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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Griswold - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
Unless you are using vista NOW, you're not qualified to claim knowledge about performance issues NOW.mechBgon - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
I think you should brush up on Windows Integrity Control and Kernel Patch Protection (for x64). These mandatory access controls are > users.Also, you are sadly incorrect in thinking that malware can only get onto a system with user cooperation. As the 4th-ranked SiteAdvisor reviewer worldwide (by total reputation), I have a fair amount of insight on the subject. ;) Between trusted sites being hacked and turned malicious, Mpack/Icepack-type exploit suites and vulnerable third-party software that people don't think to update, there's plenty of need for proactive security and mitigation.
You like WinXP? Great. For a 7-year-old OS, it can be secured fairly well, if you want to, and I even have tips to help with that: http://www.mechbgon.com/build/security2.html">http://www.mechbgon.com/build/security2.html But it's time for OSes to be more secure by default, in my opinion. The latest Security Intelligence Report from Microsoft showed WinXP SP2 is 2.5x more likely to have malware detected by the Malicious Software Removal Tool than Vista SP-zero, to throw one statistic out there.
Food for thought. I haven't seen much at AnandTech yet on that aspect of Vista.
Microsoft MVP ~ Windows Shell/User
kmmatney - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
I don't see exFAT being useful right away unless windows XP is updated to support it.Staples - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
Vista SP1 mostly has all the updates that MS has released over the past year on Windows Update. I did not notice a difference either and I installed SP1 a few weeks ago. If this was a vanilla install I was installing it over, I am sure I would notice quite a few improvements. I have been using Vista Home Premium since Jan and it definitely had some problems then. Since about July, the drives were mature enough and other than the slow slow file copying (which now still is slower than XP), everything has been running well for months.KeypoX - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
On both laptop and desktop :( but i didnt really have any problems before... or after.johnsonx - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
"That experience has been unified somewhat with SP1, now the x86 environment can install the x64 version of the OS (but ____ the other way around, interestingly enough)."I do think a 'not' goes in that blank.
(btw, none of the comment buttons like B, I, U, Quote, etc. are working for me atm)
InternetGeek - Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - link
I've been using SP1 on Vista Ultimate and it does bring some improvements. It took about one hour to install without any trouble at all. I simply started it and one hour later it was up as running.In general I find my laptop to be more responsive (Toshiba P105-S921). It restarts faster and comves alive from suspend faster as well. Applications in general feel the same, though tonight I'll play Oblivion and get a more "objective" feel of it. I used VS.NET 2008, Sql Server 2005, Photoshop CS2, Office 2007, DVDFab Platinum, Alcohol 120%, iTunes/WMP for media.
Div 6.8 stopped working all together after applying 6.1. It either crashes while analyzing the subtitles or while encoding. The movie is Transformers.
In general, I find that SP1 does bring good things for Vista on which, in general, I'm having a better experience than on XP.
aguilpa1 - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
From that list you don't use any heavy duty applications, so yes you probably wouldn't notice a difference...Spivonious - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
Photoshop, SQL Server, and VS2008 aren't "heavy-duty" applications? Just what is heavy-duty in your opinion?Griswold - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - link
I bet using his favourite browser, posting crap like that in comments like this, is what he considers "heavy-duty".