MB + Processor upgrade to Win 11

Chef Duane · Jan 14, 2025

Hello all,
This is my first post in Win 11 Forums having been on Win10 Forums forever. I would like to upgrade my system to be able to run 11 but know I need a MB and processor. I am currently running a self-build (see my specs) and am looking for a compatible mb+cpu setup that I could just swap in and run. I know my system is somewhat antiquated but it runs everything just fine. I am not a gamer other than standalone War Thunder. Most of my daily activity is online. Any suggestions for a mb+cpu? Any questions that I should be asking and am not? Budget is open. Open to all replies.
Thanks!
Chef Duane
PS: I always get the question... Yes, I am a retired Professional Chef. Got the degree and everything.

FreeBooter · Jan 14, 2025

Windows processor requirements Windows 11 supported Intel processors

This specification details the Intel processors that can be used with Windows 11 customer systems that include Windows products, including custom images.

learn.microsoft.com

ASUS Motherboards Ready for Windows 11

ASUS motherboards are Windows 11 ready with great compatibility. Users can ensure having TPM 2.0 support for Windows 11 through latest BIOS update or manual activation.

www.asus.com

abactuon · Jan 14, 2025

First you buy a monitor, then you buy a computer for it.

Any modern processor is compatible with Windows 11, and processors with integrated graphics will handle office tasks (if not used for gaming). You can buy a graphics card later.

FreeBooter · Jan 14, 2025

abactuon said:
First you buy a monitor, then you buy a computer for it.

Any modern processor is compatible with Windows 11, and processors with integrated graphics will handle office tasks (if not used for gaming). You can buy a graphics card later.

The correct way is to purchase a CPU and motherboard for that CPU in my view.

hsehestedt · Jan 14, 2025

You note that your current system runs everything just fine, so if I may, I'd like to make a suggestion:

Try Windows 11 on your current system to see if it runs well enough to meet your needs. Even if your system is not technically supported by Microsoft, almost all unsupported systems will still run Win 11 just fine by using simple workarounds to get past the system requirement checks from Microsoft.

If you find that it doesn't run as well as you would like, you could then always build a new system.

Of course, I understand that many people may simply not want to mess with that and just get a fully supported system.

If you do decide to test this, I would strongly advise making a system image backup so that you can easily go back to where you are now if something goes wrong with the upgrade that Windows cannot roll back from, just to be on the safe side.

badrobot · Jan 14, 2025

You would probably need a new set of RAM as well.
It's hard to suggest anything without a budget but what you can do, is set your budget and look online for a CPU based on your budget and check against the list of Windows 11 compatibility. The CPU specs will tell you what socket it requires for the motherboard and go from there.

bobkn · Jan 14, 2025

Chef Duane said:
Hello all,
This is my first post in Win 11 Forums having been on Win10 Forums forever. I would like to upgrade my system to be able to run 11 but know I need a MB and processor. I am currently running a self-build (see my specs) and am looking for a compatible mb+cpu setup that I could just swap in and run. I know my system is somewhat antiquated but it runs everything just fine. I am not a gamer other than standalone War Thunder. Most of my daily activity is online. Any suggestions for a mb+cpu? Any questions that I should be asking and am not? Budget is open. Open to all replies.
Thanks!
Chef Duane
PS: I always get the question... Yes, I am a retired Professional Chef. Got the degree and everything.

Do you mean that you'd want to move the current Windows 10 system disk to the new motherboard, and then upgrade to 11?

It may be possible. Windows 10 was pretty good about switching drivers when such a swap was performed. I once did it, going from an Intel system to AMD.

There is also software that allow you to image your OS drive, and restore the image to different hardware. The paid version of Macrium Reflect is supposed to do that, but I have trouble recommending that now because they've moved to a subscription model.

The FX-6350 is about 12 years old. You wouldn't need a high-end CPU to get significantly better performance. If you wish to stay with AMD, an AM4 motherboard would use DDR4 RAM. AM5, DDR5. I'd suggest the latter.

By the way: the FX-6350 includes SSE 4.2 instructions, so you could do an unsupported Windows 11 24.2 installation on it.

Chef Duane · Jan 14, 2025

FreeBooter said:
The correct way is to purchase a CPU and motherboard for that CPU in my view.

Yes. I'd like to buy bundled MB+ cpu and then just swap it into my existing system. I also will probably upgrade to DDR5 RAM.

