X201 - which windows OS: 7 or 8.1 for best battery life?

[pointyhat]

Just got a new X201 (well second hand but new to me). It's a basic non-tablet one with 4Gb RAM, 3G card, 9 cell and I chucked a 256Gb Samsung 840 Pro in it. Nice portable machine so I can work anywhere I want.

I've got a T400 at the moment with 8.1 on it and it's a bit horrible with respect to battery life. I get 3-4 hours out of a (newish) 9 cell on it. It has installed the Lenovo PM drivers from Windows update.

Can anyone comment on the battery prospects on an X201 with Windows 7 vs Windows 8.1 on it before I go and build the thing.

I have no specific software requirements for a later version of windows than 7. In fact 8.1 annoys the hell out of me with the metro-isms everywhere for network config etc.

[RealBlackStuff]

Definitely W7.
The Lenovo Power Management software does not, or only partly, work under W8/W8.1

[pointyhat]

Perfect - W7 it is then

Thanks for the reply.

[sreviax]

which is better win 7 pro 32bit or 64bit for use with ThinkPad x201 i5 M520, 4GB RAM, 320 SATA.. Thank you

[axur-delmeria]

which is better win 7 pro 32bit or 64bit for use with ThinkPad x201 i5 M520, 4GB RAM, 320 SATA.. Thank you

Since you have 4GB RAM, 64-bit is better.

[sreviax]

which is better win 7 pro 32bit or 64bit for use with ThinkPad x201 i5 M520, 4GB RAM, 320 SATA.. Thank you

Since you have 4GB RAM, 64-bit is better.

thank you for replying, since so many installing win 7 pro 64 i will install that os on my thinkpad..