Windows 8 Will Have Same System Reqs as Win 7

Published on 07-18-2011 02:45 PM

That Vista PC will run Windows 8 just fine.

The jump in system requirements going from Windows XP to Windows Vista was significant. The move from Windows 7 to Windows Vista, however, wasn't anything of the sort. In fact, Windows 7 ran better than Windows Vista on modest systems.

Even though Windows 8 isn't set for release until 2012 at the soonest, Microsoft is targeting a similar set of minimum system requirements as the ones for Windows 7. By extension, this would mean that Windows 8 will have similar hardware requirements as Windows Vista – an operating system that could predate Windows 8 by three years.

Speaking at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference in California, Window's corporate vice-president Tami Reller said, "In both of our Windows 8 previews, we talked about continuing on with the important trend that we started with Windows 7, keeping system requirements either flat or reducing them over time."
"Windows 8 will be able to run on a wide range of machines because it will have the same requirements or lower," she added.
"We've also built intelligence into Windows 8 so that it can adapt to the user experience based on the hardware of the user. So, whether you're upgrading an existing PC, or buying a new one, Windows will adapt to make the most of that hardware," added Reller.

System requirements for Windows 7 are:

1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Categories:
Software

11 Comments

duke0102 - 07-18-2011, 03:40 PM
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Sounds like they learnt there lesson with Vista about raising system requirements, good for MS

Publicity for MS maybe?

a7x - 07-18-2011, 05:11 PM
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16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)

i'm gonna miss XP

s2kvn - 07-18-2011, 07:37 PM
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I'm going to miss Vista. it forced hobo's to buy functional computers. Before vista, the average computer had only 2gb of ram at your local big box store. Second Vista came out, ram jumped to a 4gb average.Without demand change on hardware it will never change. We need an intense OS in order to get computers to the next gen.

a7x - 07-18-2011, 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by s2kvn

I'm going to miss Vista. it forced hobo's to buy functional computers. Before vista, the average computer had only 2gb of ram at your local big box store. Second Vista came out, ram jumped to a 4gb average.Without demand change on hardware it will never change. We need an intense OS in order to get computers to the next gen.

say someone with load of money

Xbox_360 - 07-18-2011, 09:12 PM
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I never had an issue with Vista and it ran fine but I had a mid to high end system running it. It's always nicer though when you OS leaves you with more ram and CPU power to use for programs you want to use. People should look at a PC like a TV set would your CRT from 1980 be able to use an HDMI cord to supply that TV with a 1080p picture? Nope not gonna happen, the TV set is old and outdated. I would say at least every 5 years would be a good idea to upgrade or replace your PC maybe even sooner it will depend what you need from your PC. If you built the PC obviously it would have had a few parts changed well even before they ever became close to being needed to be replaced or upgraded.

duke0102 - 07-19-2011, 02:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Administrator

16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)

i'm gonna miss XP

if 20gig is a huge amount for you then I suggest going back to XP

+1 @ Xbox_360
I like Vista Myself but I had a reasonable computer at the time

a7x - 07-19-2011, 02:35 PM
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i usually setup partition C: with 40gb space.then i have 260gb+ to use on other partition.why move to 8 if 7/vista already there?

duke0102 - 07-19-2011, 03:59 PM
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"why move to 8 if 7/vista already there? " But you can't move to 8 'cos it's not out yet but when it does come out the move would for the same reason you moved from the previous OS and the OS before that. To be fair, Vista and 7 both have 15gig/20gig requirements so you probably won't want to move to either anyway lol

abkhan - 07-19-2011, 08:19 PM
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I dont know if they will change anything on newer version of windows or not ......but I am sure, they will always retain "The Blue Screen of Death"

a7x - 07-19-2011, 09:00 PM
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yup duke.i still prefer XP until today
not really care about support since u dont need it.so Microsoft can abandon XP sooner if they want.

duke0102 - 07-20-2011, 08:02 AM
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"Microsoft can abandon XP sooner if they want." I actually find that amusing, they give a #end of support# timer for Vista and 7 users... but why? lol if someone is on them OSs then why would they want a countdown timer lol