Easiest mb to use win 7 pro with skylake

NumberCruncher · Sep 14, 2016

with all of the crazy work a rounds that are posted, what is the simplest way to get Skylake with Pro7. Or would it be just as well to use Haswell? Thanks for your thoughts. Both systems will be 32 gb of ram, ssds, and integrated graphics. Absolutely no gaming will be done on this machine. High level statistical modeling only, with some 2016 Word.

Kursah · Sep 14, 2016

All ASRock, Biostar and Asus 1xx series boards I've used have had a Windows 7 or EHCI compatability mode/boot option that allows Win 7 Pro to work. I believe you might also need to enable Legacy USB as well. You'll have to load drivers for USB3 usability.

But if you can find a decent deal on Haswell CPU's and a 8x chipset board, you'll be good to go as well.

Frankly I'd go Win 10 or 8.1, UEFI Secure mode, XHCI comparability, fast boot, Trim during defrag command, etc. But a lotta folks stick with 7 and it works for them, and with that said there should be no reason you cannot install Windows 7 yet...though I do know MS was pushing and still is for the newest chipsets and CPU's to no longer support Windows 7, and if vendors stop releasing drivers for 7 then you're really outta luck. Skylake and 1xx chipset should still work though.

:toast:

FR@NK · Sep 14, 2016

Are you going to overclock at all?

NumberCruncher · Sep 14, 2016

Kursah said:
All ASRock, Biostar and Asus 1xx series boards I've used have had a Windows 7 or EHCI compatability mode/boot option that allows Win 7 Pro to work. I believe you might also need to enable Legacy USB as well. You'll have to load drivers for USB3 usability.

But if you can find a decent deal on Haswell CPU's and a 8x chipset board, you'll be good to go as well.

Frankly I'd go Win 10 or 8.1, UEFI Secure mode, XHCI comparability, fast boot, Trim during defrag command, etc. But a lotta folks stick with 7 and it works for them, and with that said there should be no reason you cannot install Windows 7 yet...though I do know MS was pushing and still is for the newest chipsets and CPU's to no longer support Windows 7, and if vendors stop releasing drivers for 7 then you're really outta luck. Skylake and 1xx chipset should still work though.

My wife has a couple programs that she uses daily that will not run on 10. I have a laptop that is 10 pro and will not run them. When I tried switching the machine I am replacing to 10 pro, I can just say thank God for backups. So I am stuck with 7 pro for the near future anyway.

Kursah · Sep 14, 2016

Well that's not such a bad thing though. What programs if you don't mind me asking? I know how it goes...I have some clients that can't run any newer than XP for the same reason.

Backups are a life saver for sure! I always get a Macrium image before doing anything...like an easy undo button.

NumberCruncher · Sep 14, 2016

FR@NK said:
Are you going to overclock at all?

Fr@nk,
This machine will be for ultra stability. I will be using it for statistical modeling in my academic life, so anything that would compromise reliability wouldn't be good. I am just going i7 at stock speeds which should be a little overkill.

NumberCruncher · Sep 14, 2016

Kursah said:
Well that's not such a bad thing though. What programs if you don't mind me asking? I know how it goes...I have some clients that can't run any newer than XP for the same reason.

Backups are a life saver for sure! I always get a Macrium image before doing anything...like an easy undo button.

Just some proprietary software that was written for her job by a local programmer. They wanted several $$$$$ to make it 10 compatible, which was out of the question. So you like Macrium that well?

FordGT90Concept · Sep 14, 2016

Maybe run a Windows 7 virtual machine under Windows 10?

Did they give you the source code for the program?

Tried Windows 7 compatibility mode in Windows 10 on the application?

NumberCruncher · Sep 14, 2016

Virtual machine too complicated for user......, no they would not give up the source code so that it could be modified. Compatibility Mode would not work. Thanks for the ideas, though.

