AMD Ryzen CPUs to support Windows 7 with drivers
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nevcairiel
What does HEVC / 10-bit have to do with the CPU? Clearly software decoders work everywhere, and hardware decoding is in GPUs, not CPUs.
For everything else, previous AMD CPU generations needed fixes from Microsoft to even work properly due to their shared half-core design, if any such fixes would be required again and Microsoft refuses to perform such fixes on old OSes, there is nothing AMD can do to fix that.
labidas
Windows 7 is the pinnacle of Windows evolution.
PrMinisterGR
They weren't "fixes" really, just a proper CPU scheduler for AMD's design. That was Microsoft's job to implement. I feel that decoding of that has to do with DRM and paths like that for APUs really, not CPUs.
And here I thought it was Windows 2000.
SirDremor
Well... ok, but... WHY?
Regardless of anything - Ryzen buyers WILL be building new PCs. It won't be "just" an upgrade not requiring fresh Windows installation.
And installing Windows 7 on a new PC... well, it is strange. I don't get it.
Octopuss
I'm curious how will this work. I have never heard about a driver for a CPU.
This also is not the same thing as Windows getting support for those CPUs, right?
I'm pretty confused.
chronek
Nice move, even now i still build new desktops with windows 7, not everyone is happy with forced MS politics
btw. with war coming all windows 10 users can forget to run computer without net and ms servers, after week all certs and credentials expire and you will stay with nothing
PrMinisterGR
All CPUs have drivers actually, they are the most important drivers you have for an OS actually. It is the same thing, since AMD will write that driver, unlike Intel with Kaby which won't write that CPU driver for Windows.
Prince Valiant
Why not? I'm going to suggest it to a friend now that it's been confirmed. I might go the same route myself.
shymi
Oh, there are drivers for the CPU - the ones, that I remember for installing last time(many years ago) were "Dual Core Optimizer" ones from AMD for Win XP 🙂
Truder
You don't have to buy a new OS for a new PC if you're replacing it - I've had the same Windows 7 key from my Q6600 build when I moved to my i5 build - all you have to do is revoke the licence from an installation (so Windows is no longer activated) and you regain an activation with the key - then replaced hardware, used the key and hey presto, Win 7 on the i5 (and of course, upgraded to Win10 when it was available).
So anyone who has an existing Win7 PC and want to migrate to a new build, they can (of course it means you can no longer use the old build with that key if you intend to still have the PC).
Agonist
Yes back in 2009, its 2017 now. As much as Win 8 was a pain to use at first, Win 10 is the evolution from Win 7.
These are the same people that were trying to do high end gaming in 2010 on Win XP! And then crying when they could play BF3 cause of DX10/11 min requirements. The only pc in my house not running Win 10 is my gfs pc with Win 7. Dont feel the need to upgrade it too ten.
Must be one confy tinfoil hat.
Seriously hilarious.
Win 10 is better for anyone who games and even Win 8.1 made BF4 play alot better.
Funny people claiming a 8 year old OS is better then a new OS that is even getting a game mode now.
PrMinisterGR
The default account is a local one, Windows require online just for the activation. Even that can be done via phone. Also if you prepare for war, sharpen those *nix skills.
SSD_PRO
As for the Win10 vs Win7 debate, each OS has pluses and minuses. If you prefer 7 use, in you prefer 10 use, whatever. I take no teams there.
What I do have a bone with is the need AMD has to use a driver patch. Why does AMD need a special driver to make their product performance not suck? And why are they "hard at work" on a driver for a product that is supposed to be out in a month after YEARS of waiting? How long do they qualify these drivers? A week?
PrMinisterGR
Older OS versions are slower, have less features and are less secure by default, so there's that.
Caesar
Strategic... Aiming both those with "inadequate" bucks to upgrade and still to the another end of being able to upgrade....
To readers: Please do think beyond...that is not ONLY for SINGLE PC upgrade...
http://i67.tinypic.com/2q35ilw.png
DLD
If this gets confirmed, my next PC...
will ABSOLUTELY be based on ZEN CPU. I'm sick of constantly being blackmailed&racketeered by the Bill and the gang.
And, did anyone else here (except myself) notice the "new fashion" of artificially/arbitrary imposing limitations of the games' minimum hardware specs? Some of the latest games do not declare the CPU FREQUENCY and/or THE NUMBER of cores (e.g. ''3GHz'', ''2 cores'') - they PROSCRIBE the specific CPU (e.g. ''i5 4690'') as a minimum, instead. So, a guy who has a machine running, say, i7 3770 or 2700K, which are MORE powerful than ''prescribed minimum'' is automatically rejected, right?!
We, computer owners/enthusiast/gamers are being CONSTANTLY REPRESSED and BULLIED by software and hardware producers, simultaneously, throughout many years now.
H83
AMD are trying to make me switch to the black side with little bits of goodness and they are almost succeeding...
Now all they need to do is release Ryzen with good performance and decent prices and my future system is gonna be powered by AMD.
waltc3
Since Win7 still has a couple more years of support, this only makes sense. It's Win10x64 all the way for me, though. I'm on the latest build, 15025, and imo Win7 is a slow kludge comparatively--I use only the desktop--using tiles and Metro and start screen is purely optional (I've never used 'em.) If you like Win7 that's fine, of course, but I've yet to run into a program or game that won't run under Win10--in fact, it seems more compatible than I remember 7 ever being if you like older games, especially. Next official commercial release of Win10 is due in just a couple of months, btw.
Clouseau
This all falls inline with the current trend. DX12 requires the game developer to implement support, the gpu is not dependent on the driver for this. Microsoft stating they will not support newer cpus on older operating systems makes this support fall on the cpu manufacturers. AMD needs this cpu to appeal to a large base and the largest base is still Win7. Still goes to prove that if there is a will, there is a way.
Cave Waverider
Looks like a smart move on AMDs part. There are lots of people still insisting to remain on Windows 7, thus supporting that OS when the competition doesn't should gain them some sales when Windows 7 users decide to upgrade their hardware..
