Win 8.1 or 7 for gaming?

I'm looking at getting a decent gaming laptop - i'm pretty much set on the specs (vortex 4, i7-4710, 8gb ram, gtx880m) but need to decide on the OS. i've looked at a lot of forums and basically it's a 50/50 split over 8.1 or 7.

Personally i'm not a fan of 8.1 but i know you can change it to the classic shell or similar so that isnt really an issue (or i'll just learn to like it!), but apart from that which is better for running games? i'm erring towards to 8.1 as newer and will get better but some people on the forums hate it with a vengeance - there is far more vitriol aimed at 8.1 then 7 (although it's about 50/50 in the who's using which stakes)

thanks, andy

If you are willing to put up with some of the UI problems of 8.1 then I recommend it for gaming. It allows DirectX 11.1 and benchmarks I've seen are slightly better for gaming on 8.1

I've got the 8.1 UI set up exactly as I had it in 7. It's not a 'shell'.
8.1 all the way for me.

This thread should me made into a poll. This would once and for all show who's on which side on PC specialist forum?

I stick with Windows 7 on work and gaming PC, I've used Windows 8 for few months and I just didn't get it and went back to Windows 7. Alternatively making Windows 8 to look like Windows 7 is just the wrong approach in my opinion but each to their own

I quietly wait and pray Windows 9 is going to rock the world.. and everybody will forget about the Windows 7 vs 8 drama I think Windows 8 is a "transition" O/S exactly the same way as Vista was (when we were moving from 32 to 64 bits).

mishra said:

Alternatively making Windows 8 to look like Windows 7 is just the wrong approach in my opinion but each to their own

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If the performance of 8 was the same as 7 then there would be no point in changing to it and using it like 7. But the performance for me of 8 is better, so what's not to appreciate about that if you have an interface you are happy with?

I'm not an expert but here is my experience. About a couple months a go, I was wondering the same as you. Ended up going for windows 8.1 since, after much research, I concluded that the main factor to take into account is personal preference, so why not give it a try.

Been using it for about 1 month now and I wouldnt go back. UI is perfectly fine to me, took me a couple of days to get used to it and I really enjoy some of the new features. Performance (in my 100% subjective perception) seems a little better.

I've had my laptop with 8.1 for over 2 weeks now. It took me about a day or so to get used to it, but now I do think it's better. I like the UI and the features of it, so it suits me

I'd say w7, better for compatability, especially older titles / software. There is too little in it, if at all, to say which is faster, but 8.1 is slightly smaller
in install size typically. I'm moving back to 7 from 8.1 64 bit when I finally get time I think, but then I use other operating systems too, so it doesn't
bother me that much.