Question Thinking of getting Windows 11 IoT LTSC for gaming PC...

[Balic Blackthorn]

(Not sure if this belongs here or in PC gaming forum.)

So, I'm really not crazy about moving over to Windows 11 with all it's privacy issues, data collections, that insane recall "feature" etc. I've been doing some research and is sounds like if I buy a license for Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC, I can avoid most of that crap.

However, I'm not sure if all the games I run on my PC will work with this or not. Most of my preliminary research (including how to purchase a license for Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC) has been done via AI, so I wanted to get some info from some fellow members of the human race, if possible...

Anyone know if Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC will run games just as well as Win 10 or Home Win 11?

I can gather/post system specs if needed basics are...
Device Name Shodan
Processor AMD Ryzen 9 9900X 12-Core Processor 4.40 GHz
Installed RAM 64.0 GB (61.6 GB usable)
Storage 3.64 TB SSD Samsung SSD 870 EVO 4TB, 1.82 TB SSD CT2000MX500SSD1
Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER (12 GB), AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics (2 GB)
Device ID 5D47FA5E-B5EB-4528-BA75-C5D9988D2AC6
Product ID 00326-10003-46565-AA189
System Type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

 

[USAFRet]

and is sounds like if I buy a license for Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC

And where, exactly, might you buy this license?

 

[COLGeek]

Honestly, I think you are overthinking the whole Windows 11 urban legends thing.

You can easily make secure from undesirable behavior.

 

[Balic Blackthorn]

And where, exactly, might you buy this license?

This was the place I found.
https://www.insight.com/en_US/shop/...024-license-1-license/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

 

[USAFRet]

This was the place I found.
https://www.insight.com/en_US/shop/...024-license-1-license/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

"Your price:USD $40.99'

HAHAHA.....that is so far from "valid", it isn't even funny.

An Enterprise license is not available as a standalone product.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot/iot-enterprise/overview

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/windows-11-enterprise#Pricing-4

(hint....it ain't $40)

 

[punkncat]

You are aware that all your game launchers are spying on you, your phone is spying on you, a good portion of your new appliances such as fridge, dryer, washer, almost assuredly your TV, your ISP router......There is nor should there be any expectation of true privacy on the internet. Even people who are well trained and adept at creating partial privacy with their internet and devices are also aware of the functionality it often breaks.

The question becomes, what are YOU doing that is so special anyone other than advertisers and general data collection should care?

 

[Balic Blackthorn]

"Your price:USD $40.99'

HAHAHA.....that is so far from "valid", it isn't even funny.

An Enterprise license is not available as a standalone product.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot/iot-enterprise/overview

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/windows-11-enterprise#Pricing-4

(hint....it ain't $40)

The 40 dollars did seem suspect. Do you happen to know what a single device license would cost? I went down the rabbit hole for a bit on the links you provided and ended at "contact sales" 😛

 

[USAFRet]

The 40 dollars did seem suspect.

Add a zero to that, and you're in the realm.

 

[Balic Blackthorn]

You are aware that all your game launchers are spying on you, your phone is spying on you, a good portion of your new appliances such as fridge, dryer, washer, almost assuredly your TV, your ISP router......There is nor should there be any expectation of true privacy on the internet. Even people who are well trained and adept at creating partial privacy with their internet and devices are also aware of the functionality it often breaks.

The question becomes, what are YOU doing that is so special anyone other than advertisers and general data collection should care?

I mean, even your average jackass hacker would like my (or anyone elses) SS number and CC numbers 😛

Plus, leaving aside privacy concerns for the moment, I'd rather not take the performance hit for the extra tracking, data collecting, and screenshots.

 

[Balic Blackthorn]

Add a zero to that, and you're in the realm.

400 is steep, but I'm willing to pay it if it will do what I want it to.

 

[punkncat]

I mean, even your average jackass hacker would like my (or anyone elses) SS number and CC numbers 😛

Plus, leaving aside privacy concerns for the moment, I'd rather not take the performance hit for the extra tracking, data collecting, and screenshots.

