Windows 10 home system requirements. Minimum System Requirements

Windows 10 is the latest operating system from Microsoft. The OS was first released in the fall of 2014 and has since undergone many changes, both functional and external. On at the moment The latest version is the Fall Creators Update. “Ten” unites desktop computers and mobile devices with its versatility and ease of use using both classic input devices and touch screens.

Below you will find out everything that every user needs: system requirements, distinctive features, existing versions, update methods and much more useful information. All data presented in the article fully corresponds to the information from the developers’ website.

As before, Microsoft's OS is not too demanding on computer resources. Configurations differ slightly between 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Let's highlight the minimum requirements for running a computer on a "top ten" for 32-bit versions:

• processor 1 GHz or more;
• 1 GB RAM;
• video adapter with the ability to support DirectX 9 and higher;
• 16 GB of free hard drive space;
• screen with a resolution of 800 by 600 pixels minimum.

For a 64-bit OS, the requirements differ only in an increased amount of RAM to a minimum of 2 GB and 20 GB of hard disk space for system files.

• processor with 1 GHz frequency or higher;
• 4GB of RAM for 32 and 64-bit versions;
• 16 GB and 20 GB for installing 32 and 64-bit OS, respectively;
• minimum resolution 800 by 600 pixels;
• DirectX 9 and higher support.

Depending on your device, the hardware required to enter information may vary. For personal computers and laptops – this is a keyboard and mouse/touchpad. For touch tablets and laptops, this is the screen. You can always track official information regarding equipment requirements on the official website.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the basic hardware requirements, you must take into account the presence of some components and capabilities for full operation operating system. For example, in English versions of the OS, a supported microphone is required to activate the Cortana voice assistant. Windows Hello only works with a dedicated infrared camera for facial recognition. To install all applications, you need an account in the Microsoft Store, as well as Xbox Live. Full list what you need can be found on the official website via the link.

Which bit depth to choose

Let's look at the main differences and the concept of system capacity, without going into technical details, but focusing on what will be important to the average user.

Bit capacity is the ability of a processor to process commands in a certain bit depth mode. In technical terms and from the hardware side, 64-bit OSes and processors work much faster and solve more problems per unit of time, unlike 32-bit ones.

However, for the average user the difference is not so noticeable. Firstly, the bit depth changes the maximum amount of RAM. For a 32-bit OS this value is 3.75 GB, and for a 64-bit OS it is more than 4 GB. Secondly, old hardware and software do not support modern 64-bit programs and hardware. Thirdly, x32 OS is only capable of running 32-bit programs, while x64 is compatible with both 32 and 64-bit applications.

Accordingly, choosing the correct bit depth depends on your needs and equipment. If we are talking about an old PC with a small amount of memory, which is used for simple tasks (Internet, office programs), then a 32-bit operating system would be appropriate. If the OS is suitable for a computer with a modern processor and a large amount of RAM, then install x64.

Many people are concerned about the question: which version is better for games? If we are talking about undemanding projects and games released 5-6 years ago, the difference will be unnoticeable - they all require no more than 4GB of RAM.

Modern games often run only on Windows 10 x64. A prime example is the Forza Horizon and Motorsport series. If you are a fan of Microsoft games, then having a 64-bit version is a must for you. For the games Sims 3 or Sims 4 (as well as similar ones), 32 bits are also suitable (from the official system requirements).

How to view the bit depth

To check the bit depth of the installed “tens”, you need to perform the following steps:

1. Right-click on the “This PC” shortcut on your desktop and select “Properties.”

1. In the “System type” line you will see the corresponding inscription.

1. If you have a 32-bit build, but want to switch to 64, then you need to check whether your processor supports this bit depth. To do this, open the Run window using the Win + R combination and enter the command “cmd”, then press Enter.

1. In the command line, type “set” and press Enter.

1. On the screen you will see information regarding hardware and software. The "PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE" line should say x64 or AMD. This means your processor supports 64-bit systems.

Now you know how to choose the right bit depth and what it affects. Let's move on to choosing an assembly.