Chef Duane · Jan 14, 2025

badrobot said:
You would probably need a new set of RAM as well.
It's hard to suggest anything without a budget but what you can do, is set your budget and look online for a CPU based on your budget and check against the list of Windows 11 compatibility. The CPU specs will tell you what socket it requires for the motherboard and go from there.

Yes. In doing some more research I've learned that at upgrade from my existing DDR3 to DDR4/5 will be needed. As I said my budget is open, I just don't want to overbuy. I'm not a gamer so I don't need some monster water cooled illuminated gaming rig.

badrobot · Jan 14, 2025

Chef Duane said:
Yes. In doing some more research I've learned that at upgrade from my existing DDR3 to DDR4/5 will be needed. As I said my budget is open, I just don't want to overbuy. I'm not a gamer so I don't need some monster water cooled illuminated gaming rig.

If budget is not an issue, just go online and choose any Ryzen 7 or 9 CPU. Anything you will find online today is Windows 11 ready. It is up to you how powerful you want it to be. I am sure you will be fine with Ryzen 7 and a B550 mobo.

badrobot · Jan 14, 2025

Chef Duane said:
Yes. I'd like to buy bundled MB+ cpu and then just swap it into my existing system. I also will probably upgrade to DDR5 RAM.

It doesn't have to be bundled. You won't find that a lot online. Just choose a CPU first, and once you have one you'll know what mobo to get.

Chef Duane · Jan 14, 2025

bobkn said:
Do you mean that you'd want to move the current Windows 10 system disk to the new motherboard, and then upgrade to 11?

It may be possible. Windows 10 was pretty good about switching drivers when such a swap was performed. I once did it, going from an Intel system to AMD.

There is also software that allow you to image your OS drive, and restore the image to different hardware. The paid version of Macrium Reflect is supposed to do that, but I have trouble recommending that now because they've moved to a subscription model.

The FX-6350 is about 12 years old. You wouldn't need a high-end CPU to get significantly better performance. If you wish to stay with AMD, an AM4 motherboard would use DDR4 RAM. AM5, DDR5. I'd suggest the latter.

By the way: the FX-6350 includes SSE 4.2 instructions, so you could do an unsupported Windows 11 24.2 installation on it.

I'd like to do that - just make the current system I have a win11 system but don't really want to run an unsupported Win11 system.. I'm aware of the post build requirement for updating drivers, tweaking this and that. The current rig I'm on is an Intel to AMD system. I am not tied to AMD and could go with Intel. I'd like to get a MB+CPU bundle w/ cpu already installed and then DDR5 ram. Do the swap and tweaks, etc.

I guess what I'm trying to do is run a supported win11 system but retaining and much existing HW as I have. ..... still thinking this through.

badrobot · Jan 14, 2025

Chef Duane said:
I'd like to do that - just make the current system I have a win11 system but don't really want to run an unsupported Win11 system.. I'm aware of the post build requirement for updating drivers, tweaking this and that. The current rig I'm on is an Intel to AMD system. I am not tied to AMD and could go with Intel. I'd like to get a MB+CPU bundle w/ cpu already installed and then DDR5 ram. Do the swap and tweaks, etc.

I guess what I'm trying to do is run a supported win11 system but retaining and much existing HW as I have. ..... still thinking this through.

TBH, you can still run windows 11 on that machine. There's a way to install Windows 11 on unsupported machine.
When you upgrade, you are putting most of your old hardware to waste, so just add a little bit more budget and buy a separate cheap (like $50) PC case and PSU and you will have a full functioning stand alone PC and use the old PC as a back up. Get an AMD CPU with a suffix "G" (ex. Ryzen 7 8700G) and you won't need to buy a new GPU.

Chef Duane · Jan 14, 2025

So if I get a Win11 MB+CPU (bundled or not) and upgraded ram, do I just swap that in, connect everything, power it up, and hope that it boots? As you all can tell I'm much more comfortable with the HW aspects of the upgrade than the SW side. I can image my win10 system then upgrade after I have that stable?

badrobot · Jan 14, 2025

Chef Duane said:
So if I get a Win11 MB+CPU (bundled or not) and upgraded ram, do I just swap that in, connect everything, power it up, and hope that it boots? As you all can tell I'm much more comfortable with the HW aspects of the upgrade than the SW side. I can image my win10 system then upgrade after I have that stable?

