{"id":65753,"date":"2026-07-13T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/?p=65753"},"modified":"2026-09-02T10:03:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T09:03:20","slug":"what-is-an-operating-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/what-is-an-operating-system\/","title":{"rendered":"What is an Operating System?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The operating system&nbsp;is your computer\u2019s core software&nbsp;package,&nbsp;which&nbsp;helps&nbsp;all&nbsp;your hardware and programmes function properly.&nbsp;It\u2019s&nbsp;an essential tool for your PC,&nbsp;so&nbsp;today&nbsp;we\u2019re&nbsp;going to be telling you everything you need to know about it!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/What-is-an-Operating-System-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65754\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/What-is-an-Operating-System-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/What-is-an-Operating-System-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/What-is-an-Operating-System-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/What-is-an-Operating-System-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/What-is-an-Operating-System-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/What-is-an-Operating-System-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this guide,&nbsp;we\u2019ll&nbsp;explain what an&nbsp;operating system&nbsp;is.&nbsp;We\u2019ll&nbsp;also explore how it works behind the scenes, why your gaming PC needs one,&nbsp;and&nbsp;how some of the most popular options compare to each other.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-black-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-1 is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-eb3ed5a7 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-width:3px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2\">What is an Operating System? Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An operating system&nbsp;may sometimes be referred to as an OS.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The OS provides&nbsp;the&nbsp;interface you use to control your computer,&nbsp;including icons, toolbars, and windowed programmes.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You use the OS to manage your hardware, games, and other applications effectively.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The OS also has in-built security tools to help you keep your files and data safe.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Popular operating systems include Windows, macOS, and Linux.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Laptops and mobile phones also have their own versions of OS software,&nbsp;such as&nbsp;ChromeOS&nbsp;and Android.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The development of the OS has directly correlated with computers becoming more accessible&nbsp;to&nbsp;a wider pool of users.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each OS is tailored to a different purpose, resulting in some being better suited to gaming and others&nbsp;more favourably used for&nbsp;creative workflows.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is an Operating System?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An operating system&nbsp;(OS) is the main&nbsp;piece of software that connects you, your applications, and your computer&#8217;s hardware. It manages everything happening behind the scenes, making sure your games, programmes, and components all work together properly.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whenever you launch your favourite games, save a file, or even open your web browser,&nbsp;the OS acts as the middle party, relaying your commands to every digital corner of your PC.&nbsp;Plus,&nbsp;this technology&nbsp;isn\u2019t&nbsp;just&nbsp;reserved for desktops, either. Laptops and even mobile phones have their own versions of&nbsp;OS&nbsp;software!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/your-questions-about-cpus-finally-answered\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">central processing unit<\/a>&nbsp;(CPU) often takes a lot of the credit for how your&nbsp;computer\u2019s&nbsp;hardware and software coordinate. However,&nbsp;the OS plays a more foundational role within any PC build.&nbsp;Let\u2019s&nbsp;unpack its functions in more detail.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the core level, the OS handles several important jobs. These are:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Managing hardware resources; i.e. your processor, memory, storage&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Running applications and keeping processes organised&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Providing the&nbsp;interface&nbsp;that&nbsp;you use to control your device&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helping to protect your files and data&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Essentially, your&nbsp;operating system is what turns your gaming PC&#8217;s individual components into a complete and fully functional machine.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Mach6_PC_life-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"Mach 6 lifestyle\" class=\"wp-image-56299\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Mach6_PC_life-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Mach6_PC_life-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Mach6_PC_life-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Mach6_PC_life-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Mach6_PC_life-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Mach6_PC_life-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Mach6_PC_life.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The History of Operating Systems&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Operating systems have come a long way since their&nbsp;inception. To better appreciate what&nbsp;they&#8217;re&nbsp;capable of now,&nbsp;it&#8217;s&nbsp;worth looking back on the journey&nbsp;they&#8217;ve&nbsp;been on!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Operating System&nbsp;Origins:&nbsp;1940s &#8211; 1950s&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the earliest days of computers,&nbsp;users&nbsp;interacted with their hardware directly. These folks were mostly professionals,&nbsp;and they&nbsp;required&nbsp;specialist knowledge and skills&nbsp;to&nbsp;operate&nbsp;the machines.