Microsoft Explains Windows 11’s Stricter CPU Requirements, 7th Gen Intel Core and First-Gen AMD Ryzen Support Could Be Added

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Image: Microsoft

Microsoft has shared a new blog post to explain away concerns that enthusiasts have had over the minimum system requirements of its upcoming and increasingly controversial operating system, Windows 11. In its blog post, Microsoft explained that the reason why it is being so strict with Windows 11’s CPU requirements is so it can ensure support for various new security protections, which require chips with an embedded TPM and secure boot, VBS, and specific VBS capabilities. Microsoft is testing devices with 7th Gen Intel Core processors and first-generation AMD Ryzen processors to see if they qualify for Windows 11 support, however. Microsoft has also pulled its PC Health Check app so it can improved with a better level of detail and accuracy.

  1. Security. Windows 11 raises the bar for security by requiring hardware that can enable protections like Windows Hello, Device Encryption, virtualization-based security (VBS), hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI) and Secure Boot. The combination of these features has been shown to reduce malware by 60% on tested devices. To meet the principle, all Windows 11 supported CPUs have an embedded TPM, support secure boot, and support VBS and specific VBS capabilities.
  2. Reliability. Devices upgraded to Windows 11 will be in a supported and reliable state. By choosing CPUs that have adopted the new Windows Driver model and are supported by our OEM and silicon partners who are achieving a 99.8% crash free experience.
  3. Compatibility. Windows 11 is designed to be compatible with the apps you use. It has the fundamentals of >1GHz, 2-core processors, 4GB memory, and 64GB of storage, aligning with our minimum system requirements for Office and Microsoft Teams.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1kQVJBqolY

Using the principles above, we are confident that devices running on Intel 8th generation processors and AMD Zen 2 as well as Qualcomm 7 and 8 Series will meet our principles around security and reliability and minimum system requirements for Windows 11. 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.

Source: Microsoft

Tsing Mui
News poster at The FPS Review.

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