Situatie
Immediately after Windows 11’s announcement, Microsoft had several contradictory web pages up listing different CPU requirements. However, after the first few days, the company’s communication had become more clear. According to Microsoft, Windows 11 will only guarantee support the following CPUs:
- Intel CPUs: 8th generation or newer.
- AMD CPUs: Ryzen 2000 or newer.
Intel launched its eighth-generation chips in 2017 and AMD launched second-generation Ryzen processors in 2018, so Windows is demanding some seriously recent CPUs! Considering Windows 10 supported most CPUs that Windows 7 ran on, this is a big shift.
Solutie
What About 7th Generation and Older CPUs?
Initially, Microsoft’s compatibility documentation said some older CPUs, including 7th generation Intel CPUs, would be partially supported. Specifically, Microsoft said people with these CPUs would be allowed to upgrade, but the upgrade process would warn people that their CPUs were not properly supported and would advise against the upgrade.
As of June 28, 2021, Microsoft says it will test whether Intel 7th generation and AMD Zen 1 processors could run Windows 11 during the Insider Preview process. Specifically, The Windows Team writes:
“As we release to Windows Insiders and partner with our OEMs, we will test to identify devices running on Intel 7th generation and AMD Zen 1 that may meet our principles. We’re committed to sharing updates with you on the results of our testing over time, as well as sharing additional technical blogs.”
Of course, this is pretty confusing on its own: Will Microsoft only allow the upgrade for specific “devices” with these processors rather than all devices with these processors? Who knows! Microsoft hasn’t decided yet.
Windows 10 Is Still Supported Until 2025
It’s worth bearing in mind that Windows 10 will still be officially supported with security updates until October 14, 2025. If you have a PC running an older CPU that can’t upgrade, you can continue using Windows 10 with security updates for years to come.
Leave A Comment?