Key Facts
- ✓ Benchmarks were performed on a laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor.
- ✓ Windows 11 demonstrated superior performance in most tests, particularly graphics and media encoding.
- ✓ Linux showed strength in specific CPU tests like Gzip and OpenSSL.
- ✓ The Intel Xe2 graphics architecture is not yet supported by Linux open-source drivers.
- ✓ Battery life on Windows was measured at 10.5 hours, compared to 5.1 hours on Linux.
Quick Summary
Comprehensive benchmarks were conducted comparing Windows 11 and Linux on a laptop featuring the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, part of the new Arrow Lake H series. The testing revealed that Windows 11 generally outperformed Linux across a majority of the performance tests.
Key findings indicate that while Linux held its own in specific synthetic CPU and storage benchmarks, it lagged significantly in graphics performance and power efficiency. The review specifically noted that the Intel Xe2 graphics architecture is currently better supported on the Windows platform. Furthermore, battery life was a major differentiator, with Windows achieving over 10 hours of runtime compared to approximately 5 hours on Linux.
Benchmark Overview 📊
The performance review utilized a laptop equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, a processor from the Arrow Lake H lineup. This specific hardware choice was intended to test the current state of operating system support for Intel's latest mobile architecture. The testing suite covered a wide range of workloads to provide a holistic view of system performance.
The benchmarks were designed to stress different components of the system, including the CPU, integrated GPU, and storage subsystem. By running identical workloads on both operating systems, the review aimed to isolate the software efficiency and driver maturity on this specific hardware configuration.
The testing methodology included:
- Synthetic CPU benchmarks to measure raw processing power
- Graphics and gaming tests to evaluate GPU driver performance
- Media encoding tasks to test specialized instruction sets
- Power consumption and battery life measurements
CPU and Storage Performance
In the realm of synthetic CPU benchmarks, the results were mixed. Linux demonstrated superior performance in specific tests like Gzip compression and OpenSSL cryptographic operations. These victories highlight the efficiency of the Linux kernel in handling certain low-level processing tasks.
However, Windows 11 took the lead in other critical areas. It performed better in Python scripting tests and showed a notable advantage in PHP compilation. This suggests that the Windows environment may offer better optimization for specific development and scripting workloads on this hardware.
When it came to storage performance, the two operating systems traded blows. Linux achieved higher scores in the Flexible I/O Tester (FIO), indicating superior raw I/O capabilities. Conversely, Windows 11 performed better in the SQLite database benchmark, which is more representative of real-world application performance.
Graphics and Power Efficiency 🚀
The most significant performance gap was observed in graphics testing. The Intel Xe2 integrated graphics, a key feature of the Arrow Lake H architecture, faced substantial challenges on Linux. The open-source Mesa drivers currently lack support for the Xe2 architecture, forcing the system to fall back to the older llvmpipe software renderer.
This driver limitation resulted in drastically lower frame rates and poor performance in gaming and graphics-intensive applications. In contrast, Windows 11 utilized the full capabilities of the hardware with mature drivers, delivering vastly superior graphics performance. This disparity underscores the importance of driver development in adopting new hardware.
Battery life was another area where Windows 11 established a clear dominance. Under controlled testing conditions, the Windows installation lasted for 10.5 hours. The Linux installation, running on the same hardware, managed only 5.1 hours. This massive difference in power efficiency suggests that Windows has more mature power management profiles and better integration with the hardware's power states.
Conclusion
The benchmarks conducted on the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V laptop present a clear picture: Windows 11 is currently the more performant operating system for this specific hardware. The primary drivers for this outcome are the superior graphics support and significantly better power efficiency.
While Linux remains a strong contender in specific CPU-bound and storage tasks, the lack of native support for the new Xe2 graphics architecture and suboptimal power management are critical drawbacks for mobile users. As Linux kernel and driver developers continue to add support for this new hardware, these performance gaps may narrow. However, for users purchasing laptops with Intel Arrow Lake H processors today, Windows 11 offers a more complete and optimized experience.
