Windows 10 Home or Pro for Gaming [Comparison]
The choice between Windows 10 Home or Pro For gaming can be a tough one. Both versions of Microsoft’s latest operating system offer excellent gaming performance, but Windows 10 Pro comes with a few additional features that may justify its higher price tag.Â
In this article, we’ll take a look at three of those features—Windows Sandbox, increased memory support, and native Remote Desktop functionality—to see if they’re worth the extra money.
Windows Sandbox: A Safe Space for Gaming
One of the most appealing features of Windows 10 Pro for gamers is the inclusion of Windows Sandbox. This is a lightweight virtual machine that allows you to run programs in an isolated environment—essentially giving you a safe space to test out new games and software without worrying about malware or other malicious code affecting your main system.
If you’re running into issues with a particular game or program, you can also use Windows Sandbox to try and isolate the problem.
By running the problematic software in an isolated environment, you can be sure that any changes it makes won’t carry over to your main system—preventing any potential damage.
Overall, Windows Sandbox provides an extra layer of protection for gamers that isn’t present in Windows 10 Home.
Increased Memory Support for Seamless Gaming Performance
Another key difference between Windows 10 Home and Pro is the amount of memory (RAM) each version supports.
While both versions support up to 128GB of RAM, Windows 10 Pro can theoretically support up to 2TB of RAM—double the amount supported by Home.
In practice, very few people will need that much RAM, but if you’re looking to future-proof your system or want to run resource-intensive programs like video editing software, the increased limit offered by Pro may be worth the extra cost.
For most people though, the 128GB limit imposed by Home will be more than enough.
Native Remote Desktop Functionality for Gaming on the Go
Finally, one feature that may appeal to frequent travellers or laptop gamers is native Remote Desktop functionality. This feature allows you to connect to your home PC from another location and play your games as if you were sitting in front of your own computer.
To use this feature on Windows 10 Home, you’ll need to install additional third-party software like TeamViewer or Splashtop Streamer.
However, with Windows 10 Pro, all you need to do is enable Remote Desktop in the Settings menu and you’re good to go—no extra software is required.
If you frequently find yourself away from your gaming rig but still want to get your fix, this feature alone may make upgrading to Pro worth it.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Windows 10 Pro offers a few extra features that may be worth the cost for gamers and creators alike.
The inclusion of Windows Sandbox provides an extra layer of protection, while the increased limit on memory allows you to future-proof your system and run more resource-intensive programs. Additionally, the native Remote Desktop functionality makes it easy to stay connected and game from anywhere.
Of course, the decision is ultimately up to you, but if you’re looking for the best gaming experience, Windows 10 Pro should be your first choice.