According to Microsoft, "i7-6500U Processor" *IS* Supported Under Windows 10, Version 21H1 ???

Gary Schaff 116 Reputation points
2021-11-19T09:07:35.527+00:00

Here's something I wish someone can explain for us. So far, this makes no sense, & I'm puzzled. Here are real screen captures (provided that this format allows inline photos), as well as Microsoft's own documentation. Seeing should be believing? Right? ;) So let's dig in.

1) PC Health (& Windows Update) report that my "Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6500U CPU @ 2.50GHz, 2601, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)" doesn't meet requirements.
My Windows 10 Pro is 64-bit. Here it is.
150947-image.png

2) Here is my Windows version ("winver"). As you can see, my Windows 10 version is "21H1" Here it is.
150948-image.png

3) Here is Microsoft's list of "Windows 10 21H1 Supported Intel Processors" dated 11/10/2021.
Look down the list & find "i7-6500U" as being SUPPORTED under Windows 10, 21H1
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-10-21h1-supported-intel-processors
150949-image.png

AGAIN, PC Health (& Windows Update) report that my "Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6500U CPU @ 2.50GHz, 2601 ![Mhz][6], 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)" does NOT meet requirements. Really??? Did I miss something?
150950-image.png

In the heading of the supported processors document above, it does advise that "Earlier generations and models of the CPUs listed may have limited support for devices on this version of Windows 10" MAY. I'm not on a LAN, no bluetooth, & not even a printer. And although 21H2 is now being offered to me in Windows Update, I have not downloaded nor installed it yet, so as not to muddy the waters here in this presentation. Yet, the fact remains that regardless of any potential limitations that may or may not occur, Microsoft saw fit to STILL include it in their list of "Windows 10 21H1 Supported Intel Processors" (dated 11/10/2021.)

So if it's on their list of approved, supported processors, then why is PC Health & Windows Update still reporting & blocking access? Again, I'm stumped. According to Microsoft's most current documentation, my i7-6500U processor DOES meet their Windows 11 requirements. And in PC Health, aside from the processor still highlighted in red, everything else on their full list is "ALL GREEN," & presumingly compatible.

ONE MORE THING: in reviewing all of this, one thing is certain: SOMEONE there at Microsoft took the time to sit down & then conclude that i7-6500U IS a supported processor (under Windows 10, version 21H1); & then was confident enough to proceed to publish this here on microsoft.com.

If this inconsistency interests you too, I'd appreciate it if someone out there could review & comment on this.

Thanks!
//Gary

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  1. Gary Schaff 116 Reputation points
    2021-11-20T09:53:43.69+00:00

    OK, thanks for pointing this out. I thought it was a list of Windows 10 processors, that are upgradable to Windows 11. But the odd thing is that this document is dated just 10 days ago. They updated a new compatibility of a processor with an old operating system on 11/10/2021?

    I saw somewhere that Microsoft made the unreasoned decision to exclude i7 cores (even though they meet requirements. But side by side, every spec matches the requirements. Go down the list one by one. Except for the fact that Microsoft excluded it by name, it looks like a match. PC Health is "all green" except for the designated processor. Descriptions match. When requirements are posted, and then we meet them, it makes sense that upon confirmation, either it should work, or someone made a mistake. I think you actually understand. Time to get a new system. Thanks for the clarity.

    //Gary

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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  1. George Stallings 16 Reputation points
    2022-04-19T06:01:45.703+00:00

    I too am just as confused as LonnyLuberts-9030 and have never engaged in Microsoft Q&A until now and for the same reason. I too ran the PC Health Checkup on my i7-6500 laptop and saw it was supported and my i7-5500 laptop and i7-7700 desktop were not supported by Windows 11. I check my i7-6500 laptop on several occasions to see it the Windows 11 upgrade was now available for upgrade with the PC Check still saying it was Windows 11 supported. Tonight, I checked again, and my i7-6500 laptop is not supported. I know I am not stupid and did see an earlier version of the PC Health Checkup state my
    i7-6500 was supported. The only reason I am commenting is I like other commentors on this thread knew that there had to be a fairly recent arbitrary change to the Intel processor support list. The i7-6500
    laptop has been a solid performer in my operation when complemented with a 1TB SDD upgrade in 2021. For Microsoft to withdraw support the installation of its flagship OS on an Intel platform without
    technical justification is more than an inconvenience. It is now both an unexpected and it seems unnecessary costs for all of us who planned based on the PC Health Checkup. I am not sure if there another forum to petition Microsoft to provide the technical justification for withdrawing its support for the i7-6500 but if they have the courage please do so. Let's be clear I just want to know why the Previous PC
    Health Checkup was in error in its support for the i7-6500 as being Windows 11 compatible. No BS just the technical deficiencies it has running Windows 11

    3 people found this answer helpful.
  2. Leon Laude 85,651 Reputation points
    2021-11-19T09:31:54.533+00:00

    Hi @Gary Schaff ,

    The PC Health Check that you're using is checking if your processor is supported for Windows 11, not for Windows 10 (21H1), so the tool is correct and unfortunately i7-6500U CPU processor is not compatible for Windows 11.

    You'll find the Microsoft's official Windows 11 list of supported Intel processors over here:
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-intel-processors

    You may always provide feedback and request your processor to be supported by using the Feedback Hub app:
    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/send-feedback-to-microsoft-with-the-feedback-hub-app-f59187f8-8739-22d6-ba93-f66612949332

    ----------

    If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you!

    Best regards,
    Leon

    2 people found this answer helpful.
  3. Lonny Luberts 11 Reputation points
    2022-03-04T20:00:25.78+00:00

    I do not normally respond to Microsoft Q&A, but found this as I was very confused about the i7-6500U processor.

    My Story:
    I have an older i7-6500 laptop that sits at my desk and performs scheduled tasks for work. I went home on a Friday with a windows 10 computer sitting at my desk and came in Monday to it being Windows 11. I was a bit confused as I assumed it was too old, so I went and looked at the list and sure enough the processor was on Microsoft's list.

    Fast forward a couple of weeks, and I have another laptop sitting at my desk that has the same processor but is a bit newer. I run PC Health Checkup and now... the i7-6500 is shown as not supported. So I check the list again, and the CPU is no longer there.

    What's up Microsoft?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Microsoft 365 0 Reputation points
    2023-08-23T06:42:04.46+00:00

    Microsoft please include intel i5 6300u in the list of windows 11 support my laptop is still performing very well

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