XPS 15 9575 Windows 11 clarification

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Microsoft have compiled a list of supported processors:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-intel-processors

Right now the Windows 11 PC Check simply states that a system is not supported if it is not in the list. All the CPUs mentioned are 8th Generation and higher. As your CPU is also 8th generation it is likely your CPU will be added to a revised version of this list particularly if Microsoft are going to encourage Dell are to support this specific model.

Just a quick update, Microsoft have responded to my Widnows Instalaltion Feedback regarding supported processors.

Support 6th Generation (Skylake) and 7th generation (Kabylake) Processors for Windows 11

The Windows 11 PC Check reports the OptiPlex 7040 (6th Generation Intel Processor) and OptiPlex 7050 (7th Generation Intel Processor) systems to be incompatible. The system requirements are a bit more elevated than I would have expected. I personally would expect Windows 11 to work on 6th (Skylake) and 7th (Kabylake) Generation Intel Processors which are from around 2016-2017. Moreover i5-6xxx, i7-6xxx, i5-7xxx and i7-7xxx have a marginal difference in system performance and technologies available compared to i3-8xxx and are superior to the supported Atom and Celeron products. These processors also meet all of Windows 11 other system requirements and Dell have stated that all Skylake Systems have regarding a Trusted Platform Module (TPM Version 2.0) c.f. Dell Article Number: 000103639 and a UEFI BIOS with Secure Boot patched to address the GRUB2 Security Exploit c.f Dell Article Number: 000177589.

Microsoft Response:

Steve Dispensa @dispensa [VP of PM, Microsoft Endpoint Manager and Windows Commercial] https://twitter.com/dispensa/status/1408577130946994176?s=20 "The chipset requirement is based on a bunch of factors, including supportability, capabilities, quality, and reliability so we can ensure everyone has a great experience. We're working on a blog post with more info, coming soon."

The list of supported CPUs on the Microsoft website does not include the 8th gen Intel 8705G. Running Microsoft's own Health Check reveals that, indeed, the CPU is not supported and therefore my machine is not Windows 11 compatible.

Digging further, I can see via the WhyNot11 tool that everything else checks out (TPM2.0, secure boot etc is all fine) and it is literally only the CPU which fails the compatibility test.

So.

How can Dell say that the 9575 is even in their list for "testing" when Microsoft have stated that it will not work 

I'm really confused (and annoyed with both Dell and Microsoft in equal measure)

So, by this rationale, Dell is incorrect and Microsoft is correct (and incorrect at the same time).

They set the bar at 8th gen but in the same breath don't support the 8th gen processor in my laptop.

Sheesh.

Welcome to the Dell Community @eighteentee 

XPS 15 9575 2-in-1  

Dell computers tested for upgrade to Windows 11:

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000187485/placeholder-for-new-windows-tested-systems#XPS-NB-W11

Best regards,

U2

I read elsewhere it could be TPM 2 which just came out in 2019...

Seriously, Microsoft?

Microsoft have released the first Dev Insider Preview Build of Windows 11. It looks like they have a traffic light system with:

Green: Meeting Windows 11 Hardware Requirements

Amber: Not Meeting Windows 11 Hardware Requirements but Meeting Minimum Requirements for the Windows Insider Program

Red: Not Meeting Requirements for the Windows Insider Program

With the amber category, installation is allowed but there is a warning about a possible degraded experience and some features not working properly. It seems to install without issue on a 6th Generation and 7th Generation unsupported processor which otherwise have all the other required features.

Preparing for Insider Preview Builds of Windows 11 | Windows Insider Blog

This is great, however, Microsoft have stated that anyone testing insider builds on unsupported hardware will have to go back to Windows 10 at the end of the testing period. So, may I ask, what is the point of that? My system would remain unsupported and yet I get to experience Windows 11 only to have to downgrade back to Windows 10.

So, I'll reiterate; why are Dell saying this system is compatible and yet Microsoft say it is not.

Just out of curiosity, I checked the manufacturing date in my BIOS of the XPS 9575. It was manufactured in May 2020. That's just a shade over 1 year old and my £2,400 laptop is incapable of running Windows 11.

I think I'm just going to get a new MacBook Pro - I expect that will be supported beyond 2025...

I guess it will run fine at the end and the currently misleading messages in various "Will it run Win 11?" apps comes from an incomplete list of supported CPUs.

And to elaborate further, if you are on the Dev channel and wish to move to Beta for example then you would have to clean install Windows 10 and then sign up again to be a Windows Insider. Thus the many warnings on the Internet against installing on your main OS. 

Welcome to the Dell Community @eighteentee 

On October 14th, 2025 support for W10 will end.

It was released July 29, 2015.

So that will be just over 10 years.

Best regards,

U2

I'm beginning to regret trying to move over to Windows now. If this expensive device l, manufactured in 2020 ends up not being supported by Windows 11, that means that offical Microsoft support for Windows 10 that it shipped with, will end in 3 years time. That's crazy. My 2012 MacBook Pro was only retired from Apple support last year! That's 8 years worth of operating system upgrades. With Windows I potentially don't even get one. 

I am really beginning to wonder if I should just buy a new MacBook Pro