Upgrading a cpu with windows 10 full retail version

[Josh Renn]

So I'm planning on upgrading my CPU in about a month, and I have Windows 10 full retail version. And I've read conflicting stories about how windows 10 works with replacing hardware from only motherboard to replacing anything can force you to have to reinstall windows.

Its not the reinstall part that bugs me, its the near TB worth of games I have downloaded that i don't wanna lose. (Took me 2 days to download the new Doom, shit internet)So I wanna know if I have to back them up on an external HD or not? I'd prefer not to spend the money if I don't have to but I do plan on getting one in the future anyways

 

[gervino]

If you upgrade on the same socket and same motherboard, from i3 to i5 for example there should be no problems and you should be able to boot with no problems. (Maybe some driver updates). I think the Windows 10 upgrade key is bound to your motherboard and the rest can be replaced.

 

[scuzzycard]

It's not the CPU you have to worry about, it's the motherboard. Even then, all you would have to do is reactivate Windows over the phone. It takes no more than 5 minutes.

 

[BadActor]

You shouldn't need to reinstall the OS if only upgrading the CPU. If it requires a new motherboard, then you really should. Even if the system boots up, you may run into performance issues if you don't do a clean install.