Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

AMD is giving up on Windows 10

By
AMD's CEO delivering the Computex 2024 presentation.
AMD

It’s official: AMD’s Ryzen AI processors will not support Windows 10. With a neural processing unit (NPU) that reaches up to 50 trillion operations per second (TOPS), the Ryzen AI lineup is more than ready for the future — so it makes sense that it’d also leave the past in the rearview mirror. As a result, today’s findings are just a confirmation of previous rumors. But is this decision a big deal, and will it stretch toward other Zen 5 processors?

Microsoft’s Copilot+ sparked a revolution that left AMD and Intel scrambling to release new CPUs that are capable of meeting the 40 TOPS requirement, so it’s really no surprise that the laptops built around the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and the Ryzen AI 9 365 will not support Windows 10. The chips were built for AI, and all of the latest developments in that area are in Windows 11. In fact, the Ryzen AI 300 series only supports Windows 11 64-bit and Ubuntu. This information comes straight from the source, as can be seen on the AMD product page.

Recommended Videos

This is the first instance of AMD ditching Windows 10. Microsoft itself has been trying to do the same, and it’s planning to end support for Windows 10 by the end of 2025. However, that in itself might prove to be difficult, as the adoption of Windows 11 has been really slow. As a matter of fact, Windows 11 has recently experienced a drop in market share, indicating that some users are downgrading instead of upgrading.

These stats are worrying for Microsoft, especially when you take into account the fact that only 26% of all users currently run Windows 11, while Windows 10 holds strong at around 70%. Ending support for the OS doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone will ditch their old PCs right away, but it still might persuade Microsoft to hold on a little bit longer. However, AMD is cutting the cord.

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor.
AMD

In the context of the Ryzen AI 300 series, it’s not that big a deal. It’s hard to imagine these AI processors, made with Copilot in mind, in entry-level laptops that are still being sold with Windows 10. It’d be more of a statement if AMD abandoned Windows 10 support in its upcoming Ryzen 9000 CPUs, but that hasn’t happened. Desktop owners can still happily run Windows 10 if they wish to.

As much as Microsoft, AMD, and perhaps many more companies might hope for users to upgrade to Windows 11, it’s clearly not happening as fast as it should — and, as ExtremeTech reports, Microsoft seems aware of it. The tech giant announced that people will be able to pay for additional security updates for up to three years after the end-of-life period of Windows 10, effectively extending its lifespan through 2028. As a result, it’s hard to imagine AMD dropping support for Windows 10 in desktops anytime soon, but only time will tell.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Monica J. White
Monica J. White
Computing Writer
Monica is a UK-based freelance writer and self-proclaimed geek. A firm believer in the "PC building is just like expensive…
AMD’s next-gen CPUs are much closer than we thought
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D held between fingertips.

We already knew that AMD would launch its Zen 5 CPUs this year, but recent motherboard updates hint that a release is imminent. Both MSI and Asus have released updates for their 600-series motherboards that explicitly add support for "next-generation AMD Ryzen processors," setting the stage for AMD's next-gen CPUs.

This saga started a few days ago when hardware leaker 9550pro spotted an MSI BIOS update, which they shared on X (formerly Twitter). Since then, Asus has followed suit with BIOS updates of its own featuring a new AMD Generic Encapsulated Software Architecture (AGESA) -- the firmware responsible for starting the CPU -- that brings support for next-gen CPUs (spotted by VideoCardz).

Read more
AMD makes older PCs more upgradeable once again
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D installed in a motherboard.

AMD's got plenty of top-notch processors in the Ryzen 7000 lineup, but it still hasn't given up on last-gen chips, as evidenced by its latest announcement. The company unveiled several new CPUs during an event in China, and while we'd largely expect AM5 chips at this point, we're also seeing the previously unannounced Ryzen 5000XT series. This is good news for those who are still using AM4 motherboards and want to upgrade, but the details are scarce right now.

A leaked slide, which comes from frequent hardware leaker HXL on X andwas showcased by AMD at the event, shows us a couple of new Ryzen 8000 CPUs alongside the Ryzen 5000XT. There are also mentions of CPUs that are already out on the market, such as the recently launched Ryzen 5 5600GT and Ryzen 5 5500GT, as well as older chips from the Ryzen 3000-series and the Athlon 3000G.

Read more
The one AMD 3D V-Cache processor you should avoid at all costs
Pads on the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

AMD has three high-end 3D V-Cache chips out in this generation, but only one stands out like a sore thumb. There's the flagship Ryzen 9 7950X3D. There's also the best gaming CPU, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. And then, there's the often overlooked middle child -- the Ryzen 9 7900X3D.

While it may seem like an upgrade from the Ryzen 7 alternative, the Ryzen 9 7900X3D is a little bit deceptive in that regard. Here's why you'd be better off going for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
A twist on 3D V-Cache
Understandably, most people would also assume that the 7900X3D should show a marked improvement over the 7800X3D. However, most benchmarks will tell you that is not the case, and the underlying cause lies in the architecture of the chip.

Read more