Just make sure that your current Windows 10 key is linked to digital license so you won't have problem with re-activating Windows on new hardware.

bobkn · Jan 14, 2025

Chef Duane said:
I'd like to do that - just make the current system I have a win11 system but don't really want to run an unsupported Win11 system.. I'm aware of the post build requirement for updating drivers, tweaking this and that. The current rig I'm on is an Intel to AMD system. I am not tied to AMD and could go with Intel. I'd like to get a MB+CPU bundle w/ cpu already installed and then DDR5 ram. Do the swap and tweaks, etc.

I guess what I'm trying to do is run a supported win11 system but retaining and much existing HW as I have. ..... still thinking this through.

I'm not sure that most sellers would offer a bundle with the CPU already installed.

There are too many possible choices.

At semi-random, the latest (good, but not the highest end)

Ryzen 7 9700X. Motherboard with an X870 chipset. Total cost (without RAM), roughly $500US and up. Without overclocking, up to DD5-5600

Intel Core Ultra 265K, B860 or Z790 motherboard, $520 (without RAM) and up. Without overclocking, up to DDR5-6400

(The faster DDR5 on the Intel system is a pretty minor advantage.)

With either CPU, you'd need to buy a cooler. The CPU doesn't come with one.

I slightly prefer the BIOS settings on Asus motherboards, but Asrock, MSI, and Gigabyte are all worthy of consideration.

This site may be helpful:

Pick parts. Build your PC. Compare and share. - PCPartPicker

pcpartpicker.com

Chef Duane · Jan 14, 2025

badrobot said:
TBH, you can still run windows 11 on that machine. There's a way to install Windows 11 on unsupported machine.
When you upgrade, you are mostly putting most of your old hardware to waste, so just add a little bit more budget and buy a separate cheap (like $50) PC case and PSU and you will have a full functioning stand alone PC and use the old one as back up. Get an AMD CPU with a suffix "G" (ex. Ryzen 7 8700G) and you won't need to buy a new GPU.

Why would I need a new case and PSU? Am I wrong in assuming that I could not find a MB with the same form factor? If possible I'd like to not have to buy a new PSU - I figure a 750w PSU should be fine, no? Again, my budget is open but I don't want to overbuy.

SIW2 · Jan 14, 2025

Similar question quite recently. He ended up with a pretty good system for £200

asus tuf-gaming/tuf-gaming-b550-plus-wifi-ii

couple of sticks of ddr4 ram

Amazon.co.uk

pick a cpu some examples:

AMD Ryzen 5 5600G vs Ryzen 5 4600G vs Ryzen 5 5500GT [cpubenchmark.net] by PassMark Software

AMD Ryzen 5 5600G 6-core, 12-Thread Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler, up to 4.4GHz : Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

AMD Ryzen 5 4600G CPU, AM4, 3.7GHz (4.2 Turbo), 6-Core, 65W, 11MB Cache, 7nm, 4th Gen, Radeon Graphics : Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT Retail Wraith Stealth - (AM4/6 Core/3.6GHz/19MB/65W/Radeon) - 100-100001489BOX : Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

badrobot · Jan 14, 2025

Chef Duane said:
Why would I need a new case and PSU? Am I wrong in assuming that I could not find a MB with the same form factor? If possible I'd like to not have to buy a new PSU - I figure a 750w PSU should be fine, no? Again, my budget is open but I don't want to overbuy.

I am saying, you are just 2 hardware ( a case and a PSU) away from having a new PC so you don't have to throw away a fully functioning CPU, motherboard and RAM sticks. You can sell it as a working Windows 10 PC to recover some cost instead of just wasting a CPU and mobo that nobody would probably buy anymore even if you try to sell it. You can get a Windows 11 key online for like $5 to $10. Just an opinion but you can do as you please.

bobkn · Jan 14, 2025

Chef Duane said:
Why would I need a new case and PSU? Am I wrong in assuming that I could not find a MB with the same form factor? If possible I'd like to not have to buy a new PSU - I figure a 750w PSU should be fine, no? Again, my budget is open but I don't want to overbuy.

You might not need either.

Your PSU has a 4 pin CPU auxiliary power connector. That may be adequate, but newer boards can take an 8 pin. (Probably back compatible with the 4 pin.)

A new MB may come with a header for a USB 3.2 Gen1 or 2 front panel port. Your CoolerMaster Elite 330 lacks one. If that matters to you, you might want a newer case. (However, most newer cases lack front slots for a 5.25" optical drive. Should you care. There are cases with front slots, though.)

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