[SOLVED] Switching from Intel to AMD CPU?

[saitamas]

With the help from other people on this forum, I have decided to switch my old Intel core i7-2600 CPU to an AMD Ryzen 5 3600. Of course this includes switching out the entire mobo. After physically switching the parts, I have no clue on what to do after that. As in will I just be able to boot into windows again?Google said I need to reinstall the OS but I don't know how to do that. Could anyone try to explain it to me step by step? Thank you!

 

[CountMike]

With the help from other people on this forum, I have decided to switch my old Intel core i7-2600 CPU to an AMD Ryzen 5 3600. Of course this includes switching out the entire mobo. After physically switching the parts, I have no clue on what to do after that. As in will I just be able to boot into windows again?Google said I need to reinstall the OS but I don't know how to do that. Could anyone try to explain it to me step by step? Thank you!

Which Windows ? W7 most probably will not work. W8/8.1 or W10 should work but you will need to reinstall all drivers pertaining MB.

 

[Isokolon]

you will most likely need to reinstall windows.

easiest way is using a 16 GB flash drive. you can download windows10 in a configuration that you can boot into it from BIOS (select the USB drive as boot device) and can just install it then. it's no wizardry, if you can switch out CPU and board, you'll have no troubles reinstalling windows

 

[USAFRet]

Intel i7-2600 to Ryzen 5 3600?

That will absolutely need a full wipe and reinstall.

Changing the motherboard, there are 3 possibilities:

1. It boots up just fine.
2. It fails completely.
3. It boots up, but you're chasing issues for weeks.

Here, I'd expect #2, with a small possibility of #3.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

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[saitamas]

Intel i7-2600 to Ryzen 5 3600?

That will absolutely need a full wipe and reinstall.

Changing the motherboard, there are 3 possibilities:

1. It boots up just fine.
2. It fails completely.
3. It boots up, but you're chasing issues for weeks.

Here, I'd expect #2, with a small possibility of #3.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

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Oh so you’re saying it probably won’t work?

 

[rickypicky5]

Did you buy new RAM as well? RAM for an i7-2600 (DDR3) most likely won't work on a motherboard for a Ryzen 5 3600 (DDR4), or at least it won't work well.

AFAIK, you definitely need to do a complete Windows re-installation.

Create installation media for Windows

It would also help us if you listed all your components in detail (motherboard, RAM, power supply, etc...).

 

[King_V]

Further, if your previous Windows license was an OEM license, then that license is tied to the motherboard, and you won't be able to reuse it on the new motherboard.

If it was a Retail license, though, you should be good, just enter the key when doing an install.

 

[saitamas]

Further, if your previous Windows license was an OEM license, then that license is tied to the motherboard, and you won't be able to reuse it on the new motherboard.

If it was a Retail license, though, you should be good, just enter the key when doing an install.

I was going to try attaching my key to my Microsoft account.

 

[King_V]

I was going to try attaching my key to my Microsoft account.

I don't think that will work if it's an OEM license, but others here will be able to answer that aspect of it (attaching the key to a Microsoft account) better than I can.

 

[saitamas]

Did you buy new RAM as well? RAM for an i7-2600 (DDR3) most likely won't work on a motherboard for a Ryzen 5 3600 (DDR4), or at least it won't work well.

AFAIK, you definitely need to do a complete Windows re-installation.

Create installation media for Windows

It would also help us if you listed all your components in detail (motherboard, RAM, power supply, etc...).

I have an ASROCK h61m-hvs mobo with the stock ram it came with. I have an XFX 550W psu with the bronze rating. I plan to upgrade to the MSI B450 tomahawk max mobo with the G.skills ripjaws v 16b 3600 ram.

So the steps I would need to do is:

1. reinstall windows
2. Change out the mobo
3. Boot from a flash drive?

 

[saitamas]

I don't think that will work if it's an OEM license, but others here will be able to answer that aspect of it (attaching the key to a Microsoft account) better than I can.

I just checked and I do have a retail version of windows. Also, Do you have any knowledge of using something called sysprep when getting a new motherboard?

I heard using this is easier since you don’t have to reinstall windows and stuff.

 

[rickypicky5]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhX0fOUYd8Q

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npGL2-pRXlU

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA-JzXV49YY


You REALLY need to watch at least one of the above videos before doing anything.

 

[King_V]

I just checked and I do have a retail version of windows. Also, Do you have any knowledge of using something called sysprep when getting a new motherboard?

I heard using this is easier since you don’t have to reinstall windows and stuff.

No idea, as I've never heard of it - but I would be very suspicious. I'd STRONGLY recommend backing up all your files/data, then doing a clean Windows install on the new system.

 

[saitamas]

Do you have any knowledge of using something called sysprep when getting a new motherboard?

you will most likely need to reinstall windows.

easiest way is using a 16 GB flash drive. you can download windows10 in a configuration that you can boot into it from BIOS (select the USB drive as boot device) and can just install it then. it's no wizardry, if you can switch out CPU and board, you'll have no troubles reinstalling windows

Just to be clear, am I supposed to just change my motherboard and then boot from a flash drive?
Or do I need to reinstall windows on my current pc, then change the mobo, and then boot from a flash drive?

 

[rickypicky5]

Just to be clear, am I supposed to just change my motherboard and then boot from a flash drive?
Or do I need to reinstall windows on my current pc, then change the mobo, and then boot from a flash drive?

You don't have to reinstall windows on your current PC. That would serve no purpose.

 

[Isokolon]

Just to be clear, am I supposed to just change my motherboard and then boot from a flash drive?
Or do I need to reinstall windows on my current pc, then change the mobo, and then boot from a flash drive?

Step 1: download Windows to a flash drive from Microsoft.com. there's a special format for that.
Step 2: swap board/CPU
Step3: boot into bios, select the Flash Drive as boot device
Step 4: install Windows
Step 5: enter your account credentials
Step 6: there is no step 6

 

[USAFRet]

Sysprep is good if you were to be imaging 50 systems in an office, with all of the same office things.

For a single system, just do a full wipe and reinstall.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[CountMike]

Still can't find which Windows you have now ? If it's W7, forget it, it will not work on 2nd gen Ryzen without much bother. W10 on the other hand is much easier to swap between very different systems. I had it working by swapping from ancient Intel Core 2 Duo on R7 3700x and back..
There's also option to update W7/8/8.1 to W10 first and then swap disk to new machine but as others said it's uncertain to a degree and much more work than just installing W10 cleanly using your previous windows license.

 

[saitamas]

Still can't find which Windows you have now ? If it's W7, forget it, it will not work on 2nd gen Ryzen without much bother. W10 on the other hand is much easier to swap between very different systems. I had it working by swapping from ancient Intel Core 2 Duo on R7 3700x and back..
There's also option to update W7/8/8.1 to W10 first and then swap disk to new machine but as others said it's uncertain to a degree and much more work than just installing W10 cleanly using your previous windows license.

Sorry! It is windows 10. My system was windows 7 but did the free upgrade to windows 10.

 

[CountMike]

Sorry! It is windows 10. My system was windows 7 but did the free upgrade to windows 10.

It costs you nothing to try although clean install is best and safest option. Backup personal files first.