Windows 11 why strict requirements guide 2025

The shockwave: Millions of users with powerful processors (i7-7700K, Ryzen 1600) are blocked. Why this severe sorting?

This article answers two questions:

🔐 Why does Microsoft impose these constraints?
✅ Is your PC compatible?

🔐 Why Microsoft Imposes These Strict Requirements

Summary Table of Microsoft's 3 Priorities

Priority	Objective	User Impact	Measurable Benefit
🔐 Enhanced Security	Protection against ransomware and kernel exploits	TPM 2.0 + Secure Boot mandatory	-60% successful attacks (Microsoft 2024)
⚡ Optimal Performance	Leverage AVX2 instructions and modern multi-threading	Improved interface fluidity	+30% speed vs Windows 10 (Tom's Hardware)
📅 Long-term Support	Homogeneous hardware base post-2017	Updates guaranteed until 2031	No developer fragmentation

TPM 2.0: Protected Functions Table

Windows 11 Feature	TPM 2.0 Role	Available without TPM?
BitLocker	Secure storage of encryption keys	❌ No
Windows Hello	Protected biometric authentication	⚠️ Partial (less secure)
Credential Guard	Anti credential theft (pass-the-hash)	❌ No
Device Encryption	Automatic encryption (Home)	❌ No
Integrity Attestation	Rootkit detection at boot	❌ No

⚠️ Key Date: October 14, 2025 - End of Windows 10

⏰ Countdown

Days remaining until Windows 10 support ends

Recommended Migration Timeline

Period	Priority Action	Difficulty	Estimated Cost
March-June 2025 👈 YOU ARE HERE	Compatibility check + BIOS corrections	⭐ Easy	Free
July-August 2025	Hardware upgrades if needed (RAM, SSD)	⭐⭐ Medium	$30-400
September 2025	Actual migration to Windows 11	⭐⭐ Medium	Free (via Windows Update)
After October 14, 2025	⚠️ RED ZONE: Unprotected PCs	⭐⭐⭐ Critical	High security risks

Consequences of Staying on Windows 10 After October 2025

Aspect	Impact	Severity
Security patches	No patches for new vulnerabilities	⚠️⚠️⚠️ Critical
Software compatibility	New software progressively incompatible	⚠️⚠️ High
Recent peripherals	Drivers not updated	⚠️ Moderate
Professional support	Paid ESU (enterprise only)	⚠️⚠️ High
Ransomware vulnerability	Increasing exposure to attacks	⚠️⚠️⚠️ Critical

🎮 The 3 Windows 11 Configuration Levels

Comparison of 3 Configurations

Component	✅ MINIMUM (official)	🟢 RECOMMENDED	🔥 OPTIMAL
For whom?	Very light office work	Daily multitasking	1440p/4K gaming, content creation
Processor	Intel 8th gen / Ryzen 2000+ 2 cores minimum	i5-12400F / Ryzen 5 5600 6C/12T	i5-13600K / Ryzen 7 5800X3D 14C/20T or 8C/16T
RAM	4 GB	16 GB DDR4-3600	32 GB DDR4-3600 / DDR5-6000
Storage	64 GB HDD/SATA SSD acceptable	NVMe Gen3 SSD 512 GB (WD Blue SN570)	NVMe Gen4 2 TB (Samsung 990 Pro)
GPU	DirectX 12, WDDM 2.0	iGPU or GTX 1650	RTX 4070 Super / RX 7800 XT
Display	HD 720p, 9 inches	Full HD 1080p, 24 inches	1440p 144Hz or 4K 60Hz
Total budget	$400-500	$650-750	$1800-2200

💾

Actual RAM Consumption

Tom's Hardware tests, January 2025

Click to see details

Scenario	Windows 10	Windows 11
System at rest	2.7 GB	3.5 GB (+30%)
10 Chrome tabs	4.8 GB	5.6 GB (+17%)
Chrome + Office + Teams	6.2 GB	7.8 GB (+26%)
Gaming (Elden Ring)	8.5 GB	10.2 GB (+20%)

Click to return

💡 With 4 GB of RAM, Windows 11 leaves less than 500 MB for your applications, forcing heavy use of disk swap = guaranteed slowdowns.

🔍 The 5 Pillars of Windows 11 Compatibility

Blocking Criteria Table

Pillar	Required	% rejection	Fix difficulty	Solution cost
1️⃣ Modern processor	Intel 8th gen (2017+) or Ryzen 2000+	35%	⚠️⚠️⚠️ Impossible (upgrade needed)	$200-400 (CPU+MB)
2️⃣ Active TPM 2.0	Security module v2.0	41%	⭐ Easy (BIOS activation)	💰 Free
3️⃣ UEFI + Secure Boot	Modern firmware + secure boot	28%	⭐⭐ Medium (BIOS + MBR→GPT conversion)	💰 Free
4️⃣ 8 GB RAM minimum	4 GB technical, 8 GB realistic	12%	⭐ Easy (add stick)	$30-50
5️⃣ SSD recommended	64 GB free, SSD for DirectStorage	8%	⭐⭐ Medium (replacement)	$25-50 (256 GB SSD)

