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April 30th, 2009

Windows 7 - Official system requirements

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 7:03 am

Categories: Windows 7

Tags: 32-bit, Microsoft Windows 7, System Requirement, 64-Bit, Microsoft Windows, Network Technology, Processors, Semiconductors, Hardware, Components

Finally we have confirmation from Microsoft as to the official system requirements for Windows 7.

Here they are:

  • 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
  • 1 GB of RAM (32-bit)/2 GB of RAM (64-bit)
  • 16 GB of available disk space (32-bit)/20 GB (64-bit)
  • DirectX 9 graphics device with Windows Display Driver Model 1.0 or higher driver

By today’s hardware standards, these requirements are pretty tame.

Adrian Kingsley-HughesAdrian is a technology journalist and author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology. He also runs a popular blog called The PC Doctor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations

Want to get in touch? Got a tip? Feel free to drop me a note! I ALWAYS respect anonymity. I'm also on Twitter (@the_pc_doc)

Right to Reply: Should any industry representatives wish to comment on any posts on Hardware 2.0, I will be happy to publish their reply verbatim on this blog.

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  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 52 Talkback(s)
Some of us...
Are all grown up now and can't use daddy's credit card to buy new computers with. Some of us just don't need to have a new system every year to do mundane tasks. Ubuntu is not "underpowered", in fact,... (Read the rest)
Posted by: guyonearth Posted on: 05/28/09 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
Is it possible to buy a new PC that doesnt meet these requirements? (NT)  TheTruthisOutThere@... | 04/30/09
I dont think so...  notlehs | 04/30/09
NO, not possible at all!  mwagner@... | 04/30/09
Possibly  LegendsOfBatman | 05/06/09
Official or minimum??  Takalok | 04/30/09
re: Win95  Badgered | 04/30/09
I had forgotten about those days  juantar | 04/30/09
$540 foe a hard drive  bvonr@... | 04/30/09
no flame war... i don't think anyone will argue the point with you  brokndodge@... | 04/30/09
In 1992, I paid over $1700 to put 16MB ...  mwagner@... | 04/30/09
Lamer...  zach.winchester | 04/30/09
Scary, when you think back on it.  FantaStyx | 04/30/09
Expensive hardware  sraduana | 04/30/09
Can you provide a link for your source Adrian?  no_zd_user_name | 04/30/09
RE: Windows 7 - Official system requirements  NStalnecker | 04/30/09
I'd like to see that 2MHz processor with 512 KB RAM  alaniane@... | 04/30/09
RE: Windows 7 - Official system requirements  Loverock Davidson | 04/30/09
If you don't care about AERO ...  mwagner@... | 04/30/09
Want modern?  InAction Man | 05/01/09
RE: Windows 7 - Official system requirements  studsc | 04/30/09
RE: Windows 7 - Official system requirements  bryantrv | 04/30/09
x86 versus x64 ...  mwagner@... | 04/30/09
RE: Windows 7 - Official system requirements  durwin_1999@... | 04/30/09
As usual at least double what MS say  Alan Smithie | 04/30/09
YOu haven't  NStalnecker | 04/30/09
I'd like the extra threads  Alan Smithie | 04/30/09
Not this time  soonerproud | 04/30/09
Ubuntu is the way to go!  InAction Man | 05/01/09
still heavy in the RAM dept.  Been_Done_Before | 04/30/09
Considering ...  mwagner@... | 04/30/09
Assuming your machine is..  FantaStyx | 04/30/09
Your box doesn't have to be new ...  mwagner@... | 05/02/09
RE: Windows 7 - Official system requirements  mwagner@... | 04/30/09
History tells us that there is a multiplier needed  chrome_slinky@... | 04/30/09
Not this time...  MWPollard | 04/30/09
Actually, prior to Windows 7, the multiplier ...  mwagner@... | 04/30/09
Bet it runs Wordpad...  FantaStyx | 04/30/09
Actually, I am running ...  mwagner@... | 05/02/09
RE: Windows 7 - Official system requirements  Maurizio Albera | 04/30/09
Lot's of things Rock  Mectron | 04/30/09
official bull  billw1234 | 04/30/09
That would kick ass!  NStalnecker | 04/30/09
bring back win 95  billw1234 | 04/30/09
They did that.  FantaStyx | 04/30/09
Except...  Wolfie2K3 | 04/30/09
True, but...  FantaStyx | 04/30/09
True.. Win 9x is a 32 bit OS and as such...  Wolfie2K3 | 04/30/09
i got 4 time this for vista pish  not of this world | 04/30/09
XUbuntu runs on 256Mb RAM  obvio.capitao@... | 05/01/09
256Mb...  danyetman | 05/01/09
happy firefly, good show (nt)  juantar | 05/01/09
Some of us...  guyonearth | 05/28/09

What do you think?

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