Kursah · Sep 14, 2016

Macrium Reflect Free is pretty damn solid when you need a disk image, and Pro is good as well when you need more features. I use Free for my personal PC's and personal bench. It's easy to work with, effective, and the packages are easy to load, review and restore. Everyone has a preference, and I've tried my fair share. Windows Backup and Restore, Windows Server Backup, Macrium Reflect, FBackup, Comodo Backup, FreeFileSync, Easus ToDo Backup, AEMOI Backupper, StorageCraft ShadowProtect, AISO Cloud Backup, Veeam, and a handfull of others that don't come to mind. Some of those don't have a free version. But out of those that do, Macrium Reflect is my go-to if I don't want to have constant incremental backups occurring. If I do, I've kinda grown fond of Veeam Endpoint Backup Free...it's super easy to setup, and very effective. I should mention, Macrium Free does differentials, I just prefer incremental backup solutions for continuous backups. I also prefer disk usage management, which Macrium has in the free version as well.

I agree with VM's, and Hyper-V is pretty easy to work with while still having some advanced feature sets and abilities...but I'd set it up so it ran all the time and just have an RDP shortcut to it which would require some virtual networking as well. It'd be a good solution that most home users wouldn't notice. But then that leaves one more thing to open and close, and for some that's too much.

:toast:

Caring1 · Sep 14, 2016

NumberCruncher said:
Fr@nk,
This machine will be for ultra stability. I will be using it for statistical modeling in my academic life, so anything that would compromise reliability wouldn't be good. I am just going i7 at stock speeds which should be a little overkill.

If your software allows it, and can take advantage of it, Asrock Motherboards have pretty good compatibility, including with XEON processors, which gives you the option of better reliability and moar cores.

Melvis · Sep 14, 2016

You be fine with Windows 7 and I think MS will have to patch 7/8/8.1 for the new hardware or there going to get a fist load of lawsuits. Be cheaper to patch the old OS's then deal with lots of court costs.

FordGT90Concept · Sep 14, 2016

Extended support for Windows 7 SP1 ends at the beginning of 2020. What are you going to do in 3 years, 4 months and beyond?

NumberCruncher · Sep 14, 2016

FordGT90Concept said:
Extended support for Windows 7 SP1 ends at the beginning of 2020. What are you going to do in 3 years, 4 months and beyond?

Once her employer has to upgrade, then I will react. Rather they have the headaches and spend the $$ than me giving them free IT support.

Toothless · Sep 14, 2016

I'd say go with the Haswell since it would be safer for your uses and there isn't a noticeable performance difference.

NumberCruncher · Sep 14, 2016

Toothless said:
I'd say go with the Haswell since it would be safer for your uses and there isn't a noticeable performance difference.

Thats how I am leaning z97/4790K. Do you use your ssd as the boot drive?

cdawall · Sep 14, 2016

It really doesn't matter. There isn't a single motherboard brand I haven't put 7 on with skylake. I have a splistreamed drive with everything rolled into it. Takes no time to install and works beautifully.

cadaveca · Sep 14, 2016

cdawall said:
It really doesn't matter. There isn't a single motherboard brand I haven't put 7 on with skylake. I have a splistreamed drive with everything rolled into it. Takes no time to install and works beautifully.

Some Z170 boards require changes in BIOS to install Win7 properly, and the options to do so aren't that obvious.

NumberCruncher · Sep 14, 2016

cadaveca said:
Some Z170 boards require changes in BIOS to install Win7 properly, and the options to do so aren't that obvious.

I was looking at some of the MSI boards that have the "bios" change to allow 7 installation, I have it on DVD so that's not an issue. Just don't know enough others that have done it. And the you tube videos really stink at showing someone doing it.

Toothless · Sep 14, 2016

NumberCruncher said:
Thats how I am leaning z97/4790K. Do you use your ssd as the boot drive?

I only use SSDs as boot/program drives. If i want my desktop to boot i want it now. If i want a program open i want it now. Less time waiting is more time towards productivity.

cadaveca · Sep 14, 2016

NumberCruncher said:
I was looking at some of the MSI boards that have the "bios" change to allow 7 installation, I have it on DVD so that's not an issue. Just don't know enough others that have done it. And the you tube videos really stink at showing someone doing it.

That's why you need to come here and read my motherboard reviews and check the BIOS screenshots I upload (I upload every page for every board, if possible)!

That said...

... well...

I missed a good portion of late last year and early this year for motherboards due to personal reasons, so do not have many Z170 reviews, so I'm not sure which boards make it easy and which you need to play with a bit.

