New Windows 10 Pro for Workstations OS is coming with Fall Creators Update

By Al Sacco
last updated

Microsoft announced a new version of Windows for power users, enterprises and other organizations, called Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, that supports server-grade hardware and is designed to make high-end PCs more responsive and reliable.

Announced yesterday on Microsoft's Windows blog, Windows 10 Pro for Workstations is expected to be available later this fall along with the upcoming Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

Windows 10 Pro for Workstations "comes with unique support for server grade PC hardware and is designed to meet demanding needs of mission critical and compute intensive workloads," Microsoft says. And related tweaks to the Windows kernel help the OS fully utilize high-end processors, including Intel Xeon and AMD Opteron, which feature a lot of cores in single and multi-processors, according to the company.

Here's a list of new features in the OS:

ReFS (Resilient file system): ReFS provides cloud-grade resiliency for data on fault-tolerant storage spaces and manages very large volumes with ease. ReFS is designed to be resilient to data corruption, optimized for handling large data volumes, auto-correcting and more. It protects your data with integrity streams on your mirrored storage spaces. Using its integrity streams, ReFS detects when data becomes corrupt on one of the mirrored drives and uses a healthy copy of your data on the other drive to correct and protect your precious data.Persistent memory: Windows 10 Pro for Workstations provides the most demanding apps and data with the performance they require with non-volatile memory modules (NVDIMM-N) hardware. NVDIMM-N enables you to read and write your files with the fastest speed possible, the speed of the computer's main memory. Because NVDIMM-N is non-volatile memory, your files will still be there, even when you switch your workstation off.Faster file sharing: Windows 10 Pro for Workstations includes a feature called SMB Direct, which supports the use of network adapters that have Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) capability. Network adapters that have RDMA can function at full speed with very low latency, while using very little CPU. For applications that access large datasets on remote SMB file shares, this feature enables:

  • Increased throughput — Leverages the full throughput of high speed networks where the network adapters coordinate the transfer of large amounts of data at line speed.
  • Low latency — Provides extremely fast responses to network requests, and, as a result, makes remote file storage feel as if it is directly attached storage.
  • Low CPU utilization — Uses fewer CPU cycles when transferring data over the network, which leaves more power available to other applications running on the system.

Expanded hardware support: One of the top pain points expressed by our Windows Insiders was the limits on taking advantage of the raw power of their machine. Hence, we are expanding hardware support in Windows 10 Pro for Workstations. Users will now be able to run Windows 10 Pro for Workstations on devices with high performance configurations including server grade Intel Xeon or AMD Opteron processors, with up to 4 CPUs (today limited to 2 CPUs) and add massive memory up to 6TB (today limited to 2TB).

Windows 10 Fall Creators Update: All the changes so far

Al Sacco
Al Sacco

Al Sacco is content director of Future PLC's Mobile Technology Vertical, which includes AndroidCentral.com, iMore.com and WindowsCentral.com. He is a veteran reporter, writer, reviewer and editor who has professionally covered and evaluated IT and mobile technology, and countless associated gadgets and accessories, for more than a decade. You can keep up with Al on Twitter and Instagram.

