8 is win 7 but more optimised for modern powerful pcs.

So yeah win 8 all the way if its cost neutral. Largely becuase its where the development time will go in next few years. Your pc is modern and powerful so win 8 is a no brainer. 

Hello everyone,
 
emwhy,
 
Thanks for the link to the artice you posted.  That was very very helpful.  I had no clue when it comes Win 8 performance in an "audio" environment.  It seems Win 8 is a performer.  Glad to know that since most new computers come with Win 8.  I guess I just have to get used to it.  No clue about Metro.  If I have problems, I can chime in here for help.  I hope it still has Windows Classic display mode . . .  I'm old school.
 
-----------
 
Funny,  I posted the same question on the Ableton Forum.  As expected, about 30% of them told me to buy a MAC.  Not for me.  I've been on PC since 1985.  The rest of them were leaning towards Win 7, and so was I until I read that excellent article.   I definitely feel less suspicious of Win 8.
 
I upgraded to X1 from Sonar 3 when Cakewalk was offering a free upgrade to X2 when released.  I have not downloaded X2 yet, I was waiting to be able to buy a 64bit computer.  My old studio computer is an 8 year old 1.6Ghz Core 2 Duo on XP.  So any new 64bit machine will run circles around it !!
 
I'm trying to find a computer that is capable of accessing 32GB of RAM.  From what I understand . . . there is no such thing as too fast CPU and too much RAM :)
 
I'm ready to put in an order from Tiger Direct for an ASUS CM series unit with 3rd generation 3.4Ghz Intel Core i7, 2TB HD, Nvidia GT620 graphics card, and 16GB of 1600Mhz RAM . . . ALL FOR $849 !!!  Not bad I think.  I am also getting the NI Koplete Ultimate for $699 ( sale ends March 26).  When I get the computer up and running with X2, Komplete Ultimate and Ableton Live 9 . . . all for under $2000 (price of a MAC) I'll be very happy.
 
The only thing that bothers me is that my interface is an M-audio Light Bridge.  Its an older unit so I was wondering about the driver compatability with Win 8.  Its a 32 channel ADAT Light Pipe interface.  I am using my ADAT HD24's I/O as my A/D converter.  The driver I have is a 32bit driver.  I'm not sure if M-Audio has an updated 64bit driver.  Anyone out there using the M-Audio Light Bridge ???
 
Thanks for all your posts.
Ed

I love metro, think of it as the start button just got bigger thats all.
you want the start button ? just press the windows key on your keyboard and start typing,all your apps/control panel is all still there.
metro lets me see my facebook,local news,nfl football news everything what out even having to go online,and its like a huge tablet.
I will say this though,windows 8 is bionic, its faster stronger, very powerful.

Now the real question for you Win 8 guys. Have you noticed better and more even load distribution across the CPU cores as stated in the blog link I posted? Or is still a case of the first core doing more work than the others.

Thanks. I tested Win 8 only briefly, but it wasn't a fair test. I had an old SATA drive lying around and installed it on that drive. But my main Win 7 system is on an SSD. Trying to compare Win 8 on an outdated drive to Win 7 on an SSD didn't really cut it for performance comparisons.

edion - you've only had W8 a couple of days.  I had the same initial reaction but decided to wait and learn the differences.  It quickly became apparent that underneath this is pretty much the same as W7 but with (seemingly at least) better performance, connectivity and everything else that comes with several years of development.

You can pretty much ignore Metro, though I use it for instant feedback for email and a few other things.  Other than that the desktop UI works exactly the same.  Just remember the windows key shortcuts (expecially wC, and wX) and you won't even need to download a start menu plugin.

With correct drivers in place you should be fine.  I would not go back to w7 now.  I just built a new pc with my 15 y/o son and his mate from school.  They wanted to put w7 on it but I got a new w8 Pro OEM disk.  After 10 minutes of using it at the worryingly rapid pace of understanding you have at that age they both agreed it was a worthwhile update.

If the teen tech-heads are convinced, I am!

Wood67


edion - you've only had W8 a couple of days.  I had the same initial reaction but decided to wait and learn the differences.  It quickly became apparent that underneath this is pretty much the same as W7 but with (seemingly at least) better performance, connectivity and everything else that comes with several years of development.

You can pretty much ignore Metro, though I use it for instant feedback for email and a few other things.  Other than that the desktop UI works exactly the same.  Just remember the windows key shortcuts (expecially wC, and wX) and you won't even need to download a start menu plugin.

With correct drivers in place you should be fine.  I would not go back to w7 now.  I just built a new pc with my 15 y/o son and his mate from school.  They wanted to put w7 on it but I got a new w8 Pro OEM disk.  After 10 minutes of using it at the worryingly rapid pace of understanding you have at that age they both agreed it was a worthwhile update.

If the teen tech-heads are convinced, I am!

I totally agree with wood on this one, give it a chance, don't just throw the towel in after two days man.
you don't want to be that guy who is the last to upgrade to windows 8 because you don't like it.
sooner or later youll be forced to upgrade because a software you have dosent support earlier versions of windows.

musicroom


Tried Windows 8 --> Rolled back

Glad it worked out for you in the end, just out of curiosity, what was the reason for your initial rollback, purely aesthetics or did you have any performance issues? 
 
I may not have rolled back to Win 7 if it hadn't been for the DPC spikes, (which can probably be fixed at some point)
 
Cheers.

musicroom

Primarily because I was losing some of my programs... Soundforge 8 for instance doesn't work cleanly within Windows 8. But in the end, the benefits of a smooth running X2 lingered in my mind and I went back to W8. 

Ok, that's cool and makes perfect sense.  I think it's great to get other people's upgrade experience.  I'm actually really annoyed that I needed to roll-back, because I was initially willing to work through the pain barrier of the Win 8 GUI. 
 
Hey, one more question for you if I may, when you mention a smooth running X2 on Win 8, were you not able to get a smooth running X2 on Win 7 whilst still maintaining the use of SF8?

NorthernElite

musicroom

Primarily because I was losing some of my programs... Soundforge 8 for instance doesn't work cleanly within Windows 8. But in the end, the benefits of a smooth running X2 lingered in my mind and I went back to W8. 

Ok, that's cool and makes perfect sense.  I think it's great to get other people's upgrade experience.  I'm actually really annoyed that I needed to roll-back, because I was initially willing to work through the pain barrier of the Win 8 GUI. 
 
Hey, one more question for you if I may, when you mention a smooth running X2 on Win 8, were you not able to get a smooth running X2 on Win 7 whilst still maintaining the use of SF8?

One major difference is that I was coming from Vista64... A very good working version of Vista64. So X2 worked fine, but the gui was glitchy every now and then with X2 (not X1). And the latency is quite bit better in Win8. Another small thing I noticed was X2 and the project files load much quicker now. All in all, these types of things point to a more refined OS. 


BTW - I did get SF8 to work in Windows 8. Definitely no going back now. I'll probably upgrade SF to V10 down the road, but wow - the price of that upgrade ($240) is not worth it now as long as SF8 keeps doing what it has always done.