Comments (21)

As for sound: M$ cancelled any types of directsound-extensions with Vista. This is a problem for games or more specifically for creative, because their EAX-effects originated as a directsound extension and most games using them, do this via directsound. Or: They don't do it when running Vista or 7 because M$ doesn't allow this and forces all sound through a standard-windows-software-Audio-solution.
However, the effects you describe don't require any special API, they can and should be implemented in the driver alone. So you don't have a Win7 problem, but a lack of driver support.

i guess this is off topic...

The only issue i have with Windows 7 is... the Realtek AC'97 soundcard has problems in 8 channel mode...

In Gaming i believe it sounds okay... but when i play any mp3's i hear the twang distortion on the side speakers because of the "Speaker fill" option that virtualizes the Stereo sound in the side speakers.... I just did the Windows 7 SP1... found the same problem.. updated drivers... same problem..

I think windows xp had dx accelerated sound and i think thats as far as they tested this old soundcard. I read somewheres where they stopped with dx accelerated sound in dx 10.. etc.. probably why they have to impliment the speakerfill option for non gaming use.

BUT i figured this was a little tiny problem since i will be upgrading my motherboard pretty soon... As soon as that 8 core bulldozer comes out...

Hopefully the integrated HD soundcards sound better. (lol @ name "high definition" sound)

But yea i didnt know the cpu graphs werent reliable. ITs a waste of time for me to do...

but i can tell you that i did run Farcry 2 in both xp and windows 7... i noticed no difference in frames per second. However Actually i noticed strange things happening in Windows 7... (black boxes appearing and flickering when high AA was used)

otherwise preformance was not signifigantly changed...

probably why I dont see any xp vs windows 7 benchmarks.

anyways back on topic...





Didnt i read an article here on pcgh that Prince of Persia "the forgotten sands" was going to utilize all 6 cores? Why isnt that one tested?

Windows-CPU-load-graphs aren't very reliable in applications with fast load changes like games.
As for bandwaggon7: Some "bad" elements of Vista have been fixed with 7 (e.g. RAM-usage kept many from switching, though this was due to lack of information), lot's of bugs have been fixed on Vista in meantime (I don't know anyone, who switched from Vista sp1 - wouldn't make sense. But Vista took long to mature and by the time on should have recommended it, on could just as well recommend "wait half a year for 7") and most importantly: Compatibility issuses are down. When Vista came arround, there was a big lack of drivers and some trouble with then-fairy-recent games.