Windows enterprise and Workstations vs standard Win 11 pro

jimbo45 · Jun 17, 2024

There's comparisons on the Ms site but it's a bit long and convoluted.

What might be of more interest to typical users is that if you have a really powerful machine with things like multi physical processors etc These Windows systems support more physical processors, larger disks and more Max RAM.

Cheers
jimbo

spapakons · Jun 17, 2024

Windows 10/11 Pro for Workstations is a super-set of Windows 10/11 Pro supporting more CPUs, more RAM and some other hardware stuff like non-volatile RAM. Unless you have a workstation, you are not likely to notice much difference with the default configuration (balanced power plan). You could chose Ultimate power plan (hidden in Windows 10/11 Pro but can be enabled) and force your system to work always at maximum speed. This means more power consumption and heat generation, so it is not recommended for a laptop, but on a desktop that you don't care about the additional power consumption you could (in theory) have a little better performance. Unless you need support for the additional hardware, you can unhide the Ultimate power plan in Windows 10/11 Home or regular Windows 10/11 Pro by running this code in PowerShell as Administrator:

powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61

Then you simply select it to take effect.

I haven't used any Enterprise versions, but this is again a super-set of Windows 10/11 Pro including additional controls for security and maintenance of this computer or connected clients. You will never use them at home, so don't bother. You could download the ISO and install Windows 11 Pro for Workstations or Enterprise on a virtual machine without activating, just to see what all the fuss is about.

pparks1 · Jun 17, 2024

It's kinda a moot point, because unless home users want to use the 90 day evaluation trial version of Windows 11 enterprise, they don't have a method for actually buying the enterprise version.

NormanF · Jun 17, 2024

Home users typically don't have powerful mobile workstations to run the subset of Windows Pro.

And if you're running Windows Pro, you have the highest level available for a home/SMB setting.

jimbo45 · Jun 17, 2024

NormanF said:
Home users typically don't have powerful mobile workstations to run the subset of Windows Pro.

And if you're running Windows Pro, you have the highest level available for a home/SMB setting.

I have a system with multi-gpu and multi physical processor system not running this on a "Mobile workstation or laptop" - (which I usually use for VM's) but why not run these top end versions of Windows if you have licenses or evaluations on them to see how much better they run -- on physical hardware you can run a whole slew of VM's concurrently better running on hyper-V on W11 Enterprise than W11 Pro

Agreed for most home users Win11 pro is probably good enough but if you want to test stuff "at the limit" then these editions are fine.

I install ist to a laptop as aVM just to ensure the build works - then trnsfer to real hardware to test it.

@pparks1
Some companies can hand out spare W11 Enterprise licenses out for "testing" etc etc.

cheers
jimbo

spapakons · Jun 17, 2024

I currently testWindows 11 Pro for Workstations with the Ultimate power plan on and performance is indeed a little better. However the CPU is running hot at over 80 degrees centigrade and it reduces its life. I bought my 3rd generation Intel Core-i7 second hand without the CPU fan, so I use the one from my old 3rd generation Intel Core-i3 which obviously is not enough. Today it exceeded 100 degrees (hot day, nobody home so air-conditioning was off) and Windows froze. I usually access my PC remotely and suddenly the connection was lost. I thought my router was stuck again, but I returned home, internet was working OK but my PC froze and was unresponsive. I guess it is time for dust removing and thermal paste replacing...

GotNoRice · Jun 19, 2024

I would say that the best thing about the Enterprise edition of Windows is that you get an extra year of support compared to the regular Home/Pro versions. That wouldn't matter in most cases, but one example where it might would be if you had an old system with a Core2Quad CPU that you installed Windows 11 on using a requirements bypass. 23H2 is the last version of Windows 11 that will run on those CPUs (even with a bypass), and Windows 11 23H2 has nearly the same End of Life date as Windows 10. That means after October/November 2025, you'll no longer be able to install a supported (in terms of updates) version of Windows 10 or 11 on that system.

UNLESS you install the 23H2 version of Windows 11 Enterprise, in which case you get an extra year, and you would continue to get updates until the end of 2026 (The other possible option would be Windows 10 LTSC which is supported until 2027).

That's just one possible niche example.

spapakons · Jun 20, 2024

These will not be feature updates, only security updates. If you keep Windows Defender or other antivirus updated, you have no issues keep using an old version such as 23H2. At work we even have a Windows 7 PC which receives updates for Security Essentials.

GotNoRice · Jun 20, 2024

spapakons said:
These will not be feature updates, only security updates.

The example I gave was about a computer using a Core2Quad CPU; CPUs that were current 12-17 years ago. I would think that anyone still using one would be okay with getting an extra year of security updates and not be too picky about missing out on feature updates.

spapakons said:
If you keep Windows Defender or other antivirus updated, you have no issues keep using an old version such as 23H2. At work we even have a Windows 7 PC which receives updates for Security Essentials.

