Performance comparison of Windows XP to Windows 11 on older PCs

When Microsoft confirmed the Windows 10 end of supportThis set off alarm bells for many people. Suddenly, millions of users found themselves faced with the choice of continuing with a system without security patches, reluctantly upgrading to Windows 11, or using the opportunity to try their luck with Linux.

Except for those with special editions like Windows 10 LTSC or extended support versionsThe rest of the users are obliged to make a move. And of course, given the reasonable doubt about whether Windows 11 is really worth it, it makes perfect sense to look back and ask: how have the different versions of Windows evolved from XP to today in terms of real-world performance, resource consumption, and day-to-day user experience?

The experiment: six generations of Windows face to face on the same hardware

To clear up any doubts, content creator TrigrZolt set up a Direct comparison between Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10 and 11Using identical hardware for all tests, the idea was to eliminate as many variables as possible and focus solely on the behavior of each operating system.

The chosen team was a classic much loved among enthusiasts: six Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptopsAll of them feature the same second-generation Intel Core i5-2520M processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB hard drive. In practice, this is aging hardware, over a decade old, with slow mechanical drives that significantly penalize modern systems designed for SSDs, and it's worth considering How to speed up Windows to the max.

Although these components are considered modest today, they were more than adequate at the time, and remain sufficient for Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8.1 run smoothlyHowever, Windows 10 and, especially, Windows 11 are no longer designed with this type of computer in mind, something that becomes very clear in the tests.

The author of the test himself warns that he does not intend to conduct a perfect laboratory study, but rather a a “curious but revealing” comparisonEven so, all the systems were fully updatedwith the same applications installed and configurations as similar as possible, so that the results would be comparable.

System startup: Windows 8.1 surprises, Windows 11 disappoints

One of the most intuitive tests for any user is to measure the operating system startup speedThat is, how long it takes from when we press the power button until the desktop is actually ready to work.

Contrary to what many might think, the winner here wasn't the veteran Windows XP or the beloved Windows 7. The one that took the prize was Windows 8.1, that thanks to his Implementation of hybrid startup and optimizations to make it fasterIt manages to start up much more quickly on this older hardware.

The second position was hotly contested, but the performance of Windows 10 was quite decentwith similar times to XP and a reasonably fast boot time for a laptop with a mechanical hard drive. Windows 7 and Windows Vista followed, which, while not exactly slow, did feel somewhat less responsive than the previous ones.

The red lantern was clearly Windows 11, which came in last at startupNot only does it take longer to display the desktop, but it also needs additional time to load the taskbar, icons, and various background processes. That feeling of "it looks ready, but it still needs a while" is something many users have experienced firsthand.

Disk space: XP is minimal, 8.1 very efficient, and 7 the most resource-intensive.

Leaving aside the initial velocity, the experiment also measured how much storage space occupied by each version of Windows with the same applications installed. This information is especially important for older laptops with small or full hard drives.

The system that occupies the least space, logically, is Windows XP, with only 18,9 GB usedIt is a much lighter system, with fewer components and without the huge amount of services, telemetry and added functions that modern versions bring.

The next one to do well was Windows 8.1, which manages to hold back remarkably well. for its generation. The comparison highlights that it takes up less space than even Windows Vista, which reinforces the idea that it was a technically quite refined version, although not very well-received for its interface.

On the other hand, the one who gets the dubious honor of being the biggest eater is Windows 7, with approximately 44,6 GB usedVista, Windows 10 and Windows 11 all average around 37 GB in this test, with slight variations between them, but all considerably heavier than XP and with less content than 8.1.

This storage data makes it clear that the generational leap in Windows has been adding layer upon layer of features and components, to the point that A modern system needs practically twice the space than one from two decades ago to offer a comparable basic experience.

RAM usage: lightweight older systems versus a gluttonous Windows 11

Another of the most relevant indicators, especially in limited hardware, is the RAM memory consumption after startupHere the pattern repeats itself: the more modern the system, the greater its appetite for resources, with some interesting exceptions.

At rest, the most restrained is himself Windows XP, which uses only about 0,8 GB of RAMThis allows it to run very smoothly on modest equipment and even survive on very old machines, something unthinkable with current systems.

The second best performance corresponds to Windows 8.1, which is around 1,3 GB of RAM after startup. Windows 7 follows with 1,4 GB and Windows Vista with 1,5 GB, relatively reasonable figures for computers with 4 or 8 GB of memory.