36 Comments
  • Will it run in the Surface Laptop?
  • I would guess so, but why would you?
  • I'm just trying to understand in what exact situation a "Workstation" edition will be more suitable than regular Pro edition
  • It *might* be installable, but it is clearly meant for a system with different kinds of memory (non-volatile RAM), redundant disk arrays, special network controllers that have their own processing (to take the load of the main CPU), etc. Nothing in the Surface line has these capabilities. These are much, much more expensive workstations for things like CAD.
  • If it does not go kaput
    for other reasons recently cited across the web:
    certainly.
      -
  • Here's a thing. Make one edition and put all the shjt in it.
    Nothing more irritating trying to connect to a network feature, days later you realise you on Home edition.
    Waste of time.
  • Or just pay attention to what you're purchasing.
  • When i buy a computer, the edition of Windows you get from the OEM is not a consideration for me.
    The hardware is the most important thing.
  • I don't know what to tell you then.  It sounds like you're saying, "I don't have enough time to read the single line item that says which version of Windows is installed on the computer I'm buying."  That means you're either the busiest person in the world or you just think you shouldn't have to pay attention to your purchases.  That is called being a lazy consumer.
  • When you buy a new car, do you check how much fuel is in the tank?
  • No, but you do check what type of fuel it runs on.
  • Right diesel (chrome OS) or petrol (Windows 10).
    93 or 95 premium... Not important.
  • Ok so putting aside that your analogy really isn't good, yes it's important to know what octane your car is designed for. I'm sorry but you're wrong, if you're taking the time to look at the specs of a computer you're buying, you should be looking at the version of Windows too, especially since it's obviously very important. So with about 2 seconds of time to read a single line of text you can not waste ANY time trying to do something that the OS doesn't support.
  • Axm... Edition here not version.
    The customer does not need to know the inner workings of the different editions of octane because its all a money making fuss just like Windows 10 editions.
    Ultimately there's no performance difference. Back to the topic, part of the problem is no one even knows what the difference is.. (baring Windows 10 S.)
    Its a classic case of disabling features already built in and probably taking up hard drive space.
  • Edition/Version, you know what I meant Octane rating, if you understand how an engine works and what different octane ratings mean you'd know that some engines require higher octane, and some perform better on it due to the ability to have better compression. If the different editions are money making "fuss" why are the lesser editions cheaper? The idea is to charge less (thus making it easier for the consumer to get) when features are not available. The typical user doens't need to connect to a Domain as well as many of the other Pro features, so offering them a lower price makes sense.  It takes a 30 second search to know the differences, and if you don't understand them, you don't need to worry about them. If you don't know what a feature is, you don't need it. 
  • what grade gas your car runs on is very important....FYI  
  • No it's not. You put the one that gives you balanced economy-performance-cabin engine noise intrusion.
    Only you the owner can determine that.
  • WOW....you have no idea about engines.   The grade of gas is related to the compression ratio of the engine.  Use the wrong gas you get poor performance,  poor gas milage and could cause engine damage.  So YES,  there IS a correct grade to use for each vehicle.  My Jeep, Nissan,  and Chev all call for Regular 89 gas.   Where as my audi and Mercedes call for 93 Supreme
  • That's what you read from google.
    Only interested on how the car feels in my hands.
  • I am a mechanic...it's NOT what I read on google....See...you should open your ears and listen to what others are saying.  your car could FEEL even better by using the correct gas in it.  I build high performance motorcycle/snowmobile/ATV/UTV engines as well as worked on various race cars for race teams and subaru canada for the Targa Newfoundland Rally.  I have "SOME KNOWLEDGE" greater than ******* google 
  • I do because one time a shady dealer sold me a car with an empty tank of gas so I drove off the lot with the gas light on for a 40k car! My 36gallon ftruck came with full tanks each time I bought one. That's service!
  • That's literally an excuse you're making for yourself. I don't care what someone is buying whether it's a computer or a vacuum cleaner. It's up to you to do the research to figure out which product is the one for you. The fuel analogy makes no sense. If fuel was a actually an important consideration then you have to do the homework and decide what you want.
  • Real03... How many computers can one person own?
    Its not just my own that I'm having trouble with.
    What happens when a visitor wants to connect to your network?
    You stuff around trying to figure out the problem and you eventually give up.
    I know from many years that sometimes connecting a Windows PC to a network is not just plugging in the Ethernet cable.
    It should be that simple but it's not because of all the editions over the years.
  • Hiswona, you can't afford the hardware this version runs on anyway, so why worry?
  • You inspire me.
  • "How to upgrade Win 10 Pro to Win 10 Pro for Workstation" WC future article?
  • "How to sidegrade Win 10 Pro for Workstation to Windows 10 S" lol
  • Frankly,
    there is no need for an article on how to upgrade to W10Pro4WS. What you will need, however, is a credit card. That's about it, really.  .
  • That made me laugh Fred.  Good one!
  • Windows NT Workstation is reborn.
  • I don't like these deviations. What does it mean "tweaks to kernel to fully utilize CPU"? So it's not working at full on my current, vanilla Windows 10? It's confusing. And Microsoft should just make the new file system a standard for everyone... 🤔☹
  • Hmmmm, it's like that: Those goodies, that Microsoft described as only being available for "Windows 10 Pro for Workstation"
    really is what ought to automatically be part of Windows 10 (Pro)
    as those features are just what the regular progress in technology gives us. Once technologies like Intel Optane become mainstream
    any version/edition/what-not of Windows 10, that does not support stuff like this and others off the shelf
    will pretty quickly look very outdated very quickly.   Microsoft certainly has a specific talent to stand in their own way, it seems.
    I mean, you have to be very talented spending 10 billion USD on a mobile effort without a leaving noticable traces in the market. The same kind of "talented thinking" informs decisions like spinning off
    yet another version/edition/what-not called "Windows 10 Pro for Workstation".   Nice try. .  
  • ReFS (Resilient file system): Overdue since years.
    Other OSes and File Systems are running circles around NTFS. ReFS reserved for "W10 Pro for Workstations" ?
    You got to be kidding!   Persistent memory
    Ah well, technologies like Intel Optane and others will become mainstream.
    Including mobile phones with Android and iOS, that is.
    Count on Mac OS and Linux/FreeBSD as well. Reserved for "Windows 10 Pro for Workstations" ? You got to be kidding!   Expanded hardware support There is something like an "expanded hardware support" ?
    Really? Seriously?
    Off-the-shelf Windows 10 Pro does not fully utilize x86 hardware I buy off the web? Why the hell should I buy an operating system from Microsoft  
    - a company, that seems to deliberately and unpredictably change their various marketing spiels
    to their very liking but not necessarily to that of their customers, 
    every other calendar year at their full discretion?   You know what:
    "Get lost!" .  
  •  This  sounds a lot like the difference between gaming graphics cards and workstation graphics cards. Nearly the  same exact hardware between them. Software features locked based on their respective uses and price points.
  • When Microsoft introduced Windows 10S they also announced the Surface Laptop. Does Windows 10 Pro for Workstations indicate plans to release a new device or the next release of Surface Studio?
  • No way. This OS is for like home or enterprise servers/workstations.