&nbsp;Obviously, there was no desktop, file folders, or applications to click through.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1940s-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65769\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1940s-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1940s-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1940s-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1940s-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1940s-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--292x164.png 292w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1940s-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--632x355.png 632w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1940s-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--850x478.png 850w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1940s-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1940s-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--501x282.png 501w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1940s-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter-.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The year 1956 introduced&nbsp;the&nbsp;batch processing system. Users had to&nbsp;physically write&nbsp;programmes onto punch cards and feed them into the computer operator.&nbsp;All these tasks were collected, orderly queued, and then processed by the computer one at a time.&nbsp;We&#8217;d&nbsp;think&nbsp;it&nbsp;as sluggish now, but at the time, it did make everything simpler and cut&nbsp;the extortionate costs that came with running these revolutionary machines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1960s: Multiprogramming Systems&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Multiprogramming systems then appeared in the 1960s,&nbsp;and computers were soon able to handle more complex workloads.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the name suggests,&nbsp;multiprogramming systems&nbsp;had the ability to have more than one&nbsp;application&nbsp;running at the same time, with much of this software now stored in memory. Systems like Unix materialised and introduced many of the concepts found in operating systems today; portability, multi-user support, modular design.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, this technology was mostly&nbsp;reserved&nbsp;for&nbsp;universities, research facilities, and important businesses.&nbsp;It was fancy tech for fancy folks!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1970s-1980s: Personal Computers&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Personal computers (PCs) changed the game again in the 1970s and 80s,&nbsp;bringing this tech into the home&nbsp;space. As&nbsp;average&nbsp;Joes and&nbsp;Janes&nbsp;were&nbsp;now&nbsp;engaging, there became a steady demand for the OS to make computers simpler and more accessible.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before graphical&nbsp;user&nbsp;interfaces&nbsp;(GUIs)&nbsp;became the norm, most computers relied on command-line interfaces (CLIs). Rather than clicking icons, users typed text commands to open programs, manage files, and perform everyday computing tasks.&nbsp;While this&nbsp;required&nbsp;more technical knowledge, command-line operating systems such as Microsoft&nbsp;MS-DOS, introduced in 1981 under Bill Gates\u2019 leadership, became the foundation&nbsp;for future developments&nbsp;that would further simplify the technology.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apple Macintosh arrived in 1985, bringing with it&nbsp;the&nbsp;GUI.&nbsp;Users no longer needed to type commands, but could navigate windows, icons, and menus with their mouse cursor.&nbsp;Microsoft Windows came along a year later to build on&nbsp;these ideas&nbsp;further.&nbsp;As a result, computers gradually became more streamlined and straightforward to use as the OS technology flourished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65768\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--292x164.png 292w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--632x355.png 632w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--850x478.png 850w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--501x282.png 501w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Old-Computer-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter-.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2000s Onwards: The OS is Here to Stay&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OSes&nbsp;are more powerful and versatile than ever. They can manage incredibly complex hardware, protect user data, support thousands of applications, and&nbsp;allow people to customise their devices to suit their needs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although operating systems have evolved&nbsp;greatly over&nbsp;the years, the underlying ethos behind them has not changed; helping users, software, and hardware work together in a perfect&nbsp;synergy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-Security-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65772\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-Security-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-Security-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-Security-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-Security-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-Security-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--292x164.png 292w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-Security-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--632x355.png 632w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-Security-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--850x478.png 850w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-Security-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-Security-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--501x282.png 501w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-Security-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter-.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Does&nbsp;My&nbsp;Gaming PC Need an Operating System?