Choose between Windows 7 and Windows 10 for better performance and enhanced security.
Choose between Windows 7 and Windows 10 for better performance and enhanced security.
Windows 10 offers improved security and performance features, making it a stronger choice compared to Windows 7. Upgrading to Windows 10 would be advisable for better protection and efficiency.
Both options provide the same level of protection since they receive regular security updates. On Ryzen processors, Kaby Lake and newer models should always run Windows 10, as it's the only officially supported version for those chips (note, AMD doesn't suggest using W7 even though drivers exist for Ryzen/TR).
Both Windows 7 and 10 share many similar security updates, meaning they should offer comparable protection levels. Windows 10 includes additional components that might expose it to further vulnerabilities. Number of security flaws identified annually per operating system: https://www.cvedetails.com/top-50-produc...?year=2016
1999----2000----2001----2002----2003----2004----2005----2006----2007----2008----2009----2010----2011----2012----2013----2014----2015----2016----2017 ---95 13-------31------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---98 11-------15--------7---------12------------------12------17------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 98se -----------6--------6----------12---------------------------18---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NT 64-------28-------24--------23--------18-------24--------------------------------------16----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2000 18-------31-------43--------42--------31-------41------68-------42--------30-------24-------75-------45--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --ME ----------------------7---------10----------------------------15------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---XP ---------------------10--------34--------22-------44------66-------56--------34-------34-------89-------98------101-------43-------87-------------------------------------------- Vista -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------31-------29-------76-------86-------95-------42-------95----------34------136------125---------- -----7 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------64------102-------44-------99----------36------147------134------197 -----8 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------58----------38------146------134------229 ---8.1 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------38------151------154------225 ----10 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------53-------172------268 2018 (as of May) -----7 --47-------- ---8.1 --44-------- ----10 --61-------- That excludes the built-in flaws that Microsoft uses for authorized data collection, and which are part of Windows 10’s default settings in Home and Pro. There exist over 3,150 such entries in Windows 10 at the lowest privacy configuration. Moreover, when considering automatic updates, system reboots, and reset procedures tied to stability or security patches, Windows 10 includes these features—something absent in Windows 7. Neither OS delivers measurable speed improvements; any differences are mainly about trade-offs. Could you share a reference for this analysis? I noticed only discussions around Threadripper, not Ryzen. Additionally, certain Intel CPU manufacturers (such as Gigabyte) provide drivers specifically for Windows 7. Thus, newer Intel processors remain compatible with Windows 7. Even without dedicated chipset drivers, the most recent Intel and AMD CPUs function in Windows 7—just possibly missing minor power-saving capabilities. I haven’t encountered any reports of a newer CPU failing in Windows 7; only notes indicate successful operation with Threadripper, Coffee Lake, and similar architectures. In short, an x86 processor can run on an x86 OS.
- Source: PC World. https://www.pcworld.com/article/3167279/...ows-7.html Edit: Also, installing W7 on a Raven Ridge APU isn’t possible either—it will trigger an ACPI error. Zen2 should handle it similarly. (Zen+ remains fine.)
That has come up many times, and been corrected many times - including directly to you. The block on Windows Update in Windows 7 is not related to CPU compatibility with the OS, and is entirely artificial (and illegal for Microsoft to do). Also, it can be easily permanently disabled with this patch: https://github.com/zeffy/wufuc The blocking of Windows Update for newer CPUs in Windows 7 isn't because they aren't compatible, but because Microsoft wants to force people to use Windows 10, so that Microsoft can harvest and sell more of their data. Since Windows 7 is only receiving security updates now, and since those updates are identical to the ones being released for Windows 10, if they were incompatible with newer CPUs, then people with newer CPUs wouldn't be able to use Windows 10, either. There's nothing in that advising against using the latest AMD CPUs with Windows 7. That just says that AMD is packaging only the Windows 10 drivers inside of their CPU retail boxes. That news is also outdated, being from before AMD decided to support Windows 7 officially. AMD's Windows 7 drivers can be downloaded from their website: https://support.amd.com/en-us/download/c...os=Windows 10 - 64
The artificial and removable block in Windows Update doesn’t indicate that a CPU isn’t compatible with Windows 7. This seems connected to Raven Ridge’s built-in Vega graphics, and potentially resolvable via a BIOS update. Raven Ridge is a newer CPU, and it remains unclear if motherboard makers will fix the problem. The CPU has also had issues in Windows 8 and 10. It highlights that claims about AMD discouraging W7 installation due to driver availability for Ryzen are unfounded. Making such assertions isn’t justified. The only performance gap you’ll notice in Windows 7 compared to newer CPUs is the absence of minor features like power-saving functions, which won’t impact CPU speed. If a system uses a motherboard with Windows 7 chipset drivers, there’s nothing missing that affects the CPU itself.
The situation you described is well understood. At the time the article was shared, AMD clearly intended not to back Windows 7, and this position was straightforward. It's just a matter of perspective. I realize now that the details no longer apply, and I can see why others might disagree with my reasoning. Your point about practical considerations is valid—many users would need to upgrade to more recent versions once support ends. Would you prefer locking them into an older OS like 8.1 to avoid the transition altogether, or do you think forcing them to stick with something less secure is better?