Microsoft Support for older Processors

I read today from PCWorld, Microsoft is cutting support for certain Clover Trail processors, that are in the “End of Interactive Support” phase. Microsoft may potentially cut support for other processors in the future, that fall in this category.

Here is my question, I have a gaming computer with an Intel I7-3770 with a GTX 1060. It is a pretty decent gaming computer and plays all the games, like Fallout 4.

Is this all just “Fear, Uncertainty, and doubt”, or could Microsoft seriously cut support for older processors. Even Intel’s I7 and i5 processors, that are only a few years old?

Cutting off support for Intel processors only a few years old, would create enormous problems and chaos. It would be an unthinkable move for Microsoft, and also frankly senseless.

Here is a link to the PCWorld Article:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3209705/windows/confirmed-windows-10-will-cut-off-devices-with-older-cpus.html

Conversation 9 comments

  • Brad Sams

    Premium Member
    20 July, 2017 - 10:51 am

    <p><a href="https://petri.com/windows-service-microsoft-forced-end-feature-support-early-hardware&quot; target="_blank">Here's what I wrote up about it</a> This is new ground for Microsoft…i'd love to think that their higher-end CPUs like the one you have should be fine for many more years but we honestly don't have all the answers right now.</p>

    • polloloco51

      20 July, 2017 - 11:12 am

      <blockquote><a href="#150667"><em>In reply to brad-sams:</em></a></blockquote><p>Thanks Brad Sams!</p><p><br></p><p>I personally feel, Microsoft is looking more at devices, than laptops or desktops, such as tablets with System on Chips. Also, I don't think Microsoft is going to end support for most especially desktop CPUs, as a desktop computer can be upgraded to optimally run Windows 10. Compared to a desktop or a laptop, a SOC tablet, is stuck with the specs it was shipped from the factory with. Hopefully all of this is just being blown out of proportion and it is lesser than what is being read of. </p>

    • John Scott

      20 July, 2017 - 5:53 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#150667"><em>In reply to brad-sams:</em></a></blockquote><p>You get weird support drops like Google not supporting the first Pixel laptop with Android apps. The Atom in my view was a low end chip that simply didn't have a projected long life anyway. Bugs me that Microsoft and Intel handle this stuff badly. I remember the fiasco with the Vista Aero and Intel graphics. Another case of finger pointing between Microsoft and Intel. </p>

  • TechnologyTemperance

    20 July, 2017 - 12:26 pm

    <p>Remember to there is "support" in the sense you get new releases of windows 10 (creators update, etc), and "support" in the sense you get security updates.</p><p><br></p><p>I expect Microsoft will cut off support for new releases often, but have longer tails on security updates.</p>

  • evox81

    Premium Member
    20 July, 2017 - 4:30 pm

    <p>Brad's article on the topic, and your post, prompted me to go digging for any official mentioned of support lifecycles for Intel products. Sadly, I couldn't find anything. That could mean it's just not readily available, but it could also mean that Intel's end-of-life dates are arbitrary. Considering there are people running Windows 10 on all sorts of old hardware, older than the Atoms in question, I suspect it's the latter. Which means, disappointment is imminent for a lot of people, but who knows when.</p><p><br></p><p>But with that said. I suspect you're safe for a good long while with a 3rd Gen Core-series processor.</p>

    • John Scott

      20 July, 2017 - 5:43 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#150839"><em>In reply to evox81:</em></a><em> Desktops have more upgrading possibilities then say a laptop. Some mobile devices don't even have a CPU socket to upgrade a CPU or GPU. I think in general the better quality you buy upfront the more you extend its useful life and support. </em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • John Scott

    20 July, 2017 - 5:40 pm

    <p>Five years is becoming the unwritten EOL for a lot of hardware especially entry level stuff that was not cutting edge at the time of release. Obviously a core i7 especially in a desktop PC can have a longer useful life then a Atom mobile chip. Because more technology was built into a core i7 then a Atom. But let's also realize that in general CPU's are improving at incremental levels in terms of technology advancements. Even Google seems to believe 5 years is EOL after release for support. That is, if you buy a Chromebook two years after introduction, you might only have 3 years of support. So I guess with that, maybe its best to buy the most recent CPU's and hardware to get the longest support. I have no doubt more CPU's will become obsolete in order to advance technologies. </p>

  • StevenLayton

    21 July, 2017 - 4:06 am

    <p>Killing off support for processors in Windows 10 is a great way of kick starting the PC market again. Ahem.</p>

  • Tony Barrett

    21 July, 2017 - 6:41 am

    <p>Look at it this way. If you're running Win10, MS basically have control of your machine by determining if you'll continue to get updates or not. By having this level of control, they have a significant say in the PC market, how it moves forward, when to expect (or in principal force) large numbers of upgrades etc. They have the ability to change the way updates work at any time, which CPU architecture will be allowed/blocked, and can make up whatever reason they want for this. This is the level of control they wanted and puts them in a immense power position.</p>

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