Perceived System Requirements For Threshold

Jody Thornton · 01 Sep 2014

Hi Folks:

I know it's speculative at this point, but I'm curious as to what system requirements (or even what virtualization requirements) will be needed for the Nine preview. I currently run Vista x64 on a Dual Xeon 3.68 GHz HP workstation, and I find that I am unable to get Windows 8.1 hosted successfully (I thought I'd try it first to see if this endeavour was even in the cards).

I now know that x64 guests are completely out. That concerns me because I remember at one time hearing that Windows 8x was going to be the last time a 32-bit release was offered. I wonder if at least for the preview, Microsoft will offer a 32-bit build?

Like I said on the 8x Forums, I would love to find a "junker" PC just to try out stuff with, but today's OS offerings won't even get off the ground on a "junker" PC.

JDobbsy1987 · 01 Sep 2014

As you said, it's hard to tell until it is released but i would have thought your system would be able to cope, what was the issue with Windows 8.1, were you trying to install it as the main OS or virtual machine.

I have had Windows 8/8.1 installed on much worse machines at work when doing testing etc...

Regards,
Jamie

Jody Thornton · 01 Sep 2014

I tried to install x64 with both dual boot and virtual. I have DEP and PAE, but no NX (my Xeon is based on a hyperthreading P4). So I thought it would work too, but I guess not.

What have you managed to install it on?

Gornot · 02 Sep 2014

I don't think 32bit is going anywhere anytime soon. As long as there are older PCs capable of running 32bit only, as well as small "tabletop" PCs (as I like to call them) that serve as media centers and such, I think 32bit is still in the game.

Hell, I have an ancient HP 550 at work with a single gig of RAM and a single core CPU - counting out the fact that the hard drive is atrociously slow, it rocks 8.1 32bit just fine.

CountMike · 04 Sep 2014

I don't think requirements are going to be any higher than for W8, if nothing it may be even lowered as MS is trying to to get XP and W7 users to switch and as they are mostly on older HW that paln would not be feasible.

Gornot · 04 Sep 2014

The thing is, even if they lower the requirement, some of those old XP-era computers can't possibly have compatible drivers with anything other than XP.

We've heard that MSFT is trying to tie the eco system together and make Windows run on all devices, so system requirements are practically nonexistant. Any video card, hard drive and CPU that is not ancient can run it; it depends on the device itself. For (custom) built desktop PCs, the "requirements" will just stay the same. Just don't have a crap PC and you'll do fine.

CountMike · 05 Sep 2014

Being where I am now, I see XP machines every day and don't think they are going anywhere soon. Some of them I was able to convert to Linux, even XP was too much for them. All they are good for is some internet browsing and elementary word processing but people have no chance for anything better. If there was an windows compatible (read: low powered windows 9 ) OS without bells and whistles and also free to switch from XP it would take a lot of other, alternative OSes out of equation and leave MS in even better position.

Gornot · 05 Sep 2014

That sounds logical, but I don't think it's cost effective. And considering the fact that many people dislike change, they'd still go for Windows even if it means paying a few bucks rather than switching to Linux. Just my POV from personal experience.

CountMike · 05 Sep 2014

Gornot said:

That sounds logical, but I don't think it's cost effective. And considering the fact that many people dislike change, they'd still go for Windows even if it means paying a few bucks rather than switching to Linux. Just my POV from personal experience.

Yeah, that too but I think that "Most of people" don't even know which OS their computer is running. Some, not even what an OS is and would gladly switch to anything similar that would let them use their computer a year or two longer. It would be good for MS because it would keep those people on their side and sooner or later would switch to new computer with new windows and eventually pay for it. It would not be first time that a company uses "Loss leader" in order to sell something more expensive down the line.

Gornot · 05 Sep 2014

In the past I would strongly agree with this:

CountMike said:

"Most of people" don't even know which OS their computer is running

Now that I work with people and around their computers much more, I've come to realize that in many cases this is only half truth. Most can recognize it's Windows or XP or 7; I have a couple of distros stashed on thumb drives in my shop, and every time I show them Ubuntu or something similar they're all like WTF. elementary OS gets a few comments like: "Oh, that looks pretty. So which MS Office can it run?"

So yeah...