1151 Compatibility w/Windows 8.1

[dylanestrada]

I'm thinking about upgrading from my m5a99fx pro 2.0/FX 6300 to a AsRock z170pro4/Skylake 6400 combo.

I don't however feel like paying for another code for Windows 8.1.

I'm currently using only a 256 gig Samsung Evo with Windows 8.1 installed, in order to achieve this I used the boot drive through USB trick. I don't have a hard drive, and do not plan on buying one.

Is there a way for me to keep my operating system without having to pay for another?

I think I read somewhere about using my USB to enter into a "boot recovery" option, that will keep my OS but erase everything else (which is fine with me).

Also curious about compatibility of 1151 boards with Windows 8.1, I haven't seen any reviews of these new boards from people who are running Windows 8.1.

 

[Wolfshadw]

I'm thinking about upgrading from my m5a99fx pro 2.0/FX 6300 to a AsRock z170pro4/Skylake 6400 combo.

I don't however feel like paying for another code for Windows 8.1.

Then I guess you don't really feel like upgrading.

Per the OEM license agreement, the OS is tied to the first motherboard you installed it on and it cannot be transferred to another system. Upgrading your motherboard means you need to cough up the extra cash for a second Windows license.

That said, you can certainly try to install and activate your current Windows 8.1 license and hope that Microsoft will be lenient in allowing you to activate on your new hardware. If they are not, however, you should be ready to purchase a new Windows 8.1/10 license.

As for compatibility, as long as the motherboard has Windows 8.1 drivers (and yours does), there shouldn't be any compatibility issues.

-Wolf sends

 

[dylanestrada]

I'm thinking about upgrading from my m5a99fx pro 2.0/FX 6300 to a AsRock z170pro4/Skylake 6400 combo.

I don't however feel like paying for another code for Windows 8.1.

Then I guess you don't really feel like upgrading.

Per the OEM license agreement, the OS is tied to the first motherboard you installed it on and it cannot be transferred to another system. Upgrading your motherboard means you need to cough up the extra cash for a second Windows license.

That said, you can certainly try to install and activate your current Windows 8.1 license and hope that Microsoft will be lenient in allowing you to activate on your new hardware. If they are not, however, you should be ready to purchase a new Windows 8.1/10 license.

As for compatibility, as long as the motherboard has Windows 8.1 drivers (and yours does), there shouldn't be any compatibility issues.

-Wolf sends

Ok, so even if I'm overclocking the Skylake 6400 to 4.5 then it's still not worth it?

 

[dylanestrada]

By adjusting the BCLK multiplier, it appears that I can get similar performance to last generation i7
processors with the 6400.

Looking at other testing, I've seen 4.3 ghz on a 6400 at 1.39 volts, thanks to asrock (for now).

I'm guessing although that intel will surely stop non-k overclocking somehow.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Overclocking is never a guarantee. You may have seen someone get to 4.3GHz. That doesn't mean you will be able to, even if using the exact same motherboard. Some people might get to 4.3 GHz. Others might not be even able to get to 2.8GHz. It's a chip lottery and there's no guarantee that you'll win.

-Wolf sends

 

[dylanestrada]

Overclocking is never a guarantee. You may have seen someone get to 4.3GHz. That doesn't mean you will be able to, even if using the exact same motherboard. Some people might get to 4.3 GHz. Others might not be even able to get to 2.8GHz. It's a chip lottery and there's no guarantee that you'll win.

-Wolf sends

This processor has a stock speed of 2.7 and a turbo speed of 3.3 (one click turbo settings that you can probably enable or disable in bios). Which suggests, according to both the manufacturer and Newegg (the advertiser) that this processor should run at those two speeds.
I could be running it at 3.3 if I absolutely have to. If it doesn't run at those speeds (advertised) then I'll get a refund.

So I'm not quite sure about your lottery analogy.

Are you suggesting that base clock tweaking is not guaranteed (board by board case)?

I've got my Fx 6300 at 4.5 ghz, and all I really had to do was expand the parameters for overclocking (through digi power control), up the voltage, and tweak the cpu ratio. Easy peasey, it runs like a champ, and this is a common result for most people.

 

[Wolfshadw]

I'm saying every Intel Core I5-6400 will run at 2.7GHz standard/3.3GHz Turbo. I'm saying that there is no guarantee that you will be able to get that processor 0.1Mhz higher than that. That is what I mean by chip lottery.

You could purchase two Intel Core I5-6400 processors. Install one into the motherboard and not achieve a stable over-clock at all. Remove that chip and install the other processor and you could be able to achieve a stable 4.5GHz OC. I'm not saying you won't be able to overclock at all. I'm just saying it's not a guarantee.

-Wolf sends

 

[dylanestrada]

Also in regard to needing to purchase another copy of Windows 8.1...

