Hey everyone! I'm trying to upgrade my 10-year-old PC to meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11. I'm currently using an Intel Core i5-3570K and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 on an Asus P8Z77-V Pro motherboard, which doesn't support TPM 2.0. So, I can't upgrade to Windows 11 without some hardware changes.
I've been testing Kubuntu, but I'm running into issues with crashes while playing older games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Just Cause 4. I'm not a hardcore gamer anymore (mostly a console player since 1985), but I want to know what parts I should focus on upgrading to become compatible with Windows 11 without breaking the bank.
I'm particularly interested in Ryzen CPUs, but I'm confused about their ranking: is it true that Ryzen 3 < Ryzen 5 < Ryzen 7 < Ryzen 9 in terms of performance? What about the Ryzen 5 5000 series compared to the 9000 series? And how do I ensure that I choose a compatible motherboard? Any tips would be great!
3 Answers
Honestly, I wouldn't bother upgrading just to run Windows 11. If you're not gaming heavily, stay with Linux for now. It can be less of a headache, and your old hardware should handle it just fine. Focus on gaming on your console and save your cash for a better upgrade down the line!
Definitely try using Bottles for game compatibility layers! It can help run more games efficiently.
For the Ryzen series, while model numbers generally show a hierarchy, the actual performance can vary based on use cases. If you're mainly gaming or doing more demanding tasks, consider getting a Ryzen 5 7600 with DDR5 RAM and a compatible motherboard. That combo will set you up nicely. There's plenty of build guides on PCPartPicker to help you out as well!
Absolutely, especially if you want to play through your old games! Good upgrades mean you won’t have to worry for a while.
I mainly use my PC for browsing and light tasks, but I do want to clear my game backlog. Would those upgrades be worth it?
You can actually bypass the TPM requirement for Windows 11 by using tools like Rufus to create an installer that ignores it. But honestly, I wouldn't recommend upgrading to Windows 11 with your current setup, since your CPU doesn't support AVX2, which is required. If you're looking at Ryzen, be aware that higher model numbers don't always mean better performance for every task. It's really about the specs. You might find better deals on older AMD CPUs that are still solid for casual use. Check out some reviews online for models like the Ryzen 5 7400F, which is a good mid-range option!
I've heard about that bypass too, but what if Microsoft eventually does something to stop it? And are those CPUs from AliExpress reliable?
Actually, keeping your old CPU with a bypass might not be reliable in the long run. It's best to aim for something more current.
I'm also looking into Linux, but getting Steam to work smoothly has been challenging... any tips?