Question Guidance for replacing motherboard (and therefore CPU, GPU, and memory) and SSD which has OS installed on it.

[krroller]

I have an 11 year old Windows 10 computer with the OS installed on an SSD and and a large array of HDDs configured as a single mirrored storage space drive of 6 physical drives providing about 18 TB of mirrored storage. This is primarily used for personal productivity and streaming with some gaming. It is used in a triple monitor configuration.

The motherboard is experiencing issues and needs to be replaced due to age. The SSD also needs to be replaced with a new SSD for much more capacity.

Replacing the motherboard implies replacing the CPU, GPU and memory as well, which needs to be done regardless before I experience issues due to age of hardware.

I'm seeking guidance on the best steps to do this.

The existing Storage Space configuration needs to stay in tact and be able to added to the new OS as a a single Storage Space drive.

Understanding there are various thoughts on Windows 10 vs Windows 11, I do plan on upgrading to Windows 11 and am not looking for this post to start any discussion on why not to upgrade to Windows 11.

Questions:

Do I install Windows 10 on a new SSD first and then replace the motherboard, CPU, GPU and memory and then upgrade to Windows 11?

Is it suggested to do a clean install of Windows 11 and then connect the HDDs for the storage space, assuming that would work?

Budget for new hardware is around $2000, but more can be allocated if there is good reason for it.
The case is very large and has ample power and air cooling, and can support an ATX motherboard if appropriate to use.

Recommendations for motherboard, CPU, GPU, and memory are welcome. It is desired to run a triple 4K monitor configuration for personal productivity and occasional gaming. Primary gaming is done on a console connected to a 4K projector which is independent of this computer.

 

[USAFRet]

1. New motherboard, with that level of change, requires a full new OS install.

2. Is there a known good full backup of the data in that 18TB striped array?

 

[krroller]

Indeed, it will require a new OS install which is why I was questioning whether to start with Windows 10 and then reattach the Storage Space drives and then upgrade to Windows 11 OR will it work to install Windows 11 and attach Storage Space drives?
Twice before I have done clean installs of Windows 10 to a new SSD and then after it successfully booted, attached the Storage Space drives and Windows recognized it as a single drive with all data intact. So this is proven to have worked in the past.

Another option I've been considering is to use a spare case and power supply with the new hardware and then if there are issues with the Storage Space drive I can simply keep the old machine on the network and copy the data to the new PC after buying some new HDDs.

 

[USAFRet]

Past success is no guarantee of future results.

I would NOT start this process without a known good backup.
Far too many things can go wrong.

And I am NOT a fan of striped arrays, either StorageSpaces or a regular RAID 0.

 

[krroller]

Acknowledged. Backup plan is in place.
Any guidance per the OP is welcome.

 

[USAFRet]

Acknowledged. Backup plan is in place.
Any guidance per the OP is welcome.

I would say don't try to make or expect the old storage array to "just work" with the new OS.

It might, it might not.
Build the new system, get the OS running.

Connect these drives.
If the Storage Spaces thing recognizes them, great.

If not, don't spend any real time trying to force it to work.
Wipe the drives, create a new Storage array, and copy the data from your backup.



What type of drives are in this StorageSpace, and what is the backup drive type?

 

[krroller]

What type of drives are in this StorageSpace, and what is the backup drive type?

The drives are WD Black HDD 6TB and 8TB SATA drives directly connected to the motherboard. Files are personal documents, pictures, videos, etc..