Is my Motherboard and processor upgradeable?

Hello, Bartlettguy67

Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

Thank you for your feedback. I have carefully read the information and description of the problem you provided.

I understand that this problem is frustrating for you. The HP EliteDesk 800 G3 TWR you mentioned is a relatively new office desktop computer with an Intel Core i5-7600 processor and an Intel 100 series motherboard. From a technical perspective, it is possible to upgrade the motherboard and processor, but there are some specific limitations and factors to consider, especially when upgrading to a configuration that supports Windows 11.

Regarding processor and motherboard compatibility:

Windows 11 has some minimum hardware requirements, especially the need to support TPM 2.0, UEFI boot, and support for certain processors (usually 8th generation and later Intel processors). Your i5-7600 processor is Intel's 7th generation, and although it supports 64-bit Windows, it does not meet the processor requirements for Windows 11.

If you want to run Windows 11, you need to upgrade to a processor that supports Windows 11. Windows 11 requires at least an Intel 8th generation processor or higher, or an AMD Ryzen 2000 series processor or higher.

You might consider upgrading to an Intel Core i7-8700 or higher, or a 9th generation processor (e.g., i9-9900K) or higher.

Your current motherboard uses the LGA 1151 socket (for 6th and 7th generation Intel processors). If you want to upgrade to an 8th generation Intel processor or higher, you'll need to choose a motherboard that supports 8th generation Intel processors or higher. Generally, 8th and 9th generation processors use the LGA 1151 v2 socket.

Also make sure your motherboard supports TPM 2.0, UEFI boot, and other hardware requirements needed for Windows 11. Many modern motherboards (especially the Z390 and Z490 series) meet these requirements. For 8th and 9th generation Intel processors, motherboards generally support DDR4 memory, and the maximum supported frequency is usually 2933MHz (the specific frequency varies depending on the motherboard model).

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions, please let me know and I will be happy to help you further.

Best regards

Brian - Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Thanks Brian for the reply.

Below is what I checked on my PC.

Just to make sure. I need to make sure the motherboard supports the 8th or 9th generation processor?

Is it easy to switch them out?

Thanks

Russell

Thank you for your reply

As I mentioned before, Intel's policy is to replace the CPU socket most of the time after the CPU is upgraded. If you need to replace a new CPU, you also need to replace a motherboard that supports this CPU socket, so yes, you need to replace a new motherboard.

But this may not be easy for ordinary users, because after replacing the motherboard, all your hardware needs to be reinstalled, and some previous hardware may not be compatible with the latest motherboard. So, if you are a user who doesn't know much about computer hardware knowledge, I suggest you don't do this operation yourself, because you may encounter many installation problems or hardware compatibility problems. I suggest you may need to seek offline professionals to help you solve the current problem.

Best regards

Brian - Microsoft Community Support Specialist