Is it time?

Brace yourselves. I’m old now and I just talk and talk and type and type. I have a question about replacing my main daily driver pc, but apparently, I have to tell you my life story first. Lol. But I figure the more information you have the better you can help me so here we go.

I have a few computers at home. My main personal pc, my media server (Plex), my backup pc, my old work pc, and my garage pc. I have a NAS and a NVR and home automation switches and sensors, on multiple networks. And laptops and tablets and stuff but I won’t go there.

I use my main personal computer for getting my daily news, emails, banking, downloading and editing videos, and running (2) 3d printers, and buying too much stuff on Amazon. I’m too old to game lol. Ok solitaire.

My media server and back up pc’s are both Beelink mini pc’s. My media server doubles as a make shift home server. I share the drives on the network and the rest of my computers can access those drives. My junk drawer.

My old work pc. I used to be self employed, I just retired. But I need to keep this computer running for another year or so for taxes and stuff. For Uncle Sam.

My garage pc runs a cnc laser engraver/cutter and a vinyl plotter/cutter.

Yes, I know I have too many toys and believe me, I am holding myself back. There are more lol

My main personal computer at home is getting old. Well, they all are, but I am more concerned about my daily driver main pc.

It is 11 years old now. I bought it in 2015. it’s a tower.



Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.60GHz 3.30 GHz

Installed RAM 24.0 GB (23.7 GB usable)

System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display



Windows 11 Pro

Version 23H2

Installed on ‎9/‎9/‎2023

OS build 22631.6199

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22700.1108.0



None of my computers were good enough for Windows 11 so I did some of the tricks that I learned here on this web site. I was able to install Windows 11 pro on all my computers. I think it was the dreaded TPM issue.

Now, 3 years later, my computer is still good, but I am getting a little leery that it is aging. And it seems like it won’t update Windows anymore. I seem to be stuck on 23H2.

It works well and it seems to be reliable and stable, but I am getting a little nervous.

I want to go shopping for a new pc. Amazon Prime Days are coming back again. I am thinking about another mini pc with external drives. My media server and back up pc’s are both mini pc’s with external drives running Windows 11 Pro. And they seem to be updating with no issues. I do admit there is a little delay in Plex but after it gets going it is fine. I think that is due to the external drives but I’m fine with it. I expect it now lol.

I am thinking about this one on Amazon:

Beelink SEi13 Pro Mini PC, Intel Core i7-13620H (10C/16T, up to 4.9GHz), 32GB LPDDR5X 500GB PCIe4.0 SSD, Triple 4K Display Mini Computer with HDMI/DP/USB-C, WiFi 6, BT5.2, 2.5G LAN

I like Beelink. I’m not sure why.

Any thoughts? Any opinions? Should I get a mini pc as my main daily driver pc? It seems like the way to go unless any of you can talk me out of it. Tell me about the Chinese back doors lol. I’m not sure what else to ask about.

Or is there some stupid trick I am missing to get my old pc current? Adding TPM? Replace the motherboard? But it is still getting old…

And then my last thought is what to do with my old personal pc. I guess I can replace one of my other aging pc’s with it. Something very non critical since it does not update anymore. Or I can take it out to a field and make a video like Office Space lol. Killing the printer. Lol

I’m old now and I like computers. I am self taught on pc’s and home networking and home automation. I think I know a lot more about computers and networking than most other people my age, but I don’t know everything. I am self taught and I know there are holes in my knowledge here and there. But I don’t know what I don’t know so here I am asking questions.

Should I or should I not get a mini pc as my daily driver main pc?

Make your answer as long as this post please lol. (sorry again for the long post.) And sorry I am posting a hardware question in a Windows 11 forum but I didn’t know where else to go. Flame on.

Thanks in advance.

Old-Steve

A PC with an I7-4790 can run Win11 26H2, although it may not receive it via Windows Update. Let's install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware

You probably have a better grasp of the limitations of mini PCs than I do. Most seem to use laptop components. If you don't require performance equal to the highest-end desktop PC CPUs, or the (internal) upgradeability of a large desktop PC, then it's not obvious to me why you'd reject a mini.

My last PC build was done nearly 3 years ago. In the past, I've been addicted to doing an upgrade every couple of years. Due to the current RAM and drive prices, plus the fact that current hardware is mostly an incremental improvement over 2023 stuff, I won't be upgrading anytime soon. I may be too old by 2028 or 2029 (maybe the market will resemble the old normal by then) to want to do the homebuilt thing again.

sdtag said:

It is 11 years old now. I bought it in 2015. it’s a tower.

Click to expand...

I actually had only 3 PCs in my lifetime, each for a decade with a short laptop intermission.
But with the current prices, buying PC is quite a challenge. Try a refurbished PC for 2-3 years.

sdtag said:

Any thoughts? Any opinions? Should I get a mini pc as my main daily driver pc? It seems like the way to go unless any of you can talk me out of it. Tell me about the Chinese back doors lol. I’m not sure what else to ask about.

