Windows 7 System Requirements

If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here's what it takes:

1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor.
1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit).
16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit).
DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver.

Additional requirements to use certain features:

Internet access (fees may apply).
Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware.
Some games and programs might require a graphics card compatible with DirectX 10 or higher for optimal performance.
For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required.
Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware.
HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7.
DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive.
BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2.
BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive.
Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM and an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space.
Music and sound require audio output.

Product functionality and graphics may vary based on your system configuration. Some features may require advanced or additional hardware.

PCs with multi-core processors:

Windows 7 was designed to work with today's multi-core processors. All 32-bit versions of Windows 7 can support up to 32 processor cores, while 64‑bit versions can support up to 256 processor cores.

PCs with multiple processors (CPUs):

Commercial servers, workstations, and other high-end PCs may have more than one physical processor. Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate allow for two physical processors, providing the best performance on these computers. Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, and Home Premium will recognize only one physical processor.

Windows XP Professional System Requirements

Here's What You Need to Use Windows XP Professional

•	PC with 300 megahertz or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233 MHz minimum required (single or dual processor system);* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended
•	128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)
•	1.5 gigabytes (GB) of available hard disk space*
•	Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor
•	CD-ROM or DVD drive
•	Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

Top of page

Additional Items or Services Required to Use Certain Windows XP Features

•

For Internet access:

•	Some Internet functionality may require Internet access, a Microsoft .NET Passport account, and payment of a separate fee to a service provider; local and/or long-distance telephone toll charges may apply
•	14.4 kilobits per second (Kbps) or higher-speed modem

•

For networking:

•	Network adapter appropriate for the type of local-area, wide-area, wireless, or home network you wish to connect to, and access to an appropriate network infrastructure; access to third-party networks may require additional charges

•

For instant messaging, voice and videoconferencing, and application sharing, both parties need:

•	Microsoft .NET Passport account and Internet access or Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server instant messaging account and network access (some configurations may require download of additional components)

•

For voice and videoconferencing, both parties also need:

•	33.6 Kbps or higher-speed modem, or a network connection
•	Microphone and sound card with speakers or headset

•

For videoconferencing, both parties also need:

•	Video conferencing camera
•	Windows XP

•

For application sharing, both parties also need:

•	33.6 Kbps or higher-speed modem, or a network connection
•	Windows XP

•

For remote assistance:

•	Both parties must be running Windows XP and be connected by a network

•

For remote desktop:

•	A Windows 95 or later–based computer, and the two machines must be connected by a network

•

For sound:

•	Sound card and speakers or headphones

•

For DVD video playback:

•	DVD drive and DVD decoder card or DVD decoder software
•	8 MB of video RAM

•

For Windows Movie Maker:

•	Video capture feature requires appropriate digital or analog video capture device
•	400 MHz or higher processor for digital video camera capture

* Actual requirements will vary based on your system configuration and the applications and features you choose to install. Additional available hard disk space may be required if you are installing over a network.

Recommended Minimum System Requirements

The Recommended Minimum System Requirements, here, should allow even an inexperienced user to easily install a usable system with enough room to be comfortable. A good "rule of thumb" is that machines that could run XP, Vista, Windows 7 or x86 OS X will almost always be a lot faster with Ubuntu. Simply try Ubuntu CD as a Live CD first to check the hardware works.

Ubuntu Desktop Edition

1 GHz x86 processor
1GB of system memory (RAM)
15GB of hard-drive space (although this can be split onto 2 drives, a 5Gb / and a 10Gb /home fairly easily)
Graphics card and monitor capable of 1024 by 768
Either a CD/DVD Drive or a USB port (or both)
Internet access is helpful
Ubuntu Server (CLI) Installation
300 MHz x86 processor
128MB of system memory (RAM)
1GB of disk space
Graphics card and monitor capable of 640x480
CD-ROM drive

Ubuntu Netbook Edition

If you have a netbook and a supported graphics card, using Ubuntu Netbook Edition (formerly "Ubuntu Netbook Remix") is an interesting option. It has a nice interface adapted for smaller screens, and a selection of applications aimed at netbook users.

Ubuntu Netbook Remix is designed to run well on netbooks with typically minimal specs, i.e.:

Intel Atom processor @ 1.6 GHz
512MB of system memory (RAM)
4GB of disk space
Screen of 1024x600 resolution
Graphics chipset with support for visual effects

Windows Vista system requirements

If you want to run Windows Vista on your PC, here's what it takes:

1 gigahertz (GHz) 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
1 gigabyte (GB) of system memory (512 megabytes (MB) for Home Basic)
40 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space (20 GB for Home Basic)
Support for DirectX 9 graphics with WDDM and 128 MB of graphics memory (32 MB for Home Basic)
DVD-ROM drive
Audio Output
Internet access (fees may apply)

Additional requirements:

Actual requirements and product functionality may vary based on your system configuration.

While all editions of Windows Vista can support multiple core CPUs, only Windows Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise can support dual processors.

Minimum requirements:

800 megahertz (MHz) processor and 512 MB of system memory
20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
Support for Super VGA graphics
CD-ROM drive