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1759681/fwiw-hassle-windows-reactivation-motherboard-replacement.html

 

[dylanestrada]

So is BCLK overclocking then, really what isn't guaranteed with the new Skylake processors?

 

[USAFRet]

Also in regard to needing to purchase another copy of Windows 8.1...

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1759681/fwiw-hassle-windows-reactivation-motherboard-replacement.html

And reading through that, you need to call MS and see what they say about using that license on a different motherboard.
Maybe yes, maybe no.

 

[Gamer1985]

What isnt guaranteed is the overclock you will be able to achieve. As he mentioned every chip is different and can achieve a higher or lower overclock depending on if you get a good chip. Some CPUs for overclocking require ridiculous amounts of voltage, while others can take minimum bumps of juice and achieve a higher overclock. Your either lucky or your not. Ive also heard, but I cant confirm so youll have to do research but by overclocking a non K cpu, you lose the ability to monitor cpu temperature. This may have been an isolated incident but I read that it changes the sensor functionality.

 

[dylanestrada]

What isnt guaranteed is the overclock you will be able to achieve. As he mentioned every chip is different and can achieve a higher or lower overclock depending on if you get a good chip. Some CPUs for overclocking require ridiculous amounts of voltage, while others can take minimum bumps of juice and achieve a higher overclock. Your either lucky or your not. Ive also heard, but I cant confirm so youll have to do research but by overclocking a non K cpu, you lose the ability to monitor cpu temperature. This may have been an isolated incident but I read that it changes the sensor functionality.

If I don't get a good chip I can send it back...so...

 

[USAFRet]

If I don't get a good chip I can send it back...so...

Not being able to OC to your desired level is not valid for an RMA.
Does it work at stock speed and voltage? If so, good enough.

 

[dylanestrada]

I'm thinking about upgrading from my m5a99fx pro 2.0/FX 6300 to a AsRock z170pro4/Skylake 6400 combo.

I don't however feel like paying for another code for Windows 8.1.

Then I guess you don't really feel like upgrading.

Per the OEM license agreement, the OS is tied to the first motherboard you installed it on and it cannot be transferred to another system. Upgrading your motherboard means you need to cough up the extra cash for a second Windows license.

That said, you can certainly try to install and activate your current Windows 8.1 license and hope that Microsoft will be lenient in allowing you to activate on your new hardware. If they are not, however, you should be ready to purchase a new Windows 8.1/10 license.

As for compatibility, as long as the motherboard has Windows 8.1 drivers (and yours does), there shouldn't be any compatibility issues.

-Wolf sends

Well I did it.

I've got my 6400 overclocked at 4.3 ghz, and it's yielding me exceptional performance.

Not to mention, the OS swap was freaking easy. All I had to do was use the "Boot Recovery" option from my boot drive before swapping my motherboard, cpu, and RAM.

You guys really beefed this up to seem like a risky feat, it turns out, that Windows actually approves of moving your OS from one computer to another (it's in the license agreement for Windows 8.1).

Do you moderators even know anything?

I've got less than 1 year of experience fucking around with computers, and I can get a decent overclock on a supposedly non-overclockable processor, and all I had to do was read a few articles.

 

[USAFRet]

Well I did it.

I've got my 6400 overclocked at 4.3 ghz, and it's yielding me exceptional performance.

Not to mention, the OS swap was freaking easy. All I had to do was use the "Boot Recovery" option from my boot drive before swapping my motherboard, cpu, and RAM.

You guys really beefed this up to seem like a risky feat, it turns out, that Windows actually approves of moving your OS from one computer to another (it's in the license agreement for Windows 8.1).

Do you moderators even know anything?

I've got less than 1 year of experience * around with computers, and I can get a decent overclock on a supposedly non-overclockable processor, and all I had to do was read a few articles.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
You got the former.

Does it show as activated?

 

[dylanestrada]

Well I did it.

I've got my 6400 overclocked at 4.3 ghz, and it's yielding me exceptional performance.

Not to mention, the OS swap was freaking easy. All I had to do was use the "Boot Recovery" option from my boot drive before swapping my motherboard, cpu, and RAM.

You guys really beefed this up to seem like a risky feat, it turns out, that Windows actually approves of moving your OS from one computer to another (it's in the license agreement for Windows 8.1).

Do you moderators even know anything?

I've got less than 1 year of experience * around with computers, and I can get a decent overclock on a supposedly non-overclockable processor, and all I had to do was read a few articles.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
You got the former.

Does it show as activated?

That's the same as saying "I don't know", it isn't a helpful answer at all.

 

[Gamer1985]

Glad you got it working, but your piss poor attitude really sucks. Everyone here was trying to help, whether they were right or wrong. You come on a forum to ask for opinions/help and you come back with a * you basically, real nice. As you grow up and learn, most OS is tied to the motherboard and generally what everyone suggested is the usual scenario. No one gave you bad information, alot of the time you swap out a mobo and your using an OEM OS, you would have to buy a new license. Lucky for you, your situation was different.