The real problems come with USB driver install. Since USB3 is now in chipset, and Win7 install doesn't have driver for it, sometimes you can install, but then can't get anywhere in OS because there's no driver for USB that is connected to keyboard and mouse. With some boards you can play musical USB ports and one of them will work, sometimes (I'm looking at you, ASUS!!!), you have to create special Win7 install disc with USB driver rolled in (ASUS guide can be found HERE). Sometimes you need to play with the BIOS options for USB support. Would be nice if all boards had a simple switch to enable such functions like MSI does for sure!

That guide should offer a solution that also works on other boards, too, assuming the ASUS Easy Installer works on other brand's products.

Sasqui · Sep 14, 2016

NumberCruncher said:
Thats how I am leaning z97/4790K. Do you use your ssd as the boot drive?

The 4790K has to be one of intel's best consumer chips to date. I've got mine running Win 7 on a MSI Z97 board. System rocks and does 4.7Ghz without skipping a beat.

NumberCruncher · Sep 15, 2016

Sasqui said:
The 4790K has to be one of intel's best consumer chips to date. I've got mine running Win 7 on a MSI Z97 board. System rocks and does 4.7Ghz without skipping a beat.

Curious as to what MSI board you are using and how you like it?

cdawall · Sep 15, 2016

cadaveca said:
Some Z170 boards require changes in BIOS to install Win7 properly, and the options to do so aren't that obvious.

Doesn't matter with my flash drive. Everything to install 7 on any of the current Z170 boards is rolled in...To include the ability to install 7 UEFI.

FordGT90Concept · Sep 15, 2016

My server runs on an MS-7816 and it has a Windows 8 option in the BIOS (disable for Windows 7 and down). No complaints, really.

System Name	Portable Rocket
Processor	Intel i7-7820hq
Motherboard	Dell
Cooling	Dell
Memory	32GB Ballistix DDR4 2400 (2x16)
Video Card(s)	Intel 630
Storage	Adata sx8200 Pro 512 GB
Display(s)	14” 1920 x 1080
Case	Dell Latitude 5480
Audio Device(s)	Realtek
Power Supply	Dell
Mouse	MS Wireless
Keyboard	Dell Backlit
Software	Win 10 PRO x64 , Office 2019, SPSS, Minitab
Benchmark Scores	Home work machine, makes Excel 2019 scream!

System Name	Kursah's Gaming Rig 2018 (2022 Upgrade) - Ryzen+ Edition \| Gaming Laptop (Lenovo Legion 5i Pro 2022)
Processor	R7 5800X @ Stock \| i7 12700H @ Stock
Motherboard	Asus ROG Strix X370-F Gaming BIOS 6203\| Legion 5i Pro NM-E231
Cooling	Noctua NH-U14S Push-Pull + NT-H1 \| Stock Cooling
Memory	TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z 32GB (2x16) DDR4 4000 @ 3600 18-20-20-42 1.35v \| 32GB DDR5 4800 (2x16)
Video Card(s)	Palit GeForce RTX 4070 JetStream 12GB \| CPU-based Intel Iris XE + RTX 3070 8GB 150W
Storage	4TB SP UD90 NVME, 960GB SATA SSD, 2TB HDD \| 1TB Samsung OEM NVME SSD + 4TB Crucial P3 Plus NVME SSD
Display(s)	Acer 28" 4K VG280K x2 \| 16" 2560x1600 built-in
Case	Corsair 600C - Stock Fans on Low \| Stock Metal/Plastic
Audio Device(s)	Aune T1 mk1 > AKG K553 Pro + JVC HA-RX 700 (Equalizer APO + PeaceUI) \| Bluetooth Earbuds (BX29)
Power Supply	EVGA 750G2 Modular + APC Back-UPS Pro 1500 \| 300W OEM (heavy use) or Lenovo Legion C135W GAN (light)
Mouse	Logitech G502 \| Logitech M330
Keyboard	HyperX Alloy Core RGB \| Built in Keyboard (Lenovo laptop KB FTW)
Software	Windows 11 Pro x64 \| Windows 11 Home x64

