Microsoft’s upgrade option for Windows 10 was generous, wasn’t it? It turns out you’ll really want to take Microsoft up on that offer if you incrementally upgrade your PC.
Microsoft has revealed that the upcoming generations of CPUs will need Windows 10, at least to run as best it can. This isn’t planned obsolescence from Microsoft, but the consequence of the quickened pace CPUs are being developed.
Windows 7 itself was designed almost a decade before todays x86 and x64 SOCs even existed. If you wanted to use Windows 7 on newer PCs, the firmware and device drivers will need to emulate how Windows 7 used to run on older chips. This is essentially emulation of those older systems, which means compromises in security, WiFi, graphics, and others.
Windows 7 and 8.1 will continue to get limited support on previous generation CPUs for a few more years, but this is mostly for the benefit of businesses that use those systems. If you’re a PC gamer, and you want to play the latest games, there’s no way around using Windows 10.
On the flip side, Windows 10 works really well with the latest CPUs. Microsoft touts thirty times better graphics and three times the battery life on Intel’s sixth generation Skylake CPUs.
Have you already upgraded to Windows 10? Are you going to resist the deal completely? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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