One of the old tech adages is that “What Intel giveth, Microsoft taketh away”. The phrase alludes to the fact that whenever Intel and other hardware vendors find a way to improve performance, Microsoft, and other software vendors find a way to use it all up. Of course, there’s an argument to be made if the resources are being squandered or usefully consumed. This appears to hold true as Microsoft is upping the Windows 10 required hardware specifications. Starting with the new Anniversary Update, Windows 10 will require 2GB of RAM for the 32bit version as well.
When Vista first debuted, users were shocked by the jump in specifications. However, ever since then, Microsoft has been working to bring Windows to even the lowliest of x86 devices. This was especially true of Windows 8 and Windows 10 which manage to run on wimpy tablets. This is why a change in hardware requirements is a bit surprising. The change does bring the 32bit version os Windows 10 in line with the 64bit version. Of course, you can run Windows 10 will less than 2GB of RAM but it won’t be pleasant.
By raising the bar, Microsoft ensures that users get at least a baseline of performance. I would even argue Microsoft should do more to raise hardware requirements, making sure users have a satisfactory experience on all Windows 10 devices. Luckily, the OS does well enough on the minimum specs for now.
It might be a first move towards getting rid of the 32 bit version altogether.