New motherboard = buy new OS?

my neighbor · Oct 6, 2014

If i bought the OEM operating systems on pcpartpicker (that's all that is on there), and installed it on my new pc build...and if i upgraded my motherboard way down the road, could i use that same OEM OS i bought (win 7 OR 8.1) on my new motherboard? I'm just curious.
How long would a H97 board last me, like 5+ years, since my hp laptop is still working and almost 5 years old?
H97 boards are the newest out there right?
Also is 7.1 channel HD Audio, Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec with ELNA audio caps good audio on a motherboard?

PsyKhiqZero · Oct 6, 2014

1. Technically yes you will need a new OS. But Microsoft in my experience has never enforced it. Usually online activation fails, you have to call and tell them your only using the key on 1 machine.

2. Motherboards can last forever. The ones that I used in tech school we're ancient and stored in 1 box. They're tougher then people think. Usually it takes a serious electrical failure to kill one.

3. Onboard audio is pretty good nowadays. Dedicated audio cards are really only recommended by people using high end headphones.

tiny voices · Oct 6, 2014

I would not recommend a sound card to the average user. That on board audio has an op amp and is better than most mid range sound cards anyway,

ronintexas · Oct 6, 2014

Windows 8.1 changed the OEM to be transferable to a new mobo - you just don't get official support from Microsoft. Windows 7 by their EULA states that the license was tied to the mobo, unless the mobo died, and then you could upgrade it.

my neighbor · Oct 7, 2014

How would Microsoft know it died? (; right?

@PsyKhiqZero - As in serious electrical failure, do you mean plugging or not plugging power supply cords where they are supposed to be located when booting on the pc?

tiny voices · Oct 7, 2014

When you call Microsoft to get a new key and tell them the motherboard "died", they give you a new key and DEACTIVATE your old key. This is so you can't just lie to them to get 2 working keys. They are smarter than that.

my neighbor · Oct 7, 2014

This is kinda random, but my laptop's fan has completely stopped working, and after a while of gaming it just shuts off from overheating. Should i take it in somewhere to get it fixed?

Does it also make my laptop lag a LOT more, cuz it does, ever since.
Anyone know what i should do?

ronintexas · Oct 7, 2014

It will run about $75 in labor and what ever the part costs....but if you are like my friend - he ordered 3 different fans before he found the right one....

my neighbor · Oct 7, 2014

Wow lol.. that sucks.
What's a good company that repairs laptops? bestbuy?

tiny voices · Oct 7, 2014

NO. Never take it somewhere unless you are completely incapable of using a screwdriver. Buy the fan on ebay, and replace it yourself for like $40. It will cost $150+ to have some place do it because, as stated, they will charge your for hours of labor and an inflated price for the part.

PsyKhiqZero · Oct 7, 2014

A serious power failure would be like a power surge that takes out the power supply. Or even in some cases where the power supply itself fails it can damage anything it's connected to. Even then a good power supply has checks in place to protect the rest of the system.

It really isn't that hard to open a laptop. You can usually find a video on youtube. It may not be your exact model but as long as it looks the same it will serve as a good guilde. If your worried you can't do it then I'd say pay up to 200 dollars to get it done as long as the laptop is less then 2 years old and worth more then 800 when it was new. Otherwise buy put the money towards a new laptop. Best Buy prolly would be the last place I'd go. Look for a local shop as they usually will charge less and will do it in house.

my neighbor · Oct 7, 2014

Are 7200 RPM hard drive the fastest ones besides SSD's? So if i got a 7200 RPM hard drive, can i add a 120gb samsung evo SSD later, and would it be really worth it to get a SSD to boot on, and use windows on? If i added a SSD later down the road, how would i change so that different things boot on the SSD and not the 7200RPM HD?

7200 RPM HD, would this be the fastest non SSD? http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st1000dm003

tiny voices · Oct 7, 2014

You would have to reinstall Windows on the SSD and wipe the HDD and then put all your games and files back on it.

