Windows 7 on older hardware: A Catch 22 for Microsoft

Iria · Jan 15, 2009, 04:18 AM

There are a few bloggers wondering aloud about how well Windows 7 ultimately is going to run on older hardware. That’s an interesting question, given Microsoft’s symbiotic relationship with its hardware partners who constantly are in search of new ways to convince users to buy pricier PCs.
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Source: All About Microsoft

CDsDontBurn · Jan 15, 2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

It will be interesting to see whether Microsoft offers users the option to upgrade directly from XP to Windows 7 — or whether it will only offer upgrades from Vista to Windows 7 — once Windows 7 is released in final form. The question becomes even more pressing given that Windows XP will likely be a bigger competitor to Windows 7 than any other operating system out there.

catch 22 anybody?

BlueMak · Jan 15, 2009, 11:23 AM

The only problem based on facts right now for Vista and Windows 7 is the bad shape of the world economy and how it will probably get worse over the following months. My guess is less people buying PCs and more people deciding to stay with their older hardware and not upgrade even their OS. The same people who can't afford or don't want to spend money on it will say that XP is superior and all that nonsense.

Judas · Jan 15, 2009, 03:34 PM

i've installed windows 7 32bit just the other day on a intel P3 1ghz with 1gb of ram and a ATI radeon 9600 AIW with a Hercules Fortissimo III to boot.

I would have to say that it's definitely running a little more snappier then even vista.... but relatively the same.... i'd definitely prefer vista/win7 over xp on this machine as well any day.

darrenmdr · Jan 16, 2009, 06:07 PM

A lot of it does depend on the definition of old. Is 5 years old? 10? Some people would consider something six months old as old technology. But they usually have more money than me. To be fair there has to be a cut off point for any O.S and as a lot of the beta testers have discovered, 7 does seem to work much better than Vista on older or lower spec hardware.

The advances in 7 ( and I think they are advances ) do make it an attractive option for ugrading, where Vista just hasn't been. It is a shame that the Economic climate is so pants as (as mentioned earlier) I think it's going to skew the perception of 7 in the long run. And you will indeed see people making claims that XP is superior, without any supporting evidence.

Mac Daddy · Jan 17, 2009, 12:29 AM

Well for me this goes back to Vista and older hardware. Newer OS's are designed to be bundled with newer systems and hardware and support of older hardware is nice but there comes a time to upgrade.

This goes back also to the Windows 7 dropping the 32 bit edition my system is just over a year old now and I am running a simple E6550 C2D ... why would I run 32 bit?

Liqourice · Jan 17, 2009, 02:21 AM

Since I use my favourite game as a benchmark when it comes to this I have to say that XP still is superior, at least when it comes to Vista. Gonna try install 7 beta this weekend and test it to see how it performs. Since I play this game a LOT I won't switch until the game performs just as well. As for now it's not even close.

Robert McClelland · Jan 18, 2009, 06:50 PM

It runs fine on my p4 2.4 with 1.5 gigs of ram with HD 2600 PRO 512meg card hehe

Now we just have wait for right sound drivers come alone for my cmeida card and my music card. I can't get Ditigal out to work full 7.1 channels it's always suck at 2channels on my c-media card.

Jan 15, 2009, 04:18 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	Windows 7 on older hardware: A Catch 22 for Microsoft There are a few bloggers wondering aloud about how well Windows 7 ultimately is going to run on older hardware. That’s an interesting question, given Microsoft’s symbiotic relationship with its hardware partners who constantly are in search of new ways to convince users to buy pricier PCs. _____________ Source: All About Microsoft

Jan 15, 2009, 11:23 AM	#3
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,470 Rep Power: 349 System Specs	Re: Windows 7 on older hardware: A Catch 22 for Microsoft The only problem based on facts right now for Vista and Windows 7 is the bad shape of the world economy and how it will probably get worse over the following months. My guess is less people buying PCs and more people deciding to stay with their older hardware and not upgrade even their OS. The same people who can't afford or don't want to spend money on it will say that XP is superior and all that nonsense. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Jan 16, 2009, 06:07 PM	#5
darrenmdr DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Windows 7 on older hardware: A Catch 22 for Microsoft A lot of it does depend on the definition of old. Is 5 years old? 10? Some people would consider something six months old as old technology. But they usually have more money than me. To be fair there has to be a cut off point for any O.S and as a lot of the beta testers have discovered, 7 does seem to work much better than Vista on older or lower spec hardware. The advances in 7 ( and I think they are advances ) do make it an attractive option for ugrading, where Vista just hasn't been. It is a shame that the Economic climate is so pants as (as mentioned earlier) I think it's going to skew the perception of 7 in the long run. And you will indeed see people making claims that XP is superior, without any supporting evidence.

Jan 17, 2009, 12:29 AM	#6
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: Windows 7 on older hardware: A Catch 22 for Microsoft Well for me this goes back to Vista and older hardware. Newer OS's are designed to be bundled with newer systems and hardware and support of older hardware is nice but there comes a time to upgrade. This goes back also to the Windows 7 dropping the 32 bit edition my system is just over a year old now and I am running a simple E6550 C2D ... why would I run 32 bit? __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Jan 17, 2009, 02:21 AM	#7
Liqourice HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stockholm Posts: 1,711 Rep Power: 98 System Specs	Re: Windows 7 on older hardware: A Catch 22 for Microsoft Since I use my favourite game as a benchmark when it comes to this I have to say that XP still is superior, at least when it comes to Vista. Gonna try install 7 beta this weekend and test it to see how it performs. Since I play this game a LOT I won't switch until the game performs just as well. As for now it's not even close.

Jan 18, 2009, 06:50 PM	#8
Robert McClelland PAX Tweaker, PAX Expert. Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere in Wood County Ohio Same Town :) Posts: 10,668 Rep Power: 196 System Specs	Re: Windows 7 on older hardware: A Catch 22 for Microsoft It runs fine on my p4 2.4 with 1.5 gigs of ram with HD 2600 PRO 512meg card hehe Now we just have wait for right sound drivers come alone for my cmeida card and my music card. I can't get Ditigal out to work full 7.1 channels it's always suck at 2channels on my c-media card. __________________ "XTREME AUDIO IS CRAP!" "There no support for it. It's crapist card on face of the earth it should be throw into the sun" http://www.speedtest.net/result/1949536385.png correct the correct one now