The viability of continuing to use an OS after EoL is a tangent that is far beyond the scope of this thread. But suffice it to say that continuing to receive new anti-malware definitions via Windows Defender is not a substitute for security updates that actually fix vulnerabilities in the OS.

spapakons · Jun 20, 2024

There is no need to pay for the Enterprise version. The same security updates (and the Windows Defender updates after EOL) apply to the Home and Pro versions. The updated antivirus should prevent attacks exploiting new vulnerabilities that are not patched by a security update. That's the whole point of using an updated Antivirus, otherwise I would completely disable it and speedup my computer.

pparks1 · Jun 20, 2024

spapakons said:
There is no need to pay for the Enterprise version.

unless you have an enterprise agreement with Microsoft, there is actually no way to pay for Enterprise. this isn't something that a standard consumer can just purchase.

RD Mercer · Jun 20, 2024

I don't understand not being able to get 11 Enterprise, it's for sale all over the internet. I bought a 23H2 digital download around November of 2023, from a MS Solutions Partner and it's still works great.

spapakons · Jun 20, 2024

Officially Enterprise licenses are sold to companies or large businesses. Selling them to individuals violates the EULA. Not really illegal, but Microsoft thinks otherwise. It's more like buying a Mac OS license to use on non-Apple computer. Not illegal because the licence is genuine, but Apple disagrees.

RD Mercer · Jun 20, 2024

spapakons said:
Officially Enterprise licenses are sold to companies or large businesses. Selling them to individuals violates the EULA. Not really illegal, but Microsoft thinks otherwise. It's more like buying a Mac OS license to use on non-Apple computer. Not illegal because the licence is genuine, but Apple disagrees.

Well I'm guessing the one I bought from a MS Partner is a "large" business, question is, now that MS has sold these digital downloads, unless there's some sort of legal contract that say's the large business can only sell to large businesses, the large business should be able to sell them to whoever wants them, unless they're leasing these licenses.

pparks1 · Jun 20, 2024

RD Mercer said:
I don't understand not being able to get 11 Enterprise, it's for sale all over the internet. I bought a 23H2 digital download around November of 2023, from a MS Solutions Partner and it's still works great.

It doesn't take much to get the MS Solutions Partner logo, or just steal it and throw it on your site and wait to be caught because chances are you never, ever, ever will be chased after.

Anybody selling the "enterprise" version of Windows on the internet is violating the EULA. Enterprise is ONLY available to volume license enterprise customers who are using the licenses in their organization. Selling those licenses to end-users is NOT part of their organization, or their business model which provides them a loophole to legally sell it.

Go to the Microsoft store, and see if you are can buy a copy of Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro. i guarantee that you can. Now, try to buy a copy of Windows 11 Enterprise from them and see if you can find a copy for sale to purchase......you aren't going to find that. Because it's not for sale to end-user consumers.

And let me guess, these copies of Windows Enterprise being sold all over the internet are probably all pretty dirt cheap too. Obviously another flag that they aren't exactly legit. Why would Microsoft only sell licenses for Windows Pro for $199, but another company offers it for $7.99.

pparks1 · Jun 20, 2024

RD Mercer said:
Well I'm guessing the one I bought from a MS Partner is a "large" business, question is, now that MS has sold these digital downloads, unless there's some sort of legal contract that say's the large business can only sell to large businesses, the large business should be able to sell them to whoever wants them, unless they're leasing these licenses.

That's not how it works at all. I've worked in IT for years and managed multiple Microsoft enterprise accounts.

I'd consider Dell or HP a rather "large business". And they sell computers to end users. See if you can find a single computer for sale from either of them which has an OS option of Windows 11 Enterprise. You can get Home, you can get Pro....but you cannot get Enterprise.

Licenses for Enterprise use KMS (key management servers) or MAK (multiple activiation keys). you don't get a 1 key for 1 device license for enterprise.

RD Mercer · Jun 20, 2024

Ok, however it works, I'm the buyer, not the seller.

spapakons · Jun 20, 2024

Why bother anyway? Are you going to need the Enterprise features at home? As for extended support, you don't need it, just keep your antivirus updated.

RD Mercer · Jun 20, 2024

No, I don't need it, I don't need a V8 in my truck, because the V6 would have been all I need, but I just wanted one.

pparks1 · Jun 20, 2024

spapakons said:
Why bother anyway? Are you going to need the Enterprise features at home? As for extended support, you don't need it, just keep your antivirus updated.

Not to mention, for support he would have to call in under the enterprise agreement that the license is associated with in order to open a case.

Windows enterprise and Workstations vs standard Win 11 pro

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Similar threads