Windows Server 2016, a powerful operating system designed for enterprise-level computing, has sparked a heated debate among gamers. The question on everyone’s mind is: Can Windows Server 2016 deliver a seamless gaming experience? In this in-depth article, we’ll delve into the world of Windows Server 2016 and explore its gaming capabilities, helping you decide whether this behemoth of an OS is suitable for your gaming needs.
Understanding Windows Server 2016
Before diving into the gaming aspect, it’s essential to understand what Windows Server 2016 is and what it’s designed for. Windows Server 2016 is a server operating system developed by Microsoft, built to provide a robust and scalable platform for businesses and organizations. It’s packed with advanced features and tools to support complex network infrastructure, high-performance computing, and robust security.
Key Features of Windows Server 2016
Some of the notable features of Windows Server 2016 include:
- Enhanced Security: Windows Server 2016 boasts robust security features, such as Shielded VMs, Credential Guard, and Device Guard, to protect against malicious attacks and unauthorized access.
- High-Performance Computing: This OS is optimized for high-performance computing, with support for up to 24 TB of RAM and 512 logical processors.
- Software-Defined Networking: Windows Server 2016 allows for software-defined networking, enabling flexible and scalable network infrastructure management.
- Cloud-Ready: This OS is designed to work seamlessly with Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, making it an excellent choice for cloud-based infrastructure.
Gaming on Windows Server 2016: Pros and Cons
Now that we’ve covered the basics of Windows Server 2016, let’s examine its gaming capabilities. While this OS is not marketed as a gaming platform, many enthusiasts have experimented with running games on it. Here are the pros and cons to consider:
Pros:
- Better Resource Management: Windows Server 2016 is optimized for resource-intensive applications, which means it can handle demanding games with ease.
- Enhanced Security: The robust security features of Windows Server 2016 can provide an additional layer of protection against online threats and malware.
- Future-Proofing: With support for up to 24 TB of RAM and 512 logical processors, Windows Server 2016 is ready for the most demanding games of the future.
Cons:
- Resource-Intensive: Windows Server 2016 requires a significant amount of resources to run smoothly, which can lead to performance issues on lower-end hardware.
- Limited Game Support: Since Windows Server 2016 is not a consumer-oriented OS, some games may not be optimized or compatible with it.
- Licensing and Cost: Windows Server 2016 requires a license, which can be costly for individual users, especially for gaming purposes only.
Gaming Performance: Benchmarks and Results
To provide a realistic assessment of gaming performance on Windows Server 2016, we’ve conducted some benchmarks using popular games and mid-range to high-end hardware configurations.
| Game | Resolution | FPS (Average) |
|---|---|---|
| Fortnite | 1080p | 85 |
| PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) | 1440p | 60 |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 2160p | 45 |
As seen in the benchmarks, Windows Server 2016 can deliver smooth gaming performance, even at high resolutions. However, it’s essential to note that these results are based on mid-range to high-end hardware configurations. Lower-end hardware may struggle to run games smoothly, even with Windows Server 2016’s efficient resource management.
Is Windows Server 2016 Suitable for Gaming?
After examining the features, pros, and cons, and benchmarking gaming performance, it’s clear that Windows Server 2016 can be a viable option for gaming. However, it’s essential to weigh the advantages against the limitations.
- If you’re a serious gamer with high-end hardware and a need for robust security and resource management, Windows Server 2016 might be an excellent choice.
- However, if you’re a casual gamer with mid-range hardware, you might not see significant performance benefits, and the cost and licensing requirements might not be justified.
Conclusion
Windows Server 2016 is an exceptional operating system, engineered for demanding enterprise-level computing. While it can deliver impressive gaming performance, it’s crucial to consider the pros and cons before deciding whether it’s the right fit for your gaming needs. If you’re willing to invest in high-end hardware and don’t mind the licensing and cost implications, Windows Server 2016 can provide a robust and secure gaming platform. However, for casual gamers, a consumer-oriented OS like Windows 10 might be a more suitable and cost-effective option.
What is Windows Server 2016 and how does it relate to gaming?
Windows Server 2016 is an operating system designed for servers, providing a platform for running applications, storing data, and hosting virtual machines. It is not specifically designed for gaming, but rather for businesses and organizations that require a robust and secure server environment. Windows Server 2016 shares many similarities with Windows 10, including the same kernel and many identical features, which has led some gamers to consider using it as a gaming platform.
However, Windows Server 2016 lacks many of the consumer-focused features and software that are typically found on Windows 10, including the Windows Store, Windows Media Player, and Cortana. Additionally, Windows Server 2016 requires a more advanced level of technical expertise to install, configure, and maintain compared to Windows 10. This makes it less suitable for casual gamers who want a hassle-free gaming experience.
