Most people’s first step after purchasing a brand-new gaming PC is to choose which operating system is most suited to their specific needs. In all honesty, most folks simply buy Windows and go on. However, there are additional solutions available, and people should be aware of them.
In today’s PC gaming world, gamers have a plethora of operating systems to select from. While Windows is the obvious choice, there are other solutions that may provide you with a more personalized overall experience. We have made a list of most popular operating system for gaming
In today’s article, we’ll take a closer look at the most popular operating systems for gamers on the market today. We’ll look at why you might choose one over the other before deciding which is ideal for your gaming needs.
So, without further ado, let’s get right into it.
What is an operating system?
To all intents and purposes, the operating system is the beating heart of your PC or laptop — it is the software component that performs all of your computer’s key activities. The operating system maintains the hardware and software resources on your computer, as well as providing common functions to computer programmes. Without an operating system, you’re left with a jumble of components that can’t do anything – unless you plan on utilising your powerful GPU to beat none socially distant persons away.
The operating system on your computer is the core component that permits all programmed including games to run. It can also control your PC’s hardware resources, use peripheral functionality, and schedule tasks.
When computers initially became available, the only operating system available was MS-DOS a rather primitive system that was brought to life thanks to the modest success of CP/M.
Fast forward more than 40 years, and the operating system game has evolved into a whole different beast. Users now have an almost limitless level of customization, utility, and versatility at their disposal. Furthermore, developers are always enhancing their operating systems in order to provide the greatest possible user experience.
Most Popular Operating System For Gaming
As we enter a new decade, gamers and regular PC and laptop users have a plethora of alternatives when it comes to selecting an operating system.
For those who have only heard of Windows, we will go over some of the most popular solutions accessible in today’s market below.
Windows
Microsoft Windows has retained dominance over all major computer operating systems.
It was created in 1985, the same year that the Mac operating system was debuted.Windows almost immediately seized 90 percent of the world’s operating system market.
Each Microsoft Windows operating system has its own level of sophistication and user interface. Let’s have a look at how they differ and which one provides better gaming performance.
Windows 10
Specifications
- Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC.
- RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit.
- Hard Disk Space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20 GB for 64-bit OS.
- Graphics Card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver.
- Display: 1024 x 600 or above.
Windows 10 is the most recent version of Windows. It provides a wide range of enhancements to Windows 8 and, in general, is a more streamlined and efficient version of the well-known Windows operating system. But how does it compare in terms of gaming?
Performance
When Windows 10 was first released, its performance was 1-2 percent better than that of Windows 8. It also experienced a number of issues with crashing owing to driver troubles. Those issues are no longer an issue, thanks to driver updates that have helped Windows 10 work smoothly. With full frame-rates in practically every benchmark test, Windows 10 can handle any game you throw at it as long as you have the necessary hardware.
Another area where Windows 10 outperforms its competitors is the ability to use Direct X 12. No other operating system provides seamless support for Direct X 12 like Windows 10, and because it lets games to gain more from GPU and CPU chips, game performance in the future is only likely to increase on Windows 10 and regress on everything else.
Price
Windows 10 Home is priced at $139. This is ideal for PC users who are trapped in the past and want to catch up with the present. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with previous operating systems.
Still, vital Microsoft support may be cut off in a few years when the corporation moves its focus to their newest operating system. If you are updating to Windows 10, make sure that your CPU, GPU, and RAM are all updated in some way, as this will optimise your PC for optimum gaming performance.
Because Windows 10 is so widely used in the PC market, prices vary depending on processor and PC type. You might acquire a low-cost gaming PC or a high-end Alienware gaming laptop worth thousands of dollars.
Display Features
Windows 10 allows for extensive customization and fine-tuning of display features. There are a few options if you want to change the resolution, font size, or even the color palette of your layout.
To begin, touch Start, then select Settings, System (an image of a gear), and Display. You can select your scale and layout, display resolution, display orientation, and set up twin monitors if you have them through this menu.
Compatibility
Windows 10 is much ahead of the competition in terms of compatibility. While it does not provide native compatibility for many classic games, such as DOS-based games, it does provide software-based alternatives to play certain games. It does, however, support all of the most recent games and allows you to play them at the highest settings. This is due to the availability of Direct X 12 support, which will be used by the majority of new games in the future.
