How can I switch from AMD to Intel safely?

[TheH0lyGuile]

So I originally build my PC to be a gaming PC. So I went with the cheaper route a got an AMD CPU. Now I do A LOT of video editing and rendering and all that, and I wanted to switch to an I7 3770k. Someone told me and can just swap the motherboard and cpu and I would be fine, but I read that if i do that, I could have some problems with windows and I really need some help.

Here are my specs just for reference
CPU: AMD FX-8350
Motherboard: ASUS M5A99X EVO R2.0
GPU: Gigabyte Geforce GTX 760
RAM: Corsair Vengeance Pro 8GB DDR3-1866

Thanks!

 

[ThatVietGuy]

Swap the mobo and CPU followed by a reinstallation of Windows.

 

[ShadyHamster]

The best option is to backup everything you want from the windows drive and to a clean install of windows.
Most of the time when changing motherboard you will run into BSOD due to different chipsets and drivers, the only times you can get away with it is if the chipsets are the same on both boards.

 

[TheH0lyGuile]

So I'd uninstall windows prior to doing the swap and then just reinstall windows and the new drivers? And would I lose what's on my drives?

 

[ingtar33]

yep, the main problem you'll run into is your windows install probably won't be able to boot. Windows loads drivers for your hard drives called ACHI/RAID drivers. IDE drivers if your hard drives are in IDE mode... either way, those drivers are specific to the motherboard and crucial for windows to boot.

So when you buy the new motherboard and cpu, and swap them out you'll blue screen crash when trying to load into windows wether in safe mode or normal.

There is a workaround... but it depends on how computer litterate you are. You load into the windows recovery console. When you get to chosing the windows install there should be an option to load "drivers". at that point you should be able to manually navigate to your new motherboard's ACHI/RAID drivers if you take a little time and download them off the manufacturer's website (or IDE drivers if you are in IDE mode... though depending on the manufacturer they might not differentiate). Make sure the driver version you load matches the version of windows (x86 or x64).

if you did it right you can exit the recovery console and load into windows at this point. There are a bunch more drivers that will need to be updated with the cpu/motherboard change but its THAT driver that will keep you from getting into windows to update them.


NOTE: I've done this fix a number of times. it does work... but it's not 100%. occasionally there might be another driver that will break windows from loading. that DEPENDS GREATLY on pure freaking chance. Its less likely if you stick to the same motherboard manufacturer... and it's less likely if you stick to the same cpu family

 

[TheH0lyGuile]

Would it be easier to just buy new drives and transfer everything from my old ones after installing the new mobo, cpu, and windows on my new drives?

 

[ShadyHamster]

Using a new drive the setup process is still basically the same minus the first step of backup everything.

 

[ThatVietGuy]

No, not necessarily.

After you've done the swap, just go through the normal process of installing Windows. During the installation you'll be able to reformat the drive and you can start fresh. There's no need to spend extra money for this process.

 

[ingtar33]

Would it be easier to just buy new drives and transfer everything from my old ones after installing the new mobo, cpu, and windows on my new drives?

sure that's really easy.

in reality almost everything "personal" to your windows install is located at c:\users\<your user account name>, you pretty much can copy the contents of that entire directory into your new windows install (same spot). after that all you'll need to do is install whatever software you want.

I suggest if you're looking at doing this, that you spend the $$ on an SSD to hold your OS. You'll thank me later for it.