Windows 8 Experience

[JHzlwd]

I broke my lifelong rule never to be an early adopter and put Win 8 (64 bit) up on my gaming machine as a boot option (the other OS is Win 7). It's a slick system and no issues. I have not found any of the criticisms holding water so far. Herewith the DCS results which some of you may find useful.

 

The following software installs with no problems:

 

DCS World

 

Black Shark 2

 

A10 Warthog

 

P51-D Mustang

 

Gaming Hardware:

 

Saitek X52 Pro FCS ... Win 8 automatically finds and installs drivers. Existing profiles created with Black Shark (for example), work perfectly. I was surprised, having feared the worst.

 

Logitech G510 gaming keyboard is NOT YET SUPPORTED except as a conventional KB. The profiler will not install so no macros. I have submitted a ticket to Logitech to find out what's up. This is one of their high-end KB's so you'd think they'd be on it soon. In the meantime I have programmed some shortcuts using the DCS profiler (no macros though).

 

In Flight:

 

All modules work perfectly, except for P51D (see later). Performance is noticeably improved in a number of ways. Evidently Win 8 is more efficient at something or other.

 

P51 will fail trying to enter any mission and you get a box saying "DCS has stopped working" followed by the "Play Again" option. Yes, I tried deleting the Config folder to refresh the environment but no dice. Also re-installed. In fairness to Win 8, I couldn't get P51 to fly on Win 7 either.

 

I would appreciate suggestions re P51. Everything else runs perfectly but I miss the G510 macros.

 

Basically very good news.

 

Updated tech stuff:

 

Asus P8Z77 MOBO/I7-2600K@4.7 GHz/ATI 6940 graphics/Win 8 64 bit Pro/8 GB RAM/Sandisk Extreme SSD/Windows Experience Index 8.2

Edited November 25, 2012 by JHzlwd

[JHzlwd]

Good to hear more positive experience. All my benchmarks improved which is always welcome for us gamers. Frame-rates are even better now and more consistent. Some folks dislike the "Metro" interface but it's there mainly for integration with mobile devices and apps. One click on "Desktop" and you are in the familiar Win 7 environment. Once you get used to it there are a lot of very nice improvements in level of information provided (consider Task Manager) and convenience of access. Haven't booted back into Win 7 for over two weeks when I first put Win 8 in.

 

P51 is not a big issue for me as I'm mainly interested in Black Shark anyway. But as I did pay for the former would be nice to get it working.

[pepin1234]

thank u for review

[JHzlwd]

P51 Fixed

 

OK. The P51 is fixed. After deleting the config folder again I then completely un-installed the P51 module, then re-installed. This cost me an activation but so what. It works just fine now meaning everything I have for DCS runs perfectly in Win 8.

[Steel Jaw]

Hmmm, my w7/64 bit aint broken so why mess with it...?

[Cyb0rg]

Hmmm, my w7/64 bit aint broken so why mess with it...?

Micro$oft wants.

[Scorpi]

The following software installs with no problems:

 

DCS World

 

Black Shark 2

 

A10 Warthog

 

P51-D Mustang

 

 

+

Combined Arms

Flamming Cliffs 3

 

Caution: Lock On have to be installed in compatibility mode (Win XP SP3)

[JHzlwd]

Agreed - more or less

 

I had no problem with Win 7 either but another geek goaded me into being an early adopter so the Win 8 project was mostly for sport. It's weird what some people will do for fun. Anyway, it turned out just great. I kept the Win 7 system on a separate SSD just in case ;-) My normal behavior is not to tamper with success either.

[Hamblue]

Good to hear.

I'll be sticking with windows 7. It was good from the beginning and continues to be the best platform to date.

I also despise the metro look and feel. Hopefully they add an option to revert back to the windows 7 desktop soon, otherwise windows 7 will be the modern day equivelant of windows XP.

[Witchking]

I have had no problem installing lock on on windows 8. Infact I just did it 2 min ago as I got a new PC with ivy bridge CPU and Nvidia GTX670M. DCS world runs great maxed out and looks freaking amazing. This game is insanely heavy on a single CPU core and as long as that is high as atleast 3Ghz...DCS will do great and so far its nice and stable in Windows 8.

[PoleCat]

Windows 8 is better then Windows 7 in my experience.

 

There is nothing I can't run on Windows 8 that I could run on Windows 7. Installing Classic shell will offer you booting straight to desktop bypassing the metro screen entirely. Seamless. No problem. Once classic shell is installed you get access to both the new and the old GUI so you can have your desktop environment and at the same time explore the Metro screen and charms bar at your leisure. Both of which are actually pretty cool.

 

Out

Edited November 26, 2012 by PoleCat

[Ripcord]

Well I am glad to hear this. Nice to know it will go smoothly when the time comes.