Processor	7900
Motherboard	Rampage Apex
Cooling	H115i
Memory	64GB TridentZ 3200 14-14-14-34-1T
Video Card(s)	Fury X
Case	Corsair 740
Audio Device(s)	8ch LPCM via HDMI to Yamaha Z7 Receiver
Power Supply	Corsair AX860
Mouse	G903
Keyboard	G810
Software	8.1 x64

System Name	Portable Rocket
Processor	Intel i7-7820hq
Motherboard	Dell
Cooling	Dell
Memory	32GB Ballistix DDR4 2400 (2x16)
Video Card(s)	Intel 630
Storage	Adata sx8200 Pro 512 GB
Display(s)	14” 1920 x 1080
Case	Dell Latitude 5480
Audio Device(s)	Realtek
Power Supply	Dell
Mouse	MS Wireless
Keyboard	Dell Backlit
Software	Win 10 PRO x64 , Office 2019, SPSS, Minitab
Benchmark Scores	Home work machine, makes Excel 2019 scream!

System Name	Kursah's Gaming Rig 2018 (2022 Upgrade) - Ryzen+ Edition \| Gaming Laptop (Lenovo Legion 5i Pro 2022)
Processor	R7 5800X @ Stock \| i7 12700H @ Stock
Motherboard	Asus ROG Strix X370-F Gaming BIOS 6203\| Legion 5i Pro NM-E231
Cooling	Noctua NH-U14S Push-Pull + NT-H1 \| Stock Cooling
Memory	TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z 32GB (2x16) DDR4 4000 @ 3600 18-20-20-42 1.35v \| 32GB DDR5 4800 (2x16)
Video Card(s)	Palit GeForce RTX 4070 JetStream 12GB \| CPU-based Intel Iris XE + RTX 3070 8GB 150W
Storage	4TB SP UD90 NVME, 960GB SATA SSD, 2TB HDD \| 1TB Samsung OEM NVME SSD + 4TB Crucial P3 Plus NVME SSD
Display(s)	Acer 28" 4K VG280K x2 \| 16" 2560x1600 built-in
Case	Corsair 600C - Stock Fans on Low \| Stock Metal/Plastic
Audio Device(s)	Aune T1 mk1 > AKG K553 Pro + JVC HA-RX 700 (Equalizer APO + PeaceUI) \| Bluetooth Earbuds (BX29)
Power Supply	EVGA 750G2 Modular + APC Back-UPS Pro 1500 \| 300W OEM (heavy use) or Lenovo Legion C135W GAN (light)
Mouse	Logitech G502 \| Logitech M330
Keyboard	HyperX Alloy Core RGB \| Built in Keyboard (Lenovo laptop KB FTW)
Software	Windows 11 Pro x64 \| Windows 11 Home x64

Easiest mb to use win 7 pro with skylake

NumberCruncher

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where the hell are my stars

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where the hell are my stars

FordGT90Concept

"I go fast!1!11!1!"

System Name	BY-2021
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5800X (65w eco profile)
Motherboard	MSI B550 Gaming Plus
Cooling	Scythe Mugen (rev 5)
Memory	2 x Kingston HyperX DDR4-3200 32 GiB
Video Card(s)	AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
Storage	Samsung 980 Pro, Seagate Exos X20 TB 7200 RPM
Display(s)	Nixeus NX-EDG274K (3840x2160@144 DP) + Samsung SyncMaster 906BW (1440x900@60 HDMI-DVI)
Case	Coolermaster HAF 932 w/ USB 3.0 5.25" bay + USB 3.2 (A+C) 3.5" bay
Audio Device(s)	Realtek ALC1150, Micca OriGen+
Power Supply	Enermax Platimax 850w
Mouse	Nixeus REVEL-X
Keyboard	Tesoro Excalibur
Software	Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Benchmark Scores	Faster than the tortoise; slower than the hare.

