Microsoft Drops Support for Intel 8th, 9th, and 10th Gen CPUs with Windows 11 24H2
Microsoft cuts older Intel CPUs from their Windows 11 24H2 support list
With the release of Windows 11 24H2, Microsoft has dropped support for older Intel CPUs. This includes Intel’s 8th, 9th, and 10th-generation CPU models. Neowin was the first to spot this surprising move from Microsoft. Dropped Intel CPUs include CPUs from the company’s “Coffee Lake” (8th and 9th generation) processors and their “Comet Lake” (10th Generation) CPUs.
All of these CPUs still meet Windows 11’s minimum requirements. Despite this, Microsoft has removed these CPUs from their list of supported CPU models.
Below is what Microsoft says on their Windows 11 version 24H2 Intel CPU support page.
Windows 11 version 24H2 supported Intel processors
The processors listed represent the processor models which meet the minimum floor for the supported processor generations and up through the latest processors at the time of publication. These processors meet the design principles around security, reliability, and the minimum system requirements for Windows 11. Subsequently released and future generations of processors which meet the same principles will be considered as supported, even if not explicitly listed. It is expected that the processor list will not reflect the most current offerings from processor manufacturers between updates. Updates to the processor lists will occur at each subsequent general availability of Windows.
OEMs may use the following CPUs for new Windows 11 devices. New Windows 11 devices must use modern device drivers which have passed the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program for Windows 11 or the latest available modern device drivers based on Declarative, Componentized, Hardware Support Apps (DCH) design principles.
This dropped Intel CPU support doesn’t matter for DIY Windows 11 PC builders
What should be noted is that Microsoft’s above statement says that “OEMs may use the following CPUs for new Windows 11 devices.” Effectively, this means that Microsoft has banned OEMs from creating/selling new Windows 11 (24H2) systems with older CPU generations.
The good news is that Microsoft’s list of supported CPUs does nothing that will prevent users of older CPUs from using Windows 11. If a CPU meets Windows 11’s hardware requirements, it will work with Windows 11 24H2. Microsoft is only preventing OEMs from using Intel’s older CPUs with new Windows 11 systems.
Ultimately, Microsoft is ensuring that new OEM PCs are built with newer processors. This is good news for purchasers of OEM PCs. There’s nothing stopping DIY PC builders from continuing to use these CPUs. Furthermore, there is nothing stopping PCs with these older CPUs from updating to the latest version of Windows 11.
You can join the discussion on Microsoft dropping support for Intel’s 8th, 9th, and 10th generation CPUs with Windows 11 24H2 on the OC3D Forums.
