When considering upgrading your existing computer to a new operating system, the first question is usually going to be “what are the system requirements?” Microsoft’s Windows 7 system requirements page outlines the minimum specs your PC will need to meet in order to run the operating system.
1 GHz or faster 32-bit or 64-bit processor
Your computer’s Central Processing Unit is the brains of the system — it performs all the basic calculations that make it possible for your system to function and your applications to operate. Older computers usually have 32-bit processors, but new systems with 64-bit capabilities are quite common now. The difference between 32 and 64-bit processors determines how much information the CPU is able to handle at one time. 64-bit systems can also support more RAM, since they can work with a much larger address space. Windows 7 is compatible with both types of processor.
In order to find out your computer’s processor speed, follow these steps:
- Windows XP: Right-click My Computer, click Properties, go to the General tab and look for your CPU information.
- Windows Vista: Click the Start button, click Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, then click System and look for the line labeled “Processor”.
Read “How to determine whether a computer is running a 32-bit version or 64-bit version of the Windows operating system” for instructions on determining what type of processor is in your PC. In Vista, this information is found on the same “System” screen as your processor speed. The process for finding this information in XP is a little bit more complicated.
1 or 2 GB of RAM
If you have a 32-bit system, you will need 1 GB of RAM. If you have a 64-bit system then you’ll need 2 GB of RAM. Random Access Memory is a very fast type of storage device used by your computer to “remember” information about the applications you’re running, files you’re working with, etc…
- Windows XP: Right-click My Computer, click Properties, go to the General tab and look the bit reading “xxx MB/GB of RAM”.
- Windows Vista: Click the Start button, click Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, then click System and look for the part that says “Memory (RAM): xxx MB/GB”.
One gigabyte (GB) of RAM is roughly equal to 1,000 megabytes (MB). If your system displays memory information in MB, you’ll need about 1,000 MB or more if it’s a 32-bit system, and about 2,000 MB or more for a 64-bit system.
16 or 20 GB available hard disk space
Users with 32-bit systems need 16 GB of available hard drive space, and 64-bit users require 20 GB.
- Windows XP: Double-click My Computer, right-click the drive icon for your primary system partition (most likely the C: drive) and choose Properties. You’ll see an area with a pie chart showing how much space is available.
- Windows Vista: Click Start, click Computer and look at the percentage bar next to your primary system partition (most likely the C: drive).
DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
Plain and simple, your graphics card is responsible for rendering what you see on-screen. Many of the improvements to the Windows 7 interface require a modern graphics card, and extras like animation and HD video certainly require a lot of heavy lifting in this department.
The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor can tell you whether or not your graphics device is compatible with Windows 7. It will also scan the rest of your hardware and check it against Windows 7’s other system requirements.
Photos by dailyinvention, altemark, and wonderferret used under a Creative Commons license.
