A YouTuber named TrigrZolt conducted a benchmark test comparing six generations of Windows on Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptops. The systems ran Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10, and 11 on Core i5-2520M processors with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB hard drives, which are not officially supported on Windows 11.
Performance on Legacy Hardware
Windows 8.1 booted the fastest, while Windows 11 lagged behind, struggling particularly with loading the taskbar. In storage usage, Windows XP was the most efficient at 18.9 GB, compared to 37.3 GB for Windows 11. A RAM test showed Windows 11 using more memory idle than the others, averaging 3.3 GB.
- Windows 8.1 led in boot times; Windows 11 was the slowest.
- Windows XP used the least storage; Windows 11 required double that.
- Windows 11 used the most RAM while idle at 3.3 GB.
Media and Application Performance
In content creation and media tasks, Windows 11 performed poorly, with Windows 8.1 again taking the lead. A battery life test put XP slightly ahead, though differences were minor. Windows 11 lagged in opening times for various applications, failing in speed comparisons.
- Windows 11 ranked last in application load times.
- Battery life tests showed minimal differences, XP lasting a bit longer than others.
Mixed Benchmark Results
Overall, Windows 11 finished low in most synthetic benchmarks. CPU and disk tests favored earlier Windows versions, while various browsing, transfer, and security tasks placed Windows 11 in mid-to-low positions. Windows 8.1 was noted for its fluidity and speed on the older hardware. This suggests that modern operating systems like Windows 11 may not perform optimally on legacy equipment.
According to TrigrZolt, the results reflect a bias due to the outdated infrastructure and absence of SSDs, highlighting the need for modern systems in testing contemporary OS performance.
