Windows 11 goes to be a main improve. But earlier than you may get there, Microsoft needs you to have the mandatory {hardware}. The firm printed a blog post formally detailing the system necessities for Windows 11. It lays out the processors and programs that will probably be appropriate with the brand new working system, whereas additionally serving to filter out among the confusion brought on by the corporate’s preliminary steerage on the mandatory {hardware}.

Microsoft’s checklist of system requirements consists of not less than a 1GHz or sooner CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. Devices may also want model 2.0 of the Trusted Platform Module (TPM), which aids with safety clearance and is offered on most trendy motherboards.

The checklist of Windows 11-ready Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm processors consists of the standard cadre of Intel eighth Gen and past CPUs. Most notably, there’s a bit of Seventh Gen Intel Core Kaby Lake and first-generation AMD Zen CPUs not on the checklist, which is a little bit of a shock contemplating these SoCs have been launched in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The solely Seventh-generation Intel processors listed as appropriate are Intel Core X-series processors, Xeon W-series processors, and, particularly, the Core i7-7820HQ processor, which is the CPU used inside Microsoft’s personal Surface Studio 2.

AMD’s first-gen Ryzen chip didn’t make the chopping block. “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,” writes Microsoft. The firm provides that gadgets that didn’t meet the minimal {hardware} necessities “had 52 percent more kernel mode crashes” in Windows 11, whereas those who met the minimal {hardware} necessities “had a 99.8 percent crash-free experience.”

If you occur to fall into the class of gadgets that aren’t formally supported, you possibly can nonetheless set up Windows 11 with a little bit of software sleuthing. Either hold your model of Windows 11 on the Windows Insider Program or create a Windows 11 ISO file and set up it manually. But think about Microsoft’s warnings on how the system would possibly carry out.

Microsoft defined it settled on the minimal system necessities to prioritize assist for issues like trendy DCH drivers and the aforementioned TPM safety. It’s half of a bigger transfer on Microsoft’s finish to modernize its long-standing legacy software program. The consolidation ought to assist enhance the general reliability of the Windows platform.

Before you intend to replace, Microsoft will launch a brand new model of its PC Health Check app to assist information you towards whether or not your machine is prepared for Windows 11. The app is presently in testing with Windows Insiders customers, although it needs to be rolling out within the coming weeks.