Windows 7 Hardware Requirements

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Windows 7 is the latest operating system from Microsoft, which is scheduled for an October 22 release. With every new OS release Microsoft gives out a minimum system requirements list to be able to run it. Here is the list for Windows 7:

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

Now, if you plan to run XP Mode, you will need at least 2 GB RAM along with an extra 15 GB of additional hard drive space.

If you are average users then you can go with the 32-bit version or if your work consists of multimedia use or you intend to use it for gaming then you might consider moving to the 64-bit version. The 32-bit version supports a maximum of 4GB (in reality close to 3.25 GB) of RAM and the 64-bit version supports upto 192GB.

If you want to check if your present hardware would support Windows 7 then you can use The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft. It supports Windows Vista and Windows XP Service Pack 2. It requires .NET 2.0 Framework or higher if running on Windows XP

The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor will scan your system hardware, installed programs and attached devices. Once complete, the Advisor will report on how well your PC meets the system requirements, if there are any known compatibility issues with your programs and devices, and will also provide guidance on your upgrade options to Windows 7.

Download: Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor (6.3 Mb)