Windows 11
SCORE
PRICE Free upgrade for Windows 10 users via Windows Update
Windows 11 is the operating system that should never have been. Although Microsoft is busily burying the quotes down the Memory Hole, it once promised Windows 10 would be the last desktop release, with that OS being regularly upgraded into infinity. The question, therefore, is does Windows 11 bring enough to the table to make it worthy of a new version number? Or is it just an exercise in marketing?
Needy requirements
The biggest controversy surrounding Windows 11 is whether you’ll even be able to install it on systems currently running Windows 10. After rumours of about-turns, Microsoft stayed true to its declaration that PCs would need a TPM 2 module to run Windows 11.
You’ll also need a relatively modern processor. The rule of thumb is 8th generation Intel Core or AMD Ryzen 2000 or newer, but you can read the full list – there are some notable exceptions – at pcpro.link/326proc.
In late September, Microsoft finally re-released its system checker, which tells anyone running Windows 10 if their system is compatible. Head to pcpro.link/326check, run the tool and it will give you an instant diagnosis. One thing that won’t hold you back is RAM and storage space, with Microsoft setting a low bar of 4GB and 64GB respectively. We certainly wouldn’t recommend running Windows 11 on that.
