Changing processors

[nicksil]

I'm fairly new to building PC's. I've built three for myself and relatives, but still have many questions.

One question is this:

Is it possible to change out a processor on a computer without having to reformat or otherwise changing settings elsewhere, provided the motherboard can support the new CPU.

Thank you.

 

[Blain]

Yes
I just finished swapping an Intel based MB & CPU for a VIA based MB and AMD CPU, without any hassles...
That's running Windows XP of course.

 

[nicksil]

Originally posted by: Blain
Yes

Thank you, Blaine.

 

[LED]

No to test your knowledge but make sure you purchase a CPU that is of the same socket and the MoBo supports and it may need to update the BIOS to read the CPU correctly

 

[nicksil]

Originally posted by: LED
No to test your knowledge but make sure you purchase a CPU that is of the same socket and the MoBo supports and it may need to update the BIOS to read the CPU correctly

Sure thing. Thank you.

 

[Blain]

LED is right. :laugh:
If you want to run a Slot A CPU in a Slot 1 MB... make sure and get an adapter, they aren't the same.

 

[V00D00]

Originally posted by: Blain
Yes
I just finished swapping an Intel based MB & CPU for a VIA based MB and AMD CPU, without any hassles...
That's running Windows XP of course.

I really wouldn't recommend doing that. That could mess up your hardware if you switch the motherboard too.

When you switch the motherboard there are a ton of drivers that need to be installed for it to work. I suppose it could work, but you could also fry all your hardware. The drivers for the northbridge, southbridge, any integrated peripherals... all that stuff could potentially screw something up.

You can swap out the CPU no problem, but the whole motherboard?? That 'could' cause some problems.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: V00D00

Originally posted by: Blain
Yes
I just finished swapping an Intel based MB & CPU for a VIA based MB and AMD CPU, without any hassles...
That's running Windows XP of course.

I really wouldn't recommend doing that. That could mess up your hardware if you switch the motherboard too.

When you switch the motherboard there are a ton of drivers that need to be installed for it to work. I suppose it could work, but you could also fry all your hardware. The drivers for the northbridge, southbridge, any integrated peripherals... all that stuff could potentially screw something up.

You can swap out the CPU no problem, but the whole motherboard?? That 'could' cause some problems.

I know a wrong firmware flash can kill an optical drive and a wrong BIOS update can deep six a MB.
But I've never in my life heard of wrong drivers frying hardware... got a link :shocked:

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: V00D00

Originally posted by: Blain
Yes
I just finished swapping an Intel based MB & CPU for a VIA based MB and AMD CPU, without any hassles...
That's running Windows XP of course.

I really wouldn't recommend doing that. That could mess up your hardware if you switch the motherboard too.

When you switch the motherboard there are a ton of drivers that need to be installed for it to work. I suppose it could work, but you could also fry all your hardware. The drivers for the northbridge, southbridge, any integrated peripherals... all that stuff could potentially screw something up.

You can swap out the CPU no problem, but the whole motherboard?? That 'could' cause some problems.

Incorrect drivers will never 'fry' hardware. The PC will simply fail to boot up, or will perform incorrectly. Incorrect firmware/bios flashes can cause a component to stop functioning, but even then if the firmware chip is replaced the hardware will work fine...so its not really 'fried'.

 

[V00D00]

seems like if they reference a certain register that they shouldn't they could potentially fry some hardware.

I guess it just seems like there are a lot of things that could go wrong. I wouldn't recommend doing it, when you can spend an extra 1/2 hour and reformat.

If you were to uninstall all the mobo drivers before doing it, then it would be much safer.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Incorrect drivers will never 'fry' hardware. The PC will simply fail to boot up, or will perform incorrectly. Incorrect firmware/bios flashes can cause a component to stop functioning, but even then if the firmware chip is replaced the hardware will work fine...so its not really 'fried'.

What if your video driver tried to set your GPU to some out-of-range number like 3000MHz? That could do some damage.

 

[Xponential]

I wouldn't recommend doing it, when you can spend an extra 1/2 hour and reformat.

It takes a lot longer than 1/2 hr to reformat, reinstall Windows, and get it setup back like you had it

 

[V00D00]

Not when you're as slick as me.

 

[coejus]

For the curious... changing your motherboard without reinstalling Windows.

 

[stevty2889]

Just swapping the CPU doesn't require a format, and sometimes even swapping motherboard and cpu will work too. I switched for an asus p4p800 with a socket 478 2.8ghz prescott, to an Abit AS8 lga775 3.2ghz cpu, and didn't have to re-intall windows.

 

[tiap]

Originally posted by: coejus
For the curious... changing your motherboard without reinstalling Windows.

A little easier way to do it.
After the switch, on the first boot, boot the xp cd and just install or repair over the old system. Will keep all the progs, settings etc.

But just changing a compatable processor doesn't require anything

 

[V00D00]

How about swapping an Athlon XP 2500 to a P4 Prescott 3.4?

 

[tiap]

That requires a different mb as well.
You could try an over install or repair, but save your data first. Format, install is highly recommended

 

[V00D00]

Well yeah, I know that. I'm swapping the whole motherboard. I tried doing this uninstalling everything and whatnot, but it's not really working. I never got it to go back to windows without getting an error after the login. Must have missed some drivers. I guess I'll try and reinstall windows, although that is proving to be error filled as well.