Yes that Seagate is fine.

my neighbor · Oct 7, 2014

Serious? That's a lot of work and like you said i wouldn't be able to if i had windows 7 because Microsoft doesn't give me another chance to install. And i don't even know how to wipe hard drives.
Is it best to have the SSD when i build my pc then?
How do you control what downloads on the ssd and what doesn't?

ronintexas · Oct 7, 2014

Microsoft will allow you to reinstall that version of Windows on the PC - even if you buy the SSD later. Most SSDs have migration software - but I have found that performance is always better when you install the OS fresh on the drive....

my neighbor · Oct 7, 2014

Is it possible to use BOTH hard drives when the computer is on, so i can have games and everything else on the seagate, and the OS on the ssd? Do i want the OS installed on both hard drives?

ronintexas · Oct 7, 2014

The OS should only be on one drive. If you install on the HDD now, later when you buy the SSD, unplug the HDD and install the OS on the SSD. When done with the install and updates, then plug the hard drive in. You can then use the hard drive for your documents, music, photos, etc., and install programs to the HDD if you want.

It is always suggested to backup the hard drive first - just in case....

my neighbor · Oct 7, 2014

If i have a HDD now.. i'll have a OS and saved games, music, documents etc... on it. If the OS is supposed to only be on 1, how would i take the OS off the HDD without losing my saved stuff?

When i download games and stuff how do i put them on the HDD or SSD which ever one i want? Because i'll probably have a couple games + the OS on the SSD for quicker loading screens, but i need saved documents to go to HDD.

ronintexas · Oct 7, 2014

You will need to note your saved game directories and the locations of your other data files. You can delete the Windows folders (provided that your saved games aren't in there - which they shouldn't be) and the program files directories (again - make sure your saved games aren't located there).

Disk manager will allow you to remove the system partition from the drive, then expand the main partition (this is a very small partition) to take up the full drive.

my neighbor · Oct 7, 2014

Okay so when i get the SSD later, i'll just move Windows over to the SSD, and other games i want on the SSD using Disk Manager?
Can i put the ssd and hdd in any hard drive spot in the case, does it matter which one they both go in, and does the power supply have enough cables to support 2 hard drives?
So BOTH hard drives will be active when the computer is on right, not just one?

Thanks for the info bro, it's getting much clearer.

tiny voices · Oct 7, 2014

Moving an OS is not always possible, very difficult, and can cause problems. It is ALWAYS recommended you reinstall. No you CANNOT move game install files or ANY programs. You will have to uninstall EVERYTHING before installing the SSd and moving the OS. Then you have to reinstall everything.

The PSu will have cables for like 10 HDDs and you can out them anywhere.

ronintexas · Oct 7, 2014

If you have migration software (with Samsung SSDs you get one free), they have a program that moves the data. NOTE: if you don't move all of your games/programs from the hard drive to the SSD, they may not work properly. Out of 5 attempts, it worked for me twice....and since that time I have reinstalled the OS on both of the computers due to performance issues.

tiny voices · Oct 7, 2014

Exactly. No matter what, it is ALWAYS recommended to reinstall.

my neighbor · Oct 7, 2014

Okay so the OS goes on 1 hard drive - the SSD.

How do you get the OS off the HDD when i switch without losing all my saved games, files, etc?

Do you guys use a SSD for the OS as well, and documents, files, games on the HDD just like i am trying to, too?

ronintexas · Oct 7, 2014

I use my SSD for Windows 8.1, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Visual Studio, Adobe CS6 and a few select programs. All of my data files (music, pictures, documents, videos) are on my hard drive. Programs that I don't use much are also on the hard drive. SSD price per GB is a lot higher (about 5X-10X as much) compared to a regular hard drive. Prices are coming down, but not there yet. Only put what you use a lot and the program benefits from the SSD.

New motherboard = buy new OS?

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