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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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February 15th, 2008

Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 8:26 am

Categories: On the test bench, Vista

Tags: Service Pack 2, Microsoft Windows Vista, Test, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software

Latest: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2: Part Deux

[UPDATE 02/18/08: Some people are concerned that in order to get an accurate measurement of boot time the system needs to be booted many times. Let me assure you that the systems here under testing were rebooted more times than most normal PCs are over the course of several months.]

Over the past few days I posted two sets of benchmarks comparing Windows Vista RTM with Vista SP1 (first post here, second here). These posts generated a lot of feedback, and from reading this feedback it’s clear that what many people are really interested in is not the performance differences between Vista RTM and Vista SP1, but between Vista SP1 and XP SP2.

Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked A few days ago I posted in reply to several TalkBack comments that I wouldn’t carry out these tests until XP SP3 is released. There didn’t seem any point. That didn’t satisfy the crowds who wanted to see Vista SP1 and XP SP2 go head to head. So, to cut a long story short, the pestering continued and I eventually gave in. So what follows are the fruits of nearly two whole days of work at the PC Doc HQ (the test was hampered by the death of a motherboard, something which rendered hours of work obsolete).

How does Windows Vista SP1 compare to Windows XP SP2? Read on …

The Test Rig –>

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes Adrian is a technology journalist and author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology. He also runs a popular blog called The PC Doctor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations

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Attorneys: Valid issues are a subject start of familiar invigoration, and Attorney Find makes it often easier by portion you introduce with the jural advice and content that you?re sensing for.
Whether you've... (Read the rest); Posted by: alex0111 Posted on: 12/15/09 You are currently: a Guest | Log in | Terms of Use

I/O reliability is more important than speed qmlscycrajg | 02/15/08

Give me some proof. bjbrock | 02/15/08

I don't believe this tbcass | 02/18/08

And for the comsumer, 99% might be ... mwagner@... | 02/19/08

Vista isn't more reliable at my house. marabrook@... | 02/18/08

Vista SP1 is supposed to address ... mwagner@... | 02/19/08

i just dont have problems with xp pro, whats your deal pcguy777 | 02/18/08

How is Vista more reliable in IO? w_c_mead | 02/18/08

False assertion, reliability; XP still wins. PhilippeV | 02/18/08

so reliable, it burned my hard drive twice jdubray | 02/18/08

There is nothing in Vista that says it is more reliable in IO royalef | 02/18/08

crap bonga1td@... | 02/19/08

why thomaswort@... | 03/20/08

Drive to drive single file... bjbrock | 02/15/08

Did you quit timing... bjbrock | 02/15/08

When Windows was done ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/15/08

I wonder how long... bjbrock | 02/15/08

Mark Russinovich talked about this; XPs dialog closes long before committal PB_z | 02/16/08

Define "long before" though ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/16/08

about Russinovich eggmanbubbagee@... | 02/16/08

From Russinovich excerpt... Solid Water | 02/17/08

Mistaken... dracolich_prgrm | 02/18/08

Same "smart" lawyers "proved" that O.J. Simpson is innocent. Just_true | 02/18/08

Probably ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/15/08

What about other copy utilities jmchugh@... | 03/20/08

Wow. lostarchitect | 02/15/08

Keeping XP w_c_mead | 02/18/08

yes, MS made it pretty, not effective brendan@... | 02/18/08

Don the tinfoil hats maties.... JT82 | 02/15/08

And so the game continues... RS9 | 02/20/08

What!? boberuski | 03/20/08

I've benchmarked XP SP3 ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/15/08

Does the EULA prevent you... jasonp@... | 02/15/08

Pretty much Stuka | 02/15/08

Here's the relevant bit: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/15/08