Not untrue, aside from some certain "skin" aspects it is a big money maker in the internet game.

As stated above, Windows 11 Home or Office game just fine. You can turn off a lot of the telemetry without breaking things. IMO memory management is FAR superior to W10. Use a legitimate key.

If you are interested you can test W11 without activation for a watermark and stock desktop image to test and see what you think. Unless you want to move to Linux and that learning curve to play Windows games and probably incompatibility with (Wine, etc.) there is really nowhere else to go this side of a console.

 

[kerberos_20]

400 is steep, but I'm willing to pay it if it will do what I want it to.

its 200-300 max

 

[USAFRet]

400 is steep, but I'm willing to pay it if it will do what I want it to.

From the above links, contact Microsoft for actual pricing.

And standard Win 11 Home or Pro is no more intrusive than just about anything else.
Your cell phone, for instance...does FAR more "data collection" than Windows.

 

[Balic Blackthorn]

Not untrue, aside from some certain "skin" aspects it is a big money maker in the internet game.

As stated above, Windows 11 Home or Office game just fine. You can turn off a lot of the telemetry without breaking things. IMO memory management is FAR superior to W10. Use a legitimate key.

If you are interested you can test W11 without activation for a watermark and stock desktop image to test and see what you think. Unless you want to move to Linux and that learning curve to play Windows games and probably incompatibility with (Wine, etc.) there is really nowhere else to go this side of a console.

Well, I have a legit win 10 key now; from what I understand that carries over to 11 home. I assume I could upgrade to pro/office if I cared to.

I get that you can turn off a lot of the telemetry in 11, but from what I gathered (and this could be wrong) the Enterprise version doesn't have that crap to begin with.

 

[punkncat]

Yes, so far as I know you can still do the in place upgrade from 10-11 for the same version. There are several tools which will pretty much automate the process.

 

[Balic Blackthorn]

Yes, so far as I know you can still do the in place upgrade from 10-11 for the same version. There are several tools which will pretty much automate the process.

So, if you happen to have the answers, my remaining questions would be...

1. Does Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC have all the telemetry crap etc already stripped out of it? (If not, then not much point).

2. If Yes to #1, any idea if it runs games just as well as 11 home/pro would?


Just trying to make as informed a decision as possible. Sorry for taking up your time.

 

[USAFRet]

So, if you happen to have the answers, my remaining questions would be...

1. Does Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC have all the telemetry crap etc already stripped out of it? (If not, then not much point).

2. If Yes to #1, any idea if it runs games just as well as 11 home/pro would?


Just trying to make as informed a decision as possible. Sorry for taking up your time.

1. It is NOT pre-stripped out.
Read this: https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-11/300547/wrapping-up-the-windows-11-enterprise-experiment

IMHO, the 'telemetry' thing in Win 11 is way overblown.
Little if any difference to what is/was in Win 10, and minor when compared to all the other avenues. That is not to say that we should just allow MS to do whatever they want. But you have to look at it the context of everything else.

 

[Balic Blackthorn]

1. It is NOT pre-stripped out.
Read this: https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-11/300547/wrapping-up-the-windows-11-enterprise-experiment

IMHO, the 'telemetry' thing in Win 11 is way overblown.
Little if any difference to what is/was in Win 10, and minor when compared to all the other avenues. That is not to say that we should just allow MS to do whatever they want. But you have to look at it the context of everything else.

Thanks for the input.

I'm just deciding now if I want to switch over to 11 now, and use the rest of my vacation this week to tweak the thing, or spend 40 bucks to put it off another year.

 

[cruisetung]

Instead buying a new license

https://www.google.com/search?q=windows+10/11+debloater+on+github+that+also+remove+telemetry

You have to try yourself. No suggestions.

 

[ubuysa]

The LTSC channel is NOT designed for home users but for very specific business systems where stability is critical (medical systems for example). It's entirely the wrong 'solution' for whatever problem you think you have.

