Hey everyone! I'm currently running Windows 10 Pro on an i7-3770, but I just found out that I'm going to lose support for Windows 10 next month. I really want to upgrade to Windows 11, but I've hit a snag: my CPU isn't supported because there's no TMP. I've laid out a couple of options:
**Plan A:** I'm thinking about getting a used i7-10700F since it has integrated fTPM and should work just fine. I even found some YouTube tutorials to help me install it.
**Plan B:** If I can't get the new CPU, I guess I might have to wipe my computer and hope for the best, even though I really don't want to lose my data.
I'm on a tight budget ($60 max), so any recommendations or thoughts on my plans would be greatly appreciated! Here are some specific things I'm curious about:
1. Does backing up my data keep everything safe? What can it store? Is there a limit to what I can back up?
2. How does the whole data backup process actually work?
3. What's the deal with compatibility between CPUs and motherboards? If I upgrade my CPU, do I need to worry about fitting issues?
4. Can someone explain the differences between i7-10700, i7-10700F, i7-10700K, and i7-10700KF? Which one is the best choice?
5. Is Windows 11 stable enough now, or are there still major issues?
6. If I decide to upgrade without meeting the requirements, what downsides might I face?
7. Will I need a new GPU along with a CPU upgrade?
I'm totally new to all this tech stuff, so if someone could break things down for me in simple terms, I'd really appreciate it!
4 Answers
You'll definitely need to upgrade both your motherboard and RAM along with the CPU if you want to install Windows 11. Your current setup won’t be compatible with newer processors, and sticking with an older motherboard could lead to a lot of headaches down the line.
Considering your CPU is quite old, you might struggle to run Windows 11 effectively. Have you thought about using Windows 10 LTSC instead? It’ll be supported until 2036, and it could allow you to keep your data intact with the upgrade.
I didn’t even know Windows 10 LTSC existed! But will it still get support if it’s under Windows 11?
If you want to bypass the TPM requirements, there are methods online that detail how you can do it. Just be cautious, as there are security risks involved. Watching that installation tutorial you found could really help, too—it’s often all about following the right steps!
Yes, motherboards are picky about which CPUs they support based on generation and architecture. If you're considering upgrading to an i7-10700F, that's a solid choice since it’s compatible and can handle Windows 11's requirements. Just keep in mind that an upgrade might mean throwing your old parts into the mix since you will need a new motherboard for a 10th gen CPU.
Got it! So if I’d go with the i7-10700, I definitely need a compatible motherboard?
Thanks! But what’s the reason for needing to upgrade the motherboard?