Windows 11 requirements: These are all the CPUs that are compatible (2025)

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Windows 11 requirements: These are all the CPUs that are compatible (1)

There's been a lot of confusion surrounding Windows 11 system requirements. From requiring newer CPUs to having a TPM on board has left PC users scrambling to see if their computers are ready.And this just became all the more important, now that Windows 11 is beginning to roll out (check out our Windows 11 review to see if it's worth downloading now).

There's actually been so much consternation that Microsoft has had to pull the PC Health Check app (and then re-deploy it later) as confusion abounded and left many wondering what to do. Here's everything we know so far about CPUs that are compatible with Windows 11.

Windows 11 release date, beta and all the new features
How to install Windows 11 — a step-by-step guide
Plus: Windows 11 requirements: Microsoft says there’s no getting around them

Intel CPU Windows 11 compatibility list

Only chips from Intel's 8th generation or newer will be compatible with Windows 11. Think mid-2017 onward. So, anyone who bought a Surface Pro (2017) will be out of luck, as that uses a 7th generation chip. Microsoft has a full list of all supported Intel processors, including chips from the Atom, Celeron, Pentium, Xeon and Core series. The folks over at PC World scrubbed the list and pulled the most popular consumer-level CPUs.We agree with their assessment.

You can install Windows 11 on older PCs, but there is a catch: You're probably not going to get any updates.

Intel 8th generation (Coffee Lake; Whiskey Lake; Amber Lake)

Desktop

Core i3-8100
Core i5-8400
Core i5-8600
Core i5-8600K
Core i7-8700
Core i7-8700K
Core i7-8086K

Mobile

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Core m3-8100Y
Core i5-8200Y
Core i3-8130U
Core i3-8145U
Core i3-8100H
Core i5-8250U
Core i5-8250U
Core i5-8400H
Core i7-8650U
Core i7-8665U
Core i7-8750H

Intel 9th generation (Coffee Lake Refresh)

Desktop

AMD CPU Windows 11 compatibility list

For AMD, Windows 11 CPU compatibility goes back to 2018. This includes 2nd generation Ryzen (Zen+) chips and above. Microsoft also has a full AMD list, including chips from AMDs Athlon, EPYC, Ryzen and Ryzen Threadripper series.Below is a list of the more common consumer-level CPUs. And as PC World noted, chips like the 3300X, 3700, 4600HS and 5900H are missing, even though all are all very recent.

AMD Ryzen 2000 series (Zen+; Zen)

Desktop

Ryzen 3 2300X
Ryzen 5 2600
Ryzen 7 2700
Ryzen 7 2700X
Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
Ryzen Threadripper 2950X
Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
Ryzen Threadripper 2990X

AMD Ryzen 3000 series (Zen 2; Zen+)

Desktop

Ryzen 3 3100
Ryzen 5 3600
Ryzen 7 3700X
Ryzen 9 3900
Ryzen 9 3900X
Ryzen 9 3950X
Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Ryzen Threadripper 3995WX
Ryzen 3 3200G**
Ryzen 5 3400G**

Mobile

Ryzen 3 3300U
Ryzen 5 3500U
Ryzen 5 3550H
Ryzen 7 3700U
Ryzen 7 3750H

AMD Ryzen 4000 series (Zen 2)

Desktop

Ryzen 3 4300G
Ryzen 5 4600G
Ryzen 7 4700G

Mobile

Ryzen 3 4300U
Ryzen 5 4500U
Ryzen 5 4600H
Ryzen 7 4700U
Ryzen 7 4800HS
Ryzen 7 4800H
Ryzen 9 4900HS
Ryzen 9 4900H

AMD Ryzen 5000 series (Zen 3)

Desktop

Ryzen 5 5600X
Ryzen 7 5800X
Ryzen 9 5900X
Ryzen 9 5950X

Mobile

Ryzen 3 5400U
Ryzen 5 5600U
Ryzen 5 5600HS
Ryzen 5 5600H
Ryzen 7 5800U
Ryzen 7 5800HS
Ryzen 7 5800H
Ryzen 9 5900HS
Ryzen 9 5900HX
Ryzen 9 5980HS
Ryzen 9 5980HX

More: How to check Windows 11 compatibility if PC Health Check doesn’t work

Imad Khan

Imad is currently Senior Google and Internet Culture reporter for CNET, but until recently was News Editor at Tom's Guide. Hailing from Texas, Imad started his journalism career in 2013 and has amassed bylines with the New York Times, the Washington Post, ESPN, Wired and Men's Health Magazine, among others. Outside of work, you can find him sitting blankly in front of a Word document trying desperately to write the first pages of a new book.

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2 CommentsComment from the forums

gregianos
What do the asterisks mean by the Ryzen 5 3400G? My computer tells me I don't have the hardware.
Reply
Naveen Prashanth
Hey editor, you missed intel 9th gen (coffee lake refresh) mobile CPUs, I only find desktop CPUs
Reply

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