Neowin reports that Microsoft has removed the Windows Experience Index feature from the preview version of Windows 8.1

As spotted by McAtkins Online, the preview build of Windows 8.1 does away with the Windows Experience Index, which was set up by Microsoft to give PC owners a quick way to determine the overall hardware performance on their computer. At the time of its introduction over six years ago, Microsoft indicated this would provide an easier method to find out if a software application would be able to run on an owner's PC.

In practice, however, there was very little use of the Windows Experience Index by outside software makers, who continued to use the typical hardware requirements labels to give consumers the info on their products.

  Windows 8.1 preview removes Windows Experience Index