A recent exploration into the performance of various Windows operating systems has stirred interest among tech enthusiasts. A YouTuber known as TrigrZolt conducted a series of tests comparing six different versions of Microsoft’s desktop OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10, and 11. While the results offer intriguing insights, they are accompanied by significant caveats regarding the testing conditions.
The testing utilized a collection of six Lenovo ThinkPad X220 notebooks, each equipped with an Intel Core i5-2520M CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB hard disk drive (HDD). Notably, this hardware does not meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11, which raises questions about the fairness of the comparison. TrigrZolt himself acknowledged that the tests were more about providing a historical perspective rather than practical application.
In the results, Windows 11 struggled to keep pace with its predecessors. It ranked last in several key metrics, including boot-up speed, where it lagged behind Windows 8.1, which emerged as the fastest OS to start up. Additionally, Windows 11 consumed more memory due to its extensive background processes, and it performed poorly in battery life tests, with the Lenovo ThinkPad running Windows 11 dying first. Windows XP, while not far ahead, managed to last slightly longer.
In the realm of video editing, Windows 11 again found itself at the bottom of the list, although it is worth noting that Windows XP and Vista were unable to run the editing software used in the test. When it came to opening applications, Windows 11 was notably slower than all other versions, particularly in launching Paint and File Explorer, both of which have faced criticism for their sluggish performance in the latest OS.
However, not all results were unfavorable for Windows 11. In terms of storage efficiency, it ranked fourth, with Windows XP taking the lead as the leanest option. Additionally, it performed reasonably well in one of the web-page loading tests, securing a third-place finish, although it fell short in another test involving Google’s search page.
Analysis: bleak, yet unfair – but Microsoft should still take note
The findings paint a somewhat bleak picture of Windows 11’s performance, yet they must be interpreted with caution. The primary concern lies in the use of hardware that does not meet the specified requirements for the operating system. Microsoft established these minimum specs for a reason, aiming to ensure a responsive user experience. Testing Windows 11 on subpar hardware inherently skews the results against it.
Moreover, the choice of applications for benchmarking may also have impacted the outcomes. For instance, the modern iteration of Paint is significantly more resource-intensive than its earlier versions, which could unfairly disadvantage Windows 11 in this comparison. The reliance on an HDD, rather than a solid-state drive (SSD), further complicates the validity of the results, as contemporary systems typically utilize SSDs for optimal performance.
Despite these limitations, the tests do highlight some genuine areas for improvement within Windows 11. The slow loading times of Paint and File Explorer, along with the overall performance hiccups, suggest that Microsoft has room to enhance the user experience. Additionally, feedback from the YouTube comments section reveals recurring concerns about Windows 11 being perceived as bloated, with users expressing dissatisfaction regarding telemetry data and background monitoring practices.
Ultimately, while the testing conditions may not have provided a fair assessment of Windows 11, they do underscore the need for Microsoft to address performance issues and user concerns. Balancing the introduction of new features with the fundamentals of operating system efficiency will be crucial as the company continues to evolve its software offerings.
Windows 11 finishes an embarrassing last in speed test of six Windows generations — but there’s a big catch
A recent exploration into the performance of various Windows operating systems has stirred interest among tech enthusiasts. A YouTuber known as TrigrZolt conducted a series of tests comparing six different versions of Microsoft’s desktop OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10, and 11. While the results offer intriguing insights, they are accompanied by significant caveats regarding the testing conditions.
The testing utilized a collection of six Lenovo ThinkPad X220 notebooks, each equipped with an Intel Core i5-2520M CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB hard disk drive (HDD). Notably, this hardware does not meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11, which raises questions about the fairness of the comparison. TrigrZolt himself acknowledged that the tests were more about providing a historical perspective rather than practical application.
In the results, Windows 11 struggled to keep pace with its predecessors. It ranked last in several key metrics, including boot-up speed, where it lagged behind Windows 8.1, which emerged as the fastest OS to start up. Additionally, Windows 11 consumed more memory due to its extensive background processes, and it performed poorly in battery life tests, with the Lenovo ThinkPad running Windows 11 dying first. Windows XP, while not far ahead, managed to last slightly longer.
In the realm of video editing, Windows 11 again found itself at the bottom of the list, although it is worth noting that Windows XP and Vista were unable to run the editing software used in the test. When it came to opening applications, Windows 11 was notably slower than all other versions, particularly in launching Paint and File Explorer, both of which have faced criticism for their sluggish performance in the latest OS.
However, not all results were unfavorable for Windows 11. In terms of storage efficiency, it ranked fourth, with Windows XP taking the lead as the leanest option. Additionally, it performed reasonably well in one of the web-page loading tests, securing a third-place finish, although it fell short in another test involving Google’s search page.
Analysis: bleak, yet unfair – but Microsoft should still take note
The findings paint a somewhat bleak picture of Windows 11’s performance, yet they must be interpreted with caution. The primary concern lies in the use of hardware that does not meet the specified requirements for the operating system. Microsoft established these minimum specs for a reason, aiming to ensure a responsive user experience. Testing Windows 11 on subpar hardware inherently skews the results against it.
Moreover, the choice of applications for benchmarking may also have impacted the outcomes. For instance, the modern iteration of Paint is significantly more resource-intensive than its earlier versions, which could unfairly disadvantage Windows 11 in this comparison. The reliance on an HDD, rather than a solid-state drive (SSD), further complicates the validity of the results, as contemporary systems typically utilize SSDs for optimal performance.
Despite these limitations, the tests do highlight some genuine areas for improvement within Windows 11. The slow loading times of Paint and File Explorer, along with the overall performance hiccups, suggest that Microsoft has room to enhance the user experience. Additionally, feedback from the YouTube comments section reveals recurring concerns about Windows 11 being perceived as bloated, with users expressing dissatisfaction regarding telemetry data and background monitoring practices.
Ultimately, while the testing conditions may not have provided a fair assessment of Windows 11, they do underscore the need for Microsoft to address performance issues and user concerns. Balancing the introduction of new features with the fundamentals of operating system efficiency will be crucial as the company continues to evolve its software offerings.