Question New PC Build — Need Advice, Please :)

[GW1914]

Hello! For work, I need to update my PC to Windows 11 - which, means I need to upgrade my CPU/MB combo since it doesn't reach Microsoft's standards.

I've built PCs in the past, but I'm a bit rusty. Would you mind to look over what I intend to do to ensure that I'm not forgetting something?

Current Setup
CPU: Intel Core i7-4770
CPU Cooler: Scythe Mugen 5
MB: MSI B85-G41 PC Mate
RAM: 16 GB
GPU: Radeon RX 570
PS: 750 Watt (Forget the brand)
Case: Nice ATX case with newer Scythe fans
Two SSDs (512 GB)

Potential New Setup
CPU: Ryzen 7 5700X (Replace)
CPU Cooler: Scythe Mugen 5 (Keep)
MB: Gigabyte B550M (Replace)
RAM: 32 GB XPG Spectra D35 (Replace)
GPU: Radeon RX 570 (Keep) (I intend to upgrade in the future)
PS: 750 Watt (Forget the brand) (Keep)
Case: Nice ATX case with newer Scythe fans (Keep)
Two SSDs (512 GB) (Keep)
Windows 11 Install

My intention was to wipe the two SSDs, install everything, and then reinstall Windows 11 onto the same SSDs.

Am I missing anything here?

Thank you for your time!

GW

 

[Why_Me]

PCPartPicker Part List

Motherboard: *ASRock B550M Pro4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($79.98 @ Amazon)
Total: $79.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-12-04 02:03 EST-0500

https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/B550M Pro4/index.asp

 

[CountMike]

Hello! For work, I need to update my PC to Windows 11 - which, means I need to upgrade my CPU/MB combo since it doesn't reach Microsoft's standards.

I've built PCs in the past, but I'm a bit rusty. Would you mind to look over what I intend to do to ensure that I'm not forgetting something?

Current Setup
CPU: Intel Core i7-4770
CPU Cooler: Scythe Mugen 5
MB: MSI B85-G41 PC Mate
RAM: 16 GB
GPU: Radeon RX 570
PS: 750 Watt (Forget the brand)
Case: Nice ATX case with newer Scythe fans
Two SSDs (512 GB)

Potential New Setup
CPU: Ryzen 7 5700X (Replace)
CPU Cooler: Scythe Mugen 5 (Keep)
MB: Gigabyte B550M (Replace)
RAM: 32 GB XPG Spectra D35 (Replace)
GPU: Radeon RX 570 (Keep) (I intend to upgrade in the future)
PS: 750 Watt (Forget the brand) (Keep)
Case: Nice ATX case with newer Scythe fans (Keep)
Two SSDs (512 GB) (Keep)
Windows 11 Install

My intention was to wipe the two SSDs, install everything, and then reinstall Windows 11 onto the same SSDs.

Am I missing anything here?

Thank you for your time!

GW

CPU Cooler: Scythe Mugen 5 , hope you kept AM5 mounting kit but it's more than enough.

 

[Lafong]

My intention was to wipe the two SSDs, install everything, and then reinstall Windows 11 onto the same SSDs.

Reinstall Windows 11 onto the same.................. SSDs plural rather than singular?

You shouldn't need to manually wipe anything.

But I'm not quite clear on exactly what you have in mind.

 

[GW1914]

Reinstall Windows 11 onto the same.................. SSDs plural rather than singular?

You shouldn't need to manually wipe anything.

But I'm not quite clear on exactly what you have in mind.

Apologies, should've been more clear. OS is installed on one drive, and another drive is just for extra storage.

Oh really? So I could just install these two SSDs onto the new motherboard? and install Win 11? Without wiping them?

(This is a new one for me - I've only ever done fresh builds)

 

[Lafong]

Apologies, should've been more clear. OS is installed on one drive, and another drive is just for extra storage.

Oh really? So I could just install these two SSDs onto the new motherboard? and install Win 11? Without wiping them?

(This is a new one for me - I've only ever done fresh builds)

No.

Connect ONE drive....the one to receive Windows.

It doesn't matter what is on it.

Make a USB flash drive installer via Microsoft's Media Creation Tool. It needs to be at least 8GB in size.

Boot from that USB installer.

You will be presented with a view of all of the partitions on that drive. Delete ALL of them, one by one, then and there.

Leaving ONLY unallocated space representing the entire drive. Zero partitions.

Continue with installing Windows to that unallocated space. The install procedure will make the necessary new partitions.

After the install completes, THEN attach other drives.

 

[GW1914]

No.