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your OS is what&nbsp;helps&nbsp;you&nbsp;understand and navigate&nbsp;your&nbsp;computer.&nbsp;It translates streams of complex data into actionable information for both you and your hardware.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Without&nbsp;the&nbsp;OS, your computer would&nbsp;basically be&nbsp;a heap of electrical components. System resources, games, user inputs \u2013&nbsp;they&#8217;d&nbsp;all cease to function.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, what kind of operating system you need is still&nbsp;up in the air! As you might expect, every OS is different.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Operating-System-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65767\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Operating-System-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Operating-System-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Operating-System-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Operating-System-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Operating-System-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--292x164.png 292w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Operating-System-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--632x355.png 632w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Operating-System-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--850x478.png 850w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Operating-System-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Operating-System-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter--501x282.png 501w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Operating-System-Example-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Main-1600x900Light-TextTwitter-.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Popular PC Operating Systems&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All technology is iterative, and the OS&nbsp;you choose can influence what video games you can play and how well they run on your PC.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So,&nbsp;let\u2019s&nbsp;explore which operating systems are most popular for&nbsp;computers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-930feb06 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Windows&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First introduced in the 1980s,&nbsp;Microsoft Windows is&nbsp;still&nbsp;the most popular operating&nbsp;system for gaming PCs.&nbsp;Its&nbsp;popularity is derived from&nbsp;versatility, as Windows can run on a wide range of hardware&nbsp;configurations&nbsp;from budget laptops to elite-tier gaming PCs packed with the latest components.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65761\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Windows-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most graphics cards, processors, gaming monitors, keyboards,&nbsp;controllers&nbsp;and accessories are all designed with Windows compatibility not as a&nbsp;perk, but as a priority. Building and upgrading custom PCs with Windows is also more convenient. Countless creative, productivity, and communication programmes are compatible too.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For gamers,&nbsp;Windows seems like an obvious choice. After all,&nbsp;you can&nbsp;even&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/our-top-ten-tweaks-and-performance-upgrades-for-windows-11\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tweak&nbsp;settings to be&nbsp;gamer-friendly<\/a>.&nbsp;Plus, most PC games are developed or ported with Windows in mind, meaning players have access to the largest library of titles for computers.&nbsp;What\u2019s&nbsp;more, popular gaming platforms like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/how-to-use-the-steam-overlay-when-gaming\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Steam<\/a>, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/the-best-places-to-buy-games\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Epic Games Store<\/a>, and various other&nbsp;gaming&nbsp;launchers can&nbsp;run&nbsp;on&nbsp;Windows without a hitch. Easy access to our ever-expanding gaming&nbsp;libraries is essential!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Windows is for more than just gaming, and this OS is brimming with<a href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/your-guide-to-microsoft-copilot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;features and background processes<\/a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;aren\u2019t&nbsp;necessarily related to our favourite hobby.&nbsp;Plus, Windows regularly updates, which&nbsp;bring improvements&nbsp;but&nbsp;may&nbsp;sometimes take a minute to adjust to.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-930feb06 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Windows-Version-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33639\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Windows-Version-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Windows-Version-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Windows-Version-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Windows-Version-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Windows-Version-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Windows-Version.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Curious about which version of Windows&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;currently using? Click here for a quick guide on how to check!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-ef7a8b26 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/how-to-tell-which-version-of-windows-your-gaming-pc-is-using\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-930feb06 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">macOS&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Windows is designed to work with hardware across multiple manufacturers, macOS is built specifically for Apple devices.&nbsp;As a result, Apple is in control of both the hardware and the software, ensuring their processes are more intrinsically interlinked.