Running Windows 8 / 8.1 and FFXIV

I've been playing with Windows 8/8.1 and the gaming performance boost is noticeably significant. Not just less strain on my computer resources, ive had frame rate imrpovements and even no longer need to OC my card to run some games on max efficiently that did on win 7. 8.1 is actually pretty good with a little tweak. There are 3rd party programs that let you bring the old menu back OR adjust the current Metro Start. Im using DisplayFusion and it condensed my Metro style start to the size of the original start(you can pick your size)which made it better then the original start; its not overbearing and it's customizable.

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Originally Posted by Rochetm

But but but you can disable/get third party programs to make it not suck... Funny I never had to do that with XP, win7, osX, linux(bunch of versions), iPad, or any other modern computing device. I can switch between my macbook, my win7 pc, my mothers iPad, my nephews kindle fire, and any smart phone and never have any problems doing anything. If it takes someone with 25 years computer experience more than 5 seconds to figure out where something is in your OS then you designed it very poorly. Win8 is made for people that don't know what they are doing.

If I got a new car and the seats where in it backwards I wouldn't say oh its fine you just need to tweak some stuff. I would say some engineer needs to be fired.

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it was made for tablets, most of the stuff are fixed in 8.1 tho. and its free too

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Originally Posted by LloydShade

Windows 8 is an upgrade from Windows 7 system-wise. 8 has better memory management, faster turn-on/shutdown speed, better network management

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I will give that it seems to manage memory better, but there are still plenty of BSoD issues. Its also not really a faster turn on/shutdown speed. You computer is simply going into hybernation by default unless you specifically tell it not to (disabling fast startup). Otherwise even though you think its shut down, it really isn't

As far as network is concerned, Win8 has its problems as well with many reported problems that Win8 network connections have a slow then dying connections requiring a reboot to fix. Just doesn't seem as stable as older OS's

The GUI... ('metro') *cringe* (I also don't care that you can 'boot' into the desktop with the new 8.1... its still there....)

Multitasking.... *cringe*.... Win8 just doesn't do what I want it to do... and only full screen 'apps'... And only able to open 4 apps (snapped) at once? mmmm yeah...

Really there are many other things I just can't stand about win8 and don't even start me on RT ;P.

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Originally Posted by Rochetm

But but but you can disable/get third party programs to make it not suck...

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Why on earth should I have to do that just to get it to work even semi properly?

Runnin FFXIV and BF 4 on windows 8, both games run better than on my system with windows 7 and I'm by no mean a M$ sellout :)

Cause your PC's gaming performance will improve by a very large margin? Not to mention all the non-gaming performance enhancemen. The Metro UI isnt that big of a deal if u take 10 minutes of your day to put in some work arounds

I run the game on a windows 8.1 machine at work, only difference between it and my home pc on windows 7 is the graphics. Work pc has an integrated chip slightly above min. requirements where as home can take max settings.

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Originally Posted by Leash

Anyone running FFXIV on Win 8.1? Is it better? Does it handle well?

Also, does know how to stop that stupid Win App Menu from popping up randomly while in gameplay on Win8?

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Using windows 8.1 pro, works perfectly fine, a little bit of increase in performance, but the main benefit is for when the ps4 version comes out and we get our direct x 11 version of ff. Windows 7 wont be able to use the direct x 11 version.

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Originally Posted by Rochetm

(insertsillyignorantblindhatredofsomethingnew)

If I got a new car and the seats where in it backwards I wouldn't say oh its fine you just need to tweak some stuff. I would say some engineer needs to be fired.

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You sound like the people who complained when Xeroxes GUI was introduced to the mac and IBM compatible systems.

There is very little difference between 8 and 7 when it comes to interface. If anything win8 is much quicker since a right click gives you direct access to key parts of the OS unlike in Win7 where you have to hunt for those same options (device manager etc)..

Your analogy has absolutely nothing to do with this situation as win8 runs just like win7 outside of the now antiquated old style start bar.

