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New CPU Reinstall OS

joroma

joroma

joroma

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My son came back from school yesterday and his friend (who is pretty good on PCs) told him that having fitted an upgraded CPU its best to reinstall Windows. I can't think why but thought I would check here.
 
joroma said:
My son came back from school yesterday and his friend (who is pretty good on PCs) told him that having fitted an upgraded CPU its best to reinstall Windows. I can't think why but thought I would check here.
Click to expand...
Yes, you should.
 
If it's an upgraded cpu in the same motherboard, then you don't need to re-install. It's only if it's a new motherboard and cpu that you'd need to.
 
spb251272 said:
If it's an upgraded cpu in the same motherboard, then you don't need to re-install. It's only if it's a new motherboard and cpu that you'd need to.
Click to expand...

not necessarily you can always go for the repair windows option
 
Actually most hard ware changes doesn't require an OS re-install and if you really have to do it doing a Window repair usually fixes any problems. There is two ways to do Windows repair and one wipes out all your installed programs and the other keeps all your settings.

Good information about the Windows Repair

Now if you change lot of components especially a totally different motherboard chipset, Windows repair usually works for this too but to make sure you get best performance out of your new gear a fresh Windows install is great way to make sure of this.

Just be careful and backup your important data before any hardware upgrade just in case...
 
Are you sure that not jsut down to your new CPU being faster than the old one?

Cause if the only thing you change is the CPU to a faster one say swap an E6300 for an E6700 there is absolutely no need to wipe and install a new OS as its the same CPU just faster.
 
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If its the same mobo as before and just a cpu upgrade you shoudln't need to reinstall windows, i had 3 different amd64 cpus in my old dfi nf4 mobo and didnt need to reinstall windows.
 
you dont need to re-install when upgrading Only your CPU

if your changing your motherboard as well then yes its a good idea

But if say, for example, you upgraded from an X3800 to an x4200 then a re-install would be pointless. A re-install is only really necessary if the drivers are going to change. Obviously a new motherboard will require a whole new driver install. But changing a CPU wont require any driver changes.
 
Well I didn't expect quite so many responses!

I've been checking some old CPUs to make sure they work ok so put in three different ones in one evening and it just didn't occur to me I might need to reinstall! Lets hope XP doesn't think its a hardware change that requires re-activation!!!! (though I have got the retail copy).
 
You don't need to reinstall, even when the cpu may have new instructions like replacing a non SSE athlon T bird with a SSE Palomino or Northwood SSE2 to Prescott SSE3 cpu etc.. the OS will usually pick up on those changes. The reason Windows might seem faster after a reinstall is that its a NEW install compared to an older one that might be loaded up and fragmented as time goes by. If XP needed reactivation after a faster cpu was installed, what would happen to us overclockers who have clock speed all over the place? :D
 
I've read something like that, though i don't think the cpu constitutes such a major change as to require reinstallation.

Cases in point
2 of my personal machines:

One of my 939 rigs went from a 3200+ Winchester at stock and poor clocker to a 3500+ Venice at 2.8 to a 165 Opteron at 2.7GHz in its life, Windows accepted it all.

rev 302 XBX975 - PIV 630 to PIV 805 to 820 and board finally modded for Core2 presently has an E6400 - Windows never glitched
 
i like to..... if you are trying to improve your performance, a re-install will help get rid of all the crud in your system, making it nice and smooth for your new CPU to run.

Just makes sure you don't OC untill after you have the new OS up and running.

Re-installing ia a pain, but worth it. Though updating windows post-install drives me mad.... 7 runs through MS Update to get all the stuff, if not more, and THEN you have to start loading drivers ect that ALSO need a reboot.

Thank god my E6400 loads windows damm fast from my Raptor. Think i can get it faster, bat atm its about ~15 seconds from hitting the button to running progs in windows.
 
Jumping said:
Actually most hard ware changes doesn't require an OS re-install and if you really have to do it doing a Window repair usually fixes any problems. There is two ways to do Windows repair and one wipes out all your installed programs and the other keeps all your settings.

Good information about the Windows Repair

Now if you change lot of components especially a totally different motherboard chipset, Windows repair usually works for this too but to make sure you get best performance out of your new gear a fresh Windows install is great way to make sure of this.

Just be careful and backup your important data before any hardware upgrade just in case...
Click to expand...

I changed the mobo/mem/cpu (AMD to C2D) and didnt re-instal a think.
Deleted the chipset drivers and re-instaled the new drivers and Bam chikka wah wah. Works lovely and fast.
*i forgot, i had to re-instal the XFi drivers*
 
if i was to change from a single core amd (939) cpu to a dual core (939) cpu but keeping same motherboard

would i need to reinstall windows?

i.e A64 3200+ winnie to 4200+ X2?
 
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