I'm putting together a new system with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Radeon RX 9070 XT. I'd like to use Linux, but I still need Windows for work, so I'm deciding between Windows 10 and Windows 11 LTSC IoT. Which option would offer the best combination of performance, driver support, game compatibility, and long-term usability?
5 Answers
For a 9800X3D, Windows 11 gives you the newer CPU and storage improvements. Windows 10 may still run fine, but you could leave a small amount of performance on the table because its scheduling is less optimized for newer processors.
Windows 10 LTSC can remain supported for years, but that doesn’t guarantee that newer games, graphics drivers, launchers, or productivity applications will continue supporting it for the entire period. For a brand-new gaming system, Windows 11 is the less risky long-term option.
Windows 11 LTSC is probably the safer choice for this build. Windows 11 includes newer AMD scheduling and platform optimizations that Windows 10 doesn’t have, and Windows 10 LTSC is based on an older release. Games, drivers, and other software are likely to drop support for it sooner even if the operating system itself receives extended updates.
Some people still prefer Windows 10 because they find Windows 11 buggy or dislike its interface, and older or midrange hardware may work perfectly well with it. However, experiences vary by system; a Ryzen 5000 laptop working well on Windows 11 suggests the operating system itself isn’t universally problematic. For your newer CPU and GPU, I’d prioritize current driver and game support over avoiding Windows 11.
Windows 10 Education with extended security updates or Windows 11 Education would both be worth considering. Education editions generally avoid much of the consumer preinstalled software, while Windows 11 Education gives you the newer platform and longer compatibility window.
How does Windows 10 Education compare with Windows 10 LTSC IoT? I’ve used the Education edition on my previous computer and liked it.
The difference may only be a few percent in some workloads, so Windows 10 can still be reasonable if you strongly prefer its interface and behavior. The bigger concern is future game and driver compatibility.