This is an operating system version released on October 17, 2013. It is available in several editions: (standard home version), Pro (business and power users), Enterprise (volume licensing), and N/KN editions (European and Korean markets without media features). Mainstream support ended in 2018, but extended support continues until January 10, 2023 .
| Feature | x86 (32-bit) | x64 (64-bit) | |---------|--------------|---------------| | Max RAM | 4GB (only 3.2–3.5GB usable) | 128GB for Windows 8.1 Core / 512GB for Pro | | Processor Required | Any | 64-bit CPU with CMPXCHG16b, PrefetchW, and LAHF/SAHF | | Driver Availability | Good for old hardware (printers, scanners from 2005–2010) | Best for modern peripherals | | Software Compatibility | Runs all 32-bit and older 16-bit apps (via NTVDM) | Runs 32-bit via WoW64, no 16-bit support | | Performance | Slightly faster on <2GB RAM systems | Faster on >4GB RAM, better for multi-core CPUs | | Security | No Kernel Patch Protection or HVCI | Full security features (ASLR, DEP, PatchGuard) | windows 8.1 x86 x64 activated