Microsoft finally announced Windows 11 after seeing a leaked copy circulating on the web for days. But the leaked and incomplete builds mean nothing when it comes to figuring out which hardware is compatible with the final version of the operating system. Thankfully, Microsoft has now outlined exactly which processors will be needed to run the official version of Windows 11 towards the end of the year or the Insider release next week.
The list of processors is extensive, although we're not sure it includes all compatible processors at all, and Microsoft has divided it into three separate categories: one for AMD, one for Intel and one for Qualcomm. Here you can find the list of supported processors from AMD: Processors ranging from AMD Ryzen 3 3250C a AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX. Intel's list covers nearly all relevant or semi-relevant Intel chips on the planet, while Qualcomm's limits support to seven Snapdragon processors, excluding the first-generation Snapdragon 835.
Microsoft's official listing does not seem to mention the sixth generation Intel “Skylake” chip series, which came out around 2015. This would also leave out some of Microsoft's Surface devices such as Surface Book 1 e Surface Pro 4, which is interesting.
In any case, Microsoft has also published some minimum requirements for a PC to be able to run Windows 11 properly:
- CPU: con two or more 64-bit 1GHz cores or greater and that are part of the list of compatible processors;
- RAM: 4GB or greater;
- Storage: a space of at least is required 64GB;
- GPU: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later, with WDDM 2.0 driver;
- Firmware: UEFI;
- TPM 2.0
- Display: at least 720p and at least 9 ”.
It is interesting to see how Microsoft has decided to cut out devices with less than 4GB of RAM and less than 64GB of storage space, features instead present in some low-end notebooks or on some recent mini PCs, which however meet the requirements of the processor. We remember that Windows 10 instead required 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. But as Windows Central reports, you will most likely still be able to install Windows 11 on non-officially supported devices with some workarounds.
