Here is an old crappy 2008 netbook running an ULV Low performance mobile CPU from 2007.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2011906/how-to-optimize-windows-8-on-old-hardware.html?page=1
I still have an old box I made back in 2006 that runs Windows 7 flawlessly. Considering Windows 8 is more optimized and lighter than Windows 7 it should honestly have no issues with a Windows 8 install.
I am sure you can get even older tech to run Windows 8 considering a very low end mobile Celeron from 2007 can run it.
You can't get all features though, which is what TennisandMusic stated. You can get most, but not all. Don't believe me? Try turning on Intel virtualization technology in computers that old.