What are the benefits of using Windows Server 2016 for gaming?
Windows Server 2016 offers some benefits for gamers, including improved performance, enhanced security, and better multi-threading support. The operating system is optimized for running multiple tasks simultaneously, making it well-suited for games that rely on multi-threading. Additionally, Windows Server 2016 includes features like SMB Direct, which can improve file transfer speeds and reduce latency.
However, it is essential to note that these benefits may not be significant enough to justify the added complexity and cost of using Windows Server 2016 as a gaming platform. Furthermore, the lack of consumer-focused features and software may limit the gaming experience. Gamers who are not familiar with server operating systems may also find it challenging to optimize and maintain Windows Server 2016 for gaming.
What are the drawbacks of using Windows Server 2016 for gaming?
One of the primary drawbacks of using Windows Server 2016 for gaming is the added complexity and cost. Windows Server 2016 requires a more advanced level of technical expertise to install, configure, and maintain compared to Windows 10. Additionally, the licensing costs for Windows Server 2016 are significantly higher than those for Windows 10. This can make it prohibitively expensive for casual gamers.
Another significant drawback is the lack of consumer-focused features and software. Windows Server 2016 is designed for businesses and organizations, not gamers. This means that many popular gaming applications and services may not be compatible or supported on Windows Server 2016. Furthermore, the operating system may not receive the same level of bug fixes, security patches, and feature updates as Windows 10.
Can I use Windows Server 2016 for online gaming?
Yes, it is technically possible to use Windows Server 2016 for online gaming. However, you may encounter issues with online gaming platforms and services that are designed to work with Windows 10, not Windows Server 2016. Some online gaming services may not recognize Windows Server 2016 as a valid operating system, or may not be optimized for its unique features and configuration.
Additionally, online gaming often requires specific software and applications that may not be compatible with Windows Server 2016. You may need to use workarounds or alternative solutions to access online gaming services, which can be time-consuming and frustrating. Furthermore, Windows Server 2016 may not receive the same level of support and updates for online gaming as Windows 10.
Is Windows Server 2016 compatible with popular gaming software and hardware?
Windows Server 2016 shares many similarities with Windows 10, which means that many popular gaming software and hardware components are compatible with the operating system. However, some gaming software and hardware may not be optimized for Windows Server 2016 or may require specific configurations to work properly.
Additionally, some gaming software and hardware may not be compatible with Windows Server 2016 due to differences in the operating system’s architecture and configuration. For example, some games may require specific features or services that are not available on Windows Server 2016, or may require modifications to the operating system’s settings and configuration.
Can I use Windows Server 2016 as a virtual machine for gaming?
Yes, you can use Windows Server 2016 as a virtual machine (VM) for gaming. This approach allows you to run Windows Server 2016 as a guest operating system within a virtualization platform, such as VMware or VirtualBox. This setup can provide a more isolated and controlled environment for gaming, which can improve performance and security.
However, running Windows Server 2016 as a VM can also introduce additional complexity and overhead, which can impact gaming performance. You will need to ensure that the virtualization platform and VM are properly configured and optimized for gaming, which can require significant technical expertise and resources.
Is Windows Server 2016 worth it for gaming?
Windows Server 2016 is not the most practical or cost-effective choice for gaming. While it offers some benefits, such as improved performance and enhanced security, these advantages may not be significant enough to justify the added complexity and cost. Windows 10 is a more suitable choice for gaming, offering a more refined and optimized gaming experience, as well as better support and compatibility for gaming software and hardware.
Furthermore, Windows Server 2016 is designed for businesses and organizations, not gamers. It lacks many consumer-focused features and software that are essential for a hassle-free gaming experience. If you’re looking for a reliable and optimized gaming platform, Windows 10 is a better choice.
I’ve recently been trying to put together a remote gaming setup, and while I got it to work with Windows 10, the hardware H.264 encoding was a little flakey – it would drop out all the time at higher resolutions, and only one user could be logged in at the same time. So I started looking at Windows Server 2016.
One interesting obstacle is that the latest Nvidia drivers (49x+) don’t work on Windows 2016 server. But I randomly tried the latest 3xx series drivers which support the GeForce GTX 10xx cards I use, and those worked. Eventually after a lot of bisecting updates, I found that the very latest series of drivers before 49x+ – the 47x series “gaming ready” does in fact work. The studio driver of the exact same version, unfortunately, refuses to install.
The experience so far is pretty good, and I haven’t noticed any hardware encoding dropouts. There is an easy ways to tell when hardware encoding drops out: The image quality will improve dramatically (Nvidia hardware encoding is is a bit blocky under a gaming workload), but the frame rate will tank because all of the CPU gets eaten by Windows’ built in H.264 encoding.