XP SP3 is 10% faster than XP SP2 stevey_d | 02/15/08

That clause is probably contestable frgough | 02/15/08

Free speech is only applicable to the government. (nt) ye | 02/15/08

In constitutional theory yes. frgough | 02/15/08

I repeat: It applies to the government. ye | 02/15/08

Madonna frgough | 02/15/08

The Madonna case appears to have involed the government. ye | 02/15/08

Which theory? CobraA1 | 02/16/08

Constitution haters should just leave. bmerc | 02/19/08

The Madonna was painted on canvas, dbradshaw@... | 02/19/08

Disagree CobraA1 | 02/16/08

The First Amendment does not cover private entities ye | 02/16/08

Says who? CobraA1 | 02/16/08

the us constitution is the supreme law of the land. pcguy777 | 02/18/08

Not in the United States of America. B.O.F.H. | 02/16/08

You seem to be minunderstanding what I wrote. ye | 02/16/08

What does this have to do with the SP3 EULA?? ThereThere | 02/19/08

I think it's an open question... John L. Ries | 02/18/08

seperation of M$ and state jaybyrd | 02/18/08

RE; disclosure John_Doe69 | 02/18/08

Not likely laura.b | 02/15/08

Contracts are not universally enforceable frgough | 02/15/08

But this one is laura.b | 02/15/08

There is an exception soonerproud | 02/16/08

Agreements, Contracts, Licenses, Oh My DannyO_0x98 | 02/15/08

This is a beta laura.b | 02/18/08

Free speech: in reality or in fairy tales? ozzie_tech | 02/18/08

Restricted ldelorenzo | 02/18/08

You give up your "free speech" rights Furiousrog | 02/19/08

Spoken like a true attorney Ole Man | 02/19/08

So get written approval Michael Kelly | 02/15/08

Agreement LBean | 02/15/08

What dioes the Vista SP 1 EULA say? jasonp@... | 02/15/08

Those EULA is just a joke magallanes | 02/18/08

SP3 SLOWER than SP2 ? wwwsupport | 02/18/08

I've benchmarked XP SP3 aussieblnd@... | 02/18/08

Eula; why prevent users from knowing performance? bicard | 02/18/08

It has to be a fair test. ben.rattigan | 02/19/08

can you mime the results? talukdar_m@... | 02/18/08

Not much difference itpro_z | 02/15/08

perhaps you should enable indexing... stevey_d | 02/15/08

Try it? itpro_z | 02/15/08

Vista's Search soonerproud | 02/16/08

Can't. Huge security risk xuniL_z | 02/16/08

All email goes through the internet, and most is unencrypted stevey_d | 02/18/08

It's in writing....that's why. Normally intranet search indexing is not... xuniL_z | 02/20/08

Thank you! kd5auq | 02/15/08

Yes, the MMCSS issue is still there ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/15/08

Edition? Comnenus | 02/15/08

Ultimate Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/15/08

Adrian, did you let Vista finish indexing the disk? wolf_z | 02/15/08

Yes Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/15/08

if the documents folder are empty, there's nothing to index! qmlscycrajg | 02/15/08

Finish Indexing jdawgnoonan | 02/16/08

Funny soonerproud | 02/16/08

Did you do a Vista to Vista SP1 test? stevey_d | 02/15/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked g_keramidas@... | 02/15/08

What is the power saving setting at? (nt) ye | 02/15/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked LBean | 02/15/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked lance.stevens@... | 02/15/08

Um... slopoke | 02/15/08

i think with that hardware it'd be tough to see a difference stevey_d | 02/15/08

How about video games? jdawgnoonan | 02/16/08

If you are talking about pre SP1 Vista xuniL_z | 02/16/08

Yo Adriannnnnnn... D-T-Schmitz | 02/15/08

Typo: That's "Why AREN'T" D-T-Schmitz | 02/15/08

Thanks for the benchmarks!! boed | 02/15/08

YO ADRIAN... Mike Cox | 02/15/08

Mikey, Mikey, Mikey. Arm A. Geddon | 02/15/08

Question? pffffffffffft (cough) D-T-Schmitz | 02/15/08

You're right John L. Ries | 02/18/08

Question about single file copies boed | 02/15/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked Bozzer | 02/15/08

re: George and Ed. Arm A. Geddon | 02/15/08

For sure, for sure! Ole Man | 02/15/08

Keith Combs actually strips out benchmark comments boed | 02/15/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked ThinkFr33ly | 02/15/08

Simple Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/15/08

WTF?! How is 4GB RAM middle of the road!! afeazell@... | 02/15/08

2 GIG boed | 02/15/08

Makes little difference ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/15/08

If you didn't test a typical configuration - 1 Gb RAM - you did it for who? Just_true | 02/18/08

Adrian's road... TranMan | 02/18/08

very true! PhilippeV | 02/18/08

Wow croberts | 02/15/08

Really, What percent of home users have 3.4GHz, 4GB, two HDs ??? Basic Logic | 02/15/08

I'll tell you what I'd like to try ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/15/08

Good idea! boed | 02/15/08

Top idea! Ben_E | 02/15/08

I could make a full-time job of this Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/15/08

It would still be better than my job! wink

(NT) Ben_E | 02/15/08

this is a great idea adrian; love to see the results bicard | 02/18/08

True... Ben_E | 02/15/08

Good point ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/15/08

Other testing... Ben_E | 02/15/08

Windows 2000? ChazzMatt | 02/18/08

Isn't the most relevant test... gazzawazza | 02/19/08

I tend to disagree boed | 02/15/08

What is this obsession with expecting a newer OS to run as fast or... ye | 02/16/08

