Microsoft has announced new hardware requirements for AI-focused Copilot+ computers with a silent update on Windows 11’s official system requirements page. While no changes have been made to Windows 11’s basic system requirements, the hardware bar for systems that will be classified as Copilot+ AI PCs has been significantly raised.
Microsoft has increased system requirements for Copilot+ PCs
According to the new statement, in order for a computer to be considered a Copilot+ PC, it must offer an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) performance of at least 40 TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second). This hardware is designed to perform AI and machine learning-based operations much more efficiently than traditional CPUs and GPUs.
With this update, Microsoft clearly states that the 24H2 version of Windows 11 will not be able to provide the desired performance on systems that do not have this level of AI hardware. It is stated that for the Copilot+ experience to work to its full potential, systems need not only a powerful NPU, but also high-speed and high-capacity memory.
The updated hardware requirements for Copilot+ AI PCs are as follows:
- Processor: SoC with an NPU that offers at least 40 TOPS performance. Compatible series include AMD Ryzen AI 300, Intel Core Ultra 200V, and Qualcomm Snapdragon X.
- Memory: Minimum 16 GB DDR5 or LPDDR5 RAM
- Storage: SSD or UFS-type fast storage with at least 256 GB capacity
However, there are no changes to the basic requirements of Windows 11. The minimum system requirements for standard users remain as follows:
- Processor: 1GHz, 64-bit architecture, dual-core processor
- Memory: 4GB RAM
- Storage: 64GB free disk space
- Motherboard: UEFI, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 support
- Graphics Card: DirectX 12 or later compatible
- Display: At least 9-inch screen with 720p resolution