The big leap comes with Windows 10, which is around 2,3 GB standby power consumption, with many more services running in the background. But where things really take off is with Windows 11, which reaches 3,3 GB of RAM as soon as the device was turned on, even reaching almost 3,7 GB at some point during the test.

This means that, on a laptop with 8 GB of RAM like the ThinkPad X220, Windows 11 uses almost half of the memory just by being turned on.leaving little room for true multitasking. Add to that modern applications and browser tabs, and the experience suffers even more than with previous systems.

Extreme browser tab test: the unexpected reign of Windows 8.1

To push memory to its limits, the experiment included a very visual test: opening as many browser windows or tabs as possible until fill 5 GB of RAMTo ensure compatibility with all systems, a specific browser called Supermium was used.

In this demanding scenario, Windows 11 was once again left behind in the queueIt was only able to keep 49 tabs open before crashing due to lack of memory, a very poor figure compared to some of its predecessors.

Interestingly, Windows XP didn't fare particularly well here either.It stays open with around 50 tabs. Although it's very lightweight at idle, its age and architectural limitations take their toll when faced with modern browsers and current websites.

He slammed his fist on the table again. Windows 8.1, which managed to handle no less than 252 tabs before memory saturation. This is more than five times what Windows 11 endured under the same conditions, a difference that clearly demonstrates the extent to which optimization and background process loading have an impact.

Windows 10 also performed significantly better than 11 in this test, tripling or even far exceeding the number of windows the newer system could handle. This type of test may seem extreme, but it serves to illustrate how a Reduced RAM usage results in much smoother multitasking. when the hardware isn't overflowing.

Battery life: XP wins by a narrow margin, 11 is once again the worst

Another important aspect of a laptop is the battery life under more or less realistic useAlthough the ThinkPad X220s used for the test are not exactly new, they do allow for a comparison between the different versions of Windows.

On this occasion, the result was less scandalous than in other tests. Windows XP managed to be the system with the greatest battery life., once again positioning itself as a very efficient option on older hardware.

At the opposite end was, once again, Windows 11, which was the first to drain the batteryHowever, it should be noted that the difference between all the systems was not enormous: only a few minutes separated the best from the worst.

That doesn't change the fact that the pattern remains clear: on the same laptop, with the same battery and the same test usage, Modern versions tend to consume slightly more., in part due to the number of active telemetry, synchronization, and background services processes.

In any case, this battery test serves primarily to reinforce the idea that The efficiency of older systems still has something to say. when they are run on the type of hardware for which they were designed.

Daily tasks: audio, video, opening programs and web browsing

Beyond the raw boot or memory numbers, the experiment also measured how each Windows behaves in routine daily tasks: export audio, edit a simple video, open basic applications, or load web pages.

When exporting an audio file with AudacityWindows 11 fell short and ranked near the bottom, coming in fifth out of the six systems. In other words, it only outperformed one of its predecessors, which is quite remarkable considering the relatively simple task.

When exporting a video, the situation changed slightly: Windows 10 was the fastest in this specific testdemonstrating that, when software can take advantage of multiple CPU threads and certain modern optimizations, the system still has a lot to offer even on veteran hardware.

When the opening speed of basic programs such as the file explorer, calculator, video player, or even the old MS PaintWindows 11 once again revealed its shortcomings. It remained last in most of these testsbecoming "embarrassingly" slow at tasks that were previously almost instantaneous.

In web browsing, loading images and common sites (including the Microsoft login pageWindows 11 also placed itself at the bottom of the list or very close to it, while earlier versions such as Windows 8.1 or even Vista and 7 maintained a more agile performance on the same laptop.

Synthetic benchmarks: sharing of victories between generations

To complement the practical tests, the YouTuber ran several synthetic benchmarks well-known, which allow for a more technical measurement of CPU power and storage performance.

En CPU-Z in single core modeThe surprise was that Windows XP once again took the victory. Its lower processing load and the absence of additional layers allow the processor to dedicate itself almost exclusively to the test task.

In CPU-Z multi-core testThe winner was Windows 7, which seems to strike a good balance between lightness and making good use of processor resources, even on an old CPU like the ThinkPad X220.

The benchmark Geekbench It crowned Windows Vista, a version that was heavily criticized at the time, but which in this specific environment managed to take advantage of its architecture and place itself ahead of its siblings.

En CrystalDiskMarkFocusing on disk performance, the system that performed best was again Windows XP, probably favored by the simplicity of its storage stack and the absence of as many layers of abstraction as modern versions.

Finally, in Cinebench, one of the benchmarks for measuring rendering performance, Windows 8.1 emerged victoriousOnce again, it is confirmed that this version offers a very curious balance between lightness and the ability to take advantage of the available hardware, even when it is already showing its age.

