Microsoft Releases Windows 7 Minimum Requirements

[swarfega]

1st May - With the release candidate of Windows 7 now just days away, Microsoft have finalized the minimum specifications for the new OS.

CPU: 1GHz processor (32 or 64-bit)
Memory: 1Gb of RAM (32-bit); 2Gb of RAM (64-bit)
Disk Space: 16Gb of available disk space (32-bit); 20Gb of available disk space (64-bit)
Graphics: DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

If you plan to use XP Mode then the minimum amount of RAM is 2Gb and 15Gb additional hard disk space.

Its interesting to note that the specificitions are the same as Vista's and we have the additional benefit of more powerful hardware than when Vista was released.

These minimum specifications should be applicable across all SKUs.

 

[Joan Archer]

Thanks for that, it's interesting to know just what they think it should run on.

 

[jimbo45]

1st May - With the release candidate of Windows 7 now just days away, Microsoft have finalized the minimum specifications for the new OS.



If you plan to use XP Mode then the minimum amount of RAM is 2Gb and 15Gb additional hard disk space.

Hi there "Swarf". No disrespect BTW.

You've added another variable here -- this alters the equation a bit.

Just left the pub where Man U were winning 2-0 -- Premiership title is all but assured now whilst the por 'Boro look ike going down. I've still a soft spot however when I'm in the UK for Hull City -- think they might just make it now. Have some great friends from Hull -- probably the most under rated City in the UK with horrendous publicity -- but for those "in the know" not a bad place at all with some of the most friendliest people I've met ANYWHERE -- although the accent is a bit intimidating -- somewhere between "Scouse" and "Geordie".



For a "Bog standard install" there's NO reason why you shouldn't use 64 bit on a 1GB machine.

If you move the goalposts during the discussion you will never get a decent or even a correct answer.

"Added" -- obviously was a bit "pissed" after the pub visit -- I meant this to be a reply to those who said you should install the 64 Bit version only if you have > 2GB RAM.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[swarfega]

Argue that with Microsoft, its their official requirements, not mine.

 

[12eason]

Graphics: DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

I really hope that that puts an end to ATIs continued claim that my x1950pro is 'out of date' and 'not supported' by windows 7. According to them, nothing less that the latest dx10 graphics cards deserve to have driver written for them specifically for W7.

 

[swarfega]

Threaten to move to nvidia

 

[Everlong]

move to nvidia

Fixed

Nice to see the requirements are the same as Vista.

 

[Adamd]

Yeah good thing.

So this should be the minimum computer most people are running now a days anyways.

If anyone is slower than that they really need to upgrade. Even netbooks are a little faster than the 1ghz required CPU!

Things are looking great on the system spec of things!

 

[Hammerhead786]

I really hope that that puts an end to ATIs continued claim that my x1950pro is 'out of date' and 'not supported' by windows 7. According to them, nothing less that the latest dx10 graphics cards deserve to have driver written for them specifically for W7.

Me too. So damn frustrating when you have hardware that's just over 2 years old (for me), good enough to do the job you want it to do and you can't use it to it's full potential!

 

[nate42nd]

I just installed a fresh copy of 64 bit Win7. I put the latest Nvidia driver and latest sound driver, Windows Live mail, writer, and anti-virus and it has used 17.2 GB. The minimum requirement is 20 GB? That kind of shocked me.

 

[napilopez]

I'm quite sure these "minimum requirements" are not truly the minimum. They had similar specs as being the minimum for the beta, yet that installed perfectly on only 512 MB of ram, with much less disk space. I was able to install seven x64 in 13 GB of hard disk space, although I don't quite remember the build number in that case.

 

[baarod]

I shoe-horned 7100 into almost exactly 3GB. No Crashdump, WER, System Restore, Page File, Hiberfile, etc. but it ran fine.

 

[Victek]

Yeah good thing.

So this should be the minimum computer most people are running now a days anyways.

If anyone is slower than that they really need to upgrade. Even netbooks are a little faster than the 1ghz required CPU!

Thinks are looking great on the system spec of things!

.
I've never understood why people want to install a new OS on hardware that meets minimum spec. It's guaranteed they will have a poor experience and then criticize the OS and Microsoft. I wish MS would offer "recommended" specs along with the minimum requirements, as is done with game software. If you want to actually enjoy using Windows 7 then provide 3 or 4 gigs of ram, a fast hard disk and a video card with good 3d acceleration. All IMHO of course