Win10 ok? This tower work?

[Firefighter]

I need to get something going quick.
Will windows 10 pro be okay? I know Microsoft isnt supporting it anymore.

I can get this I7 desktop strictly for BlueIris5 and about 8-16 cameras.
Amcrest 8mp ip cams..

Ill upgrade the ram to 64gb, ssd for the OS and BI and a surveillance had.

 

[samplenhold]

What is the processor? Just says i7 bot nothing about the series.

Does it have enough space for HDDs?

Probably just fine. for your use case.

 

[Firefighter]

What is the processor? Just says i7 bot nothing about the series.

Does it have enough space for HDDs?

Probably just fine. for your use case.

It says in the photo i7-6700

 

[TonyR]

It says in the photo i7-6700

That's a workable, decent CPU for BI but be advised it's coming up on 8 years of age and won't <easily> run Windows 11 should you decide later to install and run it (you need at least an 8th gen or later CPU such as i7-8XXX. i5-11XXX, etc. ).

FWIW, there are ways to install/run 11 on a 6th gen CPU but there many steps and no guarantees it'll last through future Win 11 updates so, IMO, not worth the hassle and risk.

 

[samplenhold]

It says in the photo i7-6700

Sorry, missed that.

It would be fine. I was running 20 cams with BI version 4.? several years ago on an i7-3770K with no problem.

See this thread where @David L used Flyby11 to upgrade an older WIN10 box to Win11.

Thread 'Windows 10 EOS (22H2) Oct. 14, 2025'

Aug 21, 2025

• David L
• Replies: 60
• Forum: Chit-Chat

• 
• 

 

[The Automation Guy]

As others have mentioned, the device itself will run BI just fine with that many cameras.

BUT.... Windows 10 support ends this year. Therefore I would not recommend buying a computer that old at this point given how MS is handling Windows 11 and what CPUs it runs on. Yes there are apparently some work arounds, but it adds complexity that isn't needed. Just stick with a 8th gen CPU or newer (so i7-8XXX) and you should be able to run Windows 11 on it without having to jump through a bunch of hoops.

The small difference in cost between a older gen machine and a 8th gen or newer machine is too small to worry about given all the potential problems that the older systems will have when trying to use Windows 11. In other words, it is well worth the extra $20, 30 or even $50 it will take to get a newer machine than the alternative which is to spend hours pulling your hair out trying to get Windows 11 installed on an older machine. Even if you don't think you will feel compelled to install Windows 11 right away, I think the small increase in cost is well worth it to leave the door open to install W11 eventually.

 

[samplenhold]

Just stick with a 8th gen CPU or newer (so i7-8XXX) and you should be able to run Windows 11 on it without having to jump through a bunch of hoops.

My BI machine is an i7-8700 and will not upgrade to WIN11 as per MS test.

The link I provided by @David L shows just how simple it was for him. No real 'bunch of hoops' to upgrading normally.

 

[Firefighter]

He said he has the same tower, chop etc with windows 11 pro, 256gb ssd for 150.

Sounds better

Thoughts?

 

[The Automation Guy]

My BI machine is an i7-8700 and will not upgrade to WIN11 as per MS test.

The link I provided by @David L shows just how simple it was for him. No real 'bunch of hoops' to upgrading normally.

The i7-87XX generation is suppose to be supported. There are a couple of BIOS settings that need to be set correctly before you can install W11 (enable TMP and Secure Boot for example), but you should be able to install W11 per MS.

Windows processor requirements Windows 11 supported Intel processors

This specification details the Intel processors that can be used with Windows 11 customer systems that include Windows products, including custom images.

learn.microsoft.com

I will have to check out David's link. I do have some older hardware that I am going to have to get W11 installed on eventually. I just wouldn't buy something that old today......

 

[TonyR]

My BI machine is an i7-8700 and will not upgrade to WIN11 as per MS test.

Then MS is contradicting their own list where is says that the i7-8700 does meet the hardware requirements.

If you haven't already done so, maybe before running that same MS test you would need to enable TPM (fTPM) and Secure Boot in your BIOS/UEFI settings to meet the security requirements. As you know, you'd go into your BIOS settings during startup and looking for options related to Trusted Platform Module (TPM), firmware TPM (fTPM), or Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT) to enable them.



EDIT 9/5/25 @ 1643 CDT: The above image uploaded OK!