I'm trying to build two budget PCs so my sons can enjoy playing Minecraft and use my Steam and Xbox accounts. Ideally, I'd like them to operate on Windows 11, especially if they can work with my old mining hardware. I have one old PC with the following specs: an Asus Z97 motherboard that supports up to Gen 5 Intel chips, 8GB DDR3 RAM, a 2GB GTX 960 graphics card, a 600W EVGA power supply, and an Intel Core i5 4690K running at 3.5GHz.
Additionally, I have parts from an old mining rig, which includes an Asus Z270-A motherboard that maxes out at Gen 7 Intel chips, 4 MSI Armor RTX 580 4GB graphics cards, an Intel i3-7100 running at 3.9GHz, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and an EVGA 1000 P2 power supply.
I know I can reuse the power supplies, but I'm unsure about the RAM compatibility. I've heard the motherboards are too outdated for compatible processors with Windows 11. What would be a cost-effective alternative? Can the RAM I'm currently using be reused?
2 Answers
Honestly, I'd forget about the DDR3 RAM; it's pretty outdated. You can use the DDR4 in AM4 socket motherboards or Intel’s 12th to 14th generation CPUs—those are still good options for gaming builds!
If you're up for a small workaround, you can build the Windows 11 install using the Rufus ISO writer tool. This way, you'll bypass the TPM and CPU checks, allowing you to run Windows 11 and Minecraft on both PCs without any hardware upgrades. Just grab the Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft's Media Creation Tool, then use Rufus to write it with the right settings. Just keep in mind, this isn't a foolproof long-term fix. If you don’t mind missing Xbox account access, Linux could be a much better choice for performance!
That's a cool tip! I heard both the Z97 and Z270 boards have TPM headers. Would it be worthwhile to invest in TPM 2.0 modules instead?
Got it! Any recommendation for a budget-friendly motherboard for Intel’s 12th or 14th gen?