Examples of Incompatible Processors (high-performance but rejected)

Processor	Generation	Year	Performance	Windows 11 Verdict
Intel Core i7-7700K	7th gen (Kaby Lake)	2017	Excellent (4C/8T, 4.5 GHz)	❌ Incompatible
Intel Core i5-6600K	6th gen (Skylake)	2015	Good (4C/4T, 3.9 GHz)	❌ Incompatible
AMD Ryzen 5 1600	1st gen (Zen)	2017	Very good (6C/12T)	❌ Incompatible
Intel Core i7-8700K	8th gen (Coffee Lake)	2017	Excellent (6C/12T)	✅ Compatible
AMD Ryzen 5 2600	2nd gen (Zen+)	2018	Very good (6C/12T)	✅ Compatible

🤔 Should You Migrate to Windows 11 Now?

Decision Matrix

Your situation	Processor	RAM	TPM 2.0	Recommendation	Action
PC 2020+	10th gen+	16 GB+	✅ Active	✅✅✅ Migrate now	Windows Update
PC 2018-2019	8-9th gen	8 GB	⚠️ Disabled	✅✅ Migrate after TPM activation	Activate TPM (5 min)
PC 2017	7-8th gen	8 GB	❌ Absent	⚠️ Case-by-case verification	Upgrade SSD + check CPU
PC 2015-2016	6th gen	4-8 GB	❌ Absent	❌ Incompatible	Stay W10 or buy PC

🚀 Next Steps

1️⃣

Download PC Health Check

2️⃣

Run verification

3️⃣

Note blocking points

4️⃣

Step	Action	Tool	Expected Result
1️⃣	Download PC Health Check	aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp	Compatibility report
2️⃣	Run verification	Click "Check now"	Compatible ✅ or blocking list ❌
3️⃣	Note blocking points	Screenshot or notes	Precise list of corrections
4️⃣	Read next article	Windows 11 Series SafeITExperts	Detailed correction method

❓ Complete FAQ

Is my 2017 PC compatible?

⚠️ Probably, but verification needed

2017 PCs are in a gray zone. It all depends on the exact processor:

Intel 7th generation (Kaby Lake: i7-7700K, i5-7600K) → ❌ Incompatible
Intel 8th generation (Coffee Lake: i5-8400, i7-8700K) → ✅ Compatible

The best way to know: download PC Health Check and run the verification in 30 seconds.

Can I bypass TPM and CPU requirements?

⚠️ Yes technically, but very risky

Methods exist (Rufus, registry modification), but consequences are real:

❌ Blocked updates: Windows Update may refuse feature updates
⚠️ Permanent warning message at bottom right of screen
❌ No Microsoft support in case of issues

Our recommendation: If your PC is incompatible, stay on Windows 10 until October 2025, then consider hardware upgrade or a new PC.

How much does a hardware upgrade cost?

💰 Between $30 and $400 depending on blocking component

Here are the actual costs (2025 prices):

Budget solutions:

RAM (4 → 8 GB): $30-40
256 GB SATA SSD (replaces HDD): $25-35
Total: ~$60-75 to unlock most compatible CPUs

Heavy solutions (incompatible CPU):

Intel i5-12400F processor: $150
B660 motherboard: $100-130
Total: ~$250-280 (requires Windows reinstallation)

Will Windows 10 still work after October 14, 2025?

⚠️ Yes, but without protection

Windows 10 will continue to work normally after October 2025, BUT:

What stops:

❌ Security patches for newly discovered vulnerabilities
❌ Feature updates
❌ Official Microsoft support

The risk: Each day after October 2025, your PC becomes more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Hackers primarily target unpatched systems.

Does DirectStorage work on Windows 10?

⚠️ Partially (version 1.0 only)

DirectStorage exists in two versions:

DirectStorage 1.0 (Windows 10 + 11)

✅ Direct GPU → SSD loading
⚠️ CPU decompression (bottleneck)
⚠️ Limited gains: -20 to -30% loading time

DirectStorage 1.1 (Windows 11 only)

✅✅ Direct GPU → SSD loading
✅✅ GPU decompression (GDeflate)
✅✅ Massive gains: -60 to -75% loading time
✅✅ Frees 40% of CPU in-game

For gamers: Windows 11 has become essential to fully enjoy AAA games in 2025.

Is my 2018 laptop compatible?

✅ Most likely yes!

2018 laptops generally have:

✅ Intel 8th gen processor (i5-8250U, i7-8550U) → Compatible
✅ TPM 2.0 (often disabled, activate in BIOS)
✅ UEFI + Secure Boot

Action to take:

Check with PC Health Check
If "TPM not found" → Enter BIOS (F2 at startup) and enable Intel PTT
Restart and re-run PC Health Check → Should pass ✅

Is 8 GB of RAM really enough?

