Using Windows 8.1 on Asus UX501VW which only has Windows 10 drivers listed

[vaconcamp]

I'm looking to purchase the Asus UX501VW laptop, but only if I'm able to use Windows 8.1 with it. It comes with W10 preinstalled, so I'm going to have to reformat with W8.1 and install the drivers. My question is, can I get all the right drivers from the specific component manufacturers' websites? Such as AMD for GPU, Realtek/Qualcomm for wifi/bluetooth, etc. Can I find the same drivers as the ones listed on Asus' website except for Windows 8.1? Here is the link I'm looking at:

https/www.asus.com/us/Notebooks/ASUS-ZenBook-Pro-UX501VW/HelpDesk_Download/

 

[USAFRet]

1. You will have to purchase a whole new OS for 8.1
2. Drivers, you'll have to look it up for each piece of hardware and see what you find.
3. Why 8.1 vs 10?

 

[The_Man12]

The drivers MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT work with Windows 8.1, they're designed for Windows 10. You could contact ASUS support. Another thing you could do would be downloading the drivers from the specific component manufacturers' websites, just like you said, although I'm not sure if that'll work very well...

 

[vaconcamp]

1. You will have to purchase a whole new OS for 8.1
2. Drivers, you'll have to look it up for each piece of hardware and see what you find.
3. Why 8.1 vs 10?

1) I already own a few copies of 8.1 Pro.

2) Where can I find a list of the specific hardware model numbers for all the components in the laptop? Otherwise I'll have to count on Windows to provide working drivers out of the box or generic drivers from the manufacturer's website.

3) Preference (a pretty big one).

 

[USAFRet]

1. You will have to purchase a whole new OS for 8.1
2. Drivers, you'll have to look it up for each piece of hardware and see what you find.
3. Why 8.1 vs 10?

1) I already own a few copies of 8.1 Pro.

2) Where can I find a list of the specific hardware model numbers for all the components in the laptop? Otherwise I'll have to count on Windows to provide working drivers out of the box or generic drivers from the manufacturer's website.

3) Preference (a pretty big one).

2. Speccy and HWInfo can probably find what you need.
Along with the manufacturer specs.
But the 8.1 drivers will probably work.

3. If your 'preference' for 8.1 is because it is less privacy intrusive than 10, see this:
http/www.pcworld.com/article/2978239/windows/microsoft-slips-user-tracking-tools-into-windows-7-8-amidst-windows-10-privacy-storm.html
http/arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/08/microsoft-accused-of-adding-spy-features-to-windows-7-8/
http/www.extremetech.com/computing/213183-once-more-with-tracking-microsoft-backports-privacy-invading-windows-10-features-to-windows-7-8

 

[vaconcamp]

2. Speccy and HWInfo can probably find what you need.
Along with the manufacturer specs.
But the 8.1 drivers will probably work.

3. If your 'preference' for 8.1 is because it is less privacy intrusive than 10, see this:
http/www.pcworld.com/article/2978239/windows/microsoft-slips-user-tracking-tools-into-windows-7-8-amidst-windows-10-privacy-storm.html
http/arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/08/microsoft-accused-of-adding-spy-features-to-windows-7-8/
http/www.extremetech.com/computing/213183-once-more-with-tracking-microsoft-backports-privacy-invading-windows-10-features-to-windows-7-8

Thanks, I'll try HWInfo. So there is no way to get this info before acquiring the computer? Anyway, I'm staying with my preference of W8.1. Every update mentioned in those articles I already have hidden and have never been installed. I have a script with a list of every tracking related update (or other unwanted updates) that I run occasionally because Microsoft likes to sneakily unhide some of them (such as KB3035583 - GWX, which gets unhid every time I update). I always look over and download my updates on my own schedule - something which W10 doesn't allow without other software.