Looking for a new Laptop - inexpensive yet with modern hardware.

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richms

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#3409070 1-Sep-2025 08:46

cddt:

According to Microsoft's own documentation, your CPU is supported for Windows 11. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-intel-processors

But without a TPM or the bios having support for the fake one inside the management engine it is still not supported. One windows update from it not booting and no fix for it is too risky IMO to be working around the limitations on a computer that is actually used for anything important.

Richard rich.ms

snj

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#3410114 1-Sep-2025 13:51

cddt:

According to Microsoft's own documentation, your CPU is supported for Windows 11. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-intel-processors

Was discussed in OP's previous thread. The CPU is supported for Windows 11, but according to Intel's site it doesn't have built in TPM 2.0, and Acer never updated BIOS/etc for TPM 2.0/there isn't a TPM 2.0 compatible chip on the board to compliment the CPU.

OldGeek

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#3410487 2-Sep-2025 16:44

xpd:

Look at HP Probooks. Modern, and trend to run forever. You'll pay a little more than the usual mass stuff but it pays for itself. Avoid the consumer HP stuff, they tend to use cheaper/slower components and while on paper they look good for the $$, they're actually not.

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NBKHNB45010A/HP-ProBook-450-G10-Business-Laptop-156-FHD-Intel-C

Even ex-lease HP Probook probably be fine.

There are a number of Probook models - 445/450/460, G10/G11 with varying specs and pricing. I expect they all have the same or similar durability and component quality.

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OldGeek

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#3422315 6-Oct-2025 19:30

I finally settled on this one:

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NBKHNB53855018/HP-ProBook-4-G1a-14-Laptop-14-WUXGA-AMD-Ryzen-5-22

It was a bit more expensive than I was hoping but clerly modern hardware at a modest price. Automated support through an HP app also is much more comprehensive than what I got with the Acer it replaced.

Many thanks to @xpd for recommendations that led me to this.

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MadEngineer

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#3422528 7-Oct-2025 08:41

HP Support Assistant is great.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

networkn

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#3422753 7-Oct-2025 16:11

MadEngineer:

HP Support Assistant is great.

Yikes, that might be the first time I have seen that said :)

Buy a brand new HP Computer, install HP Assistant or use the preinstalled version. Install all updates, reboot. Run again. Nothing found. Go back 3 hours later, more updates. Install, reboot, check again, nothing. Check back 4 hours later, nothing found. Check 4 days later 12 updates missing (that were released months earlier). It's a cluster. It also fights with Windows Updates for drivers and firmware.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

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#3422757 7-Oct-2025 16:26

networkn:

Yikes, that might be the first time I have seen that said :)

Buy a brand new HP Computer, install HP Assistant or use the preinstalled version. Install all updates, reboot. Run again. Nothing found. Go back 3 hours later, more updates. Install, reboot, check again, nothing. Check back 4 hours later, nothing found. Check 4 days later 12 updates missing (that were released months earlier). It's a cluster. It also fights with Windows Updates for drivers and firmware.

I had none of those problems. After Windows went through the tortuous new user process I ended up with a desktop and taskbar with HP support ready to go. It popped up with an icon indicating updates were ready. I went through the usual processes to apply the updates and on reboot a new BIOS version was flashed. I think the app found more updates but I am fairly sure that was just one more iteration. Windows update has applied weekly updates since without problem

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MadEngineer

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#3422893 7-Oct-2025 21:27

I’ve dealt with hundreds of HP devices with that software and haven’t had problems with it for the past decade. It can however suggest zero updates if a certain part of the online checking fails, so if you keep getting zero updates when you’re certain there should be plenty, try using a mobile hotspot.

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Yogi02

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#3431317 5-Nov-2025 21:21

OldGeek:

I finally settled on this one:

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NBKHNB53855018/HP-ProBook-4-G1a-14-Laptop-14-WUXGA-AMD-Ryzen-5-22

It was a bit more expensive than I was hoping but clerly modern hardware at a modest price. Automated support through an HP app also is much more comprehensive than what I got with the Acer it replaced.

Many thanks to @xpd for recommendations that led me to this.

Could you please let me know if the RAM is 1 x 16Gb or 2 x 8Gb please?

Looking to buy one shortly, but will likely upgrade the RAM. (Hoping it is 1 x 16Gb)

TIA

OldGeek

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#3431360 6-Nov-2025 08:51

Yogi02:

Could you please let me know if the RAM is 1 x 16Gb or 2 x 8Gb please?

System specs via the HP Support app report memory slot 1 (only) with 16 Gb. System specs show 2 slots, max of 32Gb.

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nztim

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#3431363 6-Nov-2025 09:08

I would not look at anything else other than the HP Elitebook, they are bullet proof and anything that is G5 or above with 16gb memory and an SSD will run Windows 11 just fine

I would recommend G6 onwards through as thunderbolt is just better try this

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

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