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> No, Apple did this because they are in control of the hardware their OS runs on, so they can ensure that everyone is supported. Microsoft don't have that luxu

> No, Apple did this because they are in control of the hardware their OS runs on, so they can ensure that everyone is supported. Microsoft don't have that luxury. I don't think Windows 10 supports any of the 32 bit only processors. AFAIK, all Intel and AMD processors in last 10 years has 64 bit support. Update: Another user(geofft) mentioned debian analysis which confirms my point(albeit it says, none in last 13 years): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14524215 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14524215 Update 2: Looks like I am wrong. See comments below it.

Stratoscope 9y ago
> I don't think Windows 10 supports any of the 32 bit only processors. I have Windows 10 32-bit edition running on a Fit-PC2 with an Intel Atom Z530. I believe this is a 32-bit-only processor. I can't say it runs well with only 1GB on this old box - I'll probably put Linux on it instead - but Windows 10 definitely boots up and runs. http://imgur.com/a/J9fGh http://imgur.com/a/J9fGh (screenshot) http://www.fit-pc.com/web/products/fit-pc2/fit-pc2-2i-specifications/fit-pc2-specifications/ http://www.fit-pc.com/web/products/fit-pc2/fit-pc2-2i-specif... http://ark.intel.com/products/35463 http://ark.intel.com/products/35463 (edited to include information about this 32-bit system)
- theandrewbailey 9y ago
  The existence of a 32-bit Windows 10 is not in question. 64-bit x86 CPUs will happily run a 32-bit OS.
  - detaro 9y ago
    EDIT: nvm
    - deleted 9y ago
      [deleted]
- spatulon 9y ago
  Given that the article above is talking about the 32-bit version of Windows 10, I think 'likelynew is aware of that. You misunderstood the question, which is: will the 32-bit version of Windows 10 even run on a CPU that predates x64? (The answer seems to be yes - according to Microsoft's list of requirements, it should run, say, on a Pentium 4).
- giovannibajo1 9y ago
  I have failed multiple times to reliably use a Linux desktop with 1Gb of ram. Even the most stripped down Ubuntu version seems untested for this setup; for instance, the background process that repacks the DEB database easily peaks over 1Gb, and you get the computer swapping at a random point. On top of that, also browsers have a really hard time working with that constraint.
theandrewbailey 9y ago
Windows 10 requires at least a 1 GHz processor. Every Pentium 4 released (most all of which were 32-bit only) had a clock speed of at least 1.3 GHz, so ALL of those meet the requirements. The pleasantness of using such a system is a different story. https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/windows-10-specifications https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/windows-10-specifica...
- JoelTheSuperior 9y ago
  Actually if memory serves the Pentium 4s below 3Ghz won't run Windows 10 because they don't support the necessary CPU instructions. I seem to distinctly remember it failing to boot on a 2.8Ghz Pentium 4.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
shawnz 9y ago
There were Intel Atom CPUs released as late as 2011 without 64-bit support. I'm sure there are other examples too.
SyneRyder 9y ago
That's incorrect. I'm running Windows 10 32-bit on a MacBook 1,1, one of the machines Apple left stuck on Snow Leopard. It has a 32-bit 2.0Ghz Core Duo (not Core 2 Duo) CPU and maxes out at 2GB RAM. Windows 10 32-bit runs well on it too. I mostly use it as a Netflix display or for calling out to Cortana, and control it via Synergy. Putting Windows 10 32-bit on there has kept alive a 10 year old laptop that still works fine, it was just lacking software / security patches. And there's a delicious irony to Microsoft continuing to support a discontinued Apple device.
zokier 9y ago
There can be other parts of the system that limit the compatibility, most importantly due lack of 64bit drivers.
phonon 9y ago
You forget about Atoms. http://ark.intel.com/Search/FeatureFilter?productType=processors&InstructionSet=32-bit http://ark.intel.com/Search/FeatureFilter?productType=proces...

Stratoscope 9y ago

> I don't think Windows 10 supports any of the 32 bit only processors. I have Windows 10 32-bit edition running on a Fit-PC2 with an Intel Atom Z530. I believe this is a 32-bit-only processor. I can't say it runs well with only 1GB on this old box - I'll probably put Linux on it instead - but Windows 10 definitely boots up and runs. http://imgur.com/a/J9fGh http://imgur.com/a/J9fGh (screenshot) http://www.fit-pc.com/web/products/fit-pc2/fit-pc2-2i-specifications/fit-pc2-specifications/ http://www.fit-pc.com/web/products/fit-pc2/fit-pc2-2i-specif... http://ark.intel.com/products/35463 http://ark.intel.com/products/35463 (edited to include information about this 32-bit system)

theandrewbailey 9y ago
The existence of a 32-bit Windows 10 is not in question. 64-bit x86 CPUs will happily run a 32-bit OS.
- detaro 9y ago
  EDIT: nvm
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
spatulon 9y ago
Given that the article above is talking about the 32-bit version of Windows 10, I think 'likelynew is aware of that. You misunderstood the question, which is: will the 32-bit version of Windows 10 even run on a CPU that predates x64? (The answer seems to be yes - according to Microsoft's list of requirements, it should run, say, on a Pentium 4).
giovannibajo1 9y ago
I have failed multiple times to reliably use a Linux desktop with 1Gb of ram. Even the most stripped down Ubuntu version seems untested for this setup; for instance, the background process that repacks the DEB database easily peaks over 1Gb, and you get the computer swapping at a random point. On top of that, also browsers have a really hard time working with that constraint.

theandrewbailey 9y ago

Windows 10 requires at least a 1 GHz processor. Every Pentium 4 released (most all of which were 32-bit only) had a clock speed of at least 1.3 GHz, so ALL of those meet the requirements. The pleasantness of using such a system is a different story. https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/windows-10-specifications https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/windows-10-specifica...

JoelTheSuperior 9y ago
Actually if memory serves the Pentium 4s below 3Ghz won't run Windows 10 because they don't support the necessary CPU instructions. I seem to distinctly remember it failing to boot on a 2.8Ghz Pentium 4.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

shawnz 9y ago

There were Intel Atom CPUs released as late as 2011 without 64-bit support. I'm sure there are other examples too.

SyneRyder 9y ago

That's incorrect. I'm running Windows 10 32-bit on a MacBook 1,1, one of the machines Apple left stuck on Snow Leopard. It has a 32-bit 2.0Ghz Core Duo (not Core 2 Duo) CPU and maxes out at 2GB RAM. Windows 10 32-bit runs well on it too. I mostly use it as a Netflix display or for calling out to Cortana, and control it via Synergy. Putting Windows 10 32-bit on there has kept alive a 10 year old laptop that still works fine, it was just lacking software / security patches. And there's a delicious irony to Microsoft continuing to support a discontinued Apple device.

zokier 9y ago

There can be other parts of the system that limit the compatibility, most importantly due lack of 64bit drivers.

phonon 9y ago

You forget about Atoms. http://ark.intel.com/Search/FeatureFilter?productType=processors&InstructionSet=32-bit http://ark.intel.com/Search/FeatureFilter?productType=proces...