✅ Yes for office work, ⚠️ borderline for modern gaming

Actual tests (Tom's Hardware, January 2025):

Office work (Chrome + Office + Teams):

8 GB RAM: Smooth up to 15-20 Chrome tabs ✅
16 GB RAM: Comfortable up to 40+ tabs ✅✅

1080p gaming:

8 GB RAM: 2020-2022 games OK, 2024-2025 games borderline ⚠️
16 GB RAM: All current games smooth ✅✅

Our recommendation:

8 GB = OK if tight budget + office work only
16 GB = 2025 sweet spot (guaranteed comfort 3-5 years)
32 GB = 1440p/4K gamers and content creators

Do I really need an NVMe SSD or is SATA SSD enough?

✅ A SATA SSD is sufficient for 90% of uses

Actual gains comparison:

Usage	HDD → SATA SSD	SATA SSD → NVMe Gen3
Boot Windows 11	🚀 -70% (48s → 14s)	📈 -20% (14s → 11s)
Launch Photoshop	🚀 -80% (38s → 8s)	📈 -25% (8s → 6s)
Copy 10 GB files	🚀 -75% (85s → 22s)	📈 -18% (22s → 18s)

When to prefer NVMe Gen3/Gen4?

✅✅ Gaming with DirectStorage (Forspoken, Ratchet & Clank)
✅✅ 4K video editing (Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve)
✅✅ Regular massive transfers (photographers, videographers)
✅ Multiple virtual machines

Our verdict:

Already have SATA SSD? → Don't change, performance is excellent
Buying new in 2025? → Get NVMe Gen3 (same price as SATA)
Hardcore gamer? → NVMe Gen4 for optimal DirectStorage

📈 2025 Compatibility Statistics

Based on 5000+ forum verifications (Le Crabe Info, Tom's Hardware)

Incompatibility Reason	% of PCs Rejected	Solution	Cost
TPM 2.0 disabled	41%	✅ BIOS activation (5 min)	💰 Free
Old processor	35%	❌ Upgrade required	$200-400
Secure Boot disabled	28%	✅ BIOS activation (5 min)	💰 Free
Legacy mode (MBR)	22%	✅ GPT conversion (30 min)	💰 Free

✅ Optimistic conclusion: 64% of "incompatible" PCs are due to BIOS settings → Free and quick solution in 5-30 minutes!

✅ Conclusion: Act Now for a Smooth Transition

🎯 Essential Points to Remember

Migration to Windows 11 is no longer an option, but a strategic necessity to ensure security and sustainability of your digital environment. Microsoft has drawn a clear line: PCs must meet modern security standards (TPM 2.0, Secure Boot) and performance (8th gen processors minimum).

The good news? For the majority of users (64%), compatibility is just a BIOS configuration issue. A few minutes are enough to enable TPM and Secure Boot, unlocking access to Windows 11 without any financial investment.

🚀 Your 4-Step Action Plan

🔍

Step 1: Diagnosis

Use PC Health Check to precisely identify your PC's blocking points

💾

Step 2: Backup

Create system image and copy important files (OneDrive, external drive)

🔧

Step 3: Corrections

Enable TPM and Secure Boot in BIOS, or plan necessary hardware upgrades

✅

Step 4: Migration

Proceed with installation before October 2025 via Windows Update or clean install

⏰ The Urgency of the Situation

October 14, 2025 is not a trivial date. From this day, every PC running Windows 10 becomes a priority target for cybercriminals. Ransomware, zero-day exploits, and malware will primarily target unpatched systems.

Alarming statistic: According to CERT-FR, unupdated systems suffer +340% successful attacks in the year following end of support. Don't let your PC become a gateway for cyberattacks.

🌟 Windows 11 Benefits

Beyond security, Windows 11 brings concrete improvements:

Feature	Benefit	Impact
DirectStorage	Optimized game loading	Up to 75% faster
Auto HDR	Automatic visual enhancement	1200+ compatible games
Modernized interface	Snap Layouts and virtual desktops	Improved productivity
CPU/GPU optimizations	Enhanced gaming performance	+10-15% on recent architectures
Long-term support	Guaranteed updates	Until 2031 (6 years)

💡 What If Your PC Isn't Compatible?

If your processor is from before 2017 and upgrade is too expensive:

Option	Solution	Cost	Ideal for
Option 1	Migrate to Linux (Ubuntu 24.04, Linux Mint 22)	💰 Free	Technical users, office work
Option 2	Refurbished PC compatible with Windows 11	From $300	General public, simplicity
Option 3	ESU (Extended Security Updates)	Paid (enterprise)	Professionals, additional delay

📚 Continue Your Learning

This article is the first in a complete series dedicated to Windows 11 migration:

Article	Title	Key Content
🔍 Article 2	How to check your PC compatibility	3 detailed methods in 5 minutes
📦 Article 3	Complete step-by-step guide	Migrate without data loss
🐧 Article 4	Linux alternatives	If your PC isn't compatible
⚡ Article 5	Optimize Windows 11	Performance, security, customization