Benchmarking Windows 11: A Clean Install vs.an In-Place Upgrade
Earlier this year in February, we conducted a detailed performance benchmark of Windows 11 24H2 versus 23H2 on a PC with a fresh installation. This study followed another benchmarking for an in-place upgrade to ascertain which upgrade method yields superior performance.
According to Microsoft, a clean installation of Windows 11 can enhance system performance through its innovative Smart App Control (SAC) feature. Users frequently contemplate whether reinstalling or resetting Windows can elevate their system performance. The rationale behind this is simple: the accumulation of unnecessary files and applications, known as bloat, can hamper performance and drain hardware resources.
Performance Analysis: Clean vs. Dirty Installations
To objectively evaluate performance differences between a clean and a cluttered system, tech site PCWorld assessed various games and applications. The results were particularly intriguing in non-gaming scenarios.
Image Editing Tests with Photoshop
The testing included Photoshop on two high-performance processors: the 9950X3D (16-core) and the 9800X3D (8-core).Notably, the Clean 9950X3D system outperformed the Dirty counterpart, while the Dirty 9800X3D showed more favorable results. However, overall, the performance differences were marginal and considered statistically insignificant.
Rendering Benchmarks: Cinebench vs. Blender
During the next phase, two rendering benchmarks—Cinebench 2024 and Blender—were evaluated. The clean installations outshone their dirty counterparts in both synthetic and real-world tests. This suggests that when all cores and threads are utilized fully, a fresh installation may outperform a system laden with accumulated files.
Gaming Performance: A Mixed Bag
The gaming benchmarks presented a contrasting narrative. In Cyberpunk 2077, the clean and dirty systems exchanged places in performance, reflecting the same trend seen in Photoshop.
Insights from F1 2024 and Fortnite
With F1 2024, the performance differences were more pronounced, particularly in 1% lows and average FPS metrics, showcasing a clearer advantage for clean installations. Furthermore, during tests in Fortnite, the clean PC displayed markedly better 1% low framerates on the 9950X3D processor.
Takeaways and Conclusion
It is essential to recognize that Windows performance may be erratic, with variations between runs potentially skewing results. Additionally, the ‘dirty’ PC tested in this analysis was approximately a year old. Had it been older, the performance disparities might have been even more significant.
For those considering a Windows upgrade or reinstall, these findings indicate that a clean installation often provides improved performance, particularly in resource-intensive tasks.
Source and images: PCWorld
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