Runs amazing on Windows 8, but I've been hesitant to try 8.1 for fear it might mess it up :T

What are you doing to that poor computer to cause "plenty of BSoD issues"? The only time I had issues with 8 was when my SSD/cache system broke because dell's used to have issues with hibernation. That was Dell's fault so I can't blame windows 8 for BSoD on that. Other then that I haven't seen a single BSoD on my laptop running windows 8. I play a very large variety of games in 8.1 on the laptop. I even left the laptop running Prime95 AND furmark for 12 hours without a single crash. My main runs windows 7 and the ONLY BSoD I've ever seen with that system was when I accidentally tried to OC the memory controller too high and when Nvidia's bad driver was crashing things.

My laptop running 8 has had 10 programs running at once so I have no idea why you're complaining about lack of multitasking.

The desktop units we run have not exhibited any connection issues. My laptop has been left running for days and has shown no performance degradation.

Windows 8 is a great OS. Only real downside to it is the people so used to a start menu that they can't learn something new. If you can learn something new and accept change, then its a great OS. The kernel in windows 8 is faster than 7 as well.

The only real technical downside to it is if you run games in a window (not true full screen). The Operating System forces Vertical Sync to be on 24/7, you cannot turn it off. So the most FPS you will see on a 60 hz screen in windowed mode is 60 FPS, period, no getting around that.

But 60 is fine, and if y ou have a 120hz screen then it will be 120.

I use Window's 8.1 as it's a more capable OS than 7. UI issues aside.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/12/5...t-menu-concept

Tarta played on 8 since start. Great play, much good.
Now Tarta plays on 8.1: Much improve, very goode.

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Originally Posted by Ryios

Reasonable critiques

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You know I used to hate windows 8 till I was forced into learning it at my job. We've deployed some windows 8 units which forced me to figure out how to use the new OS efficiently. I now find the old start bar to be an inefficient use of my time. There are still people out there that think that GUIs are a terrible idea...

As for the 60fps limit I'm not sure what is going on with that. My eve client has hit 150fps while in a window on my laptop. It most consistently seems to try to sit around 60fps though. I will have to mess with this more. Frankly though the vast majority of people can't tell the difference between 60 and 120 fps IF IT"S CONSISTENT including the majority of people who whine about those things. Fighters pilots who are trained to identify aircraft in 1/120th of a second have a hard time telling a difference between a solid 60fps and 120fps. The real problem comes when you get slight dips in FPS.

I'm running 8.1 and have seen a bit of a performance gain over 7. I get about 7 FPS better and the frame rate is more stable. It was a hesitant change but one I have enjoyed, particularly once I realized that most of the whining and fearmongering about the OS seems to have come from a base of people that have clearly not used it.

To the OP:
I've yet to have any issues that were because of Windows 8 and I bought it the day it was available. After a couple weeks of using it I liked it enough that I upgraded my old XP desktop and my Win7 Laptop to Win8 and never looked back. The only thing Win8 hasn't be installed on is my Linux PC. :) Microsoft managed to improve the faith I have in them with Win8. Though I should admit that I was a huge fan of Windows ME as well. Course I never had issues with that OS either. /shrug

The "A bit off topic stuff":

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Originally Posted by Ryios

The only real technical downside to it is if you run games in a window (not true full screen). The Operating System forces Vertical Sync to be on 24/7

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I found this quite interesting so I had to try it. Here are some results so not sure where you were heading with that.

FFXIV: Full Screen: 117fps | Windowed (maximized): 106fps | Borderless Window: 110fps
The Secret World: Full Screen: 136fps | Windowed (maximized): 123fps
Arma2 : Full Screen: 62fps | Window: 45fps
World of Warplanes: Full Screen: 99 | Windowed: 87

Windows 8.1 is by far the best operating system Microsoft has made to date. I have had no issues what so ever it's so much faster has built in antivirus and spyware protection better memory management no stupid eye candy to slow the system down too. Yes metro sucks I hate it but a quick google search will fix that I use start 8 and I have zero complaints. I even have a touch screen laptop and could care less for metro. But as the core system goes it's 100000 times better then windows 7.

It's simple either adapt or get left way behind.