Microsoft has quietly removed 44 Intel chips from the official list of processors Windows 11 supports.
As Neowin reports, all 44 processors are from Intel's Xeon E series, which are entry-level server chips. They were previously supported, though, and Microsoft hasn't provided an explanation yet as to why these particular Xeon processors were removed while others have remained.
The full list of processors removed is as follows:
- Intel Xeon E-2104G
- Intel Xeon E-2124
- Intel Xeon E-2124G
- Intel Xeon E-2126G
- Intel Xeon E-2134
- Intel Xeon E-2136
- Intel Xeon E-2144G
- Intel Xeon E-2146G
- Intel Xeon E-2174G
- Intel Xeon E-2176G
- Intel Xeon E-2176M
- Intel Xeon E-2186G
- Intel Xeon E-2186M
- Intel Xeon E-2224
- Intel Xeon E-2224G
- Intel Xeon E-2226G
- Intel Xeon E-2226GE
- Intel Xeon E-2234
- Intel Xeon E-2236
- Intel Xeon E-2244G
- Intel Xeon E-2246G
- Intel Xeon E-2254ME
- Intel Xeon E-2254ML
- Intel Xeon E-2274G
- Intel Xeon E-2276G
- Intel Xeon E-2276M
- Intel Xeon E-2276ME
- Intel Xeon E-2276ML
- Intel Xeon E-2278G
- Intel Xeon E-2278GE
- Intel Xeon E-2278GEL
- Intel Xeon E-2286G
- Intel Xeon E-2286M
- Intel Xeon E-2288G
- Intel Xeon E-2314
- Intel Xeon E-2324G
- Intel Xeon E-2334
- Intel Xeon E-2336
- Intel Xeon E-2356G
- Intel Xeon E-2374G
- Intel Xeon E-2378
- Intel Xeon E-2378G
- Intel Xeon E-2386G
- Intel Xeon E-2388G
The list was updated on July 25, but you can see the Xeon E processors were listed back in May courtesy of the Internet Archive.
Thankfully, the removal of the chips will have zero impact on consumers, but you still need to be careful when considering an upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Microsoft has imposed stricter hardware requirements for the latest version of its operating systems, so be sure to check before spending any money on a Windows 11 license.
Meanwhile, Intel decided it isn't going to make NUCs anymore, but has agreed to allow Asus to keep developing and manufacturing them. Intel's focus is turning to the "AI PC," overhauling the naming for its entire processor range, and offering a growing range of graphics cards.