A tabela abaixo mostra uma evolução, desde 1990, das várias versões do Windows e o hardware recomendado:
Windows 3.0 // May 1990
286 or faster processor
640K conventional memory (additional 256K extended memory recommended)
Hard disk drive
Hercules, CGA, EGA, VGA, or 8514/A graphics card (EGA or higher resolution recommended)
MS-DOS 3.1 or later
Mouse optional
Windows 95 // August 1995
386DX or faster processor (486 recommended)
4MB memory (8MB recommended)
35-55MB hard disk space
3.5-inch high-density floppy disk drive
VGA or higher resolution (256-color SVGA recommended)
Average desktop PC price: $1,926
Average notebook price: $2,819
Windows NT 4.0 // August 1996
Pentium or faster processor
16MB of memory (32 MB recommended)
110MB hard disk space
CD-ROM drive
VGA or higher-resolution display adapter
Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
Average desktop PC price: $1,988
Average notebook price: $2,997
Windows 98 // June 1998
486DX 66MHz or faster processor (Pentium recommended)
16MB memory (24MB recommended)
120-355MB hard disk space
3.5-inch high-density floppy disk drive
VGA or higher resolution (16-bit or 24-bit color SVGA recommended)
Average desktop PC price: $1,619
Average notebook price: $2,395
Windows 2000 // February 2000
133MHz or faster Pentium-compatible
64MB of memory
650MB free hard disk space
CD-ROM or DVD drive
VGA or higher resolution monitor
Keyboard required
Average desktop PC price: $1,306
Average notebook price: $2,167
Windows Millennium // September 2000
Pentium 150MHz processor or better
32MB memory
320MB free hard disk space
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive
3.5-inch high-density floppy disk drive
Video adapter and monitor that support VGA or higher resolution
Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
Sound card
Speakers or headphones
Average desktop PC price: $1,306
Average notebook price: $2,167
Windows XP // October 2001
Pentium 233MHz processor or faster (300MHz is recommended)
64MB of memory (128MB recommended)
1.5GB free hard disk space
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive
Video adapter and monitor with Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution
Keyboard and a Microsoft Mouse or some other compatible pointing device
Sound card
Speakers or headphones
Average desktop PC price: $1,163
Average notebook price: $1,876
Windows Vista // ??
[Premium Ready]
1GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
1GB of memory
Graphics processor that runs Windows Aero
128MB of graphics memory
15GB free hard disk space
DVD-ROM drive
Audio output capability
Internet access capability
Average desktop PC price (2005 data): $801\
Average notebook price (2005 data): $1,256