Since the launch of Windows 11 in 2021, Microsoft has imposed certain hardware specifications for the processor, but some users cheat to install the system on “old” PCs. Indeed, Microsoft officially announced 8th Gen Core (2017) or 2nd Gen Ryzen (Zen+2018) but until now it was possible to cheat and install the system on any PC with a 64-bit processor (or almost), for example with Rufus.
But with the 1124H2 version expected at the start of the school year, that will change accordingly XDA : Microsoft will be setting aside many (old) PCs. The reason is simple: the system will be compiled with a more recent version of the x86 instruction set and a specific instruction (POPCNT) will become mandatory. This is not an artificial restriction: the first feedback on the beta version shows that many drivers (and kernels) benefit from this instruction, which can speed up certain processes.
In practice, if the official limit remains the same, an unofficial limit evolves. On AMD, you’ll need at least one K10 (ie from the Phenom and its evolution, the series dating from 2007). On Intel, a notification appeared Nehalem, i.e. the 1st generation core (2008). So the main exclusion is all machines based on Core 2 (duo or quad) as well as various evolutions of Atom.
Obviously, this problem will mainly affect those who try to override Microsoft’s limitations (for whatever reason) and they may not be in the majority, given Windows 11’s current market share. We can only hope that the system will check the presence of notifications. Before To update, to avoid blocking older PCs. Finally, it should be remembered that the CPU is not the only required component: Windows 11 also requires a TPM chip, and it is possible to (again) override it… for the moment.
