This will happen, in part, via allowing Windows Insiders to install Windows 11 on Intel 7th Gen-based systems, and work with partner OEMS.

The company says it will 'test to identify devices' running on those chips that can perform well on Windows 11. What's up in the air, though, is if Intel 7th generation and AMD Zen 1-based systems can also run Windows 11 well enough for Microsoft's standards.

Intel 8th generation chips, AMD Zen 2 and Qualcomm 7 and 8 Series-based systems will support Windows 11, according to the post. And the picky standards for supported CPUs is meant to push everyone to hardware that has 'adopted the news Windows Driver model,' the company will be working towards a much-less crash-prone experience.Īnd meeting those three standards isn't possible, it explained, on all systems. In the above blog post, Microsoft declared that it had three guiding principles for Windows 11: security, reliability and compatibility.įor example, Microsoft is aiming for a standard that it says 'has been shown to reduce malware by 60% on tested devices,' which is part of why they demand a TPM and secure boot. The conversation surrounding what PCs can run Windows 11 is also based on a very specific set of CPUs.

Microsoft pchealthcheck