Hardware Update (CPU) + Win7

**Taishō** · March 08, 2011, 10:51 AM

Hello,

(sorry if it was inappropriate to start a new thread - but I've seen quite a few other threads like this, so I thought it'd OK)

With Shogun 2 just about a week away I thought about upgrading my PC. Here's my current system:

Windows XP (32bit)
4 GB Ram
Radeon HD 6850 (PowerColor)
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 (2x 3.00GHz)
(Motherboard)

I'm going to get Win7 (64bit version) but apart from that I'm somewhat clueless on how to go about getting a new CPU. I'm a "technically ungifted" person but I'm willing and able to learn - that's how I went about getting the graphic card to work (had an Nvidia 8800GT before).
So what should I get? What would be fitting in with the rest of the hardware? Is it even possible for me to change the CPU (or anything else of my hardware that is in need of replacement in your opinion) just as "easy" as I did with my graphic card without any knowledge about the magic behind it? (On a sidenote: I've heard bad things about Shogun 2 disliking Intel products - how should I take that into consideration?)

Thank you for reading all of this. Hope to get some help here. ^^

**Top-Tier-Tech** · March 08, 2011, 11:24 AM

If you upgrade your CPU you'll need to upgrade your motherboard as well, which means you'll have to upgrade your RAM while you're at it. This would be the time to do it though if you plan on going to Windows 7 because unless you buy the more expensive full retail copy of 7 then it will be tied to your motherboard platform.

What is your budget?

**Taishō** · March 08, 2011, 12:57 PM

Now after pre-ordering Shogun 2 and buying Win7 it'll be about 450-500€ as the absolute maximum I can afford to spend.

**Top-Tier-Tech** · March 08, 2011, 01:09 PM

Alright, I'll let someone else help you with component choices as I am unfamiliar with European prices.

**Taishō** · March 09, 2011, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by ChaobSiroc

Alright, I'll let someone else help you with component choices as I am unfamiliar with European prices.

Does it really make that much of a difference? 450-500€ sure isn't that much converted into hardware, but I guess it should make a difference....

**paradamed** · March 08, 2011, 09:55 PM

So we need a new windows 7 everytime we change our motherboards? That sucks. Im planning to buy a new pc and I already bought 2 different windows 7 (which isnt cheap), one for my desktop and one for my notebook. Cant I transfer my desktop windows 7 which I wont use anymore to my new pc?

**Top-Tier-Tech** · March 08, 2011, 09:59 PM

An OEM copy of windows 7 is tied to the motherboard. A full retail copy of windows 7 can be installed on 1 computer at a time.

**PoleCat** · March 08, 2011, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by ChaobSiroc

An OEM copy of windows 7 is tied to the motherboard. A full retail copy of windows 7 can be installed on 1 computer at a time.

Was that a change in practice with Win7? I have an old XP OEM that isn't tied to any motherboard....

**Top-Tier-Tech** · March 08, 2011, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by PoleCat

Was that a change in practice with Win7? I have an old XP OEM that isn't tied to any motherboard....

XP OEM's were able to be installed on a different system (I just built a PC with a Dell OEM key) however with both Vista and Win7 an OEM copy is tied to the motherboard, when you try to activate windows it will fail.

**PoleCat** · March 08, 2011, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by ChaobSiroc

XP OEM's were able to be installed on a different system (I just built a PC with a Dell OEM key) however with both Vista and Win7 an OEM copy is tied to the motherboard, when you try to activate windows it will fail.

Good to know. Thanks for the info.

**paradamed** · March 08, 2011, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by ChaobSiroc

An OEM copy of windows 7 is tied to the motherboard. A full retail copy of windows 7 can be installed on 1 computer at a time.

Well so this is good news for me. I have an OEM on my laptop and a full retail (fpp) in my desktop. Thanks for answering.

**Bolkonsky** · March 09, 2011, 06:44 AM

Well, if you can find Home Premium retail, you won't need to upgrade your CPU. It's not a bad CPU at all. It's just not the newest.

**Taishō** · March 09, 2011, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by Bolkonsky

Well, if you can find Home Premium retail, you won't need to upgrade your CPU. It's not a bad CPU at all. It's just not the newest.

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit OEM

- this one? Also, when you say I don't need to upgrade, does that mean it's not really possible to get something good (and worth the effort and risk of me trying to get it to work ^^) while staying within the limitations of my budget?

**Ataegina** · March 10, 2011, 05:21 PM

with such tight budget i would put my money on a sandy bridge processor they've nice price-performace

i dont know from where you're but i would go with ultimate version, but i guess if you pay to build the computer (assembly) wth luck you get the windows 7 ultimate for free (30$ + free win 7)

**Taishō** · March 10, 2011, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by Ataegina

with such tight budget i would put my money on a sandy bridge processor they've nice price-performace

i dont know from where you're but i would go with ultimate version, but i guess if you pay to build the computer (assembly) wth luck you get the windows 7 ultimate for free (30$ + free win 7)

Germany. Wouldn't let someone else open my computer (+ it'd be embarrassing if it isn't really clean inside etc.) except for some friend of mine.

"sandy bridge processor" means I have to get a new mainboard, right? Then again I really don't know wich components fit together (new motherboard, new cpu + all of the hardware i already have).