According to Neowin , Windows 12 is expected to bring many new AI features; however, to enjoy this experience, Microsoft may introduce minimum hardware requirements for future "AI PCs." This is believed to stem from a recent TrendForce report stating that 16 GB will be the minimum RAM requirement for next-generation Windows AI PCs expected to launch in the second half of 2024.
The minimum RAM requirements to run Windows 12 can be up to four times higher than those for Windows 11.
In addition to high RAM, the report from Tom's Hardware further states that besides 16 GB of RAM, AI PCs will need at least 40 TOPS (a performance metric for computing power) to ensure performance on a flexible device suitable for "AI PCs".
At the moment, Microsoft has yet to acknowledge the existence of Windows 12, so there's still much uncertainty surrounding a definitive statement. It's unclear whether Microsoft plans to block devices with 8 GB of RAM or less from updating to the next generation of Windows, or if the 16 GB limit is a mandatory requirement for AI-powered experiences on new devices running Windows 12 from the outset. For reference, Windows 11 wouldn't install if the system had less than 4 GB of RAM, at least for official releases.
The specific hardware requirements remain a subject of speculation based on rumors, but it's almost certain that some upcoming features will require neural processors and specialized hardware integrated into new chips from Intel, Qualcomm, and AMD.
To date, Intel is the only company whose chips fail to meet the rumored 40 TOPS target, with Meteor Lake only achieving 34 TOPS. However, the company expects the next generation of CPUs to triple that value. Meanwhile, AMD's Ryzen 8000 CPUs are said to be capable of reaching 45 TOPS, with similar performance expected to occur with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite platform.
Besides hardware limitations, users are also wondering which parts of the next generation of Windows will require the recently announced Copilot Pro, which costs $20 per month.
Note that Microsoft hasn't yet decided what to call the next generation of Windows. Reports suggest 16GB of RAM is the baseline for AI PCs, so keeping the Windows 11 branding seems more logical than Windows 12. If that happens, existing PCs could continue to receive updates and new features, while newer PCs with more powerful hardware would offer more software. This isn't a new concept in Microsoft's world , considering Windows Vista, where its Aero theme required a more powerful GPU.
Source link
Comment (0)