Upgrading From Windows 7

[bugnut]

I have what was once a high-end Dell business PC desktop from 2013.

I've been running Windows 7 fairly flawlessly since then even though I'm constantly pushing the limits of the CPU.

A couple weeks ago, knowing that Microsoft was dropping support for Windows 7 I installed a new SSD drive. The previous drive was a standard SATA.

Then I installed Windows 10, updated the drivers and performed Avid's optimization suggestions.

But now many of my Pro Tools sessions won't play from start to finish due to CPU overloads.

So I have temporarily switched back the original SATA drive with Windows 7 and am ignoring warnings from Microsoft.

Now I have a decision to make.

Do I continue trying to wrestle with Windows 10 not knowing if it will ever play ball with the 7 year old technology inside the box?

Or would I be better to baby step to Windows 8.1 which Microsoft plans to support for 3 more years?