Microsoft adds more processors to the Windows 11 list

3 years ago 262

Only a fewer caller CPUs marque the grade, but determination volition beryllium ways for enthusiasts and IT pros to usage Windows 11 connected different PCs.

What whitethorn look overly onerous strategy requirements for Windows 11 are astir delivering reliability, information and compatibility alongside the innovations successful the caller operating system. Customers are asking for both, Microsoft told TechRepublic, and that takes the close operation of hardware, bundle and drivers: hence, the restrictions connected which CPUs and PCs are supported.

Microsoft isn't changing its caput astir requiring PCs that person 64-bit processors with circumstantial features for speeding up information features, TPM 2 and modern drivers (plus the aforesaid retention and representation requirements arsenic apps similar Zoom and Teams already need).

SEE: Windows 11 cheat sheet: Everything you request to cognize (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

But aft moving with Intel and AMD and the PC OEMs, arsenic good arsenic looking done telemetry information again, Microsoft is adding 3 other processors to the database of CPUs Windows 11 supports: Intel Core X-series (Intel 10th procreation i9 Cascade Lake processors utilized successful high-end PCs pitched for video and photograph editing), the Xeon W-series CPUs utilized successful workstations and immoderate Intel Core 7820HQ systems.

This past is the lone 7th procreation (Kaby Lake) Intel processor being added to the list, and it's lone PCs similar the Surface Studio 2 that person the close exemplary oregon DCH drivers. DCH stands for Declarative, which is astir however they're installed; Componentized, which means they indispensable person a basal operator that tin beryllium easy updated; and Hardware Support App, which means, accidental a graphics operator can't beryllium buried wrong a elephantine multi-function desktop app that you person to install.

The mode DCH drivers are built is important due to the fact that it means, if they crash, Microsoft and the hardware manufacturers get much accusation backmost from Windows astir what went wrong, truthful they tin hole the operator and debar akin PC crashes successful the future.

Microsoft did get unneurotic with AMD and look astatine whether procreation 1 Zen processors would springiness users a bully capable acquisition successful Windows 11 to marque the list, and some companies decided that they wouldn't.

This wasn't conscionable astir looking astatine the specs to spot that the Core X-Series has the close Speed Step powerfulness throttling diagnostic to enactment the Quality of Service levels that volition fto Windows 11 prevention connected powerfulness usage; it's besides astir what the telemetry shows astir PC reliability. That's accusation from each Windows 10 users who permission telemetry and occupation reporting turned on, arsenic good arsenic from Windows 10 and Windows 11 insiders who study problems, and from the clang information that bundle creators and hardware makers person from their Windows users.

Microsoft is lone talking astir this successful precise wide terms, but PCs that don't conscionable the Windows 11 strategy requirements person 52% much bluish surface (kernel mode) crashes; again, that includes PCs moving Windows 10 that are beneath the Windows 11 hardware level and are already crashing more. Whether they're moving Windows 10 oregon Windows 11, 99.8% of PCs that conscionable the minimum spec don't person crashes. Apps bent 17% much often connected PCs beneath the minimum spec. Microsoft doesn't get arsenic overmuch information astir third-party apps moving connected Windows, but for Microsoft apps similar Office oregon Visual Studio wherever they bash person the clang information, they clang 43% much connected PCs that don't lucifer the caller strategy requirements.

And the main crushed PCs clang is drivers (usually graphics paper drivers), and drivers are wherever the hardware and the operating strategy meet.

That means making Windows reliable arsenic good arsenic unafraid and compatible requires moving to much caller hardware that comes with modern, DCH drivers arsenic good arsenic having the close instructions to marque information features that trust connected virtualization accelerated and reliable (and that are little apt to person older drivers that are incompatible with those information improvements).

SEE: Windows evolves: Windows 11, and the aboriginal of Windows 10 (TechRepublic)

Just looking astatine the specs for processors isn't capable due to the fact that adjacent immoderate 8th procreation CPUs that travel with modern drivers crook retired to clang acold much often than expected (three oregon 4 times much than usual, successful immoderate cases).

That benignant of information is wherefore the Windows 11 CPU database is truthful precise circumstantial successful what mightiness look similar arbitrary ways. Microsoft besides told america it doesn't expect to adhd immoderate different processors to the list.

That doesn't mean it volition beryllium intolerable to tally Windows 11 connected a PC that doesn't person the minimum specification: There volition beryllium a fig of ways Microsoft volition fto you bash that, but these options volition besides marque it wide that you won't beryllium moving a supported configuration, truthful users cognize they're making a trade-off to usage Windows 11 connected that hardware.

The Windows 11 Insider programme lets you effort retired the caller OS connected hardware that doesn't conscionable the afloat strategy requirements, and Microsoft told america Insiders volition beryllium capable to determination guardant with Windows 11 adjacent if they don't person TPM 2.0 and a CPU connected the supported list.

IT pros and method enthusiasts volition besides beryllium capable to instal Windows 11 connected systems that don't person a listed processor oregon TPM 2.0 utilizing the Media Creation Tool. There volition beryllium warnings erstwhile you effort to bash this due to the fact that the PC volition beryllium successful an unsupported state, and it's apt to beryllium little reliable than a PC with a CPU that is connected the supported list. But if you privation to enactment Windows 11 connected a PC and you don't caput the imaginable issues, you can.

PCs that don't request the Windows 11 specs won't beryllium offered upgrades to Windows 11 done Windows Update oregon endeavor tools similar Microsoft Endpoint Manager, but erstwhile Windows 11 is person to shipping determination volition besides beryllium different ways for IT admins to effort retired Windows 11 connected PCs that aren't yet being offered the upgrade. Microsoft told america it volition beryllium investigating those with immoderate ample endeavor customers to marque definite they enactment well.

But galore of the ample enterprises who were initially unhappy astir the caller hardware requirements for Windows 11 are coming around, Microsoft suggested. They volition person a mode to tally Windows 11 connected the unsupported systems wherever they truly request to bash that, for immoderate reason. But they besides privation reliable, compatible PCs that tally applications and the caller Windows acquisition good truthful employees volition beryllium productive and increasingly, they're prepared to signifier retired the older devices that don't present that.

The caller PC Health app

For users who don't privation to unit Windows 11 onto a PC that won't tally it good but bash privation to cognize whether their PC volition tally Windows 11–and if not, wherefore not–the caller merchandise of the PC Health app should beryllium much utile than the erstwhile version.

When you tally it, the PC Health app volition present archer you precisely which components connected your PC are blocking the Windows 11 upgrade, with colour coding to amusement whether you tin bash thing astir that. So if you person a TPM 2.0 information processor but it's not enabled, you'll spot a yellowish informing and a nexus with instructions for turning it on. But if you person a processor that's not connected the list, the informing volition person a reddish icon and a nexus to the database of CPUs that are supported.

There are inactive immoderate updates that Microsoft needs to marque to the PC Health app truthful that it correctly recognizes PCs with an Intel Core 7820HQ processor that tin beryllium upgraded, similar the Surface Studio 2–that's coming successful a fewer weeks. Until then, if you tally it connected 1 of those PCs, you'll get a informing that the app can't place your strategy properly, with a nexus that volition instrumentality you to a database of circumstantial PCs with that processor that tin tally Windows 11. That's wherefore the PC Health app is presently inactive aimed astatine Windows Insiders alternatively than wide Windows users.

But there's immoderate much bully news: It present works for PCs moving Windows connected Arm oregon Windows successful S Mode.