We have been receiving a steady stream of information regarding Windows 11. Recently, via a blog post on Friday, Microsoft revealed that several new CPUs had been added to the Windows 11 compatibility list.
Notably, AMD’s first-generation Ryzen processors aren’t among them.
Microsoft has stated,
…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.
Microsoft
The new CPUs added are all from Intel’s 7th Generation Core series, but not exactly the mainstream processors most PC gamers would be likely to have in their rigs.
The CPUs are part of Intel’s workstation Xeon line except for the Intel Core 7820HQ mobile CPU. This is present in the Surface Studio 2 system.
Here are the new CPUs that have been added to the list,
- Intel Core i7-7820HQ
- Intel Core i5-7640X
- Intel Core i7-7740X
- Intel Core i7-7800X
- Intel Core i7-7820HQ
- Intel Core i7-7820X
- Intel Core i7-7900X
- Intel Core i7-7920X
- Intel Core i9-7940X
- Intel Core i9-7960X
- Intel Core i9-7980XE
The blog post details the “reliability, security, and compatibility” principles that have dictated which CPUs have and have not made the cut, but the stats it uses to explain the reliability are difficult to parse.
Machines that met the requirements provided a 99.8% crash-free experience that is effectively managed by OEMs and IHVs through modern driver update management” and that “those that did not meet the minimum system requirements had 52% more kernel mode crashes (blue screens) than those that did meet the requirements.
Microsoft
Microsoft’s compatibility list will determine if your PC will automatically get the Windows Update prompt for Windows 11.
The company has also said that they won’t block users from installing the OS onto systems that don’t meet the requirements. To get Windows 11 on a system that is currently not compatible, you need to make sure you have,
- TPM 1.2 enabled
- 64GB storage
- 4GB RAM
- At least a dual-core CPU
While this is good news for PC hobbyists, it makes the Windows 11 rollout even more confusing as there are now two “minimum” requirements.
Whether you can manually install the OS and the stricter requirements would decide if you get the automatic Windows 11 update.
The Windows 11 update is just a couple of months away now, so make sure your systems are compatible with the above two requirements.
About Microsoft
Founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975, Microsoft is an American MNC that creates, licenses, supports and sells computers, software, electronics, video games, and corresponding services.
Some of the most popular titles in the world, like Age of Empires, Forza, Gears of War, Halo, Minecraft, Microsoft Solitaire, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and State of Decay, have been developed and published by Microsoft.
Microsoft is also known for establishing the famous console brand Xbox, along with the video game subscription Xbox Game Pass.
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