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/macOS-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65763\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/macOS-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/macOS-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/macOS-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/macOS-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/macOS-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/macOS-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a result, macOS has a reputation for being smooth, consistent, and easy to use. This OS is more&nbsp;closely linked&nbsp;to the origins of the technology, too, as it&nbsp;is popular among professionals! Video editors, music production specialists, graphic designers, and other creatives often flock to macOS.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What&#8217;s&nbsp;more,&nbsp;macOS integrates incredibly well with other hardware in the Apple ecosystem. File sharing,&nbsp;syncing&nbsp;with other devices,&nbsp;and&nbsp;features like Handoff&nbsp;give workers more means for organising their workloads.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, macOS is not typically the&nbsp;first&nbsp;choice for gaming.&nbsp;That\u2019s&nbsp;partly&nbsp;down to Apple\u2019s business model,&nbsp;as developers struggle to port their games to&nbsp;Mac&nbsp;due to hardware&nbsp;constraints.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plus,&nbsp;hardware&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/why-and-when-should-you-upgrade-your-pc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">upgrade potential<\/a>&nbsp;on Apple devices&nbsp;is deliberately bottlenecked.&nbsp;Presumably, Apple&nbsp;would&nbsp;rather you buy an outright new system of theirs every few years&nbsp;than&nbsp;allow you to&nbsp;tweak what you already have.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, none of this is to say that people&nbsp;don\u2019t&nbsp;use Mac for gaming. They do. That said,&nbsp;more often than not, these are&nbsp;likely lightweight&nbsp;titles that&nbsp;aren\u2019t&nbsp;too demanding on the hardware.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-930feb06 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Linux&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Linux is a unique operating system compared to Windows and macOS.&nbsp;It&#8217;s&nbsp;an open-source OS, which means the&nbsp;underlying&nbsp;code is available for developers and communities to&nbsp;modify, improve, and adapt as they see fit.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Linux-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65764\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Linux-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Linux-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Linux-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Linux-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Linux-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Linux-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rather than having one single Linux version, this OS comes in many different forms known as&nbsp;\u2018distributions\u2019,&nbsp;or \u2018distros\u2019 if&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;hip. Each version&nbsp;caters&nbsp;to a different level of&nbsp;user&nbsp;familiarity&nbsp;with the software, coming with its own features, design choices, and complexity.&nbsp;For example,&nbsp;there\u2019s&nbsp;the beginner-friendly Zorin&nbsp;OS, Solus for the intermediates,&nbsp;and Kali Linux for experts looking to perform functions like penetration testing, security auditing, and digital forensics.&nbsp;Some Linux operating systems can be&nbsp;modified&nbsp;to run on older hardware; others require the most modern PC configurations to work well.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PC gamers using Linux typically gravitate toward a&nbsp;community-supported&nbsp;distro&nbsp;called&nbsp;Fedora Project.&nbsp;However,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Bazzite&nbsp;offshoot&nbsp;is also highly popular, as it comes with Steam included, and boasts&nbsp;other features optimised for PC gaming!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have the&nbsp;know-how,&nbsp;there\u2019s&nbsp;a chance you could get more value out of Linux than any other operating system. You have more control at your fingertips, and&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;able&nbsp;to&nbsp;choose&nbsp;even&nbsp;more software that matches your specific needs!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Linux&nbsp;updates&nbsp;tend to be&nbsp;frequent, particularly with Fedora&nbsp;due to&nbsp;its&nbsp;short software lifecycles.&nbsp;However, some games, applications, and hardware may not support Linux. Only you can decide whether these trade-offs are worthwhile to you!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-930feb06 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Which-Linux-Version-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-58994\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Which-Linux-Version-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Which-Linux-Version-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Which-Linux-Version-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Which-Linux-Version-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Which-Linux-Version-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Which-Linux-Version-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eager to learn more about Linux distributions? Click here for more insights on Fedora and other distros!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-ef7a8b26 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/which-linux-version-should-you-download-a-breakdown-of-the-top-linux-distros\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-930feb06 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Android&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Android is one of the most widely used operating systems in the world, powering smartphones, tablets, handheld gaming devices, and many other types of smart technologies.