Thread: Running Windows 8 / 8.1 and FFXIV

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.

Originally Posted by Ryios

Reasonable critiques

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.

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":

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

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

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

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.

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.