Windows XP

[CaptainHaplo]

Windows 7 generally beats XP - unless your running OLD hardware.

For the record, the lowest machine documented to run 7 - a Pentium 2 266MHZ machine....

Conclusion
Windows 7 performs better than Vista and is also faster than XP, although XP remains more capable for devices with limited memory and outdated graphics.

Source: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/benchm...vista-xp/22006

That was tested before SP1 as well...

Ultimately - if your running hardware older than Sailor Steve, yes stick with XP. If you want to run newer games, you want DX 10/11 and your going to have more horsepower - which 7 uses to greater EFFECT than XP can.

So each to their own!