More or less boed | 02/16/08

what is distracting Vista in the background Ole Man | 02/17/08

Hellooo??? bmerc | 02/19/08

So by that theory.... gazzawazza | 02/20/08

What I have... ItsTheBottomLine | 02/18/08

Two HD Hsbarney@... | 02/18/08

Please post benchmarks for Windows 2003 with SP2 kchahal | 02/15/08

Not shabby boed | 02/15/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked agifal@... | 02/15/08

OK ... but ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/16/08

What about Windows Defender? agifal@... | 02/15/08

windows defender has NOT impact on file system copy operation qmlscycrajg | 02/16/08

Are you sure about it? agifal@... | 02/16/08

Some informal tests ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/16/08

Regarding Windows Defender ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/16/08

How about a realistic test willm@... | 02/15/08

Gotto love the whinning apologists ... wackoae | 02/15/08

The only thing that is slow is your brain... agifal@... | 02/15/08

Aparently is faster than yours .... wackoae | 02/16/08

Apparently you have never used Vista... agifal@... | 02/16/08

Slow vs. Fast boed | 02/16/08

Name calling is not going to make Vista faster ... wackoae | 02/16/08

Pot calling Kettle, come in Kettle bmerc | 02/19/08

The question is: Is Vista too slow for what you need to do? ye | 02/16/08

Yes boed | 02/16/08

That depends on a number of factors. ye | 02/16/08

Does your point also mean that Linux is better than Vista? Explain. (NT) Just_true | 02/19/08

If that car came with that luggage pre-install from the assembly line ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/16/08

To be fair Adrian AV is added to XP almost universally these days. ye | 02/16/08

Yes, I agree ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/16/08

I understand. But in this instance Vista is doing more. ye | 02/16/08

Adrian, would it be of use xuniL_z | 02/17/08

Not exactly, Arkyn1 | 02/17/08

speeds are negligible when you consider xuniL_z | 02/17/08

Vista S-L-O-W TranMan | 02/18/08

What OS was the network share running? PB_z | 02/16/08

Network shares were all Vista SP1 ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/16/08

go for Network share test xTalk | 02/16/08

XP VRS Vista claymann39@... | 02/16/08

Sorry ... but ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/16/08

Tin Hats Mr. Big | 02/16/08

That's one inconvenient truth... srkinyon | 02/18/08

Bunk! Ole Man | 02/17/08

Some thoughts boed | 02/16/08

Here's how I do it ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/16/08

4GB ram fanofflyn | 02/16/08

The system recognizes ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/16/08

DRM boed | 02/16/08

o Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/16/08

Title should have been ... Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/16/08

more evidence Vista sucks shoktai@... | 02/16/08

Did you need evidence? boed | 02/16/08

So what's stopping you? (nt) ye | 02/16/08

How many people submitted this to other places? boed | 02/16/08

Unfair! steveballmar@... | 02/16/08

Activity should not be Confused with Productivity JWorthington | 02/18/08

SD pupkin_z | 02/16/08

Product Loyalty! steveballmar@... | 02/16/08

Use DOS if you need performance pa2004 | 02/16/08

These Benchmarks are irrelevant to real world use. xuniL_z | 02/16/08

Then take the time to create your own benchmarks Mr. Big | 02/16/08

you dont judge a car by its speed code_Warrior | 02/17/08

Worthy of XP?! xTalk | 02/17/08

thats what BMW did and its a major success code_Warrior | 02/17/08

When I'm getting passed on the streets by mopeds I do boed | 02/17/08

you ought to be riding mopeds code_Warrior | 02/17/08

what kind of jalopy do you drive BrutalTruth | 02/17/08

The Vista Cruiser boed | 02/17/08

Holy chit thats funny! macrocosm@... | 02/18/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked Gramaul | 02/17/08

Vista 64? Gramaul | 02/17/08

Isn't the Vista Service pack only a Release Candidate? Gramaul | 02/17/08

No Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/17/08

Sweet! boed | 02/17/08

Vista vs XP codypetry@... | 02/17/08

one file fails due to one reason or another the entire process doesn't fail Ole Man | 02/17/08

Responsiveness is more important than speed qmlscycrajg | 02/17/08

DOS was faster tonymcs@... | 02/17/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked omaraljarrah@... | 02/17/08

Vista Ultimate vs. Vista Ultimate SP1 omaraljarrah@... | 02/18/08

Excellent Analysis! Nice work! Honest and Unbiased! richard.ashford@... | 02/18/08

I agree willgart@... | 02/18/08

Everyone is Missing the Point brewakeg | 02/18/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked MarkyGoldstein | 02/18/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked davekrol@... | 02/18/08