Assembly

The first working version of Windows 10 was the Technical Preview. It was not created for everyday use, but for testing and showing to the public. Now it makes no sense to install the Technical Preview build, since it is full of bugs, shortcomings and lacks most of the current functions.

The latest release of the OS is the Fall Creators Update, released in 2017. Until mid-summer 2016, Microsoft distributed free licensed copies of the “dozens”. However, a license is now required. To download Windows, you need to follow the link and download the tool Windows installations 10.

How much does the installed OS weigh?

The size of the operating system will depend on the version you choose. The main current versions of the “ten” are presented below:

• homemade. Basic version installed on laptops and laptops;
• professional. Supports small business features;
• corporate. The version has expanded functionality for business and increased security.

To find out how much your system weighs, you need to follow these steps:

1. Go to the system partition hard drive.

1. Right-click on the “Windows” folder and select “Properties” from the menu.

1. In the “General” tab you will see the size of the operating system on the disk.

How much memory is needed for the system partition?

When allocating hard drive space, it is important to consider the possibility of installing OS updates, third-party programs, and the page file. Therefore, it is not recommended to create a 16 or 20 GB system partition as specified in the system requirements. Be sure to leave at least 15-20 GB of free space. This way you won’t encounter the problem when you don’t have enough space on your hard drive to install software.

File systems

By default, when installing Windows 10, it creates a partition with the NTFS file system. However, all the latest versions of the “ten” already support ReFS, which is characterized by increased reliability, high speed of working with a large amount of information and the ability to quickly restore data. ReFS will be useful for those who store a large number of large files on their hard drives. The FS itself will take up approximately 700 MB of storage space. You can format a hard drive in ReFS using standard operating system tools:

1. Right-click on the non-system hard drive partition and select “Format”.

1. In the "File system" line, install ReFS.

As a result, you will get a completely empty partition with the ReFS file system. In the near future it will be possible to use this file system on the system partition of the hard drive.

Upgrading from a previous version of Windows

If you do not want to completely reinstall the operating system, then use the update tool. To do this:

1. Open the page. Click the "Update Now" button.

1. Launch Windows 10 Upgrader.

1. After scanning, the program will prompt you to download the latest OS version. To agree, click on “Update now”.

Using this utility, you can find out whether your OS supports the transition to Windows 10. The matrix of updates to the “ten” looks like this:

All systems presented in the table support updating toWindows10 without a complete reinstallation.

Comparison with previous OS

In addition to innovations and various features, there are functions that are no longer available in the “top ten”. We list the main changes that will affect the average user:

• "Viewer" removed;
• Media Center removed;
• the panel and the Start menu have been changed;

The relatively new Windows operating system, version 10, which became available for download and installation at the end of July 2015, caused an unprecedented stir and at the same time a lot of discussion about its perfection and the feasibility of installation. However, the minimum requirements for Windows 10 in terms of computer systems, or rather, hardware, do not look too high as one might expect.

What are the system requirements?

Before considering the issue regarding Windows 10, let’s first define what the very concept of “system requirements” includes. The simplest interpretation of this term is a description of the expected set of characteristics of the hardware segment (in other words, “hardware”), which includes the main components of a computer or smartphone, which must have certain characteristics and parameters, and such that they can support the operation of the software environment (in our case Windows 10 operating system).

In other words, the Windows 10 requirement concerns the processor (number of cores, clock speed), RAM (type, volume), video adapter (type, amount of allocated memory, frequency of the built-in graphics processor, support for a certain version of DirectX), display (type, resolution, support additional functions), hard drive (enough free space for copying OS files), etc. That is, we are talking specifically about the “hardware” that is inside a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

The concept of system capacity

When installing the latest operating systems from Microsoft, you should take into account the so-called system architecture, which is directly related to the same processor or RAM.

Today there are two types: 32 bits (denoted x86) and 64 bits (denoted x64). The difference between them is quite serious. The most important difference is that 32-bit systems support the installation of RAM sticks up to only 4 GB (in fact, the system “sees” about 3 GB, and even then not always).

That is why if you want to use the RAM to the maximum (if it is more than 4 gigs), installing the 32-bit version of Windows 10 does not make any sense. Although the system itself seems to be the most modern, nevertheless, as they say, “squeezing” out of a computer everything that it is capable of in terms of performance will not be possible in any way.

