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Windows 11 Upgrade Processor Requirements

Anonymous
2023-12-31T12:50:34+00:00

I run Windows 10 on my desktop PC. My processor is an Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7700 CPU @ 3.60GHz, but it is not on the list of acceptable processors for Windows 11. I should like to know why this processor does not meet the Windows 11 requirements as, having read the published processor data requirements for Windows 11, my processor should be fine.

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Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-06-27T11:44:57+00:00

    it's NOT about cores, or speed, or performance or anything like that.

    it's all about an internal issue with the processor architecture for pre 8th gen...

    In 2018 CPUs were affected by a serious design flaws that enabled the Spectre and Meltdown side-channel attacks. Microsoft had to release patches for Windows that slowed down PCs with older CPUs. This let Windows work around the security problems in these CPUs.

    CPU manufacturers would have to rearchitect their older CPU designs to truly patch these security weaknesses. (and you know they won't)

    Intel stated that Spectre and Meltdown were addressed with hardware level changes starting with Intel 8th-generation CPUs.

    Isn’t it interesting that Windows 11 requires 8th-generation CPUs or newer? I would guess this is totally related. Of course, Microsoft isn’t screaming from the rooftops that PCs with older CPUs are fundamentally insecure at a hardware level compared to new devices. That wouldn’t be good for business. But it seems like Microsoft wants to quietly move everyone to new hardware so Microsoft knows it only has to support Windows 11 on CPUs with these security fixes.

    Just a guess...

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-01-01T16:10:48+00:00

    Thank you. I purchased my PC from HP in October 2018. I hadn't realised HP was not using the most up to date processors! I am left wondering why 7th generation processors cannot take Windows 11, given the processor easily meets the "spec" for Windows 11.

    7 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2023-12-31T12:55:09+00:00

    The processor requirement is the most restrictive; supported processors include 8th-generation and newer Intel Core processors as well as AMD Ryzen 2000-series processors and newer. These are all chips that launched in late 2017 and early 2018. Older computers can't officially run Windows 11.

    5 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2024-06-27T01:41:14+00:00

    You need an intel 8th gen or later. There is a special capability beyond speed that is needed. 8th and 9th gen require a series 300 CPU. 7th gen and below are either 100 or 200.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2024-02-29T06:35:28+00:00

    I must not be too bright, but I believe the question was similar to this: Can an Intel i5 4th gen Quad Core processor be replaced with an Intel i5 8th gen Quad Core processor so that the old computer can upgrade to Windows 11 as long as the old computer has 1 TB?

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