Why is an Intel Core i7-6650 CPU @ 2.20 GHz not compatible with Windows 11?

Lisa Heath 46 Reputation points
2021-10-07T18:51:43.233+00:00

I have a Microsoft Surface Pro 4, that is oddly not compatible with the Microsoft Windows 11 upgrade. I need to understand why. This is not a hunk of junk PC, so and it has a what seems to be a good, fast processor. Help me understand why this PC is going to be relegated to paper weight status, please. I truly don't understand.

It has an Intel Cor i7-6650 CPU @ 2.20 GHz. It is a good PC, and a Microsoft product. Help me understand this, please.

Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | User experience | Other
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  1. Peter Jalowenko 41 Reputation points
    2022-01-12T01:23:00.507+00:00

    Hi,
    Similarly surprised and disappointed that Win 11 is not compatible with my i7-6600u Surface Book, and I'm guessing that my wife's SurfacePro from about the same time is also going to be in the same boat.
    Our Microsoft PCs represented significant outlays for us and were purchased in the belief that we were getting a high-end product which would provide many years of service.
    They're both still in excellent condition and certainly not ready to be turned into useless landfill yet.

    I hope MS reconsiders their position, making high-end MS PCs incompatible when they are still in good working order takes away any incentive to spend extra dollars for MS products.

    Thanks.

    5 people found this answer helpful.

  2. Kapil Arya 8,546 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-10-08T09:24:06.353+00:00

    I recommend you to drop a feedback to Microsoft about this, using Feedback hub app.

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. TWF 11 Reputation points
    2022-08-02T02:41:57.523+00:00

    I agree. I too bought a premium product at the time. The best processor, 16 GB mem 512 GB storage. Cause I didn't want to be caught up the upgrade cycle. But since Microsoft deems the Top of the line Surface pro 4 is not good enough I'm already planning for my move to Apple Mac book pros. I was lent a MacBook pro M1 and it already does what my surface pro 4 does and much much much more and a boatload faster than the inferior Intel chips. And yes it runs Microsoft office faster. So who needs Microsoft and Intel. See ya Microsoft.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Leon Laude 86,031 Reputation points
    2021-10-07T20:37:16.973+00:00

    Hi @Lisa Heath ,

    Microsoft announced first that they would only support 8th Generation of Intel processors and newer, however they did later start supporting 7th Generation processors.

    The processor you are using is a 6th Generation processor, you can check the compatible list of Intel processors for Windows 11 over here:
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-intel-processors

    The list is still being updated so it is not final, more processors will surely be supported in the near future, but for now your processor is unfortunately not in the supported list.

    For more information, also check the Windows 11 system requirements over here:
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications

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

    Best regards,
    Leon

    1 person found this answer helpful.

  5. Instigator69 6 Reputation points
    2022-11-30T22:28:57.253+00:00

    Just thought I should add my two cents here as well. I am in the same boat with the i7 processor, laptop in great condition, but not compatible with windows 11. Shame.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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