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Android-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65765\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Android-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Android-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Android-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Android-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Android-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Android-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike Windows and macOS, Android was primarily designed for mobile hardware. It is built using Linux as a&nbsp;foundation&nbsp;and&nbsp;adapted by Google to provide a&nbsp;touchscreen-focused experience with mobile aps, security features, and various device management tools.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once again, flexibility is one of the biggest draws for the Android OS. Unlike Apple&#8217;s business model, Android is used by many manufacturers, meaning users can get&nbsp;their hands on the Android OS across an expansive range of products and price points.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What&#8217;s&nbsp;more,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/mobile-gaming-does-it-compare-to-pc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mobile gaming<\/a>&nbsp;is exploding in popularity!&nbsp;While offering&nbsp;a different experience&nbsp;than traditional PC gaming, Android has made our&nbsp;favourite&nbsp;hobby more accessible for those who want to game on the go.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While third-party providers&nbsp;and emulators&nbsp;help users integrate the Android OS with desktop computers,&nbsp;the practice&nbsp;isn\u2019t&nbsp;well-known and&nbsp;is&nbsp;generally not&nbsp;recommended&nbsp;beyond enjoying the novelty of playing smartphone games via PC set-up. In terms of performance, convenience, and accessibility,&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;better off going with Windows or Linux.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-930feb06 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ChromeOS&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ChromeOS is an operating system developed by Google. It is designed primarily for speedy cloud-based computing.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ChromeOS-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65766\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ChromeOS-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ChromeOS-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ChromeOS-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ChromeOS-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ChromeOS-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ChromeOS-logo-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike traditional desktop&nbsp;operating systems, ChromeOS is built around the Google Chrome browser,&nbsp;as&nbsp;the name implies.&nbsp;It&#8217;s&nbsp;also commonly found on Chromebooks, which are often used in schools, workplaces, and&nbsp;other professional settings.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ChromeOS is designed to run on less demanding hardware, so in that respect, it is&nbsp;highly accessible.&nbsp;It also keeps things simple for users with built-in&nbsp;security&nbsp;features and automatic updates, reducing the need for technical knowledge or regular system maintenance.&nbsp;For everyday tasks, ChromeOS can be a real asset!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For gaming,&nbsp;however,&nbsp;ChromeOS&nbsp;is tailored to lightweight cloud-based&nbsp;titles. Think Stardew Valley, Terraria, Among Us, etc.&nbsp;It&#8217;s&nbsp;nothing to turn your nose up at, but if&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;after the AAA experience,&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;once again better off gravitating to Windows&nbsp;or&nbsp;Linux.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which Operating System is Right&nbsp;For&nbsp;You?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best operating system depends entirely on what you want your gaming PC to achieve.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Windows is the safe choice due to its wide compatibility with a range of hardware and games.&nbsp;It\u2019s&nbsp;a nice all-rounder to have on hand.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, computer whizzes looking to intricately customise their software may gravitate toward their chosen Linux distro.&nbsp;It\u2019s&nbsp;certainly a unique alternative to&nbsp;a&nbsp;traditional desktop&nbsp;operating system!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For workflows, and lightweight or&nbsp;mobile gaming, macOS, ChromeOS&nbsp;and Android are&nbsp;perhaps&nbsp;better&nbsp;suited. It depends&nbsp;on how intensive and cloud-based your processes are.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As always, you have the final say on which&nbsp;option&nbsp;to go for. After all, you know your circumstances and needs better than anyone else!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sticking with Windows?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While&nbsp;we\u2019ve&nbsp;given you a few OS options to think about,&nbsp;we\u2019re&nbsp;obviously&nbsp;huge fans of the Windows operating system&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Overclockers UK<\/a>.&nbsp;The proof is in the pudding, too, as&nbsp;most of our pre-built&nbsp;gaming PCs and&nbsp;gaming&nbsp;laptops come Windows-ready,&nbsp;prepped&nbsp;to ship at a moment\u2019s notice!&nbsp;Click the buttons below for our full&nbsp;stock&nbsp;or&nbsp;scroll a bit further for our&nbsp;faves!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-ef7a8b26 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/pc-systems\/gaming-pcs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gaming PCs<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/laptops\/gaming-laptops\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gaming Laptops<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-930feb06 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"f-product-wrapper \"><div class=\"product-image\"><!