All of the driver difficulties that accompanied Windows 10 when it was originally released have been resolved, which means that Windows 10 has essentially no compatibility issues.
Choice of Games
Windows 10 has the most games accessible of any operating system. There are an astonishing number of games available to play on Windows 10, with over 20,000 titles available to gamers.
Pros
- User-friendly, stable, and high-performance performance; future-proof compatibility; and access to a large library of online games.
Cons
- There are security issues with all new releases; there are breakdown issues; and some older games are only available with integrated software.
Windows 8
Specifications
- CPU: Various
- CPU Speed: 1 GHz or faster processor.
- RAM: 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
- Video Card: DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver.
- Pixel Shader: 2.0.
- Free Disk Space: 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
When Windows 10 originally came out, the difference between the two operating systems was minimal at best. Windows 8 had very similar levels of performance and, in fact, had improved compatibility with the majority of games. Has that altered over time?
Performance
Windows 8 continues to perform similarly to Windows 10. As long as the hardware is adequate, it can give high frame rates for most games. The overall performance of games on Windows 8 is as excellent as you will need for all existing titles, although this may change in the future.
Because of the lack of Direct X 12 support, future games may not be accessible on Windows 8, or if they are, they may not be playable in full spec mode. As a result, the performance of Windows 8 is only expected to deteriorate with time.
Price
Computer users who want to utilize Windows 8.1 will have to pay a charge starting at $119.99. If you buy a new PC, it will come with Windows 10 preloaded, thus we don’t recommend buying a different, older operating system because Windows 10 is geared for gaming.
Display Features
The emphasis on allowing the usage of multiple displays was the key advance over previous operating systems prior to Windows 8. Of course, you have all of the typical settings for modifying the font size, the scale of everything, the resolution, and so on.
Compatibility
Almost every game is currently compatible with Windows 8. While there are a few Direct X 12 games available, the most majority do not yet make use of the technology. There are also a number of games that can only be played on DOS computers, but like Windows 10, the ability to play these games via software is accessible.
Because of the length of time it has been out, Windows 8 has no driver difficulties because all drivers include software that assures their hardware works properly with the product. This may change in the future when hardware is designed to work with subsequent operating systems and fewer hardware is delivered with Windows 8 drivers.
Choice of Games
Like Windows 10, the number of games available with Windows 8 is in the 20,000 range. This means that gamers have a wide range of options, while certain newer games are either not available to play on Windows 8 or do not perform to their full potential, but these are in the minority at the present.
Pros
- Highly stable; user-friendly; full drivers for any hardware; a vast range of games to choose from.
Cons
- The curtain is coming down; DOS-based games require additional software to be played.
Windows 7
Specifications
- 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor*
- 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
- 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
- DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
When you think about it, Windows 7 was the edition of Windows that came before Windows 8, which is fairly evident. Because it was a completely new version of Windows after Vista, it had a number of faults when it was originally released; however, these were gradually resolved over time, and it did become a stable product at the conclusion of its lifecycle. When it comes to gaming, Windows 7 still has a lot to offer, just not as much as Windows 10 and Windows 8. But why is this the case? Is it just old age, or is there anything else going on?
Performance
Windows 7 is, predictably, the slowest performance of all Windows-based operating systems. With a number of outdated drivers and applications, the OS is incapable of keeping up with Windows 8, let alone Windows 10. However, this does not imply that it is completely outmoded. Windows 7 can still run games to a reasonable level if the necessary hardware is available; nevertheless, don’t expect it to run cutting-edge new releases flawlessly.
Compatibility
The great majority of games and devices are compatible with Windows 7. However, more current products from both sides of the coin can cause it some difficulty. This is because the drivers were not built to function with Windows 7, and it is unable to handle the hardware required to run certain games.
Choice of Games
Despite the small compatibility concerns that Windows 7 has, it still has a vast selection of games. Because of the ability to access a wide choice of games from multiple internet sources, there are still over 20,000 games available to play on Windows 7.
Pros
- There are a lot of games to choose from. A release that is relatively stable. It still has a thriving community.
Cons
- Newer games for Windows 7 will be phased away. There are some minor compatibility difficulties with newer games.
Linux
Linux
Specifications
- Processor: 2 GHz dual-core CPU.
- Memory: 4 GiB RAM (system memory).
- Storage: 25 GB of storage space (or USB stick, memory card, or external drive but see LiveCD for an alternative approach).