Connect ONE drive....the one to receive Windows.

It doesn't matter what is on it.

Make a USB flash drive installer via Microsoft's Media Creation Tool. It needs to be at least 8GB in size.

Boot from that USB installer.

You will be presented with a view of all of the partitions on that drive. Delete ALL of them, one by one, then and there.

Leaving ONLY unallocated space representing the entire drive. Zero partitions.

Continue with installing Windows to that unallocated space. The install procedure will make the necessary new partitions.

After the install completes, THEN attach other drives.

Gotcha. That makes sense.

A question: Would it make sense to upgrade the MB/CPU, then make sure Windows Activates the Key in Windows 10, and then have a fresh upgrade to Windows 11?

I've looked to a few resources, and I find conflicting answers.

It seems like troubleshooting the Windows Activation after a MB/CPU upgrade does work sometimes. Would that mean that I do not need to shell out the $100+ for a new Windows Key? Since I already have one?

(By the way, I have an OEM copy of Win 10 Pro)

 

[Lafong]

I'm not entirely sure. I have retail Windows and have never dealt with OEM.

Just from reading posts for years, it appears that Microsoft's handling of OEM licenses may be confusing or inconsistent. I see comments indicating people have no issues with re-using an OEM on new hardware as long as it's still "one license and one PC".

And I've seen certain people have issues.

Which I guess is consistent with what you've recently read. It's just not clear to me how strict MS is about enforcing license requirements at any moment.

If you have an activated and legit 10 now and want 11 on your new hardware, I'd probably at least try to install 11 on the first attempt rather than 10 and then upgrade 10 to 11.

If that fails, try another tactic. It could be that you will ultimately be forced to buy a new license.

 

[drjohnnyfever]

Gotcha. That makes sense.

A question: Would it make sense to upgrade the MB/CPU, then make sure Windows Activates the Key in Windows 10, and then have a fresh upgrade to Windows 11?

I've looked to a few resources, and I find conflicting answers.

It seems like troubleshooting the Windows Activation after a MB/CPU upgrade does work sometimes. Would that mean that I do not need to shell out the $100+ for a new Windows Key? Since I already have one?

(By the way, I have an OEM copy of Win 10 Pro)

Depending on where you got your Windows OEM, and assuming that the key is not accepted during the install on a new MOBO, many OEM retailers will simply give you another key if you state it no longer works. And if they don't, using PCMag as a guide will yield many very inexpensive choices. Buying a Win10 OEM and then after install updating it to Win11 saves a few bucks too. Doesn't matter if it's Pro or any of the others either. I do it that way with a Pro license. Good luck.

https://www.pcmag.com/deals/it-isnt-too-late-to-get-windows-11-pro-for-just-20

 

[GW1914]

Depending on where you got your Windows OEM, and assuming that the key is not accepted during the install on a new MOBO, many OEM retailers will simply give you another key if you state it no longer works. And if they don't, using PCMag as a guide will yield many very inexpensive choices. Buying a Win10 OEM and then after install updating it to Win11 saves a few bucks too. Doesn't matter if it's Pro or any of the others either. I do it that way with a Pro license. Good luck.

https://www.pcmag.com/deals/it-isnt-too-late-to-get-windows-11-pro-for-just-20

That's a great resource! Thank you! I really appreciate all of the feedback

If anyone else sees any potential issues, please let me know. Money is always tight these days, so don't want to make a big blunder

 

[helper800]

That's a great resource! Thank you! I really appreciate all of the feedback

If anyone else sees any potential issues, please let me know. Money is always tight these days, so don't want to make a big blunder

What is the exact model of the PSU? Old PSUs and new PC platforms with potential graphics card upgrades later is a recipe for disaster.

 

[CountMike]

That's a great resource! Thank you! I really appreciate all of the feedback

If anyone else sees any potential issues, please let me know. Money is always tight these days, so don't want to make a big blunder

If you don't have it already make an Microsoft account to sign in with it. in future even if you change MB again or somehow lose activation, you can always activate by signing in with it.

 

[GW1914]

What is the exact model of the PSU? Old PSUs and new PC platforms with potential graphics card upgrades later is a recipe for disaster.

Its the Cooler Master MasterWatt 750 Watt. 2 or so years old. Never had any issues with it.

 

[GW1914]

If you don't have it already make an Microsoft account to sign in with it. in future even if you change MB again or somehow lose activation, you can always activate by signing in with it.

Oh okay, I do already have a Microsoft account linked to the current computer. Thanks! That's a good tip, didn't know that.