hockeyjx
... I highly doubt that if you have a high level i7 with 64GB of ram, that it truly matters if you have 7 or 8.1. So, I'll stand pat on what I have until the next offering.

I'm not so sure, but I can't make a test because I have no Windows 7 system to compare with, only my past experience with 7.
 
I do a great deal of stuff with extremely high CPU usage. Not lots of tracks, just lots of Reaktor stuff that I made which use huge CPU amounts. Four or 5 tracks of these will such up all my CPU.
 
It seems to me that I can do a lot more with Windows 8 than I could with Windows 7. I had this same system on Windows 7  before I upgraded and there were no hardware changes that matter since then (same CPU/memory and system drive).
 
CPU Core #1 would always max out in 7 while the others were cruising at low levels. This does not seem to happen in Windows 8 as much. I believe that the kernel thread scheduler/CPU distributor is much better in 8 and 8.1.
 
When I say 8 I really mean 8.1 upgrade (kernel 6.3.9600) - no one uses 8 any more, or shouldn't). I think we should just call it Win 9.
 
Here's an example of 8 Reaktor tracks using much more that half of my CPU power (at 4.25 GHz). Notice that each core is used evenly. Can you see this behavior in Windows 7? I don't recall ever seeing that - CPU 1 would be maxed out and the others would be jumping all over the place.
 

 
 

The core parking helped with the distribution over cores, but I still don't think it is as even as 8.1 is. If you have newer hardware with newer chipsets, it may also skew the results in terms of overall performance. I would gather the best method to test was to have a box where you swap out identical drives with 7 and 8.1 installed to test (or a dual boot) - that way it is apples to apples. I'm sure 8.1 is more streamlined, but in terms of if you put it on the same box, would the increase justify the upgrade? It would be fun to test.
 
I have not ONCE used Reaktor and have had Komplete for YEARS. May be time now :)
 
 

hockeyjx
...
 I have not ONCE used Reaktor and have had Komplete for YEARS. May be time now :)

 
The 8 Reaktor ensembles I used above were from this entry I made in the Reaktor U/L:
 
http://www.native-instruments.com/en/community/reaktor-user-library/entry/show/7701/
 
It is a self-generating audio installation/soundscape.
 
Edit: correction.

arachnaut

hockeyjx
...
 I have not ONCE used Reaktor and have had Komplete for YEARS. May be time now :)

 
The 8 Reaktor ensembles I used above were from this entry I made in the Reaktor U/L:
 
http://www.native-instruments.com/en/community/reaktor-user-library/entry/show/7701/
 
It is a self-generating audio installation/soundscape.
 
Edit: correction.

Thanks!   Downloading now.   I'm getting more into Reaktor each month since getting Komplete early in the year.
 
My DAW is still on Win7 myself, running on an older Q9300.  But your difference with Reaktor has me wondering about 8.1.1 - I purchased the upgrade during the initial $49 sale but never installed it.   I did upgrade my general internet PC though, as an introduction to Win8.x    What to do...
 

stevec
[...  But your difference with Reaktor has me wondering about 8.1.1 - I purchased the upgrade during the initial $49 sale but never installed it.   I did upgrade my general internet PC though, as an introduction to Win8.x    What to do...
 

If that was the update from 7 to 8 you should be aware that it is fairly lengthy process to upgrade to 8.1.1.
 
The download of 8.0 is about 3 GB. Then you need to apply quite a lot of updates for 8.0 to get to the ability to update to 8.1 from the Windows Store. The 8.1 update is also about 3 GB. Then there are about 100 updates to 8.1 before you get to the 8.1.1 update.
 
I've done this a few times for friends - it's very lengthy and tedious.
 
There is a new Media Installer that you can download once you get to 8.1.1:
 
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media
 
that will allow you to install 8.1 directly in case you need to do that again.
 
Frankly, I just image my OS drive.
 

Windows 8.1 Update 1. Also known as Win 8.1.1 Available on Win update. Google for further info. Thanks.

Fyi John:

http://beta.techradar.com...and-install-it-1240695

Ta.

TremoJem
If you were going to buy a new desktop for tracking what OS would you use for X3?
 
And why...as I do not plan to use touchscreen.
 
I guess all I care about is stability and being able to eliminate the unneeded bloatware with ease.
 