Click to expand...

After i heard the news about Intel 13gen and 14gen had problems.. i would play it safe and go for 12gen and save a few dollars in the process as it sounds as you dont need high computing power.
We had a discussion about what computer brands is good for Linux when it came to my attention.. i had no clue about it before.

According to Dell Industry-wide Issue With Intel Core 13th and 14th Generation i5, i7, and i9 Processors | Dell US the effected CPU's are

Here is some context of our short conversation on the Linux forum.

(He mention )
I think some of you missed the news regarding oxidizing 13th and 14th gen Intel CPUs...
I respectfully disagree: these CPUs are subjects to accelerated aging, manifesting in growing instability rate, so especially in the context of a potential 2nd hand purchase, should be avoided.

Click to expand...

(My question )
Off topic question.
Is it all 13/14 or some versions of them?
I feel it can be good t know if i get the chance of upgrading hardware so to speak.

Click to expand...

(His answer )
Intel officially admitted only regarding the models used in DCs as the evidence presented by SREs based on thousands of units running 24/7 was too staggering to deny, but there were some reports from virtually all segments. Since Intel hasn't released failure rates for all models, it's impossible to reliably say if all were affected or just some.

Click to expand...

And for your Topic question.. I have never used a mini-PC so i dont know how good they are as a daily driver main PC. I kind of want to have a desktop so i can have several internal drives for speed as a 10-25Gbit network for fast network drives is still expensive with switches and optical NIC's

as for Chinese backdoors.. i never worrying about Vpro and IME.. as long you just have a good router and some good firewall rules you can close down any machine vulnerability's.. an example as basic Windows Updates and Telemetry i control that with firewalling.

@sdtag

Here's ten points for filling out your computer specs.


About your computer upgrade. Unless you have a very large budget, you may want to hold off.
RAM and storage prices are going through the roof, due to AI.

For example...
32GB of RAM is now in the 700-800 dollar range.
Even 16GB of RAM is in the 500-600 dollar range.

I would check the prices on PCPartpicker, when thinking about upgrading.
PCPartpicker can be set for any country, and it finds the "lowest" prices for the reputable retailers in that country.

Since you've got some 'spare PCs' now (just in case), if it were me, I'd go ahead and upgrade your existing PC to 26H2 first, as you don't really have anything to lose by doing so anyway. There are members here with MUCH older PC hardware than your machine running 26H2 just fine. My first consideration would be the health of your existing HDD/SSD though. Presumably we're talking about your 'System One' Acer Aspire TC-605 which likely originally came w/ a 1TB HDD. I would download Crystal Disk Info (or run if you already have it!) and get a snapshot of the health of your HDD(s). If you don't have any health issues with your existing HDD(s), and aren't experiencing any issues that may point to ailing hardware on this machine otherwise, I would proceed with an 'In-Place Upgrade' to 26H2, which will give you the ability to preserve all of your existing Software Apps, User Data, and preserve the existing drivers already installed/working with your current Windows 11 OS.

For the record, I'm not really a fan of clean installs of W11 on unsupported hardware (especially those that predate W10) as IME, Windows does a VERY poor job providing/installing drivers generally and especially in the case of unsupported hardware, W11 often leaves me shaking my head & creating extra work. If a clean install is advisable/necessary, I'd install Windows 10 first, use the oem system update tool to update all drivers, firmware, etc and then do an 'In-Place' Upgrade to Windows 11. There's just less headaches involved IME. All you'll need for the 'In-Place Upgrade' (and the simplist method IMO) is to get the 26H2 ISO, and create bootable USB media using the latest version of Rufus. When you're ready, with you PC already booted/running, just insert the USB, and run the 'setup.exe'.

I'm with '@ Marie SWE' on preferring a Desktop w/ multiple Drives vs a mini-PC for just about any use except for the possible exception where a small family PC is desireable/needed/used in a common area by multiple family members. Even most of my laptops have 2-3 SSDs in them. One of my reasons for multiple Drives is that I'm a strong advocate of storing all personal data on a separate physical drive from the OS. Considering you should already be backing up your User Data when doing such an upgrade anyway, I'd reccommend you move all of your User Data to a separate physical drive if you don't already do that, as it's just good practice IMO.

I have a mini-PC as a printer server, but for my main computer, that would not be my first choice.

First off, it's using the Intel processor built-in graphics that gives you entry level video, anything over basic office work and minimal graphics work will lag.

With four USB ports total, you'll likely end up needing USB expansion hubs.

The memory is fixed, no expandability as it's soldered to the MB.

Unless the form-factor is a key requirement, I'd be looking for something more modular that you can expand. The GPU seems to be a key shortcoming to me.