File systems

When considering the system requirements for a computer, one cannot ignore the concept of file systems. Today the most common are FAT32, NTFS and the relatively recent ReFS. Mobile systems use exFAT more.

The main thing here is that FAT32 has more capacity for storing small data, but when accessing heavy files, the rotation of the hard drive slows down. When using NTFS or ReFS, access to large files is much faster, and the speed of reading data from hard drive sectors is not reduced.

In addition, it should be taken into account that the installation requirement of Windows 10 is such that, for example, a 32-bit version of the operating system can be installed in the NTFS file system, but a 64-bit version in FAT32 will not work. You will have to format the disk or partition. By the way, the same applies to installing a version of Windows below “ten”.

Required system requirements for Windows 10 Technical Preview

As you know, initially “ten” was available only in the form of a Technical Preview, which was an update of the existing OS to version 10.

At the same time, without paying attention to the general “hardware” configuration for now, the requirements for Windows 10 were reduced to one main condition - the presence of all installed service packs and service packs existing system. That is, first you had to install all the uninstalled updates, and only then start downloading the distribution kit and then installing the “dozens”. In addition, the update is only possible on systems starting from version seven. Vista and XP do not support such an upgrade.

Windows 10 Standard Types: Minimum System Requirements

Over time, the first version of the system was withdrawn, and in its place standard versions such as Home, Pro, Enterprise, etc. appeared.

Actually, the minimum requirements for Windows 10 of any version are practically the same. Here everything depends only on the selected architecture. In any case, the minimum requirements for Windows 10 with 32 and 64 bit architectures are as follows:

As you can see, nothing supernatural.

Despite the fact that the “ten” can easily work in aging computer systems, nevertheless, in order to make the most of its capabilities, it is advisable to have

higher hardware parameters. Most often this concerns processors and graphics chips, which must have mandatory support latest version DirectX 12.

It's more difficult with processors. As a rule, system Windows requirements 10 to multi-core platforms do not play a special role. Rather, the problem here is how to use all cores to optimize performance. But this is a separate topic for discussion.

Additional requirements to access some features

Separately, it is worth mentioning what the specialized system requirements of Windows 10 are (x64 or x32). But they mostly relate to the functioning of certain specialized services. Some of them may be absent in different versions, some may work exclusively only in certain regions (for example, Cortana - only in the USA, Britain, several European countries and China).

A microphone is required to recognize voice commands high quality with a set of appropriate drivers, to use the Hello service - an infrared camera with backlight, capable of analyzing the iris of the eye, to scan fingerprints - a corresponding built-in module, to switch to tablet mode you will need an appropriate monitor or screen that supports the multi-touch function.

In some cases, in Windows 10, the requirements are limited to having an activated Microsoft account. Secure boot requires a Microsoft Center Certificate and software that supports UEFI v2.3.1 Errata B.

To use BitLocker, for example, for Windows 10 (64), system requirements can be reduced to the mandatory presence of a USB device and the so-called trusted TPM module version 1.2 or 2.0. Hyper-V mode is enabled only on the basis of a 64-bit system with the mandatory ability to convert SLAT (second level) addresses.

When installing the same 64-bit system, the processor must support SAHF/LAHF, PrefetchW and CMPXCHG16b technologies.

If we talk about using the Miracast function, the requirement of Windows 10 boils down to the following: you must have a graphics chip that supports the installation of a WDDM driver (Windows Display Driver Model) and an adapter wireless communication with Wi-Fi Direct support. By the way, the same applies to Wi-Fi document printing.

Using the InstantGo module implies the presence of a connection standby mode, which is not present in all computer systems. By the way, the Windows 10 requirement for the InstantGo module plus support for TPM 2.0 (no lower) is a prerequisite for encrypting the device or terminal itself. In general, as you can see, there are enough hidden requirements. And not all have been described yet.

What else do you need to know?

It should be added that many users, out of ignorance, probably consider versions 8 and 10 to be absolutely identical. This is clearly a fallacy. Perhaps the system requirements of Windows 10 and Windows 7 (or 8) are very similar in terms of the hardware configuration used, but this is not entirely true.

