An independent benchmark compared every Windows version from XP to 11 using a Lenovo ThinkPad X220. Windows 8.1 emerged as a top performer across various metrics.
Testing Methodology
The benchmark evaluated fully updated Windows versions on identical hardware: a Lenovo ThinkPad X220 featuring an i5-2520M processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB HDD. Key metrics included boot speed, RAM and storage usage, and browser tab capacity.
- Windows 8.1 had the most efficient startup time and effectively balanced RAM and storage usage.
- Its browser tab capacity reached 252, the highest among all versions.
- Windows XP excelled in minimal disk usage, though it opened only 50 tabs.
Performance Highlights
Windows 11 proved to be less efficient in several areas: it recorded the highest RAM consumption and the lowest browser tab count (49), alongside the slowest taskbar load time and poor battery performance. Additionally, Windows 11 struggled with tasks such as file management, video playback, and video editing.
Windows 7, meanwhile, used the most disk space across all versions tested.
Implications
The findings suggest later versions of Windows, particularly Windows 11, may suffer from optimization issues. The creator of the benchmark suggests that 8 GB of RAM is often insufficient for optimal performance on Windows 11, recommending an upgrade to 16 GB for better efficiency.
Although the test admits some imperfections, it raises questions about the increasing hardware demands of newer Windows releases.
