Quick look at Windows 7 Hardware performance / requirements

Microsoft has just released the M3 built for Windows 7, the successor to Windows Vista. The new OS is expected to enter the market by early 2010. As being a Microsoft MVP, I have been given the chance to test the OS first hand. So let us take a quick look at the Microsoft Windows 7.

Over next few weeks I shall be exploring various aspect of Windows 7 and today’s post would primarily demonstrate the hardware performance of the OS.

So far I am able to get the OS installed starting from the lowest END PC configuration to one of the highest hardware configs.

To be honest, at first glance the OS looks like a Windows Vista running with custom theme and boot screen, but as soon as you start your PC you feel there is a major improvement from Windows Vista in terms of speed.

Below are some results from Windows 7 running in different configurations with default Windows driver.

System 1 (Notebook)

System Make and model :- Toshiba Satellite L40
Processor :- Celeron M 530 / 1.73GHz / 533 FSB / 1 MB L2 (single core)
Chipset / GPU :- Intel GL960 / GMA x3100
RAM :- 1 GB DDR-II 667MHz (512×2)
HDD :- 5400 RPM 120 GB SATA

System 2 (Notebook)

System Make and model :- Lenovo 3000 N200
Processor :- Intel Dual Core T2310 / 1.46 GHz / 1 MB L2 / 533 FSB / EM64T
Chipset / GPU :- Intel GM965 / GMA x3100
RAM :- 1.50 GB DDR-II 667MHz
HDD :- 160 GB SATA 5400 RPM

System 3 (Desktop)

System Make and model :- Assembled PC
Processor :- AMD Athlon X2 4200+
Motherboard :- ASUS M2A-VM
Chipset / GPU :- AMD 690G / ATi x1250
RAM :- 2 GB DDR-II 667MHz (1×2)
HDD :- 160 GB SATA-II 7200 RPM

System 5 (Desktop)

System Make and model :- Assembled PC
Processor :- Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 / 2.4 GHz / 1066 MHz FSB / 4 MB L2 / EM64T
Motherboard :- XFX 630i 7150
Chipset / GPU :- Nvidia 630i / GeForce 7150 IGP
RAM :- 2 GB DDR-II 667MHz (2×1)
HDD :- 160 GB SATA-II 7200 RPM

System 6 (Desktop)

System Make and model :- Assembled PC
Processor :- AMD X2 4600+ / 1 MB L2
Motherboard :- Gigabyte M61PME-S2
Chipset / GPU :- Nvidia 430 / GeForce 6150 IGP
RAM :- 2 GB DDR-II 667MHz (2×1)
HDD :- 160 GB SATA-II 7200 RPM

System 7 (Desktop)

System Make and model :- Assembled PC
Processor :- Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 / 2.4GHz / 8 MB L2 / 1066 Mhz FSB / EM64T
Motherboard :- ASUS P5N-E SLi
Chipset :- Nvidia 650 SLi
GPU :- XFX 8400 GS
RAM :- 4 GB DDR-II 667MHz (2×2)
HDD :- 250 GB SATA-II 7200 RPM 16MB

Here is a minor change you may notice, as Windows 7 is rating Q6600 beyond 5.9 mark which happens to be the highest possible rating under Windows Vista SP1.

By so far, I have installed the product on at-least dozen PCs with alternate configurations from all types of platform, AMD / Intel, Nvidia / ATi / Intel, Laptop / Desktop and till now it really seems to be a stable OS with no BSOD yet.

Another thing to note, though with its performance improvement over Vista, Windows 7 is not really the seventh version of Windows rather its version 6.1. Windows 2000 is version 5, where as XP is version 5.1. Just like that Windows Vista is 6.0 where as till now the built numbers suggest, it is version 6.1.

Choto Cheeta on November 6, 2008 | Filed Under Hardware, Windows

16 Comments

manikandan on November 7th, 2008

clydeman on November 8th, 2008

Can anyone give this a run?

Satyam on November 10th, 2008

Very Nice Review, waiting to see more….

