In This Guide
- What Windows 11 actually requires
- How to check TPM, Secure Boot & CPU
- Quick wins: RAM & SSD upgrades
- When a CPU/motherboard swap makes sense
- Australian costs: parts, labour, turnaround
- Data protection before any upgrade
- Unsupported installs: risks to avoid
- Brisbane-specific issues (heat, storms, NBN)
- Troubleshooting & quick checks
- When to call a pro
- Frequently asked questions
Wondering if your computer meets the Windows 11 hardware requirements? This guide shows Brisbane users exactly how to check, and what to upgrade if it does not. From inner-city flats in Fortitude Valley to bayside homes in Wynnum and Cleveland, we see thousands of pre-2018 PCs every year that can be made Windows 11 ready for under $300 - and a smaller group that need a fresh build.
Windows 10 support ends in 2025. For banking, myGov, school work and small business tools, staying on a supported system is safer and smoother. Most Brisbane PCs since 2017 can pass Windows 11 once TPM 2.0 is enabled in BIOS - no parts purchase needed.
To run Windows 11 you need a supported CPU (Intel 8th Gen+ or AMD Ryzen 2000+), TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, UEFI firmware, 4GB+ RAM and 64GB+ storage. Check TPM and Secure Boot in Windows Security and System Information. Enable firmware TPM (PTT/fTPM) and Secure Boot in BIOS, add RAM/SSD if needed, back up data, then install.
What Windows 11 Actually Requires
Windows 11 hardware requirements are the minimum parts and settings your PC needs to install and run the OS. In plain English:
- CPU: Intel 8th Gen Core or newer; AMD Ryzen 2000 series (Zen+) or newer.
- RAM: 4GB minimum (8-16GB feels much smoother for daily Brisbane use).
- Storage: 64GB minimum (SSD strongly recommended; 256GB+ realistic).
- TPM 2.0: Trusted Platform Module - either a chip or firmware (Intel PTT / AMD fTPM).
- Secure Boot: Stops dodgy code at start-up.
- UEFI firmware: Modern boot mode (not Legacy/CSM/MBR).
- GPU: DirectX 12 capable with WDDM 2.0 driver.
How to Check TPM 2.0, Secure Boot & CPU Compatibility
You do not need any tools beyond what is already on your PC:
- Run Microsoft's PC Health Check
Download from microsoft.com/windows/windows-11. It gives a pass or fail and explains why. This is your first stop. - Check TPM
Press Windows key + R, type tpm.msc and press Enter. It should say "TPM ready" and Specification Version 2.0. If it shows "Cannot find compatible TPM", reboot into BIOS/UEFI and enable Intel PTT or AMD fTPM. - Check Secure Boot
Search "System Information" in the Start menu. Look for "Secure Boot State: On" and "BIOS Mode: UEFI". If Off and Legacy, you'll need to switch to UEFI in BIOS and enable Secure Boot. - Check CPU
In Task Manager (Performance tab) or System Information, note your processor. Intel needs 8th Gen Core or newer; AMD needs Ryzen 2000 (Zen+) or newer. - Re-test
Re-run PC Health Check after any BIOS changes. Most Brisbane towers from 2018 onwards pass once PTT/fTPM is on.
Pro tip: If you run Dell, HP or Lenovo business laptops bought after 2018, TPM 2.0 is usually built in but disabled by default. A 5-minute BIOS visit unlocks Windows 11 readiness without a single dollar of new parts.
Quick Wins: RAM and SSD Upgrades to Meet Requirements
Many Brisbane PCs already support TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot but feel slow. Two cheap upgrades fix that:
SSD swap (best ROI)
Replacing a HDD with a 500GB-1TB SSD takes boot from 2 minutes to 15 seconds. Windows 11 installs in 20 minutes instead of 2 hours.
RAM bump
4GB barely runs Windows 11 + Edge. Adding 16GB DDR4 (~$70) makes Teams, Chrome and Word feel instant on a 5-year-old PC.
BIOS tune (free)
Enabling Intel PTT or AMD fTPM, switching MBR to GPT, and turning on Secure Boot is often free if your hardware already supports it.
NVMe upgrade
If your motherboard has a free M.2 slot, a 1TB NVMe (~$140) gives 5x the speed of SATA SSD - perfect for video, large updates, dev work.
Order of fixes that usually works in Brisbane: enable TPM and Secure Boot, install SSD, add RAM, then consider CPU/platform only if needed. This keeps costs down and performance up.
Not Sure if Your PC is Windows 11 Ready?
We do free 15-minute readiness checks across Brisbane - we test TPM, Secure Boot, CPU and quote any parts needed.
Book a Win11 Readiness CheckWhen a CPU or Motherboard Upgrade Makes Sense
If your CPU is Intel 6th/7th Gen or older, or AMD pre-Ryzen, a motherboard+CPU+RAM bundle may be smarter than buying a new tower. Re-use your case, PSU and drives if they're solid. For small businesses, consider warranty and downtime - sometimes a new unit with Windows 11 preinstalled is better.
