Win7 and Win10 compatible PC
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2019 12:23 pm
I know there are some info about using Win7 on official only Win10 compatible systems, but here's my experience if anyone going with Win7 only. Go with z370 boards if you can for 9xxx series CPU support.
- MSI Z370 Pro Gaming Carbon
- Intel 9900K
- CORSAIR CMW32G
- GTX 1080ti
- Samsung 1TB regular SSD
- Installed windows from DVD, no issues, both USB keyboard and mouse worked without an issue during installation (Win7 support enabled in BIOS).
- MSI has official Win7 drivers, installed them and everything works (USB, audio, etc.) without an issue. Tried several USB devices, external drives, no issues.
Only minor issue so far is "ACPI Wake Alarm" driver not installed with chipset drivers, it's shown as an unknown device in Device Manager. There's a driver for it if anyone needs it, but I didn't install (only checked if it's working then uninstalled), no need for me. You can get the driver from below:
https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebooks ... -p/3836870#
If you have a different Z370 motherboard and if official drivers are problematic or there's no official drivers, then you can try these links:
https://www.overclock.net/forum/6-intel ... -hero.html
https://www.win-raid.com/t834f25-USB-Dr ... odded.html
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads ... -1.398042/
If you gonna buy an MSI Gaming Pro Carbon with a 9900K, know that it's not very suitable for overclocking with 9900K, if you're lucky you may reach 5.0 but MOS overheating will be a big issue. This board can work with a stock 9900K, but even in stock clocks it gets hot (in torture tests MOS reaches 100 celcius easily), so place a fan over the VRMs if you're using water cooling like me. If you're using air cooler for CPU which blowing air on motherboard too, you may be safer.
For me this was the highest Z370 board available in local stores and I was in a hurry. If you can get a higher rank z370 then OCing will not be an issue much with a 9900k.
If you're gonna install Win7 on a NVMe SSD then you need drivers integrated to Windows 7 image. I'll use NVMe for Win10 installation for dual boot later, so didn't bother with it.
Also for Win7 updates you need "wufuc" too:
https://github.com/zeffy/wufuc/releases/tag/v1.0.1.201
- MSI Z370 Pro Gaming Carbon
- Intel 9900K
- CORSAIR CMW32G
- GTX 1080ti
- Samsung 1TB regular SSD
- Installed windows from DVD, no issues, both USB keyboard and mouse worked without an issue during installation (Win7 support enabled in BIOS).
- MSI has official Win7 drivers, installed them and everything works (USB, audio, etc.) without an issue. Tried several USB devices, external drives, no issues.
Only minor issue so far is "ACPI Wake Alarm" driver not installed with chipset drivers, it's shown as an unknown device in Device Manager. There's a driver for it if anyone needs it, but I didn't install (only checked if it's working then uninstalled), no need for me. You can get the driver from below:
https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebooks ... -p/3836870#
If you have a different Z370 motherboard and if official drivers are problematic or there's no official drivers, then you can try these links:
https://www.overclock.net/forum/6-intel ... -hero.html
https://www.win-raid.com/t834f25-USB-Dr ... odded.html
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads ... -1.398042/
If you gonna buy an MSI Gaming Pro Carbon with a 9900K, know that it's not very suitable for overclocking with 9900K, if you're lucky you may reach 5.0 but MOS overheating will be a big issue. This board can work with a stock 9900K, but even in stock clocks it gets hot (in torture tests MOS reaches 100 celcius easily), so place a fan over the VRMs if you're using water cooling like me. If you're using air cooler for CPU which blowing air on motherboard too, you may be safer.
For me this was the highest Z370 board available in local stores and I was in a hurry. If you can get a higher rank z370 then OCing will not be an issue much with a 9900k.
If you're gonna install Win7 on a NVMe SSD then you need drivers integrated to Windows 7 image. I'll use NVMe for Win10 installation for dual boot later, so didn't bother with it.
Also for Win7 updates you need "wufuc" too:
https://github.com/zeffy/wufuc/releases/tag/v1.0.1.201