TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

This will become a general resource for questions regarding Windows 11. This is still a work in progress, we would gladly take any constructive feedback about the information below or anything that is lacking or unclear. We will endeavour to continue to update it as new information surfaces.

Windows 11 Release Date - October 5th 2021

I am looking to purchase a new system

You can now select Windows 11 when configuring your system. We are confident that >99% of the systems being sold through the website currently are Windows 11 compatible*.

I'd like to upgrade my PC to be Windows 11 compatible

We are working on guides and options. Please check back later for further information or reply to a ticket requesting further information on this. Please ensure you meet the requirements below or are willing to upgrade hardware to do so.

Known Issues*

These are issues we are aware of internally and are outstanding solutions:

Critical - AMD Threadripper 3990X & 3995WX Pro CPUs are triggering BSOD's in Windows 11 - it is unusable, most of the time you can't even boot to Desktop let alone use the system

Critical - CLEVO NH77xx Laptop Chassis are freezing/BSOD when loading into Windows 11 - it is essentially unusable on this chassis at this time, we're investigating a solution

Annoyance - Intel I211-AT NIC's are causing network outages during data transfers - it effectively means that a system with only this NIC is not able to get online - I believe the only motherboard we use which has this NIC is the Asus WS X570-ACE motherboard, which has a 2nd Realtek NIC which can be used instead - we are working with Intel on a solution which is expected in 'Q4 21'

Warning - AMD 2500U WAP devices are not supported as this CPU didn't make the support list from Microsoft


Resolved

Critical - We have identified that the AMD Based WAP "Work and Play" systems we are selling were not supported on Windows 11 out of the box. We have a 'fix' for the AMD based WAP devices which can be found here. However, the 2500U model is still not supported, even after adding TPM functionality as Microsoft has left this off the supported CPU list. [This will be rolling out to new devices going forwards]
Performance - There are reports online about having VBS (Virtualisation Based Security) Enabled and reduced performance whilst gaming - we have made the decision to leave this Disabled at this time on our systems to negate the impact

Performance - There is a known issue with AMD CPUs and Windows 11's performance scheduler, meaning that AMD systems had reduced performance on Windows 11, reported at between 5-15% loss to performance - this is now resolved and requires a patch that comes through Windows update as well as the latest AMD chipset driver (26/10/21)

Windows 11 Minimum Requirements

Full details can be found here from Microsoft.


Our summary:

Processor (CPU): 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)

Memory (RAM): 4 GB RAM

Storage (SSD/HDD): 64 GB or larger storage device

System Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable

TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0

Graphics card (GPU): DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x

Display: >9” with HD Resolution (720p)

Internet connection: Microsoft account and internet connectivity required for setup for Windows 11 Home


I have emboldened the three most important requirements that are the most likely aspects to cause the Microsoft tool to say that your PC isn't compatible. We'll address solutions lower down.


We are aware that there are 'workarounds' for Microsoft's checks. We are unable to provide support if you choose to go down this route and bypass the requirements.


N.B. We have not found a single situation where a physical TPM module is required for Windows 11 compatibility.

Compatible Hardware

Officially Supported CPU Lists

Intel

Includes 8th Gen Coffee Lake and newer

AMD

Includes Ryzen & Threadripper 2nd Gen and newer


Officially Supported Motherboard Lists

Asus
Intel - C621, C422, X299, Z590, Q570, H570, B560, H510, Z490, Q470, H470, B460, H410, W480, Z390, Z370, H370, B365, B360, H310, Q370, C246 Series

AMD - WRX80, TRX40, X570, B550, A520, X470, B450, X370, B350, A320 Series

Gigabyte

Intel - X299, C621, C232, C236, C246, 200, 300, 400, 500 Series

AMD - TRX40, 300, 400, 500 Series


If your CPU model and Motherboard chipset are not listed above, currently your system is officially unsupported by Microsoft on Windows 11.


Rough summary would be that if your system is:

Intel based and Pre-2017, probably not.

AMD based and Pre-2018 probably not. 

Intel based and Post-2017 then probably.

Intel or AMD based and Post-2018 then probably.


Even stuff that is 'probably' compatible, you are likely to need to make changes to the configuration to make it compatible with the final release. We'll address the exact requirements below and how to make your PC compatible as it probably only requires some simple UEFI BIOS tweaks to get your system compatible.


You can use the tool found here to check: PC Health Check App

Check your CPU & Motherboard

1.  Search the Start Menu for System Information and launch the App

2.  It should default to System Summary on the left

3.  Then look on the right for a line saying Processor (CPU Name) and another saying BaseBoard Product (Motherboard Model)


You can then search the Processor 'model' number on the Microsoft web page linked above e.g. 9700K or 3700X etc

Alternatively, you can look for the 'chipset' in the BaseBoard Product (Motherboard) e.g. Z370, B550 etc and compare that to the listed models above

Check Secure Boot Status

1.  Search the Start Menu for System Information and launch the App

2.  It should default to System Summary on the left

3.  Then look on the right for a line saying Secure Boot Status

4.  This should show the state as On

5.  You can also see the BIOS mode just above, which should show UEFI



This is set to 'On' by default on all systems we've shipped since Windows 10 was launched and even many from the Windows 8.x era had this Enabled too. However, under some rare circumstances we've seen evidence of this being Disabled by some 3rd party software and even from a dodgy Windows Update (a few years back).


If yours is set to Disabled or Off, it is likely a simple UEFI BIOS change to resolve that. See the guides below.


Please find the relevant guide here on how to Enable Secure Boot:

Asus - Enable Secure Boot Guide

Gigabyte - Enable Secure Boot Guide

[If we have not published a guide yet for your system, please let us know and we can help create it with you]


Check TPM Status

1.  Press Windows Key + R (Run dialogue)

2.  Type: tpm.msc

3.  If it's Enabled and working, you should see that the TPM is 'Ready' and that the version is 2.0



If TPM is not Enabled it will likely say Compatible TPM cannot be found.


At this stage we are not recommending you go out and purchase a 'discreet' TPM module* as we are under the impression that the vast majority of systems from 2016 onwards have had this functionality built in. We are still working on guides on how to find and Enable this on all of the different types of systems we've sold over the last 5+ years.


Therefore, if the above tells you that you do not have TPM or it says something like not supported or not enabled then we need to check your UEFI BIOS settings to Enable your Firmware TPM it as it's likely that you have it but it's simply not Enabled.


On AMD systems it's often called: fTPM

Asus - Enable AMD fTPM Guide (use the official Asus guide or this one)

Gigabyte - Enable AMD fTPM Guide


On Intel systems it's often called: PTT

Asus - Enable Intel PTT Guide (use the official Asus guide or this one)

Gigabyte - Enable Intel PTT Guide

[If we have not published a guide yet for your system, please let us know and we can help create it with you]

Other Chillblast Advice 

  • *Please don't start buying TPM modules from scalpers, these devices should be like £30 maximum, not £100+. We have not found a situation where a physical TPM module is required for Windows 11 compatibility.