Windows 7 for new PC build?

[SaltyNuts]

I've heard awful things about Windows 8, and while I'm no fan of Windows 7, I suspect I'll hate Windows 8 even worse.

Is it OK to install windows 7 on a new PC build, right? Just don't want to install it and have new games not support it or something crazy anytime soon. If so, for a home gaming PC I want windows 7 home premium 64 bit right?

Many thanks!

 

[OlyAR15]

Windows 7 is fine (if a bit old)
Windows 8.1 with an aftermarket start menu like Classic Shell or Start 8 is fine.

Take your pick.

 

[Remobz]

I say windows 8.1

 

[Zorander]

Windows 7 is fine (if a bit old)
Windows 8.1 with an aftermarket start menu like Classic Shell or Start 8 is fine.

Take your pick.

X2.

Both options work fine. I'm using Win7 with my new system simply because I have a spare copy lying around.

 

[SaltyNuts]

So no risk of Microsoft/Game makers (or other software developers) stopping support for windows 7 for several years, correct?

Many thanks.

 

[XavierMace]

DirectX 11.1 is Win8 only, DirectX 11.2 is 8.1 only. Admittedly that only matters if you have a pretty recent video card or plan on upgrading to a new video card, it's worth keeping in mind.

 

[Blain]

So no risk of Microsoft/Game makers (or other software developers) stopping support for windows 7 for several years, correct?

Windows 7 mainstream support ends January 13, 2015, extended support ends January 14, 2020.

The difference, you ask...

Windows lifecycle fact sheet:
"Mainstream support—Microsoft will offer mainstream support for a minimum of 5 years from the date of a product's general availability, or for 2 years after the successor product is released, whichever is longer. For example, if you buy a new version of Windows and five years later another version is released, you will still have two years of support left for the previous version.

Extended support—Microsoft will offer extended support for either a minimum of 5 years from the date of a product's general availability, or for 2 years after the second successor product (two versions later) is released, whichever is longer."

 

[Dahak]

Also if you are planning on going to Windows 7, Microsoft has ended sales for Home Premium as of Oct 31 2014. So you may only the option of getting Pro if the vendors are out of stock.

 

[mfenn]

So no risk of Microsoft/Game makers (or other software developers) stopping support for windows 7 for several years, correct?

Many thanks.

That's correct. People just now stopped widely supporting XP, that operating system is almost old enough to get a drivers license! Windows 7 is extremely popular, so you are going to be fine with that for years, probably until 2019-2020.