New BIOS updates will make Windows 11 support less boring on custom PCs

If you’ve been using a pre-built desktop or laptop that has been made in the past three or four years, Windows 11’s sometimes confusing and sometimes controversial security-focused new system requirements won’t be a problem for you – all of them. Microsoft security features require that the new operating system be enabled by default. This is a bigger problem for people who build their own computers (or have had computers built for them), as features like the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) are often disabled by default.

Most motherboard manufacturers have already published lists of cards that should meet Windows 11 requirements, and some of them are going even further by releasing new BIOS updates for their motherboard firmware that enable TPMs built into Intel and AMD processors by default. While it’s usually not too difficult to turn on the TPM manually, each motherboard manufacturer keeps this setting in a different place, and how the setting is labeled differs depending on whether you’re using an Intel or AMD chip or whatever. motherboard you are using. you configure.

Asus is currently taking the more comprehensive approach, with BIOS updates available or “under testing” for the vast majority of Intel and AMD motherboards manufactured in the past three or four years (300 series chipsets, 400 and 500 of both Intel and AMD are widely supported, which covers most 8th gen and newer Intel processors and all Ryzen processors from AMD). But ASRock has also released BIOS updates to enable TPM for a handful of its new motherboards, and we expect other motherboard makers to follow suit in the coming months. We’ve reached out to ASRock, Gigabyte and MSI to see if they have any information to share and we’ll update if they do.

Of course, you don’t need a BIOS update to enable your processor TPM. But it’s good to know that new motherboards that come with the latest BIOS version installed will support Windows 11 without requiring any additional work, and these settings are important when a power failure or configuration change resets your BIOS settings to default.