Short answer: The available ATLOCK documentation does not state that moving from v4 to v5 requires a CPU, RAM, graphics, storage, or TPM upgrade. That is not a guarantee that v5 will run on every PC: ATLOCK v5 was still under development and had not been publicly released in the developer’s September 28, 2026 update. For now, v4 is the version the developer identifies as publicly available.
Should you upgrade your PC for ATLOCK v5?
There is no documented hardware upgrade requirement to act on yet. The developer has not published minimum CPU, memory, graphics, storage, or TPM specifications for v5. Nor does the development machine—a reported HP 240 G9—establish a supported minimum or prove compatibility across other PCs.
Because v5 is not publicly released, there is no confirmed release specification against which to check your computer. When a public version becomes available, consult its release notes or vendor guidance before buying hardware. Until then, claims that a particular PC is “ready” would go beyond the information available.
What is available now, and what is planned?
In a September 28, 2026 post, ATLOCK developer Akhouri Anmol Kumar wrote: “ATLOCK v5 is still under development. It has NOT been publicly released yet.” The developer describes v4 as the current public release. The comparison below separates v4’s described features from v5’s planned design; it does not independently verify either implementation.
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| Area | ATLOCK v4 | ATLOCK v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Availability and maturity | Described by the developer as the current public release. | Under development; not publicly released in the developer’s September 28, 2026 update. |
| File protection and vault | Developer-described features include system lockdown, Windows NTFS ACL-level File Guard, a password vault, and Fernet-based vault encryption. | Planned design includes chunked AES-256-GCM containers, Argon2id, and HKDF-SHA256 key separation. |
| Authentication | Password and credential management are among the comparison areas; no additional v4 authentication details are established here. | Planned options include Windows Hello, FIDO2/WebAuthn, and TOTP. |
| Recovery and state integrity | The developer describes intruder operations and alarm or sound responses. The available description does not establish v5-style recovery-key or rollback features for v4. | Planned architecture includes recovery keys, sealed local state, rollback anchors, audit verification, watchdog/canary mechanisms, and migration. |
| Hardware requirements | No minimum specification is stated in the available developer material. | No minimum CPU, RAM, GPU, storage, or TPM specification is stated in the available developer material. |
| Independent evidence | No comparable independent security assessment or controlled benchmark is established in the cited developer material. | The developer says controlled performance results have not been published and v5 has not received independent security auditing comparable to established products. |
What v4 offers according to its developer
The developer’s feature description for v4 includes system lockdown, File Guard operating at the Windows NTFS ACL level, a password vault, intruder operations, and alarm or sound responses. The developer also identifies Fernet-based encryption for the vault and PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256 for password derivation.
These are project descriptions, not independent security findings. Naming cryptographic algorithms does not establish how safely the whole application is implemented or whether it withstands a particular attack. The available material also discusses application-layer risks and the difficulty of guaranteeing secret erasure in Python.
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What v5 may change—and what remains unproven
The v5 plan describes a broader security design: Argon2id for password-based derivation, HKDF-SHA256 for key separation, and chunked AES-256-GCM containers. It also proposes optional TPM-backed key wrapping and several authentication methods, including Windows Hello, FIDO2/WebAuthn, and TOTP.
For recovery and integrity, the planned design includes recovery-key architecture, sealed local state, rollback anchors, audit verification, watchdog/canary mechanisms, and migration. These are development plans, not confirmed shipped capabilities. A larger feature list or more modern-sounding cryptographic choices do not by themselves prove stronger real-world security.
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The developer says no controlled performance benchmark has been published, writing: “The actual performance benchmark is still something I want to publish properly.” There is therefore no substantiated performance figure for comparing v4 and v5. The available material also does not establish independent security auditing of v5 at a level comparable to established products.
Do you need a TPM or security key?
No hardware accessory is a documented requirement for v4-to-v5 compatibility. TPM-backed wrapping appears in the v5 design as optional, not as a stated minimum requirement. The available material does not specify which TPM versions, configurations, or PCs would be supported.
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A FIDO2/WebAuthn security key could be useful only if the planned v5 integration ships and supports that key. It is an optional authentication accessory in the development plan, not a reason to upgrade your PC now or a requirement for v4. Check the final compatibility guidance before choosing a key.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which version should you use?
Choose v4 if you need a public release now
The developer identifies v4 as the current public version. Consider it on the basis of its available features and your own needs; do not assume the planned v5 protections or authentication options are already part of it.
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- DDR5 Compatible: 4 x DIMMs with AMD EXPO Support
- Power Design: 16 plus2 plus2, 80A Smart Power Stage
- Thermals: VRM and M.2 Thermal Guard
- Connectivity: PCIe 5.0, 4x M.2 Slots, Dual USB4, Front and Rear USB-C, Sensor Panel Link
Wait for v5 details if its planned changes matter to you
If you are interested in the proposed container design, authentication choices, or recovery and integrity mechanisms, wait for a public release and its requirements. Then check supported Windows versions, minimum hardware, migration instructions, and compatibility notes before deciding whether your PC needs an upgrade.
What the available documentation can—and cannot—tell you
The September 28, 2026 developer post is primary evidence for the project’s stated release status, planned design, and benchmark and audit caveats. A September 21, 2026 developer comparison supplies additional context for evaluating file protection, password management, recovery, verification, maintenance, authentication, and ease of use. Both are project-authored material; neither is independent validation. The available sources do not establish a system-requirements page, compatibility testing across hardware, reproducible performance results, or an independent audit.
On the evidence available, there is no documented reason to buy a new PC specifically for the v4-to-v5 transition. That answer may change when v5 is released with final requirements.
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