So I'm upgrading my computer, and one of the things I'm upgrading is my processor.
It's pretty weak, it's only a Phenom II X2 550 (Dual-core, stock 3.1 GHz, overclocked to 3.8 GHz). I'm almost certain this is holding me back significantly in the latest CPU-heavy games, like Battlefield 3 and PlanetSide 2.
I could have upgraded to another Phenom II processor and made things simple, maybe a 965 or 1090T, but they aren't manufactured anymore, and I'm very adamant about buying used electronics.
So I'm instead looking at a new AMD FX processor. But I was also adamant about this, because its AM3+ socket means I'll need a new motherboard, and that's a major hassle of having to do a clean install of Windows, and reinstalling every single program on there. But I've heard there are a few alternatives.
One is to do a regular reinstall, instead of a clean install. I'm guessing this may not work, since everyone is saying it has to be a clean install.
Another thing I've heard is to simply install the drivers for the new motherboard beforehand, then replace the old motherboard with the new one.
Will either of these work? Or is clean install still my best bet? What programs will I have to reinstall if I do a clean install or any of these other methods?
It's pretty weak, it's only a Phenom II X2 550 (Dual-core, stock 3.1 GHz, overclocked to 3.8 GHz). I'm almost certain this is holding me back significantly in the latest CPU-heavy games, like Battlefield 3 and PlanetSide 2.
I could have upgraded to another Phenom II processor and made things simple, maybe a 965 or 1090T, but they aren't manufactured anymore, and I'm very adamant about buying used electronics.
So I'm instead looking at a new AMD FX processor. But I was also adamant about this, because its AM3+ socket means I'll need a new motherboard, and that's a major hassle of having to do a clean install of Windows, and reinstalling every single program on there. But I've heard there are a few alternatives.
One is to do a regular reinstall, instead of a clean install. I'm guessing this may not work, since everyone is saying it has to be a clean install.
Another thing I've heard is to simply install the drivers for the new motherboard beforehand, then replace the old motherboard with the new one.
Will either of these work? Or is clean install still my best bet? What programs will I have to reinstall if I do a clean install or any of these other methods?
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