The lack of the ability to add storage is a second major issue.

Thanks everybody for all your input.
so yeah I'm re-thinking it now.

I didn't realize prices had gone up so much. But the mini I am (was) looking at still seems like a lot of bang for the buck.
So I might be moving past shiny and new and headed back to proven and reliable. lol like me lol dull and boring

As old as my motherboard is, I think it has a 20 pin tpm socket. I'll look into that. I don't know why I didn't do that 3 years ago.
I went straight to the cheat.
If I add a tpm module will that help with my software updates? Or is that 2 different animals?

And yes, I have always had my op on one drive and everything else on other drives. Again, I don't know why, it just seems like best practice to me. Logical. And backing up to more than one location, the most critical backup being off site.

Thanks again in advance.

gunrunnerjohn: I had an 8080 too. lol But before that, my friend had a Commodore 64. That inspired me to get a Timex/Sinclair 1000. I built the hell out of that tiny machine. Then on to an 8080 and MS-DOS. and no hard drive. MS-BASIC. 5 1/4" floppies. Local dial up bulletin boards and Compuserve at 300 baud. Man am I old or what lol

sdtag said:

gunrunnerjohn: I had an 8080 too. lol But before that, my friend had a Commodore 64. That inspired me to get a Timex/Sinclair 1000. I built the hell out of that tiny machine. Then on to an 8080 and MS-DOS. and no hard drive. MS-BASIC. 5 1/4" floppies. Local dial up bulletin boards and Compuserve at 300 baud. Man am I old or what lol

Click to expand...

I never tumbled for the "packaged" computers of the 70's, I wanted something more "personalized". Besides, being a frustrated EE trapped in a software world, it was fun to build some hardware. I started with 8" floppies, then bought a Micropolis 20MB SCSI hard disk that was used in minicomputers and build a controller for the S-100 bus. I used CP/M for a long time, and WordStar was my favorite editor.

Well ya got me there. Those are two words I haven't heard of in decades. CP/M and Wordstar. wow
I think I took the less informed more consumer route than you did. You sound kind of hard core lol
I'll bet you know Fortran and/or Cobal. It has always been a hobby of mine, not my profession.
I started with a 100 dollar computer but by the time I was done I had probably dumped more than a grand into it.
Then I discovered Intel and MS DOS thank GOD lol late 80's early 90's for me.
Anyway sorry for hijacking my own thread. I saw 8080 and cracked up.
So do you think if I plug in a TPM module into my mb will that solve any of my concerns? Will that let or enable the software to advance past 23H2?

I wouldn't waste my time on that. A new TPM Module won't solve your problem, as your processor is unsupported anyway! All you need is a 26H2 ISO and Rufus to create install media that will bypass all the requirements for Windows 11 hardware checks. With that alone, you can install/upgrade to 26H2.

sdtag said:

I use my main personal computer for getting my daily news, emails, banking, downloading and editing videos, and running (2) 3d printers, and buying too much stuff on Amazon. I’m too old to game lol. Ok solitaire.

Click to expand...

Have you considered a laptop? They are cheaper than PC, especially RAM related.
You can simply connect a monitor, keyboard, mouse and use it as a desktop PC.
AMD APU has a pretty powerful GPU and this one with 8GB starts around $500.

Quick Reply: Unsupported computers such as your 4th generation any my 3rd generation (see my 2nd system specs) are not offered the next Windows 11 version upgrade via Windows Update. We have to manually download the Windows 11 ISO and bypass compatibility check again to force the upgrade. For 24H2 and 25H2 there is a little update, called 26H2 Enablement Package to switch to 26H2 without doing a full upgrade with the ISO. For earlier Windows 11 versions and for Windows 10 64-bit you need the ISO to upgrade directly to 26H2.

Long reply: Read the respective thread as suggested by another poster.

In the end, buying a pc is bit like buying a car. When I worked and commuted 90 miles each way on M25, I needed a powerful and reliable car (large because large cars fare better in high speed accidents).

Now I am retired,I have a small hatchback saloon (still nippy with a 1.6 litre and just used mostly as a local runaround.

PC requirements are more geared by your use. When I worked, I needed a fast relatively powerful pc to handle large documents and run sophisticated proprietary engineering packages.

Now I am retired, my needs are more limited to MS Office mostly. So my laptop 13th gen intel (i9) still is fine and I see no need to upgrade until this one goes to the digital bitbucket in the sky.

Being almost totally deaf, I do spend a lot of money on top of range hearing aids and accessories as they significantly improve my quailty of life to the point many do not realise the extent of my deafness.

There is a big difference between wanting things and needing things. I just think there is a law of diminishing returns where the cost spent outweighs the benefit gained.

So, in the end, it all comes to personal choice.

Thanks again everybody.

