You know you want to upgrade to the next version of Windows, but you need a PC to move Windows 11 because yours doesn’t meet the requirements listed by Microsoft. If you find yourself in this situation don’t worry You may be able to use a simple upgrade to meet these needs, and that you don’t have to buy a new PC to move Windows 11.
I know that despite all of the information we’ve given you over the past few days, there is still a lot of confusion surrounding Windows 11, and that’s perfectly normal. We recently analyzed the minimum operating system requirements to give you the clearest possible view of everything a PC would need to move Windows 11, but Microsoft recently confirmed that it could reduce the requirements, and that Ryzen 1000 series processors and 7th generation core processors will almost certainly be compatible with this operating system.
With the aim of continuing to clarify doubts, and pave the way for the long-awaited upgrade to Windows 11We decided to give this guide a form in which we see five tips to help you update and upgrade your PC effortlessly, thereby meeting the necessary requirements to run Windows 11.
To make this guide useful to everyone, we will hold back so that even those on a budget will find these tips useful, and we will offer alternatives for those on a more generous budget. In this way, nobody will feel left out, and you’ll find all the help you need. However, if you have any doubts, feel free to leave them in the comments.
1.-Previous considerations: what does a PC need to move Windows 11?
It is the first piece of advice and also the most important since we started thinking about it it will give us the foundation on which to make important decisions, and it will help us figure out what we need to change so that our PC can move Windows 11.
Before we get into the matter, let’s remember what requirements have you listed Microsoft as indispensable, that is, those who have to meet yes or yes a PC to move Windows 11:
- 1 GHz dual-core 64-bit processor, but limited to the supported ones (Zen + and above, 8th generation core and above).
- 4 GB of RAM.
- 64 GB storage drive.
- Graphics card with DirectX 12 support.
- TPM 1.2 chip or fTPM alternative.
- Screen of 9 inches or more with HD resolution.
- Internet connection.
Well the first thing you should do is see which requirements your team does not meet, and then it is important to evaluate if we can fix it with an update or yes, on the contrary, it is more advisable to buy or assemble a new device.
With that in mind, one of the most problematic scenarios would be the scenario where the user has a PC whose motherboard does not allow an in-place upgrade to a compatible processor. For example, if your team is based on the AM3 + platform the previous one, or in a Socket anterior a LGA1151 this does not allow a Coffee Lake processor to be installed.
To continue with the previous example, if we have compatible RAM and we can store the rest of the device components, a limited update of the motherboard and processor would be feasible, although it requires more assembly work and also forces us to make a larger investment. If on the contrary You cannot save most of the components, it is better to use them to put together a completely new team. I understand this can raise doubts so I repeat again that you can leave them in the comments and we will help you make the right decision.
2.-Don’t worry about the TPM chip: it’s easier to solve than you think
If your PC meets all the hardware-level requirements but doesn’t have a TPM chip, don’t despair, most of the motherboards launched in recent years have dedicated connectors that allow us to assemble a unit in a very easy way , and the price is pretty reasonable, at least for now.
Before I go any further, let me remind you that speculators have not forgotten the announcement of Windows 11 and that some have already started piling up TPM chips to empty the market and resell at gold price. If you realize that you want to fine-tune your PC for the Windows 11 move and you need a TPM chip, don’t wait too long as you might end up finding absurd prices.
To check if your motherboard has a connector to install this chip, all you need to do is consult the official specifications. It’s very simple, you put the exact name of your motherboard in google, Access the official manufacturer’s result and look for specifications in the specifications section. If it has such a connector, you will need to look for a TPM chip that is compatible with your motherboard.
The prices are very variable and are already starting to rise, but anything over 20 euros is a bad buy as it makes us pay more. The installation process is not a secret, we just have to Find the dedicated port on our motherboard and plug it in. Once that’s done we will make sure to enable it in the BIOS if necessary.
3.-Update the processor: check if your motherboard allows it
You may meet all of the major Windows 11 requirements including the TPM chip, but your processor is not on the list of supported models. This will be a common problem if Microsoft continues to ditch the Ryzen 1000 and 7th Gen Core, but in many cases it will be relatively easy to solve.
You can check your motherboard manufacturer’s official support website to see if it is compatible with processors that officially support Windows 11. Note, however, that while a motherboard supports generations of more recent processors may require a specific BIOS update process, so please do such an update before changing the processor.
For example, AM4 motherboards with the 300 series chipset they are compatible with Ryzen 2000 and Ryzen 3000 processors supported in Windows 11. If we have a computer with a Ryzen 1000 processor, we could update the BIOS on the motherboard and add one of these two processors without any problems. We wouldn’t have to change the mainboard, and with minimal investment we could shape a PC so that it relocates Windows 11, since the Ryzen 2000, for example, can be found on the second-hand market at quite interesting prices.
In the case of Intel only Mainboards with LGA 1151 socket and 300 chipset They 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 as they may end up receiving support.
4.-Change the graphics card and upgrade to one that supports DirectX 12
It’s another of the big leaps that the new Microsoft operating system will mark. A DirectX 9 compatible graphics card will no longer be sufficient, in fact Windows 11 does not even work with DirectX 11. DirectX 12 will be essential on any PC to move Windows 11.
Normally, every relatively modern PC should meet this requirement without any problems. GTX 600 and Radeon HD 7000Both with DirectX 12 support were launched between 2011 and 2012. However, some low-end models, such as the Radeon HD 7450, do not have DirectX 12 support, although their nomenclature suggests the opposite. .
Fermi-based GTX 400-500 (and higher models) and GCN-based Radeon HD 7000 (and higher) support DirectX 12, so it’s easy for you Upgrade your graphics card, even if the current situation in the general consumer graphics card sector was a consequence of the cryptocurrency mining boom due to price inflation that generated speculation and abnormal demand.
You don’t have to go directly to the first-hand market, but you can definitely look for an inexpensive second-hand graphics card for less than 50 euros and ensure full compatibility with Windows 11 You no fault The final version of this operating system is still missing, so wait as the situation in the graphics card sector could improve in the coming months.
5. RAM memory and storage: Two simple updates
Nowadays it’s easier to find a PC with 4GB or more of RAM than one with less than 4GB of memory. However, if you belong to the second group, don’t worry about upgrading RAM easy, safe and economical.
To get the RAM right you need to be clear These points:
- How much RAM you have installed and whether you can benefit from it. For example, if you have four RAM slots and two are occupied with two modules of 1 GB each, you could use this and install two more modules with 1 GB in the free spaces.
- Whether you can get memory of the same type that you installed. It is ideal as it is not a good thing to mix different types or versions of RAM in the same configuration.
- What memory does your motherboard support? This is important because buying RAM at a speed faster than your motherboard supports will reduce the frequency and have spent extra money buying a component that you are not going to use. You should also be careful about latency and format.
If you have to completely change the RAM nothing will happen You can find 4GB and 8GB kits at very affordable prices.
Even when it comes to storage, you rarely find devices that have no more than 64 GB of storage capacity, but definitely It’s an extension that is also simple and inexpensive, except in very specific cases (Laptops and devices with welded storage and without the possibility of expansion).
Check what connectors and standards your motherboard supports, and purchase a compatible SSD drive. The easiest and cheapest would be to purchase a 128 GB SATA III SSD, which costs around 20 euros. With that, the PC would be ready to move Windows 11.
