You have it clear, you would like to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11, since yours does not meet the requirements that Microsoft has listed. If you find yourself in this situation do not worry, it is likely that you can resort to a simple update to meet these requirements, and that you will not end up being forced to buy a new PC to upgrade to Windows 11.
I know that there is still a lot of confusion around Windows 11, even despite all the information that we have given you in the last few days, and it is totally normal. We recently analyzed the minimum requirements of this operating system to give you the clearest possible view of everything that a PC would need to move Windows 11, but Microsoft has recently confirmed that it could reduce the requirements, and that the Ryzen 1000 series processors and the seventh-generation Core will almost certainly end up being compatible with that operating system.
With the aim of continuing to clarify doubts, and to pave the way for that long-awaited update to Windows 11, we have decided to shape this guide where we will see five tips that will help you update, and update effortlessly, your PC and comply, thus, with the necessary requirements to run Windows 11.
To make this guide useful to everyone, we are going to keep a low profile, so that even those users on a lower budget will find these tips useful, and we will provide alternatives for users who have a more generous budget. In this way, no one will feel left out, and everyone will find the help they need. However, if you have doubts you can leave them in the comments.
Previous considerations: What does a PC need to upgrade to Windows 11?
It is the first advice, and also the most important, since this reflection will give us the basis on which we will have to make important decisions, and will help us to discover what we are going to have to change so that our PC can move Windows 11.
Before entering the matter, let’s remember what requirements Microsoft has listed as essential, that is, those that a PC must meet, yes or yes, to move Windows 11:
- 1 GHz dual-core 64-bit processor, but limited to those supported (Zen + and above, 8th-generation Core and above).
- 4 GB of RAM.
- 64GB storage drive.
- Graphics card with DirectX 12 support.
- TPM 1.2 chip or alternative fTPM.
- Screen of 9 inches or more with HD resolution.
- Internet connection.
Well, the first thing you should do is see what requirements your equipment does not meet, and then it is important to assess whether we can correct it with an update or if, on the contrary, it is more advisable to buy, or assemble, a new equipment.
In this sense, one of the most problematic scenarios would be one in which the user has a PC whose motherboard does not allow a direct upgrade to a compatible processor. For example, if your computer is based on the AM3 + platform or earlier, or on a socket prior to LGA1151 that does not allow mounting a Coffee Lake processor.
Continuing with the previous example, if we have compatible RAM memory, and we can save the rest of the equipment components, a limited update to the motherboard and processor would be viable, although it will require more assembly work, and it will also force us to make a greater investment. If, on the other hand, you cannot save most of the components, it is better to take advantage of it to assemble a totally new team. I understand that this can generate doubts, so again I repeat that you can leave them in the comments, and we will help you make the right decision.
Don’t worry about the TPM chip: It’s easier to solve than you think
If your PC meets all the requirements at the hardware level, but does not have a TPM chip, do not despair, most of the motherboards launched in recent years have dedicated connectors that will allow us to mount a unit in a very simple way, and its price is quite reasonable, at least for now.
Before continuing, I want to remind you that speculators have not been oblivious to the announcement of Windows 11, and that some have already begun to accumulate TPM chips to drain the market and resell them at the price of gold. If you are clear that you want to fine-tune your PC to move Windows 11 and you need a TPM chip, don’t wait too long, as you could end up finding absurd prices.
To check if your motherboard has a connector to install this chip, you just have to consult its official specifications. It is very easy, you enter the exact name of your motherboard in Google, access the result of the official manufacturer and look in the specifications section. In case it has such a connector, you will have to look for a TPM chip that is compatible with your motherboard.
The prices are very variable, and they are already starting to rise, but anything that exceeds 20 euros is a bad buy, since it means that we are paying more. The installation process has no mystery, we just have to find the dedicated connector on our motherboard and insert it. Once done, we make sure to activate it in the BIOS, if necessary.
