# 🖥️ System Upgrade Report: Windows 11 Compatibility Review ## ✅ 1. Current System Specifications

Component	Details

**Case**

Kolink Observatory ATX Mid-Tower

**CPU**

Intel Core i7-7700 (Kaby Lake, 4C/8T, 3.6–4.2 GHz)

**Motherboard**

Gigabyte GA-Z270-Gaming K3 (LGA 1151, Z270 chipset)

**RAM**

Corsair 32GB DDR4-3000MHz (4x8GB Vengeance LPX)

**Graphics Card**

Asus RoG Strix GeForce GTX 1070Ti (8GB, Dual HDMI/DP)

**Primary SSD**

Samsung 970 EVO 500GB NVMe PCIe 3.0 M.2

**Secondary SSD**

Samsung Evo 850 500GB SATA SSD

**Optical Drive**

24x DVD-RW SATA Drive

**Power Supply**

Cooler Master V850 850W 80+ Gold (Modular)

**CPU Cooler**

Cooler Master MasterLiquid Lite 120 AIO

**Operating System**

Windows 10 Pro 64-bit

--- ## ❌ 2. Incompatible Components (Windows 11 Requirements Not Met)

Component	Issue	Windows 11 Requirement

**CPU: i7-7700**

Not supported by Windows 11

Requires Intel 8th Gen or newer

**Motherboard: Z270**

No TPM 2.0, no Secure Boot

Requires TPM 2.0 & Secure Boot

--- ## 🔁 3. Recommended Substitutes

Old Component	Recommended Replacement	Reason

**CPU: i7-7700**

**Intel Core i7-10700 (LGA 1200)**

8C/16T, supported by Windows 11

**Motherboard: Z270**

**Gigabyte Z590 AORUS ULTRA (ATX)**

ATX, DDR4, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, modern features

✅ Existing RAM, SSDs, GPU, PSU, and AIO cooler are compatible with these upgrades. --- ## 📀 4. Optical Drive – Include or Leave Out?

Option	Pros	Cons / Notes

**Keep the Optical Drive**

No added cost; still useful for discs

Check if new motherboard has available SATA ports

**Remove the Optical Drive**

Cleaner build; improved airflow

Rarely used today

**Alternative (External)**

Use a USB DVD drive only when needed

Simple, modern solution (~£20); keeps front panel clean

**Recommendation:** If you no longer use DVDs regularly, consider **removing the optical drive** and covering the bay with a **blanking plate**. For occasional use, a **USB external drive** is a flexible option. --- ## 🧩 Final Notes - Your current build is still very capable — only the **CPU and motherboard** need replacing to meet Windows 11 requirements. - This limited upgrade gives you: - ✅ Windows 11 support - ✅ Better CPU performance - ✅ Compatibility with all existing components