Z440 processor unacceptable for Win11?

[David_Orkney]

Good morning! My Z440 Workstation (Win10 Pro 64-bit)  is ready for Win 11 but the Health Check app rejects the processor as not supported.
It is an Intel Xeon CPU E5-1630 v3 @ 3.70GHz
with Processor cores: 4  (ie. 2 or more)
and Processor clock speed: 3.7GHz (ie. 1 GHz or faster)

Surely this is more than adequate? Is it simply because being a few years old it is not on the list?
I don't see why the Z440 will not be OK with Win11 because of this.
Thank you for any insight.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Below is the list of supported Intel processors that qualify for the in-place upgrade to W11.

Windows processor requirements Windows 11 supported Intel processors | Microsoft Docs

This does not necessarily mean you can't install W11 on your PC, but you would have to perform a clean install and reinstall all of your programs and files.

If you want to see if W11 works on your PC, you can make a bootable W11 USB installer from the link below.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows11

See this article.  3rd headline from the bottom.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-windows-11-how-to-get-it-now-or-later/?ftag=TREc64629f&bhid...

If for some reason, W11 does not work correctly on your PC, you can reinstall W10.

I currently have W11 clean installed on two PC's that I have, that do not meet the requirements for the W11 upgrade and they both work fine on W11 so far.

I used the free Macrium Reflect software to make system images of the W10 installation before I installed W11.

You may want to do the same. 

Make a system image using Macrium reflect, and if W11 doesn't work right, you can easily go back to your current W10 installation.

You save the image on a portable hard drive and the software will have you make a bootable USB flash drive or DVD you boot from to access the system image stored on the portable hard drive.

Macrium Software | Reflect Free Edition

You want the file listed on the left side of the webpage under the Backup at Home section.

Yesterday was Microsoft's 'Patch Tuesday,' and I had heard about the possibility that Microsoft would not offer the monthly security updates to PC's that did not meet the W11 hardware requirements.

Both of my non-supported W11 PC's got the all of the security updates yesterday, so that is good news.

[David_Orkney]

Thank you for your information and your time, Paul. I may try this later.
I am particularly concerned about the spec of my processor.
I don't understand why it is inadequate.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

Microsoft indicated that they drew the line where they did because PC's with older processors than those listed suffered more crashes.

Why Windows 11 has such strict hardware requirements, according to Microsoft | Ars Technica

That's news to me because both of my PC's seem to actually perform slightly better on W11 then they did on W10.

I have not experienced one crash, freeze, blue screen, etc.

My test PC's are an HP 8200 Elite CMT business desktop from 2011 with an Intel i7-2600 processor, and an HP Stream Pro 11 G4 business class notebook which has an Intel Celeron N3450 processor.  I think that PC is from 2018.

[David_Orkney]

Very good, Paul. Thank you.
I have read the link info (DCH etc) and I think that says it all.
I appreciate your time and helpfulness. Thanks again!
Over and out.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime, David.

Glad to have been of assistance.

Cheers,

Paul