Who's built or building a Windows 8 machine?

[sygnus21]

The reason I post this question here is since most of us are high end system builders, modders, and overclockers, Id like see how many of you have or are building a high end Windows 8 machine.

I'm not going to argue the merits of whether the OS is good or bad. I'm sure many have their minds made and I'm certainly not going to try to sway one way or the other. For me, my answer is simple, as one who is actually using the OS, it works for me.

That said...

I built a Haswell system a little over a month ago with Windows 8.1 in mind, and thus far I’ve really had no major issues; even driver or app wise. And those items that wasn't working at first (Corsair Link), have now been updated and works as advertised.

What does get on my nerves at times however is the fact that at times I have to search high and low to find stuff. The start button (or lack of true one) gets me at times.

I’m still in the habit of hitting the start button like on Windows 7 and finding what I want only to be reminded it doesn't work that way now. On 8, it’s basically the start screen or search feature to find stuff. And unless you know exactly what you’re looking for, that can be a real pain at times.

Then there’s the learning curve of the new OS as to the way it functions and works. I’ve had to unlearn some habits I’ve used for years with XP, Vista, and 7, and think differently with 8 – i.e. hitting the start button for everything and anything I needed, and instead, get use to search.

Despite those, if you’ve got a new system, Win 8’s performance is undeniable – the OS boots faster, courtesy of UEFI. Runs smoother, and has some really good improvements – Windows Explorer, Task Manager…. Which gives you all sort of useful info.

And, as I said earlier, no gaming issues there. Even Steam and Origin works without issue. I completely played Mass Effect 3 (Origin) on 8 without any issues, finished off Deus Ex: Human Evolution – Director’s cut; knocked out Bioshock Infinite – Burial at Sea (Steam). I'm am currently playing Witcher 1 (Steam based games), again, no issues.

Now I know there's a lot of negativity about the OS, but you'd really be hard pressed to find any of it leveled at it's performance... which is just as good if not better than 7's.

Is Win 8 perfect… NO. But (in my opinion) once you get past the GUI and its idiosyncrasies, you’ll find an OS that just flies; especially with new hardware like a MB or a GPU such as Sapphire’s UEFI enabled card which allows for faster boot/resume times - UEFI BIOS support

Again, this isn't about debating the merits of 8, there are hundred of threads between here and eightforums for that.

So, anyone else planning on a new upgrade with Win 8 in mind?

 

[madcratebuilder]

There are a few different "Classic Shell" programs for W8/W8.1 that when installed give the user the W7 desk top.
I use this one.
Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements

You can configure this to boot in to the classic Win 7 desk top or the Win8/8.1 screen, end user choice. I have it on a touch screen lap top and touch tablet. Best of both worlds.

I agree that W8 is much faster than W7. I've been using W8.1 part time for about a month now and I'm almost ready to convert one or two W7 boxes to W8.1. It should be even faster with a 9590 and crossfired r9 280x's.

 

[Mellon Head]

I dual boot my rig with Win 8.1. It performs well enough, but I can't take the GUI seriously enough to use it full time. It is fast though...

 

[Solarstarshines]

There are a few different "Classic Shell" programs for W8/W8.1 that when installed give the user the W7 desk top.
I use this one.
Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements

You can configure this to boot in to the classic Win 7 desk top or the Win8/8.1 screen, end user choice. I have it on a touch screen lap top and touch tablet. Best of both worlds.

I agree that W8 is much faster than W7. I've been using W8.1 part time for about a month now and I'm almost ready to convert one or two W7 boxes to W8.1. It should be even faster with a 9590 and crossfired r9 280x's.

Above is the reason why i haven't built a Win 8 machine ,Having to Modify a OS just to make it run like the previous one is the reason it's pointless to me i am not kicking it down but i don't feel like modding it to get the feel of the 7 OS

It's probably not a issue doing so but i have yet to mod win 7 when i install it's great right out of the box
I have the same GUI on my phone but i am not impressed enough to move over yet if it isn't broke don't fix it

We have many years before a true upgrade is needed but for those who get it on release are the pioneers of testing it out i give you all credit for being brave this far when you see games being played it doesn't look bad at all but in games the frame increase is really not that much

 

[sygnus21]

I'm using Windows 8.1 straight out of the box with no mods or added Start buttons. I have it set to boot into desktop mode which is a new feature added in 8.1.



Anyway I'm getting use to the way it works so no issue for me using it as is.

And again, I'm not here to debate the merits of 8.1, there are countless threads here and eightforums for that.

 

[Solarstarshines]

@Drew this was probably the reason why it had bad reviews the 8.1 seems to have fixed what most complained about which i think is a huge step is the 8.1 offered as a upgrade or is it a paid upgrade ?

 

[sygnus21]

It was part of the 8.1 update (aka the free 8.1 Windows update). There is a "start" button (four square windows logo, lower left) but many call it a faux start button



because this is all you get when you right click this is what you get....



