topic i5-9400F - does it support Windows 8.1 ? in Mobile and Desktop Processors

i5-9400F - does it support Windows 8.1 ?

KSta0 — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 01:13:05 GMT

Hi guys !

I'm about to buy i5-9400F processor and I just want to make sure that i'm right.

I checked that all processors with "Execute Disable Bit" support Windows 8.1, and I also checked that i5-9400F have this Execute Disable Bit.

But this is the only think that I found about this support. No one could help me, becouse everywhere I was looking for an answer everybody was just talking about Windows 10.

So I decided to create an account here and aske the community, maybe someone used or is still using this proccesor on Windows 8.1.

Can I just put this processor to my comupter, or I have to update something more (I mean no drivers, but something in my windows - don't know, I'm not a specialist, Im just a regular user 😂 )

Or maybe this processor won't be able to work with Windows 8.1 and I need to update it to Windows 10 ?

Thanks for an answer and help, I'm sure, I'm not the only one who is looking for this information !

Re: i5-9400F - does it support Windows 8.1 ?

AlHill — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 03:01:36 GMT

Only Windows 10 is supported on 7th gen and later processors.

Doc

Re: i5-9400F - does it support Windows 8.1 ?

KSta0 — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 04:01:55 GMT

So what does it mean ?

(It's from Intel's page)

"All 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster Intel® Processors with Execute Disable Bit support Microsoft Windows 8* and Microsoft Windows 8.1*."

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005771/processors.html

And i5 9400 have this as you can see there

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/190883/intel-core-i5-9400f-processor-9m-cache-up-to-4-10-ghz.html

Re: i5-9400F - does it support Windows 8.1 ?

AlHill — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 05:39:02 GMT

Only windows 10 support on 7th gen or later processors has been the case for more than three years. And, you can thank Microsoft for that.

What this means is that you will not find all drivers needed if you run anything less than Windows 10.

Now, time for my question - who wants to stay on Windows 8.x?

Doc

Re: i5-9400F - does it support Windows 8.1 ?

AlHill — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 06:09:05 GMT

The reference to Microsoft: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4012982/the-processor-is-not-supported-together-with-the-windows-version-that

Doc

Re: i5-9400F - does it support Windows 8.1 ?

n_scott_pearson — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 07:12:07 GMT

To better state this, for 7th gen and later processors, both Intel and Microsoft do not support -- and thus do not provide device drivers for -- any version of Windows prior to Windows 10. You might be able to hack together a set of device drivers that will provide a reasonable level of support for Windows 8.1, but you are on your own doing so and on your own if anything goes wrong.

You are aware that, in a new installation of Windows 10, you can still use Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 license keys, right? The only caveat is that this license will be rendered unusable in the process. If the processor is upgraded or the motherboard subsequently needs to be replaced, a new license will be necessary.

Hope this helps,

...S

Re: i5-9400F - does it support Windows 8.1 ?

KSta0 — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 08:43:48 GMT

Thanks for help !

Re: i5-9400F - does it support Windows 8.1 ?

AlHill — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 12:58:22 GMT

Another path is to install W10, and then make a VM for Windows 8.x. Hyper-v in Windows 10 Pro works quite well.

Doc