Skylake, Kaby Lake, & Windows 7

[koberulz]

What's the deal here? I've read Kaby Lake doesn't support 7 at all, but I'm currently running it on an i5-7400. So what exactly is the compatibility issue?

What's the story with Skylake going forward, apparently that will be somehow limited at some point?

I ask because I'm thinking about going with an i7-x700K, but I'm not sure which is the best way to go, given that the KL seems to be working. Although even the i7-6700K is a clear step up from what I have.

 

[misteriosly]

Quote:
On January 15, 2016, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 would be the only supported Windows platform for Kaby Lake processors, and that all future generation processors under Windows will follow this trend and will only be supported by the latest Windows platform at their time of release. Intel has confirmed that no official Windows 7 or 8.x drivers will be produced for Kaby Lake.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaby_Lake#cite_note-techr...

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/intel-kaby-lake-core-i7-7...
Quote:
We also experienced stability issues with Windows 7 that might even negate using an add-in GPU as a workaround.

 

[koberulz]

Quote:
On January 15, 2016, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 would be the only supported Windows platform for Kaby Lake processors, and that all future generation processors under Windows will follow this trend and will only be supported by the latest Windows platform at their time of release. Intel has confirmed that no official Windows 7 or 8.x drivers will be produced for Kaby Lake.

I'd read the same thing, but here I am running an i5-7400 on Windows, so...what's the deal?

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/intel-kaby-lake-core-i7-7...

That link results in a 404 error.

 

[misteriosly]

Quote:
On January 15, 2016, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 would be the only supported Windows platform for Kaby Lake processors, and that all future generation processors under Windows will follow this trend and will only be supported by the latest Windows platform at their time of release. Intel has confirmed that no official Windows 7 or 8.x drivers will be produced for Kaby Lake.

I'd read the same thing, but here I am running an i5-7400 on Windows, so...what's the deal?

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/intel-kaby-lake-core-i7-7...

That link results in a 404 error.

My bad.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/intel-kaby-lake-core-i7-7700k-i7-7700-i5-7600k-i5-7600,review-33752-2.html
Page 2:

Based on our initial testing, we can confirm that HD Graphics 630 does not function correctly under Windows 7 and 8.1. Both operating systems install generic drivers for the display adapter, even after applying the latest drivers and updates, so many core features remain unavailable. We also experienced stability issues with Windows 7 that might even negate using an add-in GPU as a workaround.

The deal is, that no one guarantees you stability, either of the integrated GPU or the windows system.

 

[koberulz]

What does 'stability' actually mean in this context? I have a separate graphics card, so does that negate the graphics issue?

How would any of this apply to using 7 through something like Virtualbox, and maybe running Linux is the primary OS? It's a suggestion I came across, although I've never tried virtual machines, dual booting, or Linux.

What's the status of Skylake?

 

[misteriosly]

Skylake is fine.
Stability means that no one guarantees you that you wont get any driver crashes, windows crashes, random restarts, BSODS.
Meaning while it looks *stable* for now, if you start browsing/gaming/using software you may get random crashes/restarts and any other kind of instability.
Toms hardware review reports, that there have been instability with windows 7, not just its integrated GPU, because of which they say:
We also experienced stability issues with Windows 7 that might even negate using an add-in GPU as a workaround.
Meaning that there might even be more problems, which would in the end rule out the discrete gpu as a workaround for some sort of stability.

 

[koberulz]

And what of the potential solution regarding virtual machines? I have a Win10 laptop, and I'm not a fan. Plus I've heard some bad things about the OS. Additionally, I literally just bought Win7 this week, and as I do a lot of work with VHS old software is important.

 

[Pentium G4600]

What's the status of Skylake?

I have no stability / performance issues with Skylake & Windows 7.

Can you please share your experience with HD Graphics 630 and Windows 7?

What driver do you use? Do you use version 21.20.16.4526 WHQL or something else?

 

[koberulz]

I have absolutely no idea what drivers I have installed. I'm using an nVidia GeForce GTS 450 for graphics, though, not the onboard graphics.

I know Skylake is supposed to be okay with 7 now, but apparently it will stop being supported later this year or something?

 

[Pentium G4600]

https://blogs.windows.com/business/2016/08/11/updates-to-silicon-support-policy-for-windows/
"We have extended the support period from July 17, 2018 to the end of support dates for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1; and we will provide all applicable security updates."

Any chance to "benchmark" the HD Graphics 630 and share your experience?

 

[koberulz]

How would I do that?

 

[Pentium G4600]

Just try to play some games on HD Graphics 630, run Cinebench, watch YouTube videos in HD and see if everything works as normal.

 

[koberulz]

Would I have to remove my GTS 450 for that? Or just plug the monitor into the motherboard? Or something else?

 

[Pentium G4600]

Don't do it if you don't feel confident in your skills.

There is no need to remove the GTS 450.

1. Enable the integrated graphics card in the BIOS. (even better if you have something like "automatically detect")
2. Plug the monitor into the motherboard.
3. Start Windows 7.
4. Install 21.20.16.4526 WHQL video drivers.
5. Play some games, Cinebench, YouTube.

 

[Tesoro Fanboy]

Would I have to remove my GTS 450 for that? Or just plug the monitor into the motherboard? Or something else?

