i5-4590 chip in computer. I want to upgrade to i7. How do I do this? S/N 2UA52926M7

[Nancy4151]

i5-4590 chip in computer. I want to upgrade to i7. Can I do thhs? S/N 2UA52926M7

[NonSequitur777]

@Nancy4151,

Welcome to our HP Community forum!

Your computer can likely be upgrade to a 4th gen i7 Intel Core processor such as the i7-4770 or i7-4790.

What I need is what model PC you got.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[NonSequitur777]

@Nancy4151,

The information I need can be obtained as follows: please type in: System Information in your lower Windows search bar, click on the System Information app, and look to the right of: System Model and System SKU, and provide that information.

Warm Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Nancy4151]

System Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
System Model HP Z230 SFF Workstation
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU F1M00UT#ABA

[Nancy4151]

OR

How do I get this to run Windows 11 - we have 4 computers running windows 10 but software that cannot be moved to a new computer so we want to keep these as long as possible.

[NonSequitur777]

@Nancy4151,

Outstanding, that is what I needed!

OK, here is a helpful YouTube instructional video how to replace the processor in your HP Z230 SFF Workstation: HP Z230 Workstation Processor Upgrade -not as refined as I would do it, but 'good enough'.  Use a quality thermal paste, such as this Amazon Arctic MX-4 purchase option: Amazon.com: ARCTIC MX-4 (4 g) - Premium Performance Thermal Paste for All Processors (CPU, GPU - PC)....

You can purchase an i7-4770 online, such as this $30 purchase option via a trusted eBay Seller: Intel Core i7-4770 3.40GHz SR149 Quad Core LGA 1150 Desktop CPU Processor | eBay.

Ditto for an i7-4790 also for $30 via a trusted eBay Seller: Intel Core i7-4790 3.60GHz Quad-Core CPU Processor SR1QF LGA1150 Socket | eBay.

All things being equal, go for the i7-4790 as it provides a slight performance increase over the i7-4770.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[NonSequitur777]

@Nancy4151,

Even though your HP Z230 SFF Workstation cannot be fitted with an 'eligible' Windows 11 processor, there are a number of reliable and effective methods developed which would allow you to almost effortlessly upgrade your so-called "unsupported device" to Windows 11, such as this easy-to-follow YouTube instructional video shows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSrmhhigEhY&t=332s&ab_channel=Tips2Fix.

This method uses a clever Microsoft (Server) backdoor Windows 11 install method.

This works great: I have used it myself on a number of legacy HP desktops without any issues whatsoever.

I cannot emphasize enough that this particular W11 upgrade method is hard to beat in terms of simplicity!

The Tips2Fix approach basically modifies the Windows 11 install media by replacing just one file (appraiserres.dll) with the Windows 10 version, which instantly disables all TPM, CPU, and Secure Boot checks without extra prompts or tool-specific steps.

Compared to Rufus, it’s:

• Lighter — no separate app needed after you have the ISO.
• Faster — one quick file swap instead of building a new USB from scratch.
• Portable — works with any ISO or USB you already have prepared.

Unless Microsoft changes the installer logic in future builds, this file-swap method will likely remain the quickest workaround for unsupported hardware such as your HP Z230 SFF Workstation.

Anyway, in the off-chance you don't like W11, you have 10 days to roll back to Windows 10. After 10 days, unless you follow the steps outlined in this instructional video, you may need to do a fresh install of Windows 10. Either way, this video will show you what to do with easy-to-follow instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v9_-4JCh_U&ab_channel=Tips2Fix.

Warm Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Nancy4151]

Thank you! 

the PC Checkup thing says only the chip is the problem, thus my wanting to upgrade the chip.

We have no options as the software we are using also expects us to migrate to Windows 11 !

I will try option 2 (upgrade without the chip change) and see how that goes - but also order the chip and see about that as well. If these work for one computer, I'll do the same with the other computers.

Thank you very much for your help - I'll let you know how this goes!

[NonSequitur777]

@Nancy4151,

Just to be clear: your initial post asked for a compatible Intel Core i7 processor, which I did. -I assumed you asked for a faster, better performing processor compared with the i5 processor. But since the i7 processors I recommended are still 4th gen processors, they still don't make your computer Windows 11 eligible.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777