Microsoft only adds some older CPUs to Windows 11 system requirements

After reconsideration, Microsoft only adds Core X and Xeon W-series processors to the minimum system requirements for Windows 11. Older AMD Ryzen CPUs remain excluded. All other current system requirements remain the same.

Microsoft concludes that the initial system requirements were correct, except for the above CPUs. The only exception is the Intel Core 7820HQ, which is still eligible in systems with pre-installed DCH drivers. Microsoft mentions the Surface Studio 2 as an example. All other system requirements remain the same; Windows 11 requires a supported 64-bit processor, in addition to 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage space, a graphics card with DirectX 12 support, UEFI with Secure Boot and TPM 2.0.

According to Microsoft, tested systems that did not meet the system requirements had up to 52 percent more kernel mode crashes. Immediately afterwards, the company states that PCs that do meet the system requirements do not experience crashes in 99.8 percent of the cases. That would mean that apparently inadequate systems experience no crashes in almost 99.7 percent of all cases. Although Microsoft does not recommend it, users can still upgrade to Windows 11 manually by means of an ISO file.

Apart from performance-related issues, Microsoft emphasizes that many of the requirements are focused on user security. For example, the trusted platform module 2.0 would be essential due to its improved security features over version 1.2.

Finally, Microsoft is releasing the updated version of the PC Health Check App through the Windows Insiders program. The Windows tool was taken offline at the end of June because the app was giving users erroneous information about future compatibility with Windows 11. The renewed app should not only provide the user with the correct information, but also indicate what is or is not needed to be able to upgrade to Windows 11 in the future.