Update the processor: Check if your motherboard allows it
You may meet all the key Windows 11 requirements, including the TPM chip, but your processor is not on the list of supported models. This is going to be a frequent problem if Microsoft continues to leave out the Ryzen 1000 and the 7th generation Core, but in many cases it will be relatively easy to solve.
On the official support website of the manufacturer of your motherboard you will be able to check if it is compatible with processors that have, officially, Windows 11 support. Keep in mind, however, that although a motherboard supports generations of processors more Current BIOS updates may require a specific BIOS update process, so perform the update before changing the processor.
For example, AM4 motherboards with 300 series chipset are compatible with Ryzen 2000 and Ryzen 3000 processors, which are supported in Windows 11. If we have a computer with a Ryzen 1000 processor, we could update the motherboard BIOS and mount one of those two processors without problem. We would not have to change the motherboard, and we could shape a PC to move Windows 11 with a minimal investment, since the Ryzen 2000, for example, can be found on the second-hand market at quite interesting prices.
In the case of Intel, only motherboards with LGA 1151 socket and 300 series chipset are compatible with Coffee Lake processors, so if you have a lower motherboard I have bad news, you will have to change both the motherboard and the processor. However, if you have a Ryzen 1000 or a seventh generation Core wait, because they may end up having support in the end.
Change the graphics card and upgrade to one with DirectX 12 support
It is another of the great leaps that the new Microsoft operating system will mark. A graphics card compatible with DirectX 9 will no longer be enough, in fact Windows 11 will not even work with DirectX 11. DirectX 12 will be essential on any PC to move Windows 11.
Normally, any relatively current PC should easily meet this requirement, since, for example, the GTX 600 and the Radeon HD 7000, both with DirectX 12 support, arrived on the market between 2011 and 2012. However, some models of Low-end, such as the Radeon HD 7450, do not have DirectX 12 support, despite the fact that their nomenclature would make us think the opposite.
The Fermi-based GTX 400-500 (and higher models), as well as the GCN-based Radeon HD 7000 (and higher) support DirectX 12, so you have it pretty easy to upgrade your graphics card, even despite the situation. current trend in the general consumer graphics card sector, due to price inflation that generated speculation and abnormal demand, a consequence of the cryptocurrency mining boom.
You do not have to go directly to the first-hand market, you can look for an inexpensive second-hand graphics card and ensure full compatibility with Windows 11 for less than 50 euros, but in any case do not rush, the version is still missing. end of said operating system, so wait, because the situation in the graphics card industry may improve in the coming months.
RAM memory and storage: Two simple updates
Today it is easier to find a PC with 4GB or more of RAM than one with less than 4GB of memory. However, if you are one of those who is in the second group, do not worry, performing a RAM memory expansion is simple, safe and inexpensive.
To get the RAM right, you must be clear about these points:
- How much RAM you have installed, and if you can take advantage of it. For example, if you have four RAM slots and you’ve occupied two with two 1GB modules each, you could take advantage of it and install another two 1GB modules in the free spaces.
- Whether or not you can get memory of the same type that you have installed. It is ideal, since it is not good to mix different types or versions of RAM in the same configuration.
- What memory does your motherboard support. It is important because if you buy RAM at a speed higher than what your motherboard supports, it will reduce its frequency and you will have spent extra money buying a component that you are not going to take advantage of. You should also be careful with the issue of latencies and format.
If you have to change the RAM completely, nothing happens, you can find 4 GB and 8 GB kits with very cheap prices.
In the case of the storage unit, it is also rare to find equipment that does not have more than 64 GB of storage capacity, but in any case it is an extension that is also simple and inexpensive, except in very specific cases (laptops and computers with the welded storage, and no possibility of expansion).
Check which connectors and standards your motherboard supports, and buy a compatible SSD drive. The simplest, and cheapest, would be to buy a 128 GB SATA III SSD, whose price is around 20 euros. With that you would have the PC ready to move Windows 11.