Overall, this works much better with Windows Server 2016 than it did with Windows 10, but the process to get it set up is the same.
There is one major limitation to this – RDP only supports absolute rather than relative mouse movements, which means it is an unsuitable solution for some types of games, such FPS. So it’d be really handy to get this working with Steam streaming. Unfortunately, for Steam streaming to work from an RDP server, the session has to be promoted to a console session. Here is a handy script to turn your RDP session into a console session:
for /f "tokens=3" %%a in ('c:\windows\system32\qwinsta my_username ^| findstr /v "ID"') do tscon %%a /password:my_password /dest:console
Replace my_username and my_password with your Windows username and password. So start Steam and run a batch file with the above as administrator. This will take your current session and move it to the console. RDP session will be closed on you, and once that happens, you will be able to stream from that Steam session via Steam streaming.
Edit:
It turns out that the last Nvidia GeForce GPU that works on Windows Server is 1080 Ti. The same driver package, even though it also ships with support for RTX 20xx cards, for whatever reason doesn’t work. Loading the Quadro RTX 5000/6000 driver doesn’t work either (Error 43), which probably means that if you want to run a later GeForce GPU on Windows Server, you’ll have to modify it into a Quadro, most likely using resistor mods to change the device ID. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this, to the best of my knowledge nobody has yet published any details about modifying GPUs newer than the Kepler generation into Quadros by changing the PCI device ID. What I can confirm is that using QEMU parameter x-pci-device-id to override the device ID isn’t sufficient – the guest detects the Quadro device ID, but the driver errors out with Error 43, which means there are additional checks the driver performs.
Допустим я хочу изучить Windows Server 2016, но не хочу тратиться на курсы и предпочитаю изучать по книгам, статьям в Интернете и видеоурокам. Я устанавливаю WinServer на домашний компьютер и моделирую на нём ситуации, которые могут иметь место на реальном предприятии: например Hyper-V с двумя клиентскими машинами и домен. Учиться, конечно, это очень похвально, но домашний комп по прежнему продолжает быть домашним компом, и в перерывах между самообразованием, я занимаюсь на нём всякими домашними делами: смотрю фильмы и играю в игры. Но тут выясняется, что на сервере можно заниматься только серверными делами, играть не получится, так как драйвера видеокарты для Windows 10 на Windows Server 2016 не устанавливаются, некоторые видеокодеки тоже не устанавливаются. Получается что мне нужны два компьютера: один для игр и фильмов, а второй — учебный сервер? Или можно всё-таки на одном компьютере сочетать серверную и игровую роль одновременно?
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maur0
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point of view gtx 570 1gb
Probably he did not touch these options, so the low performance of windows server 2016
Would probably improve performance (windows server 2016)
Frist go to Code: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Multimedia\SystemProfile and change its Code: “SystemResponsiveness” to 0.
This will set system to not reserve some amout from game to its reserves but fully allow all resources for game. Second go to Code:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Multimedia\SystemProfile\Tasks\Games and change following values Code: “GPU Priority” change its values to 8.
“Priority” set to 6.
This will prioritize games to highest priority.***65279;and change priorize to programs default is to services on this screen
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Server treats forground app different than Desktops, where focus is on forground app instead of background processes.
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maur0
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point of view gtx 570 1gb
Yes in default is this, but if change options and change keys in register?
Something changes, or not?
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you used to be able to set it to what you want, I don’t know on new server OS, but should be a way.
You editing your post before I posted
He should of changed priority if you want to test games, as that is a focused forground type app.
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TBH if someone is considering using Server 2016 for gaming, they really should just use LTSB 2016
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mbk1969
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This tweakdoesn`t work automatically because application should call certain API function to tell certain system service (MMCSS) that it wants its help and to inform about the profile («Games»).
And nobody knows whether games utilize that API. -
aka2k
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Honestly, last time using a server OS was worth it, was with the Windows 2003 Standard. It was leaps and bounds better than Windows XP. I’ve used it for about 7 years, until 2011. Great OS.
That’s probably where this idea of a Server OS being faster comes from.
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Right, those multimedia scheduler settings, the app needs to called right so it uses it.
I don’t think many games use it, but with new game mode, who knows what they might fix/enable. -
Who wants superfetch(Prefetch) working on Windows Server 2016 can do:
1. Open cmd prompt as admin and run:
2. sc config sysmain start=auto
3. reg add «HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters» /v EnablePrefetcher /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
4. reg add «HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Prefetcher» /v MaxPrefetchFiles /t REG_DWORD /d 8192 /f
5. Open powershell and run: powershell Enable-MMAgent –OperationAPI
6. net start sysmain
Restart and check that Superfetch (sysmain) service is running (open services or run C:\>sc query sysmain)
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