Yesterday appeared a new beta version windows 7 (7048 , 64 bit version) the first release candidate according to some rumors. .Since this new build comes only in the 64 bit version we were limited to a few software with native 64 bits support the remaining was running as 32 bits applications . Our Test System: Processor : Core 2 Duo E8500 @ 3.6 GHz (450 MHz x8) , 1.15v, Motherboard : Biostar Tpower Ip45 . Memory : 2x 1 GB Ocz Reaper extreme 1150 MHz (5-5-5-11) . (@1180 MHz) Video card : Nvidia 9800 GT (700Mhz Core , 1860 memory , 1700 SHader) , Nvidia driver : driver-v.181.71 HDD : Raid0, 2x Seagate 320 GB Without excess words let us pass directly to the benchmark , we will start from daily use application (Compressing / Decompressing) . Windows 7 Beta 1 7000 Vs Windows Xp Sp3 (Compressing / Decompressing) The compressing performance was slow in this build, for some reason, just like the hole OS (*) , either the new build is slower or this is just the 64 bit OS . However, Everest shows a robust performance in comparison with other OS , the memory bandwidth was also in a respectable level with over 9200 MB/s read and 9500 MB/s write , Note also the low latency only 56.8NS (Thanks to the 64 bit OS). Super Pi benchmark show an average result in comparison with other OS , the new Build 7048 as always was faster than the windows vista 32 . Again most likely driver issue , The HDD performance was suffering , this test was executed 3 times we even saw a 22 mb/s as a read performance in a Raid 0 setup !!! . Finally the new Devil may cry 4 tests showed some nice result, but they are still slower than the previous and the fastest until today windows 7 and OS (7022) . The new 64 bit version is not so promising as the previous release , let s wait for more build (Or at least for the next 32 bit builds) for the final verdict. source: xtreview.com