14 DAY TRIAL // The Windows 11 announcement earlier this year took many by surprise, but for some people, what was more unexpected was Microsoft’s confirmation that only some computers already running Windows 10 would support the new operating system.
The Redmond-based software giant said only 8th-gen and newer processors would be able to run Windows 11, though the company later started testing some 7th-gen CPUs on the new OS as part of the Windows Insider program.
And Microsoft now says it has determined that some older chips can indeed handle Windows 11, so the list of compatible processors is now being updated to reflect that not only 8th-gen processors are supported by the new operating system.
“Following the results of our testing, we are making a small number of additions to the compatible processor list, but otherwise will maintain the minimum system requirements as originally set. We have concluded that the compatible 64-bit processors selected, 4GB of memory, 64GB of storage, UEFI secure boot, graphics requirements and TPM 2.0 are the right minimum system requirements to deliver on the principles we established to best support you,” Microsoft explains.
No new AMD processors added
The new chips that are supported by Windows 11 are the following:
- Intel Core X-series, Xeon W-series
- Intel Core 7820HQ (only select devices that shipped with modern drivers based on Declarative, Componentized, Hardware Support Apps (DCH) design principles, including Surface Studio 2)
As far as AMD is concerned, Microsoft says there are no new additions to the list.
“After carefully analyzing the first generation of AMD Zen processors in partnership with AMD, together we concluded that there are no additions to the supported CPU list,” it says.
Windows 11 is already available in the Windows Insider program, and the OS should go live for the supported devices at some point in October.