Good PC with no TPM 2.0. Keep, Sell as is or sell for parts?

GreyPlayer · Tuesday at 15:22

Hi all. My first post here but I've built and upgraded my own and others' PC's since the mid-90s. My last one, however, was 9 years ago, so I'm a bit rusty!
This was the machine:

Asus ROG Max VIII Gene Z170 motherboard
Intel Core i7 6700K CPU
Corsair Hydro H100i AIO cooler
8G Asus GTX1080 'Founders Edition' GPU
4x8GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 RAM
Corsair HX750i PSU
Samsung SM951 Polaris 256GB M.2 NVMe High Performance SSD (I've added a couple of other SSD's: a 120GB and 500GB since then)
Corsair carbide Air 240 mATX case
Windows 10 Home, 64 Bit:

The PC works perfectly, running CoD BO6, for example with no issues. Technically, it should run BO7 or Battlefield 6...BUT...the mobo has no TPM 2.0 and no header to install it via the board itself, and Asus have stopped support for this board from this month.
Obviously Win10 is also no longer supported and I can't update to Win 11 from it. I can't install a new Win 11 OS because...yes...I don't have TPM 2.0 !!
I don't want to move to a different OS, and all the components apart from the RAM are 'End Of Line'.

So, if I want to play future games and have a secure OS my only option seems to be a complete new build...a new mobo means a new cpu, means a new cooler. I wanted to upgrade my vid anyway, so I would be daft to power such costly components with an old psu.
etc, etc...

My question then: If you were in this situation would you:
1. Try to use any of the above components in a new build?
2. Try to sell the current PC as is? (Knowing you would pass the lack of support on to someone else? ...No, that seems a naughty thing to do!)
3. Try to sell parts of the current PC to subsidise some of the costs of the new one?
4. Keep the existing one as a backup for basic stuff, risking security issues with lack of mobo and Win10 security updates? (I currently only use it as a gaming PC)

Any ideas would be welcomed...as would any ways round the TPM issue.
Thanks in advance!

hornetstinger · Tuesday at 15:54

You can install Windows 11 on a non TPM machine. I've installed it no issues on a older laptop.

Just needs custom ISO image and burn off with rufus choosing the disable TPM and other nonsense

Ewanb75 · Tuesday at 15:55

You could always use Flyoobe and a win 11 25h2 iso and upgrade win 10. Its simple as Ive just done my daughters pc.

Tetras · Tuesday at 16:09

GreyPlayer said:
BUT...the mobo has no TPM 2.0 and no header to install it via the board itself, and Asus have stopped support for this board from this month.

Are you running the latest BIOS? Asus did expose the PPT/TPM options for 100/200 series boards, but I don't think it existed by default.

I believe 7th gen CPUs have integrated TPM 2.0, but I don't know if 6th gen CPUs do.

100/200 series boards can also be modded to support 8th/9th gen CPUs and then enable those features, but obviously that is unofficial and can have other problems. More worthwhile doing to keep decent motherboards running.

GreyPlayer said:
1. Try to use any of the above components in a new build?

It depends how cheap you want to be. Potentially you could re-use everything except the motherboard and CPU (maybe the cooler, not sure if mounting kits are available) and just buy e.g. a low-end DDR4 board with a 12400F/14400F.

GreyPlayer said:
2. Try to sell the current PC as is? (Knowing you would pass the lack of support on to someone else? ...No, that seems a naughty thing to do!)

I don't see that as a problem, the buyer would know the position and that PC is still plenty capable in everything that doesn't need Windows 11 and TPM 2.0/secure boot.

GreyPlayer · Tuesday at 16:09

Thanks for the fast replies!
Wouldn't both of the above ideas leave me without a TPM-enabled motherboard, so I couldn't install BO7 or Battlefield?

GreyPlayer · Tuesday at 16:16

Tetras said:
Are you running the latest BIOS? Asus did expose the PPT/TPM options for 100/200 series boards, but I don't think it existed by default.

I believe 7th gen CPUs have integrated TPM 2.0, but I don't know if 6th gen CPUs do.

100/200 series boards can also be modded to support 8th/9th gen CPUs and then enable those features, but obviously that is unofficial and can have other problems. More worthwhile doing to keep decent motherboards running.

It depends how cheap you want to be. Potentially you could re-use everything except the motherboard and CPU (maybe the cooler, not sure if mounting kits are available) and just buy e.g. a low-end DDR4 board with a 12400F/14400F.

I don't see that as a problem, the buyer would know the position and that PC is still plenty capable in everything that doesn't need Windows 11 and TPM 2.0/secure boot.

Yup...latest bios...and I checked for TPM being opened up. I guess my 'problem' is that I'm not 'cheap' in the sense that I'd really like to build a completely new PC (it's about time!) rather than mess about with hacks etc, (I prefer official rather than unofficial) but I hate the idea of a fully functioning PC becoming increasingly redundant.

I am impressed by the knowledge I'm picking up here though...I have missed forums like this!

Tetras · Tuesday at 16:33

GreyPlayer said:
(I prefer official rather than unofficial) but I hate the idea of a fully functioning PC becoming increasingly redundant.

From what I'm aware, the mods are a lot better than they used to be. You can keep most features and the source BIOS almost intact, whereas when it first came out there were more complications. If you use a B0 CPU (like i3-8100/i3-9100) it doesn't need a pin mod either and they're available for less than £10.

hornetstinger · Tuesday at 16:36

There isn't a nvme/m2/pci-e tpm board option?

GreyPlayer · Tuesday at 16:43

I've already arrived at a conclusion, based solely on the immediate replies...
1. I'm going to build a completely new PC (which is what I'd probably prefer to do in all honesty)
2. I'm going to keep the existing machine simply to try out some of these suggested tweaks and hacks...it will be a way of filling in some of the major gaps in my knowledge!

Thanks all for giving me a solution to my dilemma that may actually be a fun way of using my old rig

GreyPlayer · Tuesday at 16:44

hornetstinger said:
There isn't a nvme/m2/pci-e tpm board option?

Oooooh...that's another thing I wasn't aware of...I'll add that to my play list. Thanks Hornetstinger!

hornetstinger · Tuesday at 16:49

Just read if the CPU is old still may into problems.

Probably best to get new system anyway. But you might be able to install W11 on that PC try 22h2 image, if it supports new version of service pack it'll update. (but it won't play battlefield)

GreyPlayer · Tuesday at 17:09

hornetstinger said:
... if it supports new version of service pack it'll update. (but it won't play battlefield)

Yup...there's my main concern. My whole reason for a new build is to play Battlefield, maybe BO7, plus additional new games in the future

sastusbulbas · Tuesday at 17:46

The reality is old hardware and new os systems that are not compatible will even with Rufus have occasional software problems and vulnerabilities.

Whether we like it or not, we simply have to move with progress.

NetMan · Tuesday at 18:41

GreyPlayer said:
Yup...there's my main concern. My whole reason for a new build is to play Battlefield, maybe BO7, plus additional new games in the future

Signup for the extended windows updates which covers you for 12 months and give Geforce now a go to see if Battlefield plays ok or is a lag fest; then you have a bit longer to pick your upgrade path if you want one of the Super cards etc.

Once you build your new PC then you can retire the old one, use it to try Linux distros, turn it into a NAS, strip for parts, sell the 1080 etc...