I would also like to have some control over what is creating interrupts as well, I guess what I mean is that I would like to be able to optimize the desktop for a DAW and will one OS make it easier for this than another?
 

If you know you won't be using a multi-touch monitor, Win7x64 is fine.
Win7x64 isn't any more/less prone to stability than Win8.1x64.
Aside from slot choice, you will have no direct control over IRQ assignment.
 
A quality machine comes with no bloatware...

CakeAlexS
In fact update 2 is out.. If you have Win 8.1 and windows is up to date you already have it.

http://www.howtogeek.com/...but-its-a-big-letdown/

As far as 8.1.1 it has been refered that way, probably because the DLL's have been versioned that way. It's a pretty commonly discussed thay way and certainly all the developers I'm in contact with prefer to refer it that way. Also MS marketing loves to change the title just before release for maximum confusion.

I know Alex that is the common term but if I try to check it out I get nothing. Why do you think I am asking? Why do think I am asking where this term is coming from? If MS doesn't use that term how does one search MS for it. Yes my system is up to date and system information says Windows 8.1 Pro. There is no reference to it that I can find that says Windows 8.1.1 anywhere. 
 
I'm hoping we use terms that at least searchable.  

CakeAlexS
I think they did use the term till marketing got hold of it (this is from memory I have no references) . Regardless if you google "windows 8.1.1" you will get "windows 8.1 update 1" references everywhere which of course is the final name. Update 2 was renamed to the "August update" so really nobody to blame here other than MS for the confusion. Another example is the confusion between windows metro apps and windows store apps (same thing), or (the ultimate example) Windows RT. I don't regard any of these terms as wrong, there would be less reference terms to use however if MS marketing did a better job at bringing out a clear message.

I don't want to argue about this. I have already done what you advise here. It does not help. Going to MS will not get an update for 8.1 to 8.1.1. According to Windows update my system is up to date. Yet there is no reference to 8.1.1.  This is very confusing.
 
 

You can goto update history to see what has been installed Alex. You can find it in the Windows Update in the control panel. I have it as a quick start. 

CakeAlexS
Disagree. The code in Win8 could be more stable and performs better. My experience would confirm this. Code is hidden from the user. Win 8.1.1 is definately faster and more stable. Whether it is significant enough to upgrade from Win7 is another thing. It took a year for MS to convince me to upgrade my DAW environment and I'm really glad I did. On the other hand if I was still running Win7 I'm sure I would still be happy.

The touch functionality with 8.1.1 is not bloatware and does not need to be executed if the start screen is customized correctly and you know how to right click a start button.

Btw there ia a huge difference between 8.0 and 8.1.1 the criticisms have been dealt with.

I totally agree with you Alex on this point. Though Windows 7 was a great OS when I previewed it I did not notice any difference from Vista. I'm sure others did I just didn't. 8 was a very different thing. It was and is much faster. 8.1 has made it even better.
 

@John, @CakeAlexS,
 
I did a fair amount of searching to increase my comfort level before committing to Win 8 about the time the update to Win 8.1 was released. At the time it was referred to as Win 8.1.1 by the pundits and maybe even MS. IIR it contained a few key "retrofixes" to placate those who preferred to use their existing patterns. I believe MS now calls it Win 8.1 Update and as mentioned it now is up to Update 2. 
...
FWIW, I understood Win 8 to be a major strategy move by MS to dominant market share by providing a common user experience across multiple platforms (smartphones, desktops, tablets). I guess it's reasonable to expect user complaints when your workflow is trashed by a major corporation that deems your particular market unworthy of bespoke development, but that's what user forums are for. (To figure the best way to manage the change, not complain about something you can't.)
 
As posted earlier, I'm noting reliable performance with great multicore performance, even on a laptop.  
 

 

Even New Coke was a flop.



I think the Jury's still out on this one. Theory has it, that you "forget" the taste of Coke after 6 months of not having it. In order to change your formula (Coke), you have to somehow get your customer base to forget the "old" taste before changing it. But how? Release something that, in the public eye attempts to thwart that Pepsi Challenge. When the New Coke flops, Coke will release 'Classic', returning their customers to what they perceive as the real thing, taking those Pepsi Challenges by storm. THAT, at least worked like a charm. Pepsi has never posed that challenge again. 'Ray, when someone asks you which drink is your favorite, you say,..."COKE!" '
 
Ahh, who knows. Fun stuff....

I drink BEER :).