 

Eventually this day is probably coming for all of us. But not today.

[JHzlwd]

Good to hear.

I'll be sticking with windows 7. It was good from the beginning and continues to be the best platform to date.

I also despise the metro look and feel. Hopefully they add an option to revert back to the windows 7 desktop soon, otherwise windows 7 will be the modern day equivelant of windows XP.

 

Hi Hamblue,

 

Just a couple more observations for others thinking about Win 8 with DCS ... Practically all Win 8 reviewers and most people who have never used it seem to think the regular desktop has been done away with. *This isn't true*. All you have to do is click the "Desktop" icon on the Metro page. The Metro page disappears and you have the desktop you know and love for the rest of the day. Yes, "Start" is gone but many of those functions (including "All Programs") are found in the "Charms" menu that pops up on the right side. I have pinned some of my regular desktop apps to the Metro page so right after boot I can open them in regular Win 7 style desktop with a single click. Otherwise I have no use for and never see the Metro page. What the Metro view and functionality does is provide a way to integrate/manage your desktop PC together with any Windows mobile devices like the "Surface" while providing a convenient gateway to the regular desktop.

 

If someone getting a new PC were to ask me should they go with Win 8 as opposed to Win 7 I would say "It depends". If you have a Surface and/or Windows Phone it's probably a good idea. Also, on my machine at least, Win 8 gives around 8% better performance (that's not a lot but you do notice it) and USB 3 is faster. You want to think about compatibility at this stage of the game. In my original posting I note that the Logitech G510 keyboard profiler will not install. It's not relevant to the topic but my legacy Epson 4870 scanner has no support either (works perfect in Win 7). It may cost me $600 or so to replace it as I doubt Epson will ever update those drivers. Win 8 compatibility is very good but by no means perfect. Agreed, Win 7 is a fantastic OS and I am keeping it on another machine. It will be supported for years. For me Win 8 was just something to do for fun. I prefer it somewhat to Win 7 which was unexpected. I defend it once in awhile because a lot of the reviews are inaccurate/misleading.

[chaotikchiken]

Don't forget for those not upgrading that DirectX 11.1 will not be offered on Win7, I think it's a stupid strategy but it's not that big a deal if you're aware before the promo pricing expires on 1/31/13

[Prophet]

Windows 8 is better then Windows 7 in my experience.

 

There is nothing I can't run on Windows 8 that I could run on Windows 7. Installing Classic shell will offer you booting straight to desktop bypassing the metro screen entirely. Seamless. No problem. Once classic shell is installed you get access to both the new and the old GUI so you can have your desktop environment and at the same time explore the Metro screen and charms bar at your leisure. Both of which are actually pretty cool.

 

Out

 

This.

 

/thread

[AkheirAX]

On the verge of hitting the checkout button ordering Windows 8.1. I was worried because of just a few games. BF4, DCS, Assetto Corsa and iRacing.

 

Smacking the checkout button now after reading this thread. Thanks guys.

[Gloom Demon]

Can anyone submit real DCSW FPS figures for Windows 7 and Windows 8?

 

Here is a mission

http://forums.eagle.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=85338&d=1374853944

 

Load FRAPS, start DSCW, put the throttle into medium position, run the mission and start FRAPS - preferably at the same time for both Windows versions. Let it run for 60 seconds and repeat for the other Windows. Do not touch the controls, so that the conditions during the test are the same.

 

Personally I find it strange, that you guys are saying that Windows 8 shows better performance in DCSW since DCSW does not support DirectX 11.1. Anyone?

[Pepec9124]

Can anyone submit real DCSW FPS figures for Windows 7 and Windows 8?

 

Here is a mission

http://forums.eagle.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=85338&d=1374853944

 

Load FRAPS, start DSCW, put the throttle into medium position, run the mission and start FRAPS - preferably at the same time for both Windows versions. Let it run for 60 seconds and repeat for the other Windows. Do not touch the controls, so that the conditions during the test are the same.

 

Personally I find it strange, that you guys are saying that Windows 8 shows better performance in DCSW since DCSW does not support DirectX 11.1. Anyone?

 

It has some kernel updates. It is not only dx that makes things work

[SuperKungFu]

Yea I'm really curious hows the performance on Win 8 vs win 7, same specs and everything, I have heard you get better performance on win 8?

[IceBurner]

Refrain from upgrading to Windows 8.1 if you have the Cougar MFDs. Since this USB - operated product doesn't constantly send a signal to the computer, Windows 8.1 treats it as "inactive" and its energy management handling causes the MFDs to blink constantly.

[Thick8]

You can turn off energy management.

I wrote a couple of batch files for shut down and reboot, then pinned them to the taskbar. Plus I boot strait to th desktop. I also turned of the annoying charm bars. It's just like running Windows7