Microsoft has officially unveiled the CPU support list for Windows Server 2025, coinciding with the operating system’s general availability announcement made today. This extensive list features a range of processors, from Intel’s high-performance 64-core Granite Rapids and Emerald Rapids chips to the more modest dual-core Pentium offerings.
CPU Support Overview
The Intel CPU support encompasses several generations of Xeon processors, specifically the second through fifth generations of Xeon Scalable Processors (SP), which are built on the Emerald Rapids, Sapphire Rapids, Ice Lake, and Cascade Lake architectures. Additionally, the Xeon D series, based on Ice Lake, and the Xeon E-series, which utilizes Raptor Lake, are included. Notably, the Xeon 6 series, derived from Granite Rapids, also makes the cut.
Interestingly, two Pentium-branded processors, the G7400 and G7400T, have found their way onto this list. These Alder Lake-based dual-core chips, designed for entry-level desktop applications, feature two P-cores and four threads. The G7400 operates at a power level of 46W, while the G7400T is more energy-efficient at 35W. The rationale behind Microsoft’s inclusion of these specific CPUs remains somewhat enigmatic; they may represent the minimum requirements necessary for Windows Server 2025, but further clarification is yet to come.
| Intel CPUs | AMD CPUs |
| Second through Fifth Gen Xeon SP processors (x2xx, x3xx, x4xx, x5xx); Xeon 6 SP Processors (67xxE); Xeon E 23xx and 24xx; Xeon D 17xx, 18xx, 21xx, 27xx, 28xx; Pentium G7400 and G7400T | AMD EPYC 7xx2, AMD EPYC 7xx3, AMD EPYC 4xx4, AMD EPYC 8xx4, AMD EPYC 9xx4, and AMD EPYC 9xx5 |
On the AMD front, Windows Server 2025 extends its support to all modern EPYC-based CPUs, spanning from Zen 2 to Zen 5. This includes the AMD EPYC 7002, 7003, 4004, 8004, 9004, and 9005 series. Unlike Intel, Microsoft has not included any mainstream consumer Ryzen processors in its support list.
It is important to note that the provided list of supported processors serves as a prerequisite for system certification. Only systems equipped with the specified CPUs can be certified to operate Windows Server 2025. Furthermore, Microsoft plans to update this list over time to incorporate additional CPUs as they become available.
With the general availability of Windows Server 2025 now live, users can look forward to a decade of support. This latest iteration of the server-focused operating system boasts numerous enhancements and features, including improved I/O throughput performance, GPU partitioning, and Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) enclaves.
