For users unwilling to buy new hardware at current prices, some third-party options remain. The security firm 0patch has pledged to provide unofficial Windows 10 micropatches through 2030, and Linux migration efforts such as the End of 10 initiative continue to court holdouts whose machines can’t run Windows 11.
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ezst036 Now with the RAMmageddon those people literally cannot afford to upgrade to Windows 11 due to its massively steep system requirements in order to just keep the OS and its spyware running. There is a lot of money to be saved by regular folks by switching to Linux. Reply
USAFRet ezst036 said: Now with the RAMmageddon those people literally cannot afford to upgrade to Windows 11 due to its massively steep system requirements in order to just keep the OS and its spyware running. There is a lot of money to be saved by regular folks by switching to Linux. Regarding RAM, I have seen exactly zero difference going from Win 10 to Win 11. In the same system. Having a system that is not natively Win 11 capable means it is a decade or more old. It likely needs upgrading for other issues as well. While Linux may be a good idea, lets keep the hyperbole in check. OK? Reply
usertests ezst036 said: Now with the RAMmageddon those people literally cannot afford to upgrade to Windows 11 due to its massively steep system requirements in order to just keep the OS and its spyware running. There is a lot of money to be saved by regular folks by switching to Linux. I've run them both and don't see a significant difference in RAM consumption for low impact stuff like browsing the web. I think Windows 11 may be caching less aggressively too, but it's not something I've measured. I clubbed a baby seal with AI and it says: Windows 10 uses approximately 2.5 GB of RAM at idle, while Windows 11 uses approximately 3.3 GB on identical hardware. Comparison : Windows 11 consumes roughly 800 MB to 1 GB more RAM than Windows 10 when no applications are running. Context : This higher baseline usage in Windows 11 is due to additional background services, visual effects, and preloading features (such as SysMain/Superfetch) designed to cache frequently used data for faster performance. Normal Range : Idle memory usage between 20% and 40% on 16 GB systems is considered normal, as Windows utilizes available memory to speed up application loading times. I've had other problems with Windows 11, including an insane latency/sound issue on an older PC that disappeared when I switched it to Windows 10. The correct way to run Windows 11 (other than not doing it) is probably Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC, which I haven't tried yet. I might test that if I pick up another extremely cheap computer. Reply
ezst036 USAFRet said: While Linux may be a good idea, lets keep the hyperbole in check. OK? The use of the word hyperbole is has no foundation. First, for computers that aren't upgradable, then It's either Windows 10 Y.O.L.O. edition once this second year expires or its Linux. Second, one could make hardware purchases. This is where not only does Linux become a money negator but it smashes your use of the word hyperbole to bits. There are many hardware purchases a person could choose – a Mac, a Google/Android, a whole new standard computer altogether, or of course some sort of hardware upgrades usually the most likely culprit is RAM. For someone staring down at a RAM upgrade, since Linux uses less RAM the fact is at a minimum Linux can save a person a couple hundred dollars by making the necessary RAM upgrade no longer necessary. You may not like it, but it's the fact. It does not go away. If you got 8 or 16GB, just don't buy anything at all. Zero dollars. There's your savings and I proved it, that's not hyperbole. For someone staring down at a computer too old to upgrade, Linux again refreshes whole computers. The fact is then, here, that Linux could save a person a thousand dollars or more depending on the computer a person is eyeing. Again, you may not like it, but it's the fact. It does not go away. None of this is hyperbolic, none of it. This is reality, this is fact. It's tangible and people's wallets will be thankful for it. USAFRet said: Regarding RAM, I have seen exactly zero difference going from Win 10 to Win 11. In the same system. Having a system that is not natively Win 11 capable means it is a decade or more old. It likely needs upgrading for other issues as well. Look, actual tests have been done on this. Fresh installs of Windows 11 are heavier than fresh Windows 10. You are a moderator-level user here at the Tom's Hardware forum, so obviously you've put massive time and effort into tweaking your system. I'll buy it every day of the week that a tweaked W11 system can be lighter than a standard install W10. That comes off as a bait and switch though. And let's also just ask Microsoft. K.I.S.S. keep it simple silly. Microsoft says W11's system base requirements are 16GB, 32GB preferred. W10 is not this steep per Microsoft's own website. If there is anywhere I missed or misunderstood, please clarify. Thank you. Reply
USAFRet ezst036 said: You are a moderator-level user here at the Tom's Hardware forum, so obviously you've put massive time and effort into tweaking your system. Actually, no. My spouses system…i3-8100, 8GB RAM. Upgraded from Win 10 to Win 11. Light but constant use. No visible difference. Reply
usertests ezst036 said: First, for computers that aren't upgradable, then It's either Windows 10 Y.O.L.O. edition once this second year expires or its Linux. You can use workarounds to get Windows 11 running on ancient "unsupported" hardware, like Haswell. You can go as old as Nehalem (2008), but not anything older, because of Windows 11 24H2's use of the POPCNT instruction introduced in SSE4.2. I think most people should not be running a CPU older than Skylake (DDR4) or Haswell (DDR3). You can probably find a suitable system for $30-80 on the used market. You might have problems from using an unsupported CPU. At a minimum you would probably have to reinstall for a major service pack, but maybe weekly updates don't work either. I don't know. You should be able to use Microsoft Activation Scripts to receive Win10 updates until Oct 2028 (standard), or Jan 2032 (IoT Enterprise). Reply
USAFRet usertests said: You should be able to use Microsoft Activation Scripts to receive Win10 updates until Oct 2028 (standard), or Jan 2032 (IoT Enterprise). A Win 10 install gets Defender and Security updates, with NO special workaround, to this day. Even an Unactivated Win 10 install. Reply
ezst036 USAFRet said: Regarding You didn't seem to contest what I hope to think was a well reasoned response. For clarity, I am curious if you would be willing to point out what specific line in my first comment that you considered to be hyperbolic? It was the " massively steep " wording wasn't it? Reply
USAFRet ezst036 said: You didn't seem to contest what I hope to think was a well reasoned response. For clarity, I am curious if you would be willing to point out what specific line in my first comment that you considered to be hyperbolic? It was the " massively steep " wording wasn't it? "…its massively steep system requirements in order to just keep the OS and its spyware running." A very low end Win 10 system upgraded to Win 11 runs pretty much exactly the same. I'm not looking to get into an argument. We get that you don't like Windows, esp Win 11. And that is very much OK. Just…lets not go overboard. Reply
ezst036 USAFRet said: "…its massively steep system requirements in order to just keep the OS and its spyware running." A very low end Win 10 system upgraded to Win 11 runs pretty much exactly the same. I just wanted to know what it was. That's all. Reply
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/microsoft-extends-free-windows-10-security-updates-for-a-second-year#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com/subscription
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.