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Reinstalling Windows when switching CPUs

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  • Windows
  • CPUs
  • AMD
  • Phenom
Last response: in CPUs
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June 28, 2013 8:59:40 AM

I upgrading from a AMD Phenom II x4 965 to a FX-8350, should I reinstall windows after doing the upgrade? I know it will work, but I'm worried that I won't get as much as a performance increase if I don't.

More about : reinstalling windows switching cpus

June 28, 2013 9:17:39 AM

Switching out your processor should not require a reinstall of Windows, and leaving your old copy in place will not affect any performance increases. The only time that would tend to be necessary would be if you replace your motherboard.
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June 28, 2013 9:23:12 AM

LordHaHa said:
Switching out your processor should not require a reinstall of Windows, and leaving your old copy in place will not affect any performance increases. The only time that would tend to be necessary would be if you replace your motherboard.


Exactly this. The OS only interacts with hardware through drivers, it is possible your new chip has some more features enabled that may be installed but that's the extent of it's interaction with Windows. It just sits there and calculates just like the old one did, except it's better at it. Looks like a good upgrade by the way!
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June 28, 2013 12:31:57 PM

I have found that an HDD that was used with an old motherboard can cause problems. I have 2 HDDs that was used in my previous PC. They both have Windows 7 installed and both crashed at the loading screen. I think it might be with the SATA controller. The previous one used IDE mode and the new one used AHCI.

But, if you are not changing motherboard, then everything will be fine.
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June 28, 2013 12:53:55 PM

Lord_Kitty said:
I have found that an HDD that was used with an old motherboard can cause problems. I have 2 HDDs that was used in my previous PC. They both have Windows 7 installed and both crashed at the loading screen. I think it might be with the SATA controller. The previous one used IDE mode and the new one used AHCI.

But, if you are not changing motherboard, then everything will be fine.


Yeah, this is actually expected behaviour. When you installed windows 7 on those drives it was for a different motherboard, a different chipset(in all liklihood), different features, memory controllers, all of your system drivers would be all out of wack. And those drivers are the bridge between your software and your hardware. With them being off, software can no longer control the hardware, and you bluescreen. Beyond this, your windows activation key is tied to the motherboard, so when you replace your motherboard, even if you install windows again and use the same activation key, it will reject it.

Just the processor being replaced, however, that processor is designed already to work with the motherboard and everything on it. So compatibility is rarely an issue.
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