System Name	Black Box
Processor	Intel Xeon E3-1260L v5
Motherboard	MSI E3 KRAIT Gaming v5
Cooling	Tt tower + 120mm Tt fan
Memory	G.Skill 16GB 3600 C18
Video Card(s)	Asus GTX 970 Mini
Storage	Kingston A2000 512Gb NVME
Display(s)	AOC 24" Freesync 1m.s. 75Hz
Case	Corsair 450D High Air Flow.
Audio Device(s)	No need.
Power Supply	FSP Aurum 650W
Mouse	Yes
Keyboard	Of course
Software	W10 Pro 64 bit

System Name	Night Rider \| Mini LAN PC \| Workhorse
Processor	AMD R7 5800X3D \| Ryzen 1600X \| i7 970
Motherboard	MSi AM4 Pro Carbon \| GA- \| Gigabyte EX58-UD5
Cooling	Noctua U9S Twin Fan\| Stock Cooler, Copper Core)\| Big shairkan B
Memory	2x8GB DDR4 G.Skill Ripjaws 3600MHz\| 2x8GB Corsair 3000 \| 6x2GB DDR3 1300 Corsair
Video Card(s)	MSI AMD 6750XT \| 6500XT \| MSI RX 580 8GB
Storage	1TB WD Black NVME / 250GB SSD /2TB WD Black \| 500GB SSD WD, 2x1TB, 1x750 \| WD 500 SSD/Seagate 320
Display(s)	LG 27" 1440P\| Samsung 20" S20C300L/DELL 15" \| 22" DELL/19"DELL
Case	LIAN LI PC-18 \| Mini ATX Case (custom) \| Atrix C4 9001
Audio Device(s)	Onboard \| Onbaord \| Onboard
Power Supply	Silverstone 850 \| Silverstone Mini 450W \| Corsair CX-750
Mouse	Coolermaster Pro \| Rapoo V900 \| Gigabyte 6850X
Keyboard	MAX Keyboard Nighthawk X8 \| Creative Fatal1ty eluminx \| Some POS Logitech
Software	Windows 10 Pro 64 \| Windows 10 Pro 64 \| Windows 7 Pro 64/Windows 10 Home

System Name	Veral
Processor	5950x
Motherboard	MSI MEG x570 Ace
Cooling	Corsair H150i RGB Elite
Memory	4x16GB G.Skill TridentZ
Video Card(s)	Powercolor 7900XTX Red Devil
Storage	Crucial P5 Plus 1TB, Samsung 980 1TB, Teamgroup MP34 4TB
Display(s)	Acer Nitro XZ342CK Pbmiiphx + 2x AOC 2425W
Case	Fractal Design Meshify Lite 2
Audio Device(s)	Blue Yeti + SteelSeries Arctis 5 / Samsung HW-T550
Power Supply	Corsair HX850
Mouse	Corsair Nightsword
Keyboard	Corsair K55
VR HMD	HP Reverb G2
Software	Windows 11 Professional
Benchmark Scores	PEBCAK

System Name	All the cores
Processor	2990WX
Motherboard	Asrock X399M
Cooling	CPU-XSPC RayStorm Neo, 2x240mm+360mm, D5PWM+140mL, GPU-2x360mm, 2xbyski, D4+D5+100mL
Memory	4x16GB G.Skill 3600
Video Card(s)	(2) EVGA SC BLACK 1080Ti's
Storage	2x Samsung SM951 512GB, Samsung PM961 512GB
Display(s)	Dell UP2414Q 3840X2160@60hz
Case	Caselabs Mercury S5+pedestal
Audio Device(s)	Fischer HA-02->Fischer FA-002W High edition/FA-003/Jubilate/FA-011 depending on my mood
Power Supply	Seasonic Prime 1200w
Mouse	Thermaltake Theron, Steam controller
Keyboard	Keychron K8
Software	W10P

System Name	Senile
Processor	I7-4790K@4.8 GHz 24/7
Motherboard	MSI Z97-G45 Gaming
Cooling	Be Quiet Pure Rock Air
Memory	16GB 4x4 G.Skill CAS9 2133 Sniper
Video Card(s)	GIGABYTE Vega 64
Storage	Samsung EVO 500GB / 8 Different WDs / QNAP TS-253 8GB NAS with 2x10Tb WD Blue
Display(s)	34" LG 34CB88-P 21:9 Curved UltraWide QHD (34401440) FREE_SYNC*
Case	Rosewill
Audio Device(s)	Onboard + HD HDMI
Power Supply	Corsair HX750
Mouse	Logitech G5
Keyboard	Corsair Strafe RGB & G610 Orion Red
Software	Win 10