I am gaming on a Intel i5 7500 on an ASUS STRIX B250F motherboard. I am running Windows 7 Home Premuim 64 bit.

When i installed my graphics card, (Strix 1070) steam told me i was missing drivers. I updated them but they informed me my DirectX3D was missing.

A graphics card will not unlock the restrictions Intel put onto the CPU.

My current settings are optimized for DirectX11 (With 1070 removed even, i still have DX11) but i still cant game at all. I myself am chaning to Windows 10 since i have to.

Hope my comment helps.

 

[aristotle11]

When I read the Wikipedia entry for Kaby Lake here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaby_Lake

.... I read this:

"Intel has confirmed that no official Windows 7 or 8.x drivers will be produced for Kaby Lake. However Intel eventually provided drivers such as the HD Graphics 620 driver for Windows 7 and 8 on its download center site."

Then I link to the Intel site here:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/97503/Graphics-for-7th-Generation-Intel-Processors

.... and I get:

"Downloads for Graphics for 7th Generation Intel Processors"

.... which are drivers for Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 for Kaby Lake

 

[harrysmellington]

Would I have to remove my GTS 450 for that? Or just plug the monitor into the motherboard? Or something else?

I am gaming on a Intel i5 7500 on an ASUS STRIX B250F motherboard. I am running Windows 7 Home Premuim 64 bit.

When i installed my graphics card, (Strix 1070) steam told me i was missing drivers. I updated them but they informed me my DirectX3D was missing.

A graphics card will not unlock the restrictions Intel put onto the CPU.

My current settings are optimized for DirectX11 (With 1070 removed even, i still have DX11) but i still cant game at all. I myself am chaning to Windows 10 since i have to.

Hope my comment helps.

Did you use the redist DX11 install? I've had DX11 issues like that with steam and for me they were completely unrelated to the CPU (3770k and 6600k)

 

[aristotle11]

harrysmellington said:

"Did you use the redist DX11 install? I've had DX11 issues like that with steam and for me they were completely unrelated to the CPU (3770k and 6600k)"

I had almost given up on Windows 7 x64 installed on Kaby Lake, with a 200-series motherboard, when I saw this. The post by Tesoro Fanboy suggests that even if you can get the above system working, Steam will block you cold.

What exactly is a "redist DX11 install"? Do you have a link?

Thanks.

 

[harrysmellington]

This should be it https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109

redist is the redistributable version that devs package with their games. You should also get the win 7 convinience rollup if you haven't done so already.

 

[aristotle11]

This should be it https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109

redist is the redistributable version that devs package with their games. You should also get the win 7 convinience rollup if you haven't done so already.

Thanks for your help You're saying that DX11 should work with Steam, then?

My plan is to install Windows 7 x64 on Kaby Lake with a 200-series chipset motherboard. As outlined here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3350404/windows-x64-kaby-lake-200-series-motherboard.html?58bc42124220d=reload

Worst case, if it fails, I'll just install Windows 10.

Any comments?

 

[harrysmellington]

This should be it https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109

redist is the redistributable version that devs package with their games. You should also get the win 7 convinience rollup if you haven't done so already.

Thanks for your help You're saying that DX11 should work with Steam, then?

My plan is to install Windows 7 x64 on Kaby Lake with a 200-series chipset motherboard. As outlined here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3350404/windows-x64-kaby-lake-200-series-motherboard.html?58bc42124220d=reload

Worst case, if it fails, I'll just install Windows 10.

Any comments?

As I understand it windows 10 supports games based off all older Directx versions. This means that any hardware must also support older versions of DirectX (If it didn;t want to be laughed out of the market). Therefore there should be no issues with DirectX. I was suggesting in my first post that Tesoro's issue was not with kaby lake but with a bad DirectX install, hence why I suggested he try using the redist install.

I don't understand why kaby lake has any issues (outside of lack of drivers for the iGPU) and infact this youtube vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDR5qiwDrV0 seems to suggest that it works just fine. You will need a GPU though.

 

[aristotle11]

http://digiworthy.com/2017/01/28/windows-7-runs-on-kaby-lake-processor-igp-driver/

"Windows 7 runs on Kaby Lake processor with an older IGP driver, Test Reveals"

 

[eman13]

While Windows 7 will run on Kaby Lake processors, it is not supported. I have read that the latest updates for Windows 7 and 8.1 released on 3/14/17 are failing to install on systems with Kaby Lake processors with the message "Your PC uses a processor that isn’t supported on this version of Windows"
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4012982/discusses-an-issue-in-which-you-receive-a-your-pc-uses-a-processor-tha

 

[Beskaria]

What's the status of Skylake?

I have no stability / performance issues with Skylake & Windows 7.

Can you please share your experience with HD Graphics 630 and Windows 7?

What driver do you use? Do you use version 21.20.16.4526 WHQL or something else?

I have tested driver for intel g4560 kaby lake (vga intel HD 610) from biostar web :
http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/introduction.php?S_...
or
http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/introduction.php?S_...

file is here :
http://download.biostar.com.tw/upload/Driver/Chipset/In...

that is beta version 15.45.14.4590

I think biostar has been modded the driver.

but it's working very well for win7 x64, any kind of Kaby Lake processor.