We'll always quote both options - upgrade vs replace - so Brisbane families and businesses can decide based on their actual budget.
Australian Costs: Parts, Labour and Turnaround
Honest 2026 Brisbane pricing for Windows 11 readiness work:
| Service | What's Involved | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Win11 Readiness Check | TPM/Secure Boot/CPU audit, BIOS tweak if simple | From $205 |
| SSD Upgrade (500GB SATA) | Drive ($80) + labour, clone Windows, set boot order | $285 - $410 |
| SSD Upgrade (1TB NVMe) | Drive ($140) + labour, clone, BIOS update if needed | $345 - $480 |
| RAM Upgrade (16GB DDR4) | Kit ($70) + labour, MemTest, BIOS XMP profile | From $275 |
| BIOS Update + Settings | Flash UEFI, enable PTT/fTPM, GPT conversion | $205 - $308 |
| Win11 Clean Install + Migration | Backup, install, drivers, app reinstall, data restore | $308 - $510 |
| CPU + Board + RAM Bundle | Fresh platform, re-use case/PSU/drives, OS migrate | $615 + parts |
| Remote Win11 Pre-Check | Same readiness audit via secure remote session | $125/hr |
Simple RAM/SSD jobs are often done same day. Motherboard swaps and data moves commonly take 1-2 business days, including testing and updates.
Data Protection Before Any Upgrade or Reinstall
Always back up. Use an external drive or cloud for Documents, Desktop, Photos, email files (PST/OST) and accounting data (MYOB/Xero/Reckon). If using BitLocker, note your recovery key (Microsoft account > Devices > BitLocker keys).
During storm season (November-March in Brisbane), avoid doing BIOS updates without stable power. We recommend a full image backup before motherboard or OS changes - our data backup service does this for under $200.
Storm-season warning: We do not flash BIOS during active thunderstorm warnings. If a power dip hits mid-flash, the motherboard becomes a paperweight. We schedule risky updates for low-storm windows or in our climate-controlled workshop with a UPS attached.
Unsupported Installs: Risks and Why to Avoid
You can bypass checks on some older PCs (registry hacks, Rufus, etc.) but it may block future updates, reduce security and break features like Windows Hello. Drivers for older chipsets can be flaky. For home and business in SEQ, a supported path (enable TPM/Secure Boot, upgrade parts, or replace the device) is safer and more stable.
Reality check: Microsoft has hinted that future security updates may be blocked on unsupported installs. For myGov, online banking and work email - that's not a risk worth taking on a long-term machine.
Brisbane-Specific Issues: Heat, Storms, NBN
Summer heat & thermal throttling
From November to March, Brisbane temperatures regularly hit 32C+ with high humidity. Dusted-up desktops in Carindale, Coorparoo and Indooroopilly throttle hard during long Windows 11 installs. Clean the dust, refresh thermal paste, check fans before any big update.
Storm-season power dips
Brownouts during summer storms can corrupt OS upgrades and BIOS flashes. Strongly recommended: a small UPS (~$150) for desktop towers, or do major upgrades at our workshop where we have line conditioning.
Old buildings, old wiring
Older Queenslanders in West End, New Farm, Paddington and Sandgate often have weak power and older cabling. Big downloads (4GB+ Windows ISO) and activations may fail mid-stream. A wired Ethernet connection helps.
NBN quirks by suburb
HFC outages in bayside areas (Wynnum, Manly, Cleveland) and FTTN dropouts in older Logan and Ipswich pockets can interrupt large Windows downloads. Pause and resume to avoid corruption, or grab the ISO at a workshop with stable fibre.
Troubleshooting & Quick Checks
Short answer
If the checker says your PC is not ready, enable TPM (Intel PTT or AMD fTPM) and Secure Boot in BIOS, switch from Legacy to UEFI, add RAM to 8-16GB, install an SSD, then re-test. Back up first. If BIOS is outdated, update it only with stable power.
Quick checks before booking a tech
- Press Windows key + R, type tpm.msc - look for "TPM 2.0"
- Open System Information - check "BIOS Mode: UEFI" and "Secure Boot State: On"
- Check storage space: 30-40GB free is sensible for upgrades
- Check CPU model in Task Manager - confirm Intel 8th Gen+ or Ryzen 2000+
- If HDD installed, plan an SSD - it transforms the upgrade experience
We diagnose first, quote second, install third. If your 7th Gen i5 can't sensibly be made Windows 11 ready, we'll say so - not push parts you don't need. 4.9 stars across 100+ Google reviews. No fix, no fee.
When to Call a Pro
Stop and book a tech if you see any of these red flags:
- BitLocker is on and you don't have the recovery key
- BIOS updates fail or power is unstable
- RAID or unusual boot setups (server boards, NVMe RAID 0/1)
- Unsure about standoffs, thermal paste or ESD safety
- Laptop needs glued or riveted teardown (some HP/Lenovo ultrabooks)
- Important business data, MYOB/Xero/QuickBooks files at risk
Geeks Brisbane offers same-day Windows 11 readiness work across Greater Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Most tune-ups complete in a single 1-2 hour visit.