Why are processors that exceed the minimum requirements for Windows 11 excluded

Question

I was looking into upgrading to Windows 11, but can't due to my processor. Normally I would chalk this up to being too slow, however the Intel Core i7-7700K CPU massively exceeds the 1GHz 2-core requirement with 4 cores and 4.2 GHz base frequency. How does this not make the list of accepted processors?

Answer 1

1) Only 8th generation Intel processors are supported at this time.

Windows 11 supported Intel processors

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-intel-processors

2) It comes down to security (TPM 2.0) as a primary driving factor. A lot of older chipsets can run TPM 2 (virtually) but it really isn't TPM 2.0 hardware.

Windows 11 requirements

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/windows-11-requirements

About TPM 2.0

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/enable-tpm-2-0-on-your-pc-1fd5a332-360d-4f46-a1e7-ae6b0c90645c#:\~:text=TPM%202.0%20is%20required%20to,set%20up%20to%20do%20so.

A good article on why Microsoft is not supporting older than 8th gen processors (some of it is speculation so be aware of this)

https://www.howtogeek.com/739029/why-doesnt-windows-11-support-my-cpu/

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If this helps please mark as correct answer.

Answer 2

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 here: https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/08/27/update-on-windows-11-minimum-system-requirements-and-the-pc-health-check-app/

You can also drop a feedback using Feedback hub app.

Answer 3

Windows 10 can be upgraded to Windows 11 on most computers in a supported or unsupported fashion.

This includes desktops, laptops, and tablets.

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

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/installing-windows-11-on-devices-that-don-t-meet-minimum-system-requirements-0b2dc4a2-5933-4ad4-9c09-ef0a331518f1

There are multiple methods to upgrade to Windows 11 when parameters do not pass the compatibility checks:

https://www.elevenforum.com/resources/windows-11-compatibility-check.4/

https://aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/bypass-windows-11-tpm-2-0-and-cpu-system-requirements.1989/

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