OS

Windows 7 vs Windows 8: Gaming Performance

Metro UI / Windows Design Interface

The first striking difference from Windows 7 and probably the most debated “feature” is the new Metro interface (Metro UI). For me, as a gamer, programmer etc, Metro UI has absolutely no use, but more than that it keeps getting in the way.

WDDM 1.2 and Direct3D 11.1

WDDM (Windows Display Driver Model) 1.2 brings a set of new features that are not entirely performance related, at least not from a “gaming” stand point. With the new Driver Model, the bandwidth used when playing videos (fullscreen) is reduced thus the power consumption is lower. The second feature of WDDM 1.2 is the Operating System’s ability to “discern” between a hung application and one that is still in queue; By doing this, Windows will not have to reset the GPU whenever a application freezes but only the part of the GPU (engine) that is causing the issue. The third feature called GPU Preemption allows for better and faster sharing of the GPU by applications, reducing latency. In theory, the performance that results from these new features are mostly going to be felt in 2D.

Direct3D 11.1 (DirectX 11.1) is a small increment from D3D 11 that allows developers to debug their code more effectively through the use of Shader tracing and compiler enhancements and various other new methods and functions. For the full list of D3D 11.1 Features read the Official Feature List. Some of these features will work with DirectX 11 GPUs.

Tests and Settings

All tests were ran 3 times, the average was noted. Both Windows 7 and Windows 8 had all available Windows Update patches installed.

• Arma II: Operation Arrowhead – v1.62 – Very High Settings @ 1920×1080 – Benchmark Scenario 01
• Batman Arkham City – v1 – Extreme Settings @ 1920×1080 – FXAA (Medium) – DirectX 11 Normal Tessellation – Cobblepot Intro and Thugs Fight
• Battlefield 3 – Ultra Settings @ 1920×1080 – 4xMSAA – Multiplayer on Strike at Karkand (32p map, Large Conquest), US Deployment -> B Flag
• Borderlands 2 – Highest Settings @ 1920×1080 – PhysX Low
• Dishonored – Highest Settings @ 1920×1080 – FXAA – Intro Scene
• DiRT Showdown – Ultra Settings @ 1920×1080 – 8xMSAA – Benchmark Mode
• F1 2012 – Ultra Settings @ 1920×1080 – 8xMSAA – Benchmark Mode
• Mass Effect 3 – Highest Settings @ 1920×1080 – Mars Archives Cinematic
• Sleeping Dogs – v1.5 – Extreme Settings @ 1920×1080 – Benchmark Mode
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – v1.7.7 – Ultra Preset – 1920×1080 – 8xAA – 16xAF – Tested in the area East of Rorikstead
• Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty – v1.5.2 – Highest Settings @ 1920×1080 – 4vs4 Replay with pre-caching, 8x speed
• The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition – v3.2 – Ultra Settings (Ubersampling Off) @ 1920×1080

Test System Specifications

Test Hardware | Windows 7 vs Windows 8: Gaming Performance
Processor	Intel Core i5-2500K (Sandy Bridge) 4.5 GHz, 6 MB L3 Cache, power-saving settings disabled, Turbo Boost disabled.
Motherboard	MSI P67-C43-B3, Intel P67 Chipset
Memory	2 x 2 GB DDR3 1600MHZ
Hard Drives	WD 500 GB SATA III (OS) Samsung 750 GB Sata II (Game)
Graphics Card	Sapphire HD6950 1 GB
Power Supply	Corsair TX 650 W
System Software And Drivers
Operating System	Windows 7 SP1 x64 Windows 8 Pro x64 build 9200 (RTM)
Driver	AMD Catalyst 12.9 Beta (9.001)