Yog Raj on November 10th, 2008

Being a layman, to be true, I am not able to find out something out of your this article. You have given specs of your systems etc.

john on November 12th, 2008

Its theme is similar to vista.

malc on November 12th, 2008

Happy to know about updated version of vista

Choto Cheeta on November 12th, 2008

Hello Yog Raj,

This is to give readers an idea as compare to Windows Vista, the new OS is much much resource friendly and as one may see packs ample amount of drivers even with its default installation.

Thanks.

Abhishek on November 14th, 2008

I have used it as well but did not notice too many significant changes…

I have heard Microsoft & Intel are planning to launch a version of the nehalem processor especially for windows7.

It’ll be known as Intel Corei7 Extreme 965 vienna edition (3.4 ghz). it will have 8 cores & a massive support for 6 GB DDR3 ram. L3 cache and hyperthreading are also included. Superb overclocking features too.

expect it to be launched atleast for 50K bucks!!!

Although i don’t trust Microsoft at all i think they are trying to create a rather reliable version of the
FLOPPED Windows Vista….

Hope it will be good and enough to compensate for their losses which the overhyped Vista and IE8 have brought about.

Vow 2010………. almost a perfect kickstart to a new tech decade.

Debsuvra on November 22nd, 2008

Are Windows 7 benchmark tools same as Vista’s? I don’t think MS retained that same algorithm as the previous, it looks more sophisticated now. I remember seeing much bigger score in Vista than Win 7 here with Intel Q6600 and almost same hardware you reviewed. BTW did you install latest drivers available for the hardwares, or just used default MS ones that came with Win 7 installer?

tarun chugh on February 11th, 2009

yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyoooooooooooo

Wing on May 6th, 2009

Dear Sir
I got this system and I don’t know that it can handle window 7 or not need some help from your guys thx
AMD Athlon(tm)64 processor 3000+. and display card is Radeon x600 series
and motherboard is GIgabyte K8 Triton series PCI Express Dual Channel DDR 400.

Choto Cheeta on May 8th, 2009

Wing :

Dear Sir
I got this system and I don’t know that it can handle window 7 or not need some help from your guys thx
AMD Athlon(tm)64 processor 3000+. and display card is Radeon x600 series

and motherboard is GIgabyte K8 Triton series PCI Express Dual Channel DDR 400.

Can you run Windows Vista under your computer ??

The system requirements for Win Vista and Win7 are identical !!! Hence if you see that your PC is able to run Windows Vista then certainly, rest a sure that it should be able to run Windows 7 with ease !!

Thanks.

rinku on July 10th, 2009

well will anybody tell me which type of lcd display we should have to use window,s 7 touchscreen feature?? or any hardware along with normal lcd. plz tell i am curious to know. u can mail the details @ rinku.ilu.kool@gmail.com.

Abhishek on August 17th, 2009

Hello Choto Cheeta,

I have been facing this problem since quite a few months and thought of seeking your help on this subject.

My PC config is -

Intel Pentium 4 (2.4 Ghz)
1.25 GB DDR1 RAM
Intel 845 chipset with onboard graphics
200 GB HArd Disk Drive

My problem is that I have been operating on Windows 7 RC 1 since the past two months and everything is working perfectly except the graphics. All graphic related objects such as games show that my hardware acceleration is disabled. When i inspected my PC for the problem it showed that my graphic drivers are out of date. The issue is I have no current internet connection on my PC so it is not possible for me to use windows update. I usually visit cafes for internet and tried to download the drivers I wanted. However either it turned out to be incompatible with my OS or in most cases my hardware.

Can you kindly post me links or sites where I would get these drivers. I am desperate. Please help

Matthew England on November 16th, 2010

I run Windows 7 Ultimate fine on this config:
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 1.7ghz
RAM: 512mb PC133
VGA: nVidia Vanta 16mb
HDD: 20gb IDE

I installed via USB, as my PC has no DVD drive.

kellykokoma@gmail.com on July 12th, 2011

i would like you to list the hardware requirements and thoroughly explain them. please

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