 

[alceryes]

You are aware that all your game launchers are spying on you, your phone is spying on you, a good portion of your new appliances such as fridge, dryer, washer, almost assuredly your TV, your ISP router......There is nor should there be any expectation of true privacy on the internet. Even people who are well trained and adept at creating partial privacy with their internet and devices are also aware of the functionality it often breaks.

The question becomes, what are YOU doing that is so special anyone other than advertisers and general data collection should care?

This is a very good example of the strawman argument. Just because it's difficult to 'detach oneself' from the tracking and telemetry gathering of big corporations, because of the ubiquitous nature of their goods and services, doesn't mean we shouldn't care about our personal metadata (e.g. was it collected legally, who collects it, for what purpose was it collected, how is my data protected from illegal or careless dissemination, is enough of my data stored in one place to identify me specifically, etc.).

If they can get it legally, I'm all for the OP getting whatever version of Windows they want to use. With that said, It'll probably cost in the neighboorhood of $600+ to purchase what they are after. Not only do you have the software purchase itself, you also have a minimum order count. It used to be 5 products. Not sure what it is now. Previously, you could get away with buying the one product you wanted and then adding on 4 other cheap throw-away products to reach the minimum of 5. OP, check out CDW. They used to make it somewhat easy (but expensive) to legally get enterprise products.

 

[alceryes]

The LTSC channel is NOT designed for home users but for very specific business systems where stability is critical (medical systems for example). It's entirely the wrong 'solution' for whatever problem you think you have.

...according to Microsoft.

It is well known that Microsoft doesn't want home users to use IoT (LTSC) versions of Windows, so this is the narrative they push.

As long as the user reads up on the differences (and limitations) of IoT/LTSC versions there's nothing wrong with them using it. From what I've read, the limitations are few (for me), and the benefits are immense. I love getting years and years of security and critical updates, without all the other stuff that I don't need forced down my throat.

 

[punkncat]

This is a very good example of the strawman argument. Just because it's difficult to 'detach oneself' from the tracking and telemetry gathering of big corporations, because of the ubiquitous nature of their goods and services, doesn't mean we shouldn't care about our personal metadata (e.g. was it collected legally, who collects it, for what purpose was it collected, how is my data protected from illegal or careless dissemination, is enough of my data stored in one place to identify me specifically, etc.).

A straw man implies misrepresentation of another's argument. There is no misrepresentation or alteration (about) the argument of the fact that pretty much every other electronic device up to and including your new car ARE spying on you. The only way one could TRULY be this purposefully careful about their data collection would be to move to the woods and stop using anything and everything electronic or electrical not made before the 2000's (and that I would have to search for the first). You cannot even drive a 1950's car down the road and NOT be spied on. It is done via roadside cameras and devices mounted to police units and traffic signals.

I appreciate your comment.

 

[alceryes]

A straw man implies misrepresentation of another's argument. There is no misrepresentation or alteration of the argument or the fact that pretty much every other electronic device up to and including your new car ARE spying on you. The only way one could TRULY be this purposefully careful about their data collection would be to move to the woods and stop using anything and everything electronic or electrical not made before the 2000's (and that I would have to search for the first). You cannot even drive a 1950's car down the road and NOT be spied on. It is done via roadside cameras and devices mounted to police units and traffic signals.

I appreciate your attempt. Try again.

😉
You are misrepresenting the effectiveness of the OPs want to limit telemetry/tracking by saying that he is tracked anyways by other means. Every tracking/telemetry avenue that OP is able to stop/limit is one less - period.

Since this is deviating from the OPs request, I won't be replying anymore on this matter.

 

[punkncat]

😉
You are misrepresenting the effectiveness of the OPs want to limit telemetry/tracking by saying that he is tracked anyways by other means. Every tracking/telemetry avenue that OP is able to stop/limit is one less - period.

Since this is deviating from the OPs request, I won't be replying anymore on this matter.

Giving examples of the multitudes of other ways the OP is being tracked is not a misrepresentation. If anything, it is further informing the OP of other things that should be of concern to them IF this is such a factor in their life. One less item in a PC having 'less' telemetry could lead right into a straw man about things like a drop of water in the ocean, but....