Intel i7-6700K is not compatible with Windows 11. Let us look at quick details below.
Brief details about i7-6700K
Intel i7-6700K was first released in Q3 of 2015. As of writing this, this processor is no longer active and has been discontinued by Intel. This processor is part of the Skylake series of Intel processors.
Windows 11 compatibility
i7-6700K processor is not compatible with Windows 11. So, you cannot install Windows 11 on it. Alternatively, you cannot upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 because of the incompatible processor.
You can check the list of Windows 11 compatible processors on Microsoft website. I7-6700K is a 6th generation Intel processor from the i7 family of core processors.
Amongst the i7 family of Intel processors, you can notice that processors from the 8th generation onwards are compatible with Windows 11. Intel i7-7800X and i7-7820X series processors from the 7th generation are also compatible. Since i7-6700K is a 6th generation processor, it is not compatible with Windows 11.
i7-6700K does not achieve the desired level of security and performance for Windows 11 operating system.
To validate the incompatibility of i7-6700K, you can also download and run the PC Health Check app released by Microsoft. Upon installation, this app will give the exact cause of incompatibility between an i7-6700K processor-based computer and Windows 11.
Can I continue with Windows 10 on i7-6700K?
Yes, you can most certainly continue to use i7-6700K based computer until 14 October 2025. On 14 October 2025, Windows 10 becomes end of life. After 14 October, your Windows 10 computer will not get any security updates from Microsoft. It, therefore, would be prone to security threats and vulnerabilities detected after 14 October 2025.
Is there a way to continue using Windows 10 after October 2025?
Yes, Microsoft has released basic details of the Extended Security Update program for Windows 10. The ESU program for Windows 10 allows you to enroll for extended security updates for Windows 10.
ESU or Extended Security Updates for Windows 10 will be released every month under the ‘Patch Tuesday’ program of Microsoft on 2nd Tuesday of every month. With a valid subscription to the ESU program for Windows 10, you can access the Extended Security Updates for Windows 10 computers for a period between 1 to 3 years.
ESU program for Windows 10 will extend the life of Windows 10 to October 2028 after payment of the subscription fee.
Buy a new PC
A simpler option would be to buy a new computer that comes with Windows 11 preinstalled. This offers a long term solution with inherent peace of mind in terms of security threats and vulnerabilities.
Why we do not recommend installing Windows 11 on i7-6700K?
We do not recommend installing Windows 11 on i7-6700K processor based computers because of the following reasons:
- Access to security updates for Windows 11 on unsupported hardware and computers is not guaranteed
- Your computer may malfunction because in inherent incompatibility of the hardware
Simplifying technology, one step at a time.