Good testing, thx. Question- crypt2121 | 02/18/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked rachadbn@... | 02/18/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked pc.williams@... | 02/18/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked craig.uszak@... | 02/18/08

Benchmarks not the only measure, was Aero on? cmartin@... | 02/18/08

Areo IS Vista ChazzMatt | 02/18/08

As fast as technology advances... masonwheeler | 02/18/08

MS sold us a Lemon (Vista) ! wwwsupport | 02/18/08

Not really crypt2121 | 02/18/08

Not Really Really wwwsupport | 02/18/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked raharrin@... | 02/18/08

Great idea! MultiMike | 02/18/08

Remember when... pooby4444 | 02/18/08

Unripe, not green MultiMike | 02/18/08

No excuses green alien | 02/18/08

Come on dobick@... | 02/18/08

Middle of the Road?? al@... | 02/18/08

I love Vista Ultimate elliottxp | 02/18/08

Dont care about file moving times Crestview | 02/18/08

Vista a Losing Proposition NameRedacted | 02/18/08

Just like Mulinum AZson | 02/18/08

Benchmarks jerryack@... | 02/18/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked michaelandbonnie@... | 02/18/08

lol atari8bit@... | 02/18/08

slightly prejudice aren't we. michaelandbonnie@... | 02/18/08

In which case... John L. Ries | 02/18/08

My home fileserver still runs Windows 2000 pro... nix_hed | 02/18/08

oops... nix_hed | 02/18/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked atari8bit@... | 02/18/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked Samuel C. | 02/18/08

Not a fair test. Get in here... sharon@... | 02/18/08

you're right atari8bit@... | 02/18/08

Yeah, but look at the spec Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

| 02/18/08

Ok you win atari8bit@... | 02/19/08

It is a fair test. ChazzMatt | 02/18/08

The same for Win95 vs. WinXP on a 10 years old PC.... sharon@... | 02/19/08

Las pruebas son las que mandan raphael.munoz@... | 02/18/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked zilsker | 02/18/08

ok,but which has the better network code conan99 | 02/18/08

No cumulative improvements heyjohn@... | 02/18/08

64 bit? DEK46656 | 02/18/08

re jimk_z | 02/18/08

Wow!! Not One No_Ax Post! itanalyst | 02/18/08

Aha Nice topic! monukwt@... | 02/18/08

Nice topic! ian_elevado@... | 02/19/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked mjhieu@... | 02/19/08

When XP SP3 Comes Out... cjnollet@... | 02/19/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked johnnlinda49503@... | 02/19/08

When is hard drive technology going to catch up? gwillcox@... | 02/19/08

The vast majority are happy with Vista, ThereThere | 02/19/08

Vista performance much worse for average users jim.denny@... | 02/19/08

The same for Win95 vs. WinXP.... sharon@... | 02/19/08

Nobody tech-educated expected SP1 to... shoktai@... | 02/19/08

Benchmark(s)? geof.newton@... | 02/19/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked mwagner@... | 02/19/08

A very narrow comparison of performance jtrent@... | 02/19/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked 911grandpa | 02/19/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked john@... | 02/19/08

WHY 32BIT gaspah@... | 02/19/08

Vista SP1 marginally slower on my system dcarrington01@... | 02/20/08

Did you get written permission from Microsoft Ole Man | 02/20/08

Multi-Core Processor - Vista johnsubscriptions@... | 02/23/08

Huh? spookyone1 | 02/23/08

vista were johni123 | 02/24/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked Reged | 02/25/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked bongomundo | 03/03/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked steve@... | 03/03/08

VISTA SP1 versus XPSP2 ramnet@... | 03/03/08

Where I live... name4menu@... | 03/04/08

But isn't this ??? cjcon | 03/14/08

RE: Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked kianlav | 03/20/08

RE: Server 2008 vs. Vista SP1 64bit - Benchmarked Niptech | 04/06/08

Nothing new here johnnydoe1894 | 12/30/08

Why not try comparing Vista and XP by price rather than Benchmarks? Valen Celcia | 04/18/09

Attorneys alex0111 | 12/15/09

What do you think?

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Hardware 2.0

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

February 15th, 2008

Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

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Blogs From Our Sponsors

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Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors

Archives

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Product Blogs

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Hardware 2.0

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

February 15th, 2008

Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

Recent Entries

Blogs From Our Sponsors

Top Rated

Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors

Keep up with ZDNet

Archives

ZDNet Blogs

White Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

SmartPlanet

Blogs

Product Reviews

Videos

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More

ZDNet News & Blogs

Product Reviews

Product Blogs

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