-- <div class=\"tag-list\"><a href=\"#\">in stock<\/a><\/div> --><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feed-product-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/dw\/image\/v2\/BLRM_PRD\/on\/demandware.static\/-\/Sites-master-catalog-ocuk\/default\/dw67f6793b\/images\/data\/product\/9d\/1c5561\/a71d67f0bf8c41ef41e961591c58a185ab682120.jpg?sw=800\" alt=\"OcUK Gaming Jade - GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Pre-Built Gaming PC\" \/ loading=\"lazy\"><\/div><div class=\"product-wrapper\"><h3>OcUK Gaming Jade &#8211; GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Pre-Built Gaming PC<\/h3><p class=\"sku\">FS-1DJ-EP<\/p><p class=\"rating\">\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 <span>(5)<\/span><\/p><p class=\"pricing\"><span class=\"main-price\"> \u00a31639.99 GBP<\/span><\/p><p class=\"vat-info\">(incl. VAT)<\/p><p class=\"free-shipping\">FREE SHIPPING<\/p><p class=\"instock  in-stock\">in stock<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/ocuk-gaming-jade-geforce-rtx-5060-ti-pre-built-gaming-pc\/FS-1DJ-EP.html\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-link btn btn-primary\">ADD TO BASKET<\/a><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"f-product-wrapper \"><div class=\"product-image\"><!-- <div class=\"tag-list\"><a href=\"#\">in stock<\/a><\/div> --><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feed-product-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/dw\/image\/v2\/BLRM_PRD\/on\/demandware.static\/-\/Sites-master-catalog-ocuk\/default\/dweb05d2d8\/images\/data\/product\/7c\/9e8db5\/8ff965513ab53692c99da67daebe9f262b84a221.jpg?sw=800\" alt=\"ASUS V16 V3607VH NVIDIA RTX 5050 16GB 16.0 WUXGA 144Hz Intel Core 5 210H Gaming Laptop\" \/ loading=\"lazy\"><\/div><div class=\"product-wrapper\"><h3>ASUS V16 V3607VH NVIDIA RTX 5050 16GB 16.0 WUXGA 144Hz Intel Core 5 210H Gaming Laptop<\/h3><p class=\"sku\">LAP-ASU-08188<\/p><p class=\"rating\">\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 <span>(5)<\/span><\/p><p class=\"pricing\"><span class=\"odd-price\"> \u00a31349.99 GBP<\/span> <span class=\"main-price\">\u00a3 999.95 GBP<\/span><\/p><span class=\"discount-percent\">-25.93%<\/span><p class=\"vat-info\">(incl. VAT)<\/p><p class=\"free-shipping\">FREE SHIPPING<\/p><p class=\"instock  in-stock\">in stock<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/asus-v16-v3607vh-nvidia-rtx-5050-16gb-16.0-wuxga-144hz-intel-core-5-210h-gaming-laptop\/LAP-ASU-08188.html\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-link btn btn-primary\">ADD TO BASKET<\/a><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"f-product-wrapper \"><div class=\"product-image\"><!-- <div class=\"tag-list\"><a href=\"#\">in stock<\/a><\/div> --><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"feed-product-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/dw\/image\/v2\/BLRM_PRD\/on\/demandware.static\/-\/Sites-master-catalog-ocuk\/default\/dw5eed1209\/images\/data\/product\/07\/4a1127\/6d7652d18a079023ad7fcbe0ec4a1c6c74e75085.jpg?sw=800\" alt=\"TechForge REVAlution - Powercolor RX 9070 XT REVA Anime Inspired Modded Gaming PC\" \/ loading=\"lazy\"><\/div><div class=\"product-wrapper\"><h3>TechForge REVAlution &#8211; Powercolor RX 9070 XT REVA Anime Inspired Modded Gaming PC<\/h3><p class=\"sku\">SYS-TCF-00100<\/p><p class=\"rating\">\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 <span>(5)<\/span><\/p><p class=\"pricing\"><span class=\"main-price\"> \u00a32999.99 GBP<\/span><\/p><p class=\"vat-info\">(incl. VAT)<\/p><p class=\"free-shipping\">FREE SHIPPING<\/p><p class=\"instock  in-stock\">in stock<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/techforge-revalution-powercolor-rx-9070-xt-reva-anime-inspired-modded-gaming-pc\/SYS-TCF-00100.html\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-link btn btn-primary\">ADD TO BASKET<\/a><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-black-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-3 is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-eb3ed5a7 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-width:3px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4\">What is an Operating System? FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5\">What does an operating system do?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6 wp-block-paragraph\">An operating system (OS) manages your computer&#8217;s hardware and software, allowing programmes, games, and components to work with your input. The OS also provides the interface you use to control your device, organise files, and adjust settings<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7\">Does a gaming PC need an operating system?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8 wp-block-paragraph\">A computer needs an operating system. Without one,&nbsp;your gaming PC cannot properly run games, applications, or manage hardware. The OS acts as the foundation that turns your components into a functional, usable computer.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9\">What is the best operating system for gaming?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-10 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:81px;border-top-right-radius:81px;border-bottom-left-radius:81px;border-bottom-right-radius:81px\">For most PC gamers, Windows&nbsp;is the best operating system for gaming&nbsp;due to broad game compatibility, extensive hardware support,&nbsp;and access to popular gaming platforms. However, Linux can be a strong choice for&nbsp;tech-savvy individuals&nbsp;who prefer to have more say in how their computer&nbsp;operates, and how they manage gaming-related processes.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-11\">What is the difference between Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, and Linux?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-12 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:81px;border-top-right-radius:81px;border-bottom-left-radius:81px;border-bottom-right-radius:81px\">Windows is designed for broad compatibility across many devices, making it popular for gaming and&nbsp;general use.&nbsp;macOS&nbsp;is built specifically for Apple hardware, while ChromeOS is built by Google and pre-integrated into Chromebook devices. These two operating systems are sometimes preferred for creative workflows. Meanwhile, Linux is an open-source OS, which means it can be customised to offer more flexibility around work and gaming provided you have the knowhow.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-13\">Is Linux good for gaming?