General perception: why Windows 8.1 shines and Windows 11 crashes in this scenario

Adding up all the evidence, TrigrZolt concludes that the big winner of the experiment is Windows 8.1, which excels in multiple areasBoot time, RAM management, browser multitasking, and performance in certain benchmarks. All of this running on a relatively old laptop with a mechanical hard drive.

The irony is that Windows 8.1 was heavily criticized at the time due to the radical change in the Start menu and the adoption of the "Metro" interface. However, on a technical level, it performs as one of the best-optimized versions in recent Windows history, something this test clearly highlights.

On the opposite side we have Windows 11, which fares poorly in most scenariosIt ranks last or second to last in startup speed, opening simple applications, web browsing, RAM usage, battery life, and managing multiple browser tabs. Only in a few specific cases does it manage to stay close to its predecessors.

Even so, the YouTuber himself insists that It does not recommend using Windows 8.1 at this time.This is because it's a system without official support or security updates. Similarly, there's no point in extending the life of XP, Vista, or 7 if the computer frequently connects to the internet or handles sensitive information.

The underlying interpretation is different: on limited hardware, modern versions of Windows assume there will be More RAM, more cores, and ultra-fast SSD drivesThat's why more services and features are allowed to run in the background. When those expectations aren't met, the user experience suffers noticeably. If you prefer not to update, there are guides available. go back from Windows 11 to Windows 10.

The current context: resistance to Windows 11 and the end of Windows 10

All of this fits with the actual market situation. Although Windows 11 has been available since October 2021Its adoption is slower than Microsoft would like. According to StatCounter data, it hovers around half the market share, while Windows 10 remains very close and, in some periods, has even gained users.

El Official support for Windows 10 ended in mid-October 2025However, the company decided to offer an additional year of free security patches to ease the transition and give leeway to those who have not yet prepared to migrate to Windows 11.

Despite this, hundreds of millions of people still refuse to update. Common complaints point to the fact that Windows 11 requires overly modern hardware (TPM, recent CPUs, almost mandatory need for SSD and 8 GB of RAM or more) and introduces interface changes and bloatware that many consider unnecessary, although guides exist for Install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC.

TrigrZolt's experiment only serves to reinforce this perception, showing that, in a veteran but still functional machine, Windows 10 and earlier versions can offer a smoother experience Microsoft's latest system seems designed almost exclusively for new PCs, and if your computer is performing poorly, consult My PC is very slow on Windows 10.

Even so, it is worth remembering that to indefinitely prolong the use of systems without official support This poses a security risk, especially for those who use computers for work, online banking, or handling sensitive data. The comparison is more of a reminder of the efficiency of modern software than an invitation to remain stuck in the past.

XP vs 11: the extreme comparison and the role of “bloatware”

In the most passionate debate, some reduce the issue to a direct duel. Windows XP vs Windows 11From that perspective, the balance clearly tips in favor of the veteran system in aspects such as lightness, speed on modest hardware and absence of unnecessary pre-installed applications.

XP is still seen as a system Fast, relatively robust, and very clean of bloatwareIt runs smoothly even on very old computers. Furthermore, its interface has become a kind of nostalgic icon—simple and straightforward.

Conversely, part of the community perceives Windows 11 as a release designed to push for hardware upgradesIt's loaded with services, integrations, telemetry, and pre-installed applications that many users never use. Added to that is an interface that, while modern, doesn't quite win everyone over.

In that simplified comparison, some even score Windows XP with a 10/10 and Windows 11 with a 2/10This reflects more a widespread feeling of frustration with the system's direction than a strictly technical assessment. Even so, remember that XP is completely out of support and today only makes sense in highly controlled environments or for purely historical reasons.

The underlying message is clear: Newer doesn't automatically mean betterThe improvements in security, compatibility, and features are real, but they come with a noticeable loss of efficiency when taken out of their ideal environment, which is modern computers with state-of-the-art components.

Looking at the entire set of tests, a fairly clear picture emerges: the evolution of Windows between XP and 11 has not been a straight line toward absolute optimization. There are versions like Windows 8.1 and, to a lesser extent, Windows 7 or even Vista These versions prove to be very well-suited to their era and hardware, while Windows 11 truly shines when running on newer PCs with SSDs and modern processors. On older machines, the system feels heavy, slow, and oversized for what it offers, which explains why so many people still cling to Windows 10 or look fondly upon older systems, even though, for security reasons, they are no longer a recommended option for daily connected use.