My boss let a new IT guy pick out a computer for our office manager. He chose a refurbished Lenovo with an i7-6700 CPU that isn't on the Windows 11 approved list. I'm supposed to install her programs and maintain the computer, but I'm worried this isn't a good upgrade. Her old computer runs Windows 7 with an i7-4790. The new one has an SSD versus her HDD and 32GB of RAM compared to her 8GB, but it feels like a step back with a ten-year-old CPU. It's been crashing and running slow, and even after being sent back for 'repairs,' the issues persist, including several unrecognized device drivers. I'm concerned about changing drivers that might affect Windows 11 stability on this unsupported CPU. Am I overreacting? Shouldn't we push to return it and get a new, compliant machine?
5 Answers
Yes! If the company can't afford a computer that costs less than 1/4 of your salary, that’s a big red flag for future issues. It's likely going to be an ongoing problem if they prioritize cost over quality.
Absolutely, you should definitely advocate for more modern hardware. It's totally reasonable to expect that a new computer should be compatible with current operating systems without issues. The whole situation does seem odd, especially if the IT guy isn't following standard compliance practices for Windows 11.
The phrase 'fit for purpose' sums it up: this PC isn’t doing its job properly. I'd return it due to the driver issues since it’s clearly not fit for what you need it for. The IT guy sounds like he’s trying to cut corners, which isn't a good practice in tech support.
Consider how much time and frustration you're going to spend on maintaining this $200 computer. It might end up costing the company way more in employee downtime and tech support than investing in decent hardware upfront.
Exactly! Sometimes saving a few bucks now leads to bigger headaches later.
For sure, using outdated hardware like this poses a security risk. There's no reason to settle for parts that aren't actively supported by Windows 11.
Thanks! I appreciate the reassurance; it helps to know I'm not overreacting.