Windows Processor Requirements
This specification details the processors that can be used with Customer Systems that include Windows Products (including Custom Images). Updates to this specification may be released in the future as requirements change.
For each listed edition, Company must use only the processors listed, as specified in the tables below. The requirements below apply whenever the edition below is pre-installed or provided on external media, including as downgrade or down edition software.
For clarity, Company must also meet all processor and other requirements specified in Minimum Hardware Requirements for Windows, available at Windows minimum hardware requirements.
If after the inclusion of a processor series in this specification ("Listed Processor"), a processor becomes commercially available that uses the same naming convention or identifier as a Listed Processor but has additional or different features or functionality ("New Processor"), Company must not use New Processor for Customer Systems without Microsoft's prior written permission. If Company believes a processor has been omitted from this list, please contact Company’s Microsoft OEM or ODM Account Manager.
The processors listed in the tables below, represent the latest processor generations and models which are supported for the listed Windows Edition.
Some product editions or edition/processor configurations listed below may have no or limited support. Information on support is available at Microsoft Support Policy and Microsoft Lifecycle FAQ. For specific hardware support, please refer to your Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) provider.
Windows Client Edition Processors
Windows IoT Core Processors
| Windows Edition | Intel Processors | Qualcomm Processor | Broadcom | NXP Processors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 1703 | Up through currently enabled Intel Joule, Atom, Celeron and Pentium Processors[3] | Up through currently enabled Qualcomm Snapdragon Processors[3] | Up through currently enabled Broadcom Processors[3] | N/A |
| Windows 10 1709 | Up through currently enabled Intel Joule, Atom, Celeron and Pentium Processors[3] | Up through currently enabled Qualcomm Snapdragon Processors[3] | Up through currently enabled Broadcom Processors[3] | N/A |
| Windows 10 1803 | Up through currently enabled Intel Joule, Atom, Celeron and Pentium Processors[3] | Up through currently enabled Qualcomm Snapdragon Processors[3] | Up through currently enabled Broadcom Processors[3] | N/A |
| Windows 10 IoT Core 1809 (SAC) | Up through currently enabled Intel Atom, Celeron and Pentium Processors[3] | Up through currently enabled Qualcomm Snapdragon Processors[3] | Up through currently enabled Broadcom Processors[3] | Up through currently enabled NXP i.MXProcessors[3] |
| Windows 10 IoT Core 1809 (LTSC) | Up through currently enabled Intel Atom, Celeron and Pentium Processors[3] | Up through currently enabled Qualcomm Snapdragon Processors[3] | Up through currently enabled Broadcom Processors[3] | Up through currently enabled NXP i.MXProcessors[3] |
[3] Information on which processors are currently enabled is available at SoCs and custom boards.
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise
Review the Windows Client Edition Processors support matrix above for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise.
NOTE: The processor support matrix only reflects the core OS support for the processor. There may be other dependencies like hardware-specific drivers which are not reflected in this matrix. Please contact your OEM or processor manufacturer for hardware-specific support.
Windows Server Processors
| Windows Edition | Intel Processors | AMD Processors | Hygon Processors[6] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Server 2012 R2[4] | Up through the following 7th Generation Intel Processors (Intel Core i3-7xxx/Celeron/Pentium; Xeon E3 v6); Xeon SP 32xx, 42xx, 52xx, 62xx, and 82xx; Xeon D 15xx; and Atom C33xx | Up through the following AMD 7th generation processors (AMD A-Series Ax-9xxx & E-Series Ex-9xxx & FX-9xxx), AMD Ryzen Family, AMD EPYC 7xx1, AMD EPYC 7xx2, and AMD EPYC 7xx3 | N/A |
| Windows Server 2016[5] | Up through the following 9th Generation Intel Processors (Core i3-9xxx, Pentium G5xxx, Celeron G49xx); Xeon E22xx; Xeon SP 32xx, 43xx, 53xx, 63xx, and 83xx; Xeon D 21xx; and Atom C33xx | Up through the following AMD 7th generation processors (AMD A-Series Ax-9xxx & E-Series Ex-9xxx & FX-9xxx), AMD Ryzen Family, AMD EPYC 7xx1, AMD EPYC 7xx2, and AMD EPYC 7xx3 | N/A |
| Windows Server 2019 | Up through the following 9th Generation Intel Processors (Core i3-9xxx, Pentium G5xxx, Celeron G49xx); Xeon E23xx; Xeon SP 32xx, 43xx, 53xx, 63xx, and 83xx; Xeon D 21xx; and Atom C33xx | Up through the following AMD 7th generation processors (AMD A-Series Ax-9xxx & E-Series Ex-9xxx & FX-9xxx), AMD Ryzen Family, AMD EPYC 7xx1, AMD EPYC 7xx2, and AMD EPYC 7xx3 | Hygon C86 7xxx |
| Windows Server 2022 | Up through the following 9th Generation Intel Processors (Core i3-9xxx, Pentium G5xxx, Celeron G49xx); Xeon E23xx; Xeon SP 32xx, 43xx, 53xx, 63xx, and 83xx; Xeon D 21xx; and Atom C33xx | Up through the following AMD 7th generation processors (AMD A-Series Ax-9xxx & E-Series Ex-9xxx & FX-9xxx), AMD Ryzen Family, AMD EPYC 7xx1, AMD EPYC 7xx2, and AMD EPYC 7xx3 | N/A |
[4] The processor list for Windows Server 2012 R2 is final. New system submissions are no longer accepted for certification.
[5] The processor list for Windows Server 2016 is final. Company may submit for certification (in the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program) Server Systems running Windows Server 2016 and the identified processors until December 31, 2021; after such date, no new Server Systems will be certified running Windows Server 2016.
[6] China Market Only
NOTE: The list of supported processors above does not in itself determine Microsoft support for Windows Server. The listing is a prerequisite for system certification. Only systems based on the above approved processors can be certified for Windows Server. Unless otherwise noted, Microsoft will continue to evaluate the processor list for a given OS release and update the list as new appropriate processors are available in market.
Additional Resources
Windows Server support and installation instructions for the AMD Rome family of processors
Windows Server 2016 System Requirements
Comparison of Standard and Datacenter editions of Windows Server 2016