Windows 8 is sh1t!!!

[blatterjr]

Did you use Belarc Advisor (if only to pull all your other serials. install information and driver versions)?

Also, while I use Dell almost exclusively, most manufacturers have a base install on a 10gb "recovery" partition. This should not have all the bloatware but should have all the drivers.

(if you've not already done the reinstall)

For the record, I prefer Win7 like some other posters here.

[Patch]

I haven't ruled out Win 7 - but I have got a clean (bloatware free!) install of Win 8 now.

I actually DELETED the contents of the recovery partition to free up space on the SSD. Since I've now got a Win 8 Installation USB, I decided to get rid of all teh factory crap that came on the machine. Drivers are easily re-downloaded, right?

I was gonna extend the OS partition to take up the 28GB(!) that was reserved for the recovery partition. That didn't work out as easy as I thought it would, so I have a little bit of work to do there...

Still got some tweaking to do (switching off all the Metro Live Update stuff, making sure I am (non-desktop) App freee, and booting to desktop, etc...) so I fully expect to have a very quick machine when I'm finished with it.

The Win 8 machine will be Traktor only - no internet/wireless, no bluetooth, no games, printers, networking, etc... So I'm expecting suoer low latency for my DVS set-up. I'm even foregoing installing the Nvidia drivers in favour of using the built in windows graphics drivers. No need for super fast graphics when I'm only gonna be looking at Traktors interface, right? (Right?!?)

I might even try to get Ableton and Traktor playing nicely together if the bare bones Win 8 machine will handle it...

[blatterjr]

Drivers are easily re-downloaded, right?

Absolutely. I don't use HP (assuming its not the VAIO in your signature) but drivers should be easy:
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/ad/windows-8/upgrade.html

I was gonna extend the OS partition to take up the 28GB(!) that was reserved for the recovery partition. That didn't work out as easy as I thought it would, so I have a little bit of work to do there...

Some recovery partitions are "hard coded", meaning you'll need to use Control Panel > Computer Management > Storage > Disk Management to remove it. Then you'll need to reinstall again. Have someone assist if you're not familiar.

The Win 8 machine will be Traktor only - no internet/wireless, no bluetooth, no games, printers, networking, etc... So I'm expecting suoer low latency for my DVS set-up. I'm even foregoing installing the Nvidia drivers in favour of using the built in windows graphics drivers. No need for super fast graphics when I'm only gonna be looking at Traktors interface, right? (Right?!?)

Given the specs you mentioned earlier, i'd be surprised if you had any latency issues after removing the bloatware... even if you install wireless, bluetooth, printers, networking, etc. If you have non-integrated graphics you NEED to install the drivers. This will remove all video processing burden from your CPU.

[Patch]

Soyou think I sould go with the Nvidia drivers not the propretetary windows ones?

[blatterjr]

Soyou think I sould go with the Nvidia drivers not the propretetary windows ones?

I think you'll get much better performance routing those processes to the GPU with Nvidia drivers than letting windows handle it.

[Patch]

Then I will take your advice, mate! Nvidia drivers it is, as soon as I'm back in fromnt of my machine.

Cheers!

(Just to confirm - when I go into Device Manager, under the graphics card entry, both the Nvidia AND the windows alternative are listed. Should I disable the windows device and ONLY use the Nvidia?)

[blatterjr]

Then I will take your advice, mate! Nvidia drivers it is, as soon as I'm back in fromnt of my machine.

Cheers!

(Just to confirm - when I go into Device Manager, under the graphics card entry, both the Nvidia AND the windows alternative are listed. Should I disable the windows device and ONLY use the Nvidia?)

I'd recommend going to the Nvidia site and letting it determine the proper driver. I don't have people work through the device manager; it's too archaic and prone to making mistakes... which will frustrate you in the long run.

[Patch]

Gotcha. Appreciate the advice.

[ImNoDJ]

The Win 8 machine will be Traktor only - no internet/wireless, no bluetooth, no games, printers, networking, etc... So I'm expecting suoer low latency for my DVS set-up. I'm even foregoing installing the Nvidia drivers in favour of using the built in windows graphics drivers. No need for super fast graphics when I'm only gonna be looking at Traktors interface, right? (Right?!?)

Honestly theres no need for this off-internet approach any more. It doesnt affect performance on a modern machine one bit, and there really arent any security risks if you keep it patched and just use the MS antivirus. This used to be necessary for an audio machine ten years ago, but most modern machines are well overpowered for their tasks.

Using OEM video drivers can actually lower performance, as they cant leverage all settings of the GPU, and they are often not well optimised.

[nem0nic]

Honestly theres no need for this off-internet approach any more. It doesnt affect performance on a modern machine one bit...

Yes there is. Unfortunately wireless networking drivers are still one of the most common sources of DPC problems. This is really the main reason most Windows users are hinky about networking.