If you thought the days of CPU—OS incompatibilities were behind you, think again. It’s quietly been announced that some future silicon will only allow you to run Windows 10 if you choose to opt for a Microsoft OS.


In a blog post, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President for Windows and Devices Group explains:

Going forward, as new silicon generations are introduced, they will require the latest Windows platform at that time for support. This enables us to focus on deep integration between Windows and the silicon, while maintaining maximum reliability and compatibility with previous generations of platform and silicon. For example, Windows 10 will be the only supported Windows platform on Intel’s upcoming “Kaby Lake” silicon, Qualcomm’s upcoming “8996” silicon, and AMD’s upcoming “Bristol Ridge” silicon.


The idea is to make a firm transition from older 32-bit architectures to more advanced 64-bit silicon, rather than pussy-footing between the two. It certainly doesn’t mean you’ll only be able to use Windows 10 on a new chip, though: Microsoft is keen to point out that you’ll be able to run “Windows 10 on any silicon, Windows 7 on the down-level silicon it was designed for, or a device on the support list.”

Nor, for that matter, does it rule out other operating systems. How about Linux?

[Microsoft via Gizmodo Australia]

Image by Cliff Johnson under Creative Commons license