This is only due to the fact that the “top ten” has a very large number of additional and often hidden features, and using them without some prerequisites is simply impossible. Of course, there are enough of them in the “seven” and “eight”, but with the tenth version of Windows they, as they say, were not even close. The question here is different - how popular will all these additional modules be among the average user, and in general, is it worth using them?

As for mobile technology, the “ten” is also not too picky when it comes to these gadgets. But here there is a direct connection between the diagonal and screen resolution, on which the minimum amount of RAM depends. In other words, the graphic component plays a dominant role here. Of course, it is desirable to have a powerful processor, say, with at least four cores, but this is not a prerequisite. There are no problems with permanent memory either - only 4 GB.

Conclusion

In general, as is clear from the above, in Windows 10 the minimum system requirements are not too high (neither for the desktop version nor for the mobile version). Another thing is that access to some functional features new system is limited only because something is missing, something does not support such and such a function, or has underestimated characteristics and parameters. But in general, in most existing computer and mobile systems, the “ten” can be installed and used without any problems, even on a minimal configuration.

Hello friends. Many of you have probably noticed that over the past year and a half, the performance of Windows 10 has noticeably decreased. If you compare the work on the same computer of a version of Windows 10 with the latest cumulative update 1709 in 2017 (or an earlier one) with any of the 2018 versions - 1803 or 1809, you will notice that the latter behave more ponderously and often freeze , are subject to system failures. Of course, Ten is not the best operating system for old or weak devices. However, when it was released in 2015, Microsoft did not increase the minimum system requirements. For a long time they de jure remained the same as for Windows 7 and 8.1. Although de facto they did not correspond to reality. Now the software giant has decided to make some adjustments to them. Which ones?

Minimum system requirements for Windows 10: what's wrong with Microsoft's documentation policy?

So, in anticipation of the release of the May 2019 Update, Microsoft decided to adjust the system requirements for Windows 10 1903 in terms of disk space. And she recorded this on her official resource - in the Hardware Dev Center - by amending the specification for OEMs and suppliers, which regulates the minimum hardware requirements for computer devices based on Windows 10 in its various varieties - Windows 10 Mobile, Windows 10 in regular consumer and enterprise editions, Windows Server 2016, as well as Windows 10 IoT Core. This specification specifies the basic hardware requirements for components various types devices - smartphones (based on Windows 10 Mobile), desktops, tablets, hybrid devices, all-in-one PCs, servers, terminal-type devices, etc.

From this entire zoo of technology, in the context of the site’s theme, we are interested in the system requirements for devices running on desktop editions of Windows 10 – Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education. The news about the adjustment to the minimum hardware requirements gave me the idea to review and analyze the significant ones. Well, express your subjective opinion on this issue.

1. Processor

Requirements for processors of OEM devices with pre-installed “Ten” are 1 GHz or more or SoC systems with 86- or 64-architecture, supporting PAE, NX and SSE2, CMPXCHG16b, LAHF/SAHF and PrefetchW (for 64-bit systems).

A 1 GHz processor for today's Windows 10 is just a mockery nervous system user. And the legal consolidation of this indicator is, in fact, a go-ahead for OEM manufacturers so that they can release low-budget devices based on low-efficiency processors to the market, selling the average person the idea of ​​compensating for low frequencies with some modern optimization technologies, etc. My opinion: the idea of ​​reducing the cost of production computer devices should not border on insanity. And Microsoft could, at least on the threshold of the second twenty of the 21st century, do at least something in its power towards adequate solutions.

2. RAM

The minimum RAM requirements for Windows 10 devices are 1 GB for 32-bit systems and 2 GB for 64-bit systems.

3. Hard drive

The minimum hard drive space requirements for Windows 10 1809 and earlier versions have not changed. They are the same volume indicators: 16 GB for 32-bit systems, 20 GB for 64-bit systems. But, as mentioned, the specification has been adjusted in terms of the minimum requirements for Windows 10 1903. For the “Ten” with the implemented May cumulative update of 2019 and beyond, the minimum disk size will be the same for systems of any capacity, and this is 32 GB.