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-14 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:81px;border-top-right-radius:81px;border-bottom-left-radius:81px;border-bottom-right-radius:81px\">Linux can support gaming, but&nbsp;you&#8217;ll&nbsp;need to harness a gaming-focused distribution. Distributions are versions of Linux focused&nbsp;on&nbsp;certain processes or functions. That said, not all games are compatible with Linux, so Windows&nbsp;retains&nbsp;the upper&nbsp;hand there.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-15\">Can you change which OS you use on your computer?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-16 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:81px;border-top-right-radius:81px;border-bottom-left-radius:81px;border-bottom-right-radius:81px\">The OS on your computer can sometimes be updated and replaced. However, the compatibility of your hardware, programmes, and games will always be the deciding factors.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-17\">Do laptops and phones have operating systems?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-18 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:81px;border-top-right-radius:81px;border-bottom-left-radius:81px;border-bottom-right-radius:81px\">Laptops, tablets, and smartphones are all equipped with their own operating systems. Windows and macOS are typically used on laptops, while Android features on mobile devices.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-19\">What was the earliest operating system?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-20 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:81px;border-top-right-radius:81px;border-bottom-left-radius:81px;border-bottom-right-radius:81px\">Operating systems started appearing in 1950s,&nbsp;known then as&nbsp;batch processing systems.&nbsp;These&nbsp;helped computers process groups of tasks more efficiently. Modern operating systems have evolved significantly from these early iterations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More Windows&nbsp;Content&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-930feb06 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/how-to-show-the-on-screen-keyboard-using-windows-11\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Show-On-Screen-Keyboard-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-56529\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Show-On-Screen-Keyboard-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Show-On-Screen-Keyboard-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Show-On-Screen-Keyboard-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Show-On-Screen-Keyboard-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Show-On-Screen-Keyboard-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Show-On-Screen-Keyboard.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/how-to-move-windows-from-an-hdd-to-an-ssd\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Move-Windows-from-HDD-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-52267\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Move-Windows-from-HDD-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Move-Windows-from-HDD-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Move-Windows-from-HDD-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Move-Windows-from-HDD-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Move-Windows-from-HDD-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Move-Windows-from-HDD.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/do-i-need-a-genuine-windows-licence\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Buying-a-Windows-Licence-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57849\"\/ loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Buying-a-Windows-Licence-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Buying-a-Windows-Licence-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Buying-a-Windows-Licence-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Buying-a-Windows-Licence-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Buying-a-Windows-Licence-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Buying-a-Windows-Licence-Overclockers-UK-Blog-Feature-Image-Standard-Blog-1080x1080Light-Text.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What OS Do You Use?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do you love Windows as much as we do? Does another OS have your heart? Keep us posted in the comments.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The operating system&nbsp;is your computer&rsquo;s core software&nbsp;package,&nbsp;which&nbsp;helps&nbsp;all&nbsp;your hardware and programmes function properly.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s&nbsp;an essential tool for your PC,&nbsp;so&nbsp;today&nbsp;we&rsquo;re&nbsp;going to be telling you everything you need to know about it!&nbsp;&nbsp; In this guide,&nbsp;we&rsquo;ll&nbsp;explain what an&nbsp;operating system&nbsp;is.&nbsp;We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;also explore how it works behind the scenes, why your gaming PC needs one,&nbsp;and&nbsp;how some of the most popular options compare to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":65872,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1347,1344,1371],"tags":[3904,6724,5726,6723,2319,2328],"class_list":["post-65753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buying-advice","category-guides-and-tutorials","category-software","tag-android","tag-chromeos","tag-linux","tag-macos","tag-operating-system","tag-windows"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is an Operating System?\u00a0 | Overclockers UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The operating system&nbsp;is your computer\u2019s core software&nbsp;package,&nbsp;which&nbsp;helps&nbsp;all&nbsp;your hardware and programmes function\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/what-is-an-operating-system\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is an Operating System?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The operating system is your computer\u2019s core software package, which helps all your hardware and programmes function properly. 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