Planned $150 Upgrade + Questions.

Grimmeh · Aug 22, 2014

Hello everyone I have a list of my planned upgrade.
I am upgrading my CPU and Mobo.
New CPU: Athlon II x4 760k
New Mobo: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-D3H FM2+

My current Mobo and CPU:
Current CPU: A4-3420
Current Mobo: AAHD2-hy(Holly2)

My current desktop is an HP but I added in a GTX 660 MSI OC GPU in it which currently is being bottlenecked.

Future Specs:

CPU: Athlon II x4 760k
GPU: GTX 660 MSI OC
RAM 6GB 800MHz? Or 1600MHz? (CPUz said my ram speed is 800MHz but my fellows said if CPUz is detecting 800MHz then its actually 1600MHz)
Mobo: GA-F2A88XM-D3H FM2+ AMD A88X
PSU: 500w EVGA 80 plus(Not Bronze)

Feedback Please~!

My Questions: Does my current RAM support the Mobo?

Do I need a new OS/key for my new Motherboard? People said I have to call Microsoft for a new Key if I am going to change Mobos, worst cases a new OS.

clutchc · Aug 22, 2014

I'm not sure where the $150 comes in, but that's a pretty good budget gamer. The Athlon X4 760K OC's nicely and will run well with the GTX 660. I had a build with the Athlon in it a while back. Not too bad. Here's where it ranks in gaming CPUs: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html
(they only show the 750k, but the 760k is almost the same.

Yes, CPU-Z reads actual RAM clock speed. But being as how the RAM is DDR (Double Data Rate) you effectively double that and end up with 1600MHz.
That board supports DDR3 2133 / 1866 / 1600 / 1333 MHz memory. You will be OK.
But how are they paired up to arrive at 6GB... 2x4GB and 2x2GB? Just as long as the pairs in opposite channels are MATCHING pairs, you'll be OK.

If you have an OEM license of Win7, it is tied to the original MB it was installed with. Being as how it is a proprietary (HP) version, it is even more tied to the board. If it was a regular OEM copy, you could jump through a few hoops and get it re-licensed with the new board. Not sure with a HP copy though. You'll have to re-install Win7 with a new board anyway, so you'll know soon enough. You may have to end up adding another $100 to the cost for a new copy.

Grimmeh · Aug 22, 2014

clutchc :

I'm not sure where the $150 comes in, but that's a pretty good budget gamer. The Athlon X4 760K OC's nicely and will run well with the GTX 660. I had a build with the Athlon in it a while back. Not too bad. Here's where it ranks in gaming CPUs: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html
(they only show the 750k, but the 760k is almost the same.

Yes, CPU-Z reads actual RAM clock speed. But being as how the RAM is DDR (Double Data Rate) you effectively double that and end up with 1600MHz.
That board supports DDR3 2133 / 1866 / 1600 / 1333 MHz memory. You will be OK.
But how are they paired up to arrive at 6GB... 2x4GB and 2x2GB? Just as long as the pairs in opposite channels are MATCHING pairs, you'll be OK.

If you have an OEM license of Win7, it is tied to the original MB it was installed with. Being as how it is a proprietary (HP) version, it is even more tied to the board. If it was a regular OEM copy, you could jump through a few hoops and get it re-licensed with the new board. Not sure with a HP copy though. You'll have to re-install Win7 with a new board anyway, so you'll know soon enough. You may have to end up adding another $100 to the cost for a new copy.

Well its Windows 8.
Do they just give me a key to re-license the OS or get a new OS?

clutchc · Aug 22, 2014

Oh. Win8. That's different. You are allowed to use that OS on up to 3 machines (not at the same time). You should be good as long as you have a valid product key. I presume the HP version is the same as any other OEM version.

Grimmeh · Aug 23, 2014

clutchc :

So I should be good to go? No new OS or key needed?

clutchc · Aug 23, 2014

Grimmeh :

Like I alluded to, if that were an OEM license you bought at retail, the above will be the case. When it comes to a PC-specific version of Win8, I can only ASSUME it works the same way. But I have no direct knowledge if that is indeed the case. I quit Win8 awhile back,

However, If you do a clean install of Win8 (and there is nothing specific in the HP version of the Win8 installation disk) you should either be able to activate and use it normally.

Grimmeh · Aug 23, 2014

clutchc :

I bought the desktop at retail with Windows 8 at Black Friday 2012, later in 2014 I upgraded to a GTX 660 instead of using the integrated graphics. So all I have to do is install the CPU and Mobo and thats it? Windows 8 will just have no problems at all?

clutchc · Aug 23, 2014

I'm not going to repeat myself a 3rd time. The problem with HP and other OEM manufacturers is that they sometimes have Microsoft write in proprietary code specific to their systems. I doubt you'll have any trouble, but no guarantees. You won't know if there'll be any surprises like that until you try it.

Grimmeh · Aug 23, 2014

clutchc :

Alright Thanks! Sorry it takes me awhile to think and understand since I am sick right now sadly.

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