There are some nice options there, but it's obviously not the traditional Start button many were hoping to see.

BTW a normal left click takes you to the start screen.

Anyway as I said, I'm getting use to it so no bother to me. And as I also stated, the OS itself runs beautifully; better than 7, especially with new gear supporting 8/8.1, like a UEFI BIOS.

 

[Dude]

I use 8 at work every day. Haven't tried 8.1 but I know the shortcuts for 8 and do not find it to be bad. I still use 7 at home, no need to upgrade from it

 

[madcratebuilder]

Users have complained about every Windows major upgrade since 3.0. W95 was ragged pretty bad, as was Vista (deserved). I see MS is extending XP's EOL for one more year to 04-2015, I think. Security updates only.

The more I use 8/8.1 the more I like it, it's the fastest Windows by far.

 

[sygnus21]

Users have complained about every Windows major upgrade since 3.0. W95 was ragged pretty bad, as was Vista (deserved). I see MS is extending XP's EOL for one more year to 04-2015, I think. Security updates only.

The more I use 8/8.1 the more I like it, it's the fastest Windows by far.

So did you build a new rig around it? Or did you just upgrade to 8/8.1?

 

[Solarstarshines]

Users have complained about every Windows major upgrade since 3.0. W95 was ragged pretty bad, as was Vista (deserved). I see MS is extending XP's EOL for one more year to 04-2015, I think. Security updates only.

The more I use 8/8.1 the more I like it, it's the fastest Windows by far.

I agree with this but i hardly think Vista was trash

On another note Windows 8 or 8.1 is probably superior to all OS right now

Most likely the OS isn't holding people back it is the style that it looks is the killer

@Drew , I'll be honest with you after reading your thread you made me a believer of Windows 8 Only for the reason you gave a better presentation of what people should be using it for instead of what people think it's for and with that i Applaud you i may not jump on 8 anytime soon but i will consider it for upgrades in the near future

 

[sygnus21]

Thanks Tommy, appreciate that, but I'm only posting my opinion on what I see through my usage of the OS. Yeah, I too am not a fan of the Start screen, but it wasn't enough to dis-sway me from using the OS. And as I said, it can now be bypassed on startup (Win 8.1).

GUI aside, the OS just flies with it's increased performance.

BTW I also don't think Vista was garbage. It was just very finicky about the software & hardware used. Once you got those sorted, the OS ran pretty good. I certainly had no issues; than again, like Win 8, I built a new rig around it.

For me, my PC usage is music, gaming, photo editing/production, school work, and general purpose usage. Win 8.1 handles that with ease.

Anyway thanks

 

[Solarstarshines]

Thanks Tommy, appreciate that, but I'm only posting my opinion on what I see through my usage of the OS. Yeah, I too am not a fan of the Start screen, but it wasn't enough to dis-sway me from using the OS. And as I said, it can now be bypassed on startup (Win 8.1).

GUI aside, the OS just flies with it's increased performance.

BTW I also don't think Vista was garbage. It was just very finicky about the software & hardware used. Once you got those sorted, the OS ran pretty good. I certainly had no issues; than again, like Win 8, I built a new rig around it.

For me, my PC usage is music, gaming, photo editing/production, school work, and general purpose usage. Win 8.1 handles that with ease.

Anyway thanks

You got it Buddy

 

[madcratebuilder]

Users have complained about every Windows major upgrade since 3.0. W95 was ragged pretty bad, as was Vista (deserved). I see MS is extending XP's EOL for one more year to 04-2015, I think. Security updates only.

The more I use 8/8.1 the more I like it, it's the fastest Windows by far.

I agree with this but i hardly think Vista was trash

On another note Windows 8 or 8.1 is probably superior to all OS right now

Most likely the OS isn't holding people back it is the style that it looks is the killer

@Drew , I'll be honest with you after reading your thread you made me a believer of Windows 8 Only for the reason you gave a better presentation of what people should be using it for instead of what people think it's for and with that i Applaud you i may not jump on 8 anytime soon but i will consider it for upgrades in the near future

My first taste of Vista was with Home Basic on a Dell lap top. Not a experience I would want to repeat. After I upgraded to Vista Ultimate I did enjoy that version. Part of it was the learning curve (big part) and on the plus side, Vista prepped me for 7 Vista-sorta Windows 7 beta.

 

[andrew129260]

The start screen is one of my biggest complaints with 8, but I could deal with it and I don't mind going out and getting a replacement.

But they removed other critical features I used every day. Like previous versions for example. File history blows and takes what was a simple process and made it more frustrating and cumbersome.

See here for more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_features_removed_in_Windows_8

Those listed are the reasons I will not be moving to windows 8. Although I may buy the student version from my fiance college for $60 just so I can have it in a Virtual machine in vmware player. (Instead of the Release candidate 8 and 8.1 that I have now.)