And here, friends, it’s absurd again. When determining the minimum requirements for a hard drive, Microsoft fixes the base amount of disk space that is needed only for installing Windows 10. The company cannot know how much space each individual user needs for their personal needs, such as installing third-party software or storing data. But Microsoft could definitely estimate the real weight of the system after installing drivers, updates, and in conditions of average clutter in the system catalogs “AppData”, “WinSxS”, “Temp”, etc. Otherwise, why would Microsoft collect diagnostics from user devices?

With the 32 GB figure, Microsoft essentially gave the green light to OEM manufacturers to equip tablets and hybrids with cheap flash drives of this volume. And such devices have already brought a lot of headaches to their owners.

4. Graphics devices

The minimum requirement for a video card is support for DirectX 9 and higher. Well, everything here is, in principle, fair. But looking at the characteristics of the displays of touch devices, we again encounter insanity. For tablet displays, hybrids, touchscreen netbooks, etc. The minimum requirements are: 7 inches diagonal size and 800x600 resolution. Imagine working with the “Ten” in such conditions. This is only to work only in tablet mode and only with UWP content adaptive to such a screen, of which, alas, there are few sensible applications from the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft has never been known for its humane requests for PC hardware. Unlike Linux, which is installed even on the most low-power computer, the system requirements of Windows 10 are quite high.

What determine the Windows 10 system requirements?

First of all, they are affected by the graphical shell and new features. 10 was developed in accordance with new developments in the field of software. All its capabilities are provided by high hardware performance.

Although Ten is claimed to be a more economical operating system than 7 or 8, it is gradually acquiring updates that consume more and more resources. All the new products announced in it require RAM, hard drive space and processor speed.

The narrator will speak too slowly, Cortana will be annoying with delays in executing commands, and Movie Studio will constantly freeze if your computer does not have the highest performance.

In general, you have to pay for everything. With only the minimum Windows 10 system requirements, you won't get high speeds and lightning-fast performance. Don't forget about additional programs that are inevitably installed on any PC.

Experienced users multiply the indicators by two. And judging by Microsoft's notes, this will not be enough. Windows 10 system requirements for a laptop are completely similar to those specified for computers.

How to find out your system requirements to install Windows 10

You can determine how suitable your computer is for installing 10 before you start. The installer will analyze your hardware and tell you if you have enough resources.

You can find some parameters in the system properties. Right-click on the “This PC” desktop icon and select the last option.

In the properties window you will learn about RAM and processor.

The capacity of the hard drive can be found in the explorer. Right-click on the shortcut to the disk with the installed OS and select properties.

Look at the values.

To find out everything along with video indicators, use the dxdiag utility. Press WIN+X and enter the command.

In the window you will see absolutely everything technical specifications your PC.

If your PC has normal settings for Windows 10, but the OS is still very slow and does not work correctly, you may have problems with the registry. Read and clean it.

In connection with the upcoming Anniversary Update, which is expected at the end of July, but you most likely don’t know yet, the minimum system requirements for the operating system will be raised.

According to the Inquirer, after the update, the minimum required amount of RAM to run the 32-bit version of Windows will be 2 gigabytes instead of 1 gigabyte currently. Thus, the 32-bit version will require the same amount of memory as the 64-bit version. No other specification changes are expected yet.

Perhaps your old computer with 1 gigabyte of RAM can work with 32-bit Windows 10, but you can most likely forget about multitasking.

Of course, you can add memory in most cases, but sometimes this can be expensive or technically impossible, especially in the case of older laptops or tablet devices. Users of such devices find themselves in a very awkward position.

They may now regret the free upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7/8.1.

Increased security

The Anniversary Update for Windows 10 will likely be released on the anniversary of the operating system's release, and the upcoming update will soon be tested by members of the Windows 10 Insider program.

Also, a year after the release of Windows 10, Microsoft plans to equip all new computers with TPM 2.0 for improved security. New technology is more secure than TPM 1.2 and supports SHA-256 hashing.

This will affect manufacturers of new computers, but there will be exceptions: TPM will be an optional element for Windows 10 IoT devices, such as the Raspberry Pi.