Upgrading PC, have a couple of questions

[Michael_42]

Hey all,

Recently got a MSI 1060 Gaming X and now want to upgrade my CPU, MOBO, and RAM. I currently have a pre-built ASUS that has an H81M-E, 1TB HDD, 1 stick of 8gb RAM, Delta 500w PSU. It came with windows 7 HP pre-installed on the hard drive, heres where my questions start.

This is what I plan on getting:
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/GwZFpb

It says some motherboards need a bios update, will this one need one?

Now, when I change out the mobo and use my old HDD will I need a new copy of windows? Should I wipe my hard drive before installing with new components?

Lastly should I upgrade my PSU? This is the exact one here: Delta DPS-500AB-6

 

[boosted1g]

Motherboard BIOS:
You should ge ta different board. In another 4-6 months it would be failry safe to assume the board you get has the newest BIOS but right now the probability is likley against you that the motherbaord will ship with the bios that supports 7xxx serries cpus; and you cant upgrade BIOS when you dont have a supporting CPU. Thus look for a b250 board.

WIndows:
If you have windows 10 you can link it to your Microsoft account and then you can transfer it to the new computer. You cant just throw the drive in there and it will work, you will have to do a full reinstall.

PSU:
While that is not a bottom bottom end parts killer/house fire PSU I would certainly recommend you change it since you are running a 1060.

 

[Michael_42]

What motherboard would you reccomend? I like the color of this one and love MSI.

Also would a Seasonic 620w be good enough?

I don't have windows 10 and dont plan to, Id like to stick with Windows 7 HP.

 

[jwcrellin]

Motherboard BIOS:
You should ge ta different board. In another 4-6 months it would be failry safe to assume the board you get has the newest BIOS but right now the probability is likley against you that the motherbaord will ship with the bios that supports 7xxx serries cpus; and you cant upgrade BIOS when you dont have a supporting CPU. Thus look for a b250 board.

WIndows:
If you have windows 10 you can link it to your Microsoft account and then you can transfer it to the new computer. You cant just throw the drive in there and it will work, you will have to do a full reinstall.

PSU:
While that is not a bottom bottom end parts killer/house fire PSU I would certainly recommend you change it since you are running a 1060.

Incorrect, I've done just that with the hard drive. I took my main drive out of a laptop and put it into my newly built pc. Took a min or two to recognize new hardware and download the appropriate drivers but it was a quick thing.

 

[boosted1g]

If you want windows 7 then you will have to purchase a new licesne of windows 7. You cant transfer windows 7 that came with a prebuilt to a new computer as it is tied to the motherbaord.

Seasonic is a good choice

Here is a red and black MSI b250 board: http://pcpartpicker.com/product/PZjWGX/msi-b250m-gaming-pro-micro-atx-lga1151-motherboard-b250m-gaming-pro

 

[boosted1g]

Motherboard BIOS:
You should ge ta different board. In another 4-6 months it would be failry safe to assume the board you get has the newest BIOS but right now the probability is likley against you that the motherbaord will ship with the bios that supports 7xxx serries cpus; and you cant upgrade BIOS when you dont have a supporting CPU. Thus look for a b250 board.

WIndows:
If you have windows 10 you can link it to your Microsoft account and then you can transfer it to the new computer. You cant just throw the drive in there and it will work, you will have to do a full reinstall.

PSU:
While that is not a bottom bottom end parts killer/house fire PSU I would certainly recommend you change it since you are running a 1060.

Incorrect, I've done just that with the hard drive. I took my main drive out of a laptop and put it into my newly built pc. Took a min or two to recognize new hardware and download the appropriate drivers but it was a quick thing.

First and for most this a violation of microsoft license agreements.

Secondly doing what you did is very hit and miss. You bassically got lucky and your hardware must have been reasonibly similar. Depening on the differences it could not boot, it could boot but blue screen often, or it could have just little performance quirks/instability. Just because it worked for you under a specific circumstance in no way means that it will work as a given rule.

 

[kraelic]

First and for most this a violation of microsoft license agreements.

Secondly doing what you did is very hit and miss. You bassically got lucky and your hardware must have been reasonibly similar. Depening on the differences it could not boot, it could boot but blue screen often, or it could have just little performance quirks/instability. Just because it worked for you under a specific circumstance in no way means that it will work as a given rule.[/quotemsg]

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

It changed with the anniversary update in windows 10, and prior versions did allow for catastrophic failure and rebuilt pc. as long as it wasn't in use on two systems. Windows XP and windows 7 I have upgraded my PCs several times. Only issue I had was with my family pack windows 7 it specifically states I can run 3 copies on one code. Yet the activation has to be told it is one pc only on any reactivation.

Also if this is an OEM pc and had never been reinstalled and the CoA used, then the windows 7 is using a special OEM code linked with the bios. That CoA windows 7 code can be used for the new hardware if it was never activated. Part of that catastrophic failure thing. A friend bought a laptop and the hard drive failed and it had windows 8, a new hard drive was not much, download the 8.1 iso, but there was no code to reinstall with. Though a call to microsoft got him up and running with a new code.

 

[Michael_42]

Boosted, I saw that mobo, only thing was is that its mATX, won't it look wierd in my case?

 

[boosted1g]

Most b250s are mATX. If you want full ATX then you shoudl look more at H270 which will cost another $20-40