- Graphics: VGA capable of 1020×768 screen resolution.
- Either a CD/DVD drive or USB port for the installer media.
- Internet access is helpful.
For many years, Linux has been the open source operating system of choice for the more security-conscious PC user. But how does that translate into the world of video games?
Performance
The performance levels of Linux games are often lower than those of Windows-based operating systems. When compared to Windows 10, Linux runs games up to 40% slower, while Windows 8 and 7 are only 20% slower. This is due to Linux drivers not being optimized in the same way as Windows drivers are, Linux ports not being of the same quality, or needing to utilize middleman software to run Windows games. All of this slows down the game’s performance and causes it to run slower or at a poorer quality.
Compatibility
Linux has a compatibility problem. While many games may be run with a piece of middle-ware software such as WINE, Linux still does not provide full compatibility. Add to this the fact that third-party drivers for graphics cards and other hardware are frequently available. It means that Linux does not provide the relatively simple entry point into gaming that Windows provides.
Display Features
Some of Ubuntu’s distinguishing characteristics include the option to modify the screen’s “temperature,” the lock screen wallpaper, screen brightness, and twin monitor capability.
Choice of Games
In terms of game selection, Linux lags far behind. In comparison to Windows, there are just slightly more than 3000 games accessible on Steam for Linux.
Price
One of the things that makes Ubuntu appealing is that it has always been available for free download. Second, the OS’s open framework offers for a distinct and thrilling new computing experience if you prefer something other than Windows.
Pros
- In comparison to Windows, Linux is more safe and stable; open source means it is unconstrained; it has a larger variety of free applications.
Cons
- Lack of compatibility with much of the available hardware and software; restricted game selection; low performance as compared to Windows.
Mac OS
Specifications
- Display: 21.5-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display.
- Processor: 2.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz.
- Price: $1,099 to $1,299.
- Storage: 256GB.
- Graphics: Intel Iris plus Graphics 640.
- Video: Support and Camera. FaceTime HD camera.
- Audio: Stereo speakers.
The Mac is well-known for being virus-free and ideal for expanding your creative abilities. It is not well-known for its games. How does it do in comparison to its rivals?
Performance
Because most games are built for the PC market, they are not generally designed with the Mac in mind. This suggests they were transferred from original PC copies. As a result, the game just has the necessities changed to operate on Mac, and it is not tuned to work at its optimum. As a result, many games have performance levels that are up to a third of the frame rate of PC games.
Compatibility
Aside from the reduced speeds, several games are incompatible with the Mac. Because the Mac, unlike Linux, employs completely different hardware, it is nearly impossible to run a PC game on the Mac without experiencing even more terrible slowdown.
Display Features
Apple takes great pride in its user interface. The resolution quality available is amazing. You get brightness automation, scale and layout customization, Night Shift mode, transparency and contrast controls, and more features.
Choice of Game
On Steam, there are over 4,500 titles available for the Mac. To put this in context, over 7,000 PC games were posted to the Steam platform in 2017. The Mac lacks the breadth of games that the PC has, and it even lags behind Linux offers.
Price
Because the MacOS can only be used on Mac products, the only method to obtain this operating system is to purchase a MacBook. The amount you spend is totally dependent on whether you buy a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro.
This means that using the MacOS on a MacBook Pro may cost you significantly more than using it on a MacBook Air. Furthermore, because Macs are supposed to be tiny, there is little place for a powerful GPU or user changes.
That means that the only option to obtain high gaming performance on a Mac is to use an external GPU. Given the already exorbitant price of the MacBook, this is a difficult pill to swallow.
Pros
- MacOS is simple to use; it has high-quality graphics and visuals; and it has fewer viruses to deal with.
Cons
- MacBooks are substantially more expensive than PC laptops; they perform poorly in games than Windows; there is a restricted selection of available games; and performance degrades with graphically intensive games.
Conclusions
Don’t undervalue yourself. What’s the point of meticulously selecting all of the proper components for your brand-new gaming laptop only to be hampered by the operating system? Get Windows 10 for the best PC gaming experience you’ve ever had. The most popular Linux distro for gaming is Ubuntu, however it lacks support.
The one thing that makes MacOS a good choice in practically any other arena is the exact thing that holds it back in this one: exclusivity. It’s just not well suited to gaming. Choose the correct operating system, and you’ll be able to taste the delicious taste of victory every time you play.