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Why is the Intel Core i7-3740QM processor not sufficient for Win11?

Mark J. Fine 1 Reputation point
2021-10-05T10:28:15.107+00:00

Processor meets all the minimal technical requirements for speed and number of cores: 22 nm "Ivy Bridge" 2.7 GHz Intel "Core i7" processor (3740QM), with four independent processor "cores".

Because it's not on the list of acceptable processors, it is being blocked from possible upgrade to Win11.
It's not on Win10's 21H1 list of processors either, but it has never been denied an upgrade and runs just fine.

Windows 11
Windows 11
A Microsoft operating system designed for productivity, creativity, and ease of use.
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  1. Limitless Technology 39,461 Reputation points
    2021-10-06T12:44:21.62+00:00

    Hi Mark,

    Thank you for your question.

    Recently the integrity check application has been undergoing updates to further expand the number of devices compatible with windows 11. It is true that some of the processors considered old were not being recommended for using windows 11, however this has been changed every week after week, because the idea is to reach as many users as possible with windows 11.

    So, you shouldn't worry, as much as it doesn't seem to be "compatible" now, it will soon be, with the windows 11 integrity updates.

    Also, I recommend that you post your question on the windows 11 forum, because there you will be greeted by an engineer from the windows 11 team, who has more recent information to pass on to you, to do this just use the link below and select the top option called "Ask a question" and describe the entire problem, including images:

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum?sort=LastReplyDate&dir=Desc&tab=All&status=all&mod=&modAge=&advFil=&postedAfter=&postedBefore=&threadType=All&isFilterExpanded=false&page=1

    If the answer is helpful, please vote positively and accept as an answer.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. Kapil Arya 7,776 Reputation points MVP
    2021-10-05T11:37:59.123+00:00

    This is because of reliability concerns. According to Microsoft:

    Devices that do not meet the minimum system requirements had 52% more kernel mode crashes. Devices that do meet the minimum system requirements had a 99.8% crash free experience.

    Read more in this blog post: https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/08/27/update-on-windows-11-minimum-system-requirements-and-the-pc-health-check-app/

    You can drop your feedback to Microsoft, using Feedback hub app.

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  3. Mark J. Fine 1 Reputation point
    2021-10-05T12:15:42.85+00:00

    @Kapil Arya

    I understand the provided technical rationale, but I think you're missing the point:
    How do I even know it was even tested to be judged?

    They say they've tested various PCs. This processor isn't even in a PC. It's in a Macbook Pro which is successfully running Win10 in a Parallels VM (even though it too wasn't listed for that).

    How would anyone know if these kinds of virtual applications have been grossly overlooked in favor of trying to boost PC sales?