Nor Gal \/ Shutterstock.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIf you’re somehow being held back by a lack of RAM or a shortage of storage space, you have a potentially easy fix. You can get double Windows 11’s minimum RAM requirement for less than $ 35, while a cheap external hard drive can help you free up the space you need. RAM clips in; make sure you’re using the correct channels and the RAM you have bought is compatible with the rest of your PC. An external hard drive can connect via USB.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, for most potential WIndows 11 users at this moment, the required upgrades are more complex and more expensive than installing new RAM or connecting an external hard drive. The good news is that you may not have to buy and install an entirely new motherboard. You need one with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip that supports TPM 2.0. If you purchased your computer after July 28, 2016, it probably has a compatible TPM chip.<\/p>\n
TPM modules are available and compatible with some older motherboards, so look into that before ripping your rig to pieces. Your PC might have a compatible TPM chip that you have not enabled, so perform that check and allow your chip if necessary.<\/p>\n
You’ll also need a relatively new processor. The oldest CPU you can run Windows 11 with is an 8th generation Intel processor, first launched in August 2017. AMD users require even newer hardware – the Zen 2, which hit the market in 2019, is the oldest AMD CPU compatible with Windows 11.<\/p>\n
Installing a processor is one of the most delicate parts of PC building, but it is something an amateur can do in less than 30 minutes. Motherboards and other components tend to have some degree of future-proofing, so if your processor is stopping you from upgrading, there is a good chance you can fit a compatible CPU. Upgrading laptop hardware is more complicated, and the range of compatible parts is far narrower. Some soldering may be involved. But if you’re feeling confident, it’s possible to upgrade laptops.<\/p>\n
Don’t Worry Too Much About It<\/h2>\nWachiwit \/ Shutterstock.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMicrosoft is not \u201cretiring\u201d Windows 10 until October 2025 at the earliest, so Windows 10 users still have a few years before considering a new operating system. Until it is retired, Windows 10 will continue to receive support, including important security updates and bug fixes. You don’t have to be in a rush to upgrade, and you might even be better off buying a new device in a year or two instead of forcing the new operating system on the older PC you currently have.<\/p>\n
If you hang back, there is also a chance Microsoft will lower the requirements for Windows 11. Last year the company said its requirements were “subject to change with testing,” so there is a possibility it will try and maximize the number of devices Windows 11 will work with if uptake stalls. Either way, there is no reason you should feel there is an urgent need to upgrade. Take your time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n