The Test
Along with testing individual aspects of Vista for specific performance fixes, we have also run a subset of our usual performance benchmarks to see if there are any other notable performance improvements - or alternatively if the performance improvements contained in Vista SP1 will spill out in to more generalized improvements in performance. To that end we’ve run tests on our benchmark rig with both a fully patched installation of Vista RTM/SP0, and again with SP1. Due to time constraints and the fact that we are using Vista x64, we did not include XP benchmarks at this time. With XP SP3 right around the corner, we’ll add XP into the mix soon enough.
| Software Test Bed | |
| Processors | Intel Core 2 Quad QX6850 (3.00GHz/1333MHz) |
| RAM | G.Skill DDR2-800 (2x2GB) |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-P35-DR3R (Intel P35) |
| System Platform Drivers | Intel 8.1.1.1012 |
| Hard Drive | Seagate 7200.10 500GB SATA |
| Video Cards | 1 x GeForce 8800GTX |
| Video Drivers | NV ForceWare 169.28 |
| Power Supply | OCZ GameXStream 700W |
| Desktop Resolution | 1600x1200 |
| Operating Systems | Windows Vista Ultimate 64-Bit |
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whatthehey - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
The only thing they can do is nitpick about the use of a term like x64, when everybody knows what it means and Microsoft uses it all over the place (i.e. "Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems").You, sir, add new meaning to the term anal retentive.
"The sky is falling - someone said x64 instead of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X64">x86-64! Help!"
PrinceGaz - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
They probably use the term x64 because Microsoft used it for the 64-bit x86 version of XP - "Windows XP Professional x64 Edition", to differentiate it from the old 64-bit Itanium version - "Windows XP 64-bit Edition".Everyone knows what x64 means (everyone who actually needs to know, anyway), so it makes sense to use it as it is quicker and easier than alternatives like x86-64 or 64-bit x86.
Martimus - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
Is exFAT an open standard? It sounds like a promising File Management system for a non-Microsoft OS.mmjjzz - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
READ, interest problem found!!client: Intel Q6600, 4GB RAM, Vista 64bit
server: Intel Celeron 2.53, 2 GB RAM, Windows 2003 SP1
Gigabit network (Jumbo Frames Enabled, SP1 didn't improve anything without jumbo frames enabled)
Pre SP1 (large file)
-------
client (non OS drive) -> Server (share 1) = 43MB/s
Server (share1) -> client = 6MB/s
Post SP1 (large file)
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client (non OS drive) -> Server (share 1) = 45MB/s
Server (share1) -> client = 33MB/s
on client, Copying from Share1 to Share2 on server = 900K/s
Share to share TAKES FOREVER.. i never tested this pre SP1, but i am assuming it is the same
gimper48 - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
I may have missed this in the article. However, some people see it in update some do not. I have vista 64 and it has never come up as an option. Anyone know the methodology to determine who gets it and who does not? Also is the it sp1 only available to technet subscriptions? That kinda screws the small systems admin at a small company. They cannot upgrade all in one shot then.DigitalFreak - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
No-one is supposed to be getting it via Windows Update yet (except maybe some Beta testers). The fact that it was up there briefly the other day was a mistake on Microsoft's part. It should start showing up some time in March.haplo602 - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
While you mentioned UEFI, it would be an interesting separate article/guide. With technology description ad current state of affairs.Are you planning any such article ?
TheJian - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
I'm wondering about the comment made regarding XP64 being bad for consumers. Why? Myself I'd like to see XP64 vs. Vista64 benchmarks done (games and all). Is there something stopping you from benchmarking XP64? It's been 2.5 years since this article at Tom's:http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/08/23/windows_xp_...">http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/08/23/windows_xp_...
XP64 looked pretty good then, 2.5yrs later it should SURELY be better correct? Why no testing for XP64? Most of Tom's benchmarks show a dead heat for xp32 vs xp64. On Steampowered.com Vista 64bit only counts for 2.5% of their users and Vista total is only 16.5%. Shouldn't you have a go at 64bit XP? Unfortunately they didn't breakdown the XP32 vs XP64 numbers.
Ryan Smith - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
The issue with XP64 is that it is effectively an orphaned operating system on the consumer side of things. It was never even intended for consumer use, it was a slightly retooled version of Server 2003 designed to fill a gap for workstations that needed a 64bit version of Windows. Very few companies in the consumer space are testing their wares against XP64, this goes for both hardware and software. Compatibility problems are still few and far between, but never the less going forward it's only going to get worse particularly when it comes to drivers.TheJian - Thursday, February 28, 2008 - link
Are you sure? Nvidia's latest WHQL driver is dated Dec2007 with these notes:# WHQL driver for GeForce FX, 6, 7, and 8 series GPUs.
# Added support for GeForce 8800 GTS 512 GPU.
# Recommended driver for the latest DirectX 9, and OpenGL applications.
# Numerous game and application compatibility fixes. Please refer to the release documentation for more information on features, driver fixes, and known issues.
They are still improving gaming with these! I don't see it as Orphaned when people are revolting against Vista. Read the fixes in the readme. There are quite a few issues fixed in 64bit. Don't forget people were buying this OS for years before Vista. Both Intel and AMD were selling 64bit chips before vista for years. People were running XP64bit and still are (if they wanted to use their chip's abilities that is). Is it so tough to throw up some benchmarks for xp64? Is MS telling you not to do it in some agreement like stopping XP SP3 benchmarks from being published in their EULA? Just checked ATI/AMD and their drivers are updated for 64bit FEB 13th! That's just 2 weeks ago and includes the 3870x2 boards.
If movement in this area picked up (cough up the benchies!) I could see MS backing away from Vista and just re-releasing XP with DX10.1 and Aero Glass which would make Vista pointless. Vista could end up just like WinME. We ended up with Win2k, and for games that wouldn't run in that OS we dual booted to 98-OSR2 :) LOL I see drivers for my chipsets on Intel P35 and Nvidia boards also. I don't see waning support. Same date for Nvidia's xp32/64 drivers so they are developed together (the readme covers both also). It seems to me only Microsoft wants it orphaned. Crappy benchmarks would prove it (or not if they're great!) so lets see some please.