(New CPU) Just to check...

[SlyReaper]

I don't have to reinstall Windows when I install a new CPU do I? I'm going from an E2160 to an E5300, so it's going from a 65nm chip to a 45nm one. Am I going to encounter any problems?

 

[SfnX]

no not at all, all youll need is maybe a bios update.
even if you change everything in the system itl still have the os installed on ur harddrive!

 

[SlyReaper]

Yeah but drivers, dude. Won't somebody please think of the drivers!

 

[pastymuncher]

There are no drivers for the cpu. or am i missing something?

Anyway, no, there won't be a problem. Don't expect a massive boost though unless you have a very good clocking one. See my review here.

 

[SlyReaper]

I'm not expecting a massive boost, but a small one. I'm aiming for at least 3.8GHz, 4 would be fantastic, but I won't hold my breath on that. I only get 3GHz out of the E2160. I'm going to use my old CPU to build another computer because I've already accumulated all the other parts.

Anyway, this pretty much confirms what I already thought. Thanks.

 

[SlyReaper]

Got a VID of 1.2625v. Is that good?

Edit: Oh hell yeah. It's kicking the pants out of the E2160, loading times on games are much faster, boot times seem to be a lot quicker, and everything is much more responsive. It's up to 3.64GHz now, whereas the old one was only running at 3.06. I have the sneaky feeling my CPU was bottlenecking the SSD, but that's absurd isn't it?

 

[pastymuncher]

The vids a lot higher than mine and mine tops out at 3.6Ghz. Too many people get hung up on the vid. It does'nt really matter if you have a high one or a low one. What volts are you needing for 3.64Ghz?

 

[cjph]

Hi - I went E2160 at 3.06GHz to an E5200 at 3.7GHz (965P-DS3 rev 3.3 board). Needed the 14b(eta) bios (I think it is 14 now) but was relatively straightforward to clock on the Gigabyte board. I use an AC7 for cooling.

Mine got to 4GHz but was totally unstable in everything, and 3.7GHz was OK at 4 hours of Orthos and has been stable for 6 months. You might be luckier with the slightly higher multiplier and new chipset on the mobo.

Pastymuncher is the man of wise words.

cjph

 

[SlyReaper]

I need 1.375 volts in the bios for 3.64GHz, and I don't fancy pushing it much higher than that. Am I right in thinking these chips start to break down at 1.4v?

 

[_SBradley_]

You won't need to reinstall Windows, but you might need to reactivate it. (If too much hardware changes, Windows thinks it's in a new PC.)

Having said that, the activation FAQ implies that a new CPU won't be enough to trigger a reactivation requirement.

 

[gurusan]

I need 1.375 volts in the bios for 3.64GHz, and I don't fancy pushing it much higher than that. Am I right in thinking these chips start to break down at 1.4v?

I would see ifyou can go higher on the same voltage. Most will do 3.8ghz around 1.3ish

 

[SlyReaper]

With 1.38, I can get it to 3.66GHz with 333x11. I think I'm hitting the FSB wall though. Do I just have a stinker of a CPU?

 

[pastymuncher]

It's slightly better than my E5200 which only does 3.6Ghz. Like i keep saying, these E5000 series are completely hit or miss when it comes to overclocking. There is no certainty with them. If you get a good one then 4Ghz is easy. Most though, struggle to hit 3.6-3.8Ghz.

 

[Namak]

You won't need to reinstall Windows, but you might need to reactivate it. (If too much hardware changes, Windows thinks it's in a new PC.)

Having said that, the activation FAQ implies that a new CPU won't be enough to trigger a reactivation requirement.

It's the motherboard isn't it that Windows looks at?

 

[_SBradley_]

It's the motherboard isn't it that Windows looks at?

I'm not sure exactly, but I don't think it's quite so simple. (Edit: sentence deleted: I mis-read the FAQ.)

I've certainly replaced a CPU without a problem. Not that reactivation should be a problem.