The new Windows 11 update requires a new condition This way you can know if your processor is compatible with it or not
The latest version of Windows 11 is now available to everyone. This brings the system to the latest 24H2 feature update, bringing a whole bunch of new features like changes to the design and functionality of the taskbar, start menu, changes to context menus, changes to the file explorer, the ability to view the internal files of our phone from the computer, new power settings, and much more.
The only problem is that this update is no longer compatible with many computers, since there are a series of requirements that computers must meet in order to install it. In addition to the basic requirements for Windows 11, such as our computer being compatible with TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot (and meeting the required storage space and RAM), there are a series of specific requirements that many older processors ignore. Below we tell you how you can find out if your processor is compatible with this update.
- What is POPCNT/SSE4.2 and why is it important for Windows 11?
Microsoft wants to make sure that systems running Windows 11 24H2 have a series of essential specifications to run its software, which also encourages you to update your hardware for added security. Until now, requirements like TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot could be easily bypassed using third-party software like Rufus and the like. However, not all requirements can be avoided with these miracle tools.
Microsoft indicates that to install Windows 11 24H2, our processor must support a specific set of instructions. This is Popcnt/SSE4.2.
The POPCNT instruction is part of the SSE4.2 instruction set. It is used to count the number of "1" bits in the binary value of a number. This is useful in many applications that require fast bit counting operations, such as encryption, data compression, graph algorithms, and other mathematical operations that involve processing data at the binary level. In general, processors released before 2008/2009 are not compatible with this instruction set, which are the years in which it began to be implemented in newer CPUs.
- How to check if your CPU is compatible with Windows 11 24H2
To find out if your processor is compatible with this instruction set before upgrading to Windows 11, you can find out these details using hardware information and tools like HWiNFO. When you run it, in the Instructions row, “SSE4.2” should appear as supported or in green. If it’s not, it means your CPU is not compatible, and therefore you won’t be able to install Windows 11.
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- Link HWiNFO