 

[dylanestrada]

Here's the thing, most of the people who posted here are moderators, so I'm guessing that they've given a lot of solutions.

I expected an accurate solution, coming from a site DEDICATED to helping people solve their PC problems and work arounds.

I don't know * about computers, all I have to do is read a couple articles, and watch a video, and I can do some decent things (like pay the same price for a FX 8350, get a latest gen i5 6400, and overclock a non-overclockable cpu).

There's some kind of "prestige" here that doesn't make any sense.

The fact that you can't control your own anger is yet another example of the level of maturity that I'm dealing with here.

This site is supposed to be prestigious! (Seriously, this is where people troubleshoot) But me, a freaking noob, can do what everyone here said I may or may not do. All that was required was research.

Which makes me think that the people who answered here didn't do any real research, and didn't really know what would happen, which makes all these answers here useless.

The only real reason a person should attempt to answer a question, is if they know exactly (or close to) the best answer, (the answer that the questioner is asking for).

Why answer on a forum "maybe?", why search out a thread and think to yourself "well I don't know the answer....but I should post on here anyway!"

 

[USAFRet]

That's the same as saying "I don't know", it isn't a helpful answer at all.

Flip a coin.
Does it land heads or tails?

 

[USAFRet]

And watch the language.
Thanks.

 

[Gamer1985]

Im not angered whatsoever, I just dont agree with the attitude even if it werent directed at me. As you mentioned, you could have done some research on your end and be informed of your own solutions but instead relied on users of the internet to give you advice, thats no ones fault but yours. Theres a lot of very knowledgable people on this site, while I have seen others not give out accurate or precise advice. As i mentioned no one in this thread gave out incorrect information, majority of the time you would have to purchase a new license but no one knows the exact specifics of your configuration and always what solution is going to work for YOU. The best that we can do is provide information based on situations we have encountered. You cant fault people for having a different experience because if you did research you would see that it could have gone both ways for you. And just FYI, in the OEM OS license agreement, it actually states it is only to be installed on one computer and is not transferrable UNLESS you had the RETAIL version of the operating system which gives you the ability to move to different systems.

 

[Gamer1985]

Heres a link to licenses for each OS. Just updated even myself that they no longer call RETAIL it is called System Builder and FULL. Depending on which one you had wouldve made you make or break your situation

https://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/index.aspx#fbid=eEW5BaT3T0i

 

[dylanestrada]

That's the same as saying "I don't know", it isn't a helpful answer at all.

Flip a coin.
Does it land heads or tails?

Im not angered whatsoever, I just dont agree with the attitude even if it werent directed at me. As you mentioned, you could have done some research on your end and be informed of your own solutions but instead relied on users of the internet to give you advice, thats no ones fault but yours. Theres a lot of very knowledgable people on this site, while I have seen others not give out accurate or precise advice. As i mentioned no one in this thread gave out incorrect information, majority of the time you would have to purchase a new license but no one knows the exact specifics of your configuration and always what solution is going to work for YOU. The best that we can do is provide information based on situations we have encountered. You cant fault people for having a different experience because if you did research you would see that it could have gone both ways for you. And just FYI, in the OEM OS license agreement, it actually states it is only to be installed on one computer and is not transferrable UNLESS you had the RETAIL version of the operating system which gives you the ability to move to different systems.

From FAQ on Windows official site

http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/2/1/72103B1C-DE58-478C-BECF-4D846C2B4A15/UseTerms_Retail_Windows_8.1_Pro_update_(to_Windows_8_Pro_which_was_acquired_from_retail_or_Microsoft)_English.pdf

Can I transfer the software to another computer or user?

You may transfer the software to
another computer that belongs to you. You may also transfer the software (together with the
license) to a computer owned by someone else if a) you are the first licensed user of the
software and b) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement. To make that transfer, you
must transfer the original media, the certificate of authenticity, the product key, and the proof of
purchase directly to that other person, without retaining any copies of the software. You may
use the backup copy we allow you to make or the media that the software came on to transfer
the software. Every time you transfer the software to a new computer, you must remove the
software from the prior computer. You may not transfer the software to share licenses between
computers. You may transfer Get Genuine Windows software, Pro Pack or Media Center Pack
software only together with the licensed computer.

8 seconds, copy and paste.
Control C + Control V

 

[USAFRet]

And nowhere in your initial post, or any subsequent posts, did you say anything about a "Retail" license.

Whatever. You got one over on us and Microsoft. You win.

 

[Gamer1985]

Again, as I said Above the only way is with the RETAIL version, which is the user license agreement you just posted. If this was OEM you would have a different license.