Yes, I agree, it's kind of like shopping for/replacing a car.
So it looks like I'll be sticking with this old girl for a few more years.
I'll download and install 26H2. Rufus is great.

Overall, in my gut, I feel better about this than going with a mini.
But watch, my p/s will die in a week now lol

I guess I won't worry about the TPM header on my mb anymore.
OMG when I opened the case to check it is so dusty in there.
The old girl is ready for a good blow job lol
Guess what I'll be doing at half time today...

Thanks again everybody. Appreciate all of you.
GO RAIDERS

sdtag said:

Well ya got me there. Those are two words I haven't heard of in decades. CP/M and Wordstar. wow
I think I took the less informed more consumer route than you did. You sound kind of hard core lol
I'll bet you know Fortran and/or Cobal. It has always been a hobby of mine, not my profession.
I started with a 100 dollar computer but by the time I was done I had probably dumped more than a grand into it.
Then I discovered Intel and MS DOS thank GOD lol late 80's early 90's for me.
Anyway sorry for hijacking my own thread. I saw 8080 and cracked up.
So do you think if I plug in a TPM module into my mb will that solve any of my concerns? Will that let or enable the software to advance past 23H2?

Click to expand...

In the late 1960's,I was one of two Philadelphia software support guys for IBM, I had to be conversant in Cobol, Fortran, and PL/1. I was, of course, very fluent in IBM-360 Assembler language, that was the building block for the IBM-360 O/S back then. AAMOF, to configure the DOS/360 or TOS/360 operating system, you configured the options for the specific machine with a pile of assembler macros and then assembled the O/S. Needless to say, there were plenty of places to go wrong in that process and end up with an O/S that malfunctioned. For a first real job, I couldn't have picked a better place to start than IBM in the 1960's, to say I learned a lot in a few years is an understatement!

Well to reply your question, the official system requirements for Windows 11 are 8th generation Intel CPU or 2nd generation AMD Ryzen CPU, 4GB RAM, 64GB+ hard disk, UEFI firmware (not old Legacy BIOS), TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and a graphics card with WDDM 3.0 or newer drivers. I haven't looked at your target specs, but the TPM 2.0 module is not enough. All the other requirements must be satisfied. If anything is missing you must bypass compatibility check to install or upgrade Windows 11. As I said in my previous post, you don't have to spend a single cent on hardware. Download the official Windows 11 26H2 ISO directly from Microsoft and then bypass compatibility check to upgrade from 23H2 to 26H2. Once you have downloaded the ISO, mount it, disconnect from the internet and run setup /product server to upgrade. See the respective pinned thread for details. The upgrade to a newer version is not offered to unsupported computers via Windows Update. Manual upgrade is necessary.

Thanks Spap... I downloaded 26H2 and used Rufus to create a bootable usb drive.
I'll start making sure everything is properly backed up and then force feed 26H2 to my old pc.
Probably take me a day or two.
Thanks again for everything

Like discussed in the relevant thread, to improve the chance of success disable any third-party antivirus, antimalware, firewall and other protection utility. Also all startup applications and even some non-critical devices, such as sound, network, Wi-Fi, webcam, card-reader, so Setup won't try to update any drivers and cause issues. Also if there are two or more GPT disks in a system they may cause Setup to fail. I would disconnect any other disks (or at least disable them in BIOS or Device Manager) and leave only the Windows disk during the upgrade.

PS: Also disable or temporarily uninstall any customization utilities like Open Shell, Explorer Patcher and others so as not to interfere with the upgrade. You can enable or reinstall them later.

I've been officially retired for a few years now and just inherited an inventory nearly equal to my own from a former PC IT repair guy. I'm literally giving away my newest hardware to my daughters as it remains evident that my older hardware will last me to the end of my own personal life cycle. One does not need state of the art, bleeding edge hardware to enjoy the basics of owning a PC.

Keeping your PC active and functional is also better for the environment than replacing it every 5 years or so. Besides, these days, with the silly-con pricing, it is economical to keep your PC functional. We were also given a year and a half extension (closer to a year now) of support for Win 10 so even the jump to 11 isn't all that urgent. My own personal rule-of-thumb is the 20 year rule. Once the PC has seen 20 years old it's ready to retire. Doubtless there are exceptions but the exception only proves the rule. I have a few functioning PCs from 2009 that are running just fine. Perhaps I will be able to push them for a few more years. The first generation i7 Bloomfield is just about ready for the Smithsonian, I suppose. Tough old number. A little sluggish but still functional.

I also cannibalize PCs when they get too old. I'll build PCs out of used parts and give them to children as gifts. Children are surprisingly still open to the idea of owning a desktop PC. Once they have one they often develop an interest in the functionality of a personal computer. I think that's a good thing. Anyway, I hope these ideas help. I can only speak from personal experience.