4 CPUs PC configuration with Windows

branskyj · 9 Nov 2014 at 20:13

Hi all,

as far as I know the maximum number of physical CPUs recognized by the non-server versions of Windows is 2 for the Pro and 1 for the Standard.
Anyone knows if that "limitation" will be the same in the upcoming Windows 10 Pro (if that is what they will call it)?
I am working with heavy multi threaded applications (3D and video editing) and the more cores the better.
Besides, I have been saving money the entire year for a new workstation and need to start getting information about this and that.

Cheers.

troops · 9 Nov 2014 at 23:43

Yeah i believe it is two, at a guess, 10 will likely to be the same.

branskyj · 10 Nov 2014 at 12:40

Cheers troops.

Raumarik · 10 Nov 2014 at 13:49

You could always see if the software you want to run works on a server OS, I use to run games on Server 2003 with a bit of modding.

ZXSpectrum · 10 Nov 2014 at 14:01

Be aware though that on the last version of Server 2012 Standard you paid for one licence for 2 x CPUs and then you could expand that with another licence (Same price) to use Server.

Some limitations were removed with Windows 8.1 Pro but I am sure that they will leave it as is for CPUs as its a big money maker for them. And almost 0% of customers would want to run a consumer OS on 4Cpu machine.

branskyj · 13 Nov 2014 at 17:20

Well that settles it then. I will have to go the render slaves route... unfortunate, but paying for more than one OS license makes it a no-go.

Cheers for the input guys.

Andy_82 · 13 Nov 2014 at 23:00

How many cpu's do you need?

The pro version of windows is fully licensed as far as i know for 2 cpu sockets so, you can run a maximum of 2 x 18 core xeons for a total of 36 cores / 72 threads in a dual socket board with windows 8.1 professional.

I think, for more than 2 socket system the server version is needed. But then software costs will be dwarfed by the hardware cost.

From what i remember the license terms changed when multicore processors became mainstream, so that i now is license per cpu socket (independent of core count). Where as previously the license was per cpu core.

Sorry if you already know this