Windows 8 Pro Minimum Requirements

Before you upgrade to Windows 8.1, make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements. Here are the requirements specified by Microsoft: Here are some additional requirements that Windows 8 requires to perform certain functions, such as touch. Other operating system features with specific hardware requirements include: Microsoft`s RAM requirements for Windows 7 are too low and continue to be too low in Windows 8. You should use at least twice the recommended amount to provide room for additional programs and basic services. Windows will run in the officially recommended amount of RAM, but open more than a few programs and your computer will quickly be hindered. Memory is very cheap these days – treat yourself. Finally, for the most important system requirements, your computer must have at least Microsoft DirectX 9 video card support with a WDDM driver so that it can display the best graphics and user interface on your computer screen. Using this required hardware device would ensure that your computer displays the best image quality without the freezes and delays caused by a weak graphics card. However, these minimum system requirements only tell part of the story, and there`s a big gap between a system that can run Windows 8 and one that can run it well, especially when it comes to Metro and Metro apps. We`re going to go through all of Microsoft`s requirements one by one and tell you what you actually want to use to run Windows 8.

Now that you have made sure that all your precious files are kept safe and your computer is ready for the upgrade, there is another crucial step that you need to learn so that the upgrade process can proceed without any issues. In this step, you need to know the minimum system requirements that your computer must be able to meet for Windows 8.1 to run on it. System requirements are listed below. The good news is that Windows 8 has the same requirements as Windows 7, so if you`re upgrading from Windows 7, you`ll probably have no issues with Windows 8. On the other hand, if you want to upgrade from Vista or XP, you need to check your computer`s system information to see if it meets the requirements. Microsoft`s official line for Windows 8 is that it is designed to run on any hardware that can run Windows 7. Thanks to Microsoft`s extensive optimization efforts and the continued availability of a 32-bit version, this is largely true – Microsoft`s official system requirements for the new operating system are identical to those for Windows 7. Even more problematic, however, is the 1024×600 screen resolution used by most netbooks, which is too small to run Metro apps (the minimum is 1024×768 or 1366×768 to use Metro`s snapping feature).

This alone limits the usefulness of Windows 8 on netbooks. As a reminder, here`s our full list of recommended system requirements for a good Windows 8 experience: This basic graphical recommendation, the bare minimum required to enable the Aero Glass theme in Windows Vista and Windows 7, worked pretty well for these operating systems, and for the most part, the Windows 7 UI looks and behaves the same way. Whether you`re using a $500 pair of graphics cards or a weakly integrated Intel graphics chip from 2006. Check your system`s compatibility The first thing you should do is check your PC to see if Windows 8 can work properly. The system requirements for Windows 8 are: Here are the minimum system requirements for Windows 8 according to Microsoft: Checking the system requirements is also helpful, especially if you don`t have a lot of budget to buy a new laptop or PC and you only have enough money to buy new RAM or any other hardware that may be needed. If you`re lucky, you might even be using a computer that can handle the latest Windows operating system without memory or other hardware upgrades. Windows 8 still works on netbooks, but the limitations of small laptops can severely affect its functionality. The Atom processor itself, especially in its dual-core variants, can run Windows 8 pretty well, but the GPUs Atom is so often paired with — Intel`s GMA 950, 3150, and 500 integrated GPUs — all fall well below the minimum GPU requirements we talked about above. The conversation changes a bit when we talk about cheaper embedded GPUs, which in the past were a convenient way to cut costs and reduce power requirements for cheap PCs and laptops, but it`s only in recent years that they`ve been powerful enough to replace even low-end dedicated GPUs. To get a decent Windows 8 experience, I`d recommend using an AMD Radeon HD 3200 (2008) or better, an NVIDIA GeForce 9400 (2008) or better, or any version of Intel`s HD GPU (2010) included in the last three generations of Intel processors. To determine whether your computer meets the system requirements for Windows 8, you can view information about your computer by going to Control Panel.

The system requirements for Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 are almost identical to those for Windows 8 – if your PC is already running Windows 8 (or Windows RT), you can get the free upgrade to Windows 8.1 (or Windows RT 8.1) in most cases. Before we begin, here are a few things to keep in mind. In this tutorial, we`ll walk you through the list of important system requirements you need to know before you permanently install Windows 8.1 on your computer. So, if you`ve thought about upgrading to this latest version of Microsoft`s operating system, this list might help. /us/windows8/getting-started-with-windows-8/content/ You can use Windows Upgrade Assistant to determine whether your computer meets all the basic requirements to run Windows 8.1. Just visit “windows.microsoft.com/en-ph/windows-8/upgrade-assistant-download-online-faq” to learn more about this free utility from Microsoft and access the download links that you can simply click to start the download process. Once you have found out if your computer meets the correct system requirements for Windows 8.1, you can now proceed with the installation process until you have successfully installed this brand new operating system on your old computer! Note that these are the minimum system requirements. If you`re using your computer for gaming or other demanding applications, you may need a faster processor, more RAM, or a more powerful graphics card. Your files, desktop apps, user accounts, and settings are included. Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 include new built-in apps and update or replace some of your existing built-in apps. Your existing Windows Store apps aren`t included, but after the update is complete, you can reinstall all of those apps at once, or just the apps you want. Then you will be asked to log in.

If you`re already signing in to Windows 8 or Windows RT with a Microsoft account, you`ll have your account name filled in for you. If you`ve used a local account before, you can still use it to sign in to collect your hardware drivers. Windows 8 may not have the proper drivers for your PC`s hardware, especially if the components are really old. If Windows Upgrade Assistant reported items, check the system manufacturer`s website for the latest drivers for printers, touchpads, video cards, and sound cards. If you can find at least Vista drivers, they have a good chance of working in Windows 8. Windows 8 is less user-friendly for older, low-end graphics hardware. Microsoft itself says that “some games and other software” require a DirectX 10 GPU, which shipped in late 2006 and 2007. If you have a dedicated GPU from ATI/AMD`s Radeon HD 2000 series or NVIDIA`s GeForce 8 series or better, you should have a pretty good experience with Metro and Metro apps, and your card`s drivers should be available from AMD, NVIDIA or via Windows Update, which isn`t given for older cards.

Back up your files. Although your files and apps come with the update to Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, it`s a good idea to back up your important files to an external drive or to the cloud. Connect to the Internet. It is best to stay connected until the update is complete. If you don`t, you`ll need to log in again to complete the setup later, and the installation will take longer. Temporarily disable your antivirus program. Some antivirus programs may interfere with installation. After installing Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, remember to re-enable the antivirus program.