Does a new processor require a new vista license?

[yoda313]

So if I upgrade to a dual core amd processor do I have to buy a new license for Vista Premium?

I am thinking of getting a 60.00 dual core amd at newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103774

Would this be a case where a new license is needed for Vista? Or is all that talk overblown? I have done a lot of upgrades recently including an extra 500gb harddrive with no problems from vista.

Any answers would be appreciated.

[Dv8ted2]

You should be able to upgrade. At most all you would have to reactivate.

[yoda313]

Ok. Thanks dv8ted2.

Also is there an upgrade path to follow for jumping from amd 64 single core to amd 64 dual core? Are there any official advisory scans that can give a green light to a particular chip?

If it says it works with a given socket type is that the main compatibility item I need? THis is the detail for my motherboard I got off of CPUZ:

asustek computer inc

nyssa
nvidia id03ea
southbridge nvidia id03e0
sensor fintek 581

bios
phoenix technologies
5.04
12-18-06

amd 64 3800+
socket am2 940 90nm voltage 1.1v

[redwudz]

I even changed the motherboard and the CPU and Vista Premium didn't complain. Of course it was the same brand of MB and the CPU was a faster AMD dual core in the same series.

But even if it does, you should be able to reactivate it with a call to MS. Not really a big deal. This is all concerning a full Vista OS disc, not a OS that came with a computer on a handful of discs. That may be different.

There is one caveat. If you only have a OEM Vista OS disc, that is only good for one computer and is not transferable to a different machine. But I would try it and see what MS says. The full versions of Vista are just like XP. You can transfer them to a different computer as long as you only run it on one computer at a time.

You would also want to check the ASUS site to see if you need to update your BIOS for a new CPU. I had to do that with a AMD low power Brisbane core CPU. I will be updating one of my Vista computers with a Phenom Quad core next week, and I will update the BIOS for that.

Single core to dual core should present no problems. Check your Task Mangage and see if it shows both cores after the addition. The ASUS site should list all compatible CPUs. But usually a dual core upgrade is no problem. Some CPUs use a different voltage or multiplier, that's what the BIOS upgrade is for most times.

[yoda313]

Thanks redwudz.

My vista premium is a preinstall job. I got it at office depot and had it mail ordered. I never got a vista disc. The harddrie was partitioned with a recovery drive. I did finally make the boot discs for protection in case of meltdown.

Would this be problematic since they aren't a disc version?

------

[jagabo]

OEM versions of XP and Vista are not transferable to a new computer. For the most part, a new motherboard is a new computer by Microsoft's definition. But you can usually get away with telling microsoft your motherboard died and you had to replace it.

Single core to dual core shouldn't trigger the activation check.

[redwudz]

I don't think it would be a problem. My Vista OS discs are both OEM type, not transferable, but I have the full discs and installed them myself. I don't have much experience with preinstalled Vista.

Worst case, it may ask for reactivation, but I doubt it. All my MB and CPU changes were on a single PC use OEM version of Vista, probably the same type OEM version you have. It just came on a single DVD disc.

As long as you don't damage the recovery partition, you should still be able to use your recovery discs if they are ever needed.

[yoda313]

thanks redwudz

[ofbarea]

When I went from a dual core Pentium D to A Quad core CPU, I did not have to reactivate.

[johns0]

There is one caveat. If you only have a OEM Vista OS disc, that is only good for one computer and is not transferable to a different machine. But I would try it and see what MS says. The full versions of Vista are just like XP. You can transfer them to a different computer as long as you only run it on one computer at a time.
.

Yoi can upgrade an oem vista install,just phone ms and tell them you had to replace the mobo cause it was having problems running vista,i did that with my athlon 64 3400 to athlon 6000 conversion.

[jman98]

yoda313 - Don't be surprised if Vista stops working when you do any upgrade. A friend bought a laptop with Vista pre-installed but it only had 512 MB of memory and Vista ran like crap. My friend bought a 1 GB memory module and he not only bought the correct module, he correctly put it in the laptop. Upon insertion of the memory (again, correct module, correct slot) Vista just crapped all over itself and gave him a Blue Screen of Death every time he booted the PC during the boot process. I had to boot from a Linux CD and blow away his disk partitions so we could use his restore DVD for Vista to restore Vista. The restore DVD for Vista refused to repair the laptop until I did that. So upgrading your processor is legal, but you better backup EVERYTHING you can about on your PC before you upgrade it because Vista may lose it's mind once you do the upgrade and you may be forced to do a destructive reinstall to make it happy again.

[yoda313]

@jman98 - funny you should mention memory. Just the other day I bought two new 1gb ddr2 sticks. I replaced the two 512's I had preintsalled (only two slots but they are dual channel at least). I had no problem on boot up from vista premium. except that the first time I turned it on I got loud beeps and realized I must have installed them in backwards - oops.... but after getting them seated properly vista booted like a charm no complaints.

I've also added a harddrive and a firewire card and a sb audigy (earlier in the summer). All with no problems from vista so far.

I just haven't touched the motherboard or the processor and hence the reason for my caution on something more major.

@ ofbarea and johnso - thanks for the info. Sounds like this should be feasible without too much of a complaint from microsoft. All I need to do is more research on the proper upgrade path for amd single to dual on a socket am2 platform.

[redwudz]

Vista is a lot happier with 2GB RAM. I've been running Vista SP1 for a few days, no problems with it so far. My AMD Phenom quad processor should arrive in the next day or two and by the weekend I should have it up and running.

[shaolin2006]

You should be able to upgrade. At most all you would have to reactivate.

In Brightests Days
In Darkest Nights
No Evil Shall Escape My Sight
Green Lanterns Light

[INFRATOM]

when windows is installed it makes a formula or recepie using id's of motherbord hard drive and network card if I remember right so changing RAM or CPU may not need re-activation. You can change the whole computer if you can convince the microsoft guy to give you the activation. If too many times someone asks they may think he is using it on other computers. In windows 98 time you bought the license now you buy the license for one computer as long as it lasts they make more money this way.

[jagabo]

In windows 98 time you bought the license now you buy the license for one computer as long as it lasts they make more money this way.

OEM is for use on one computer. The full retail version can be moved from computer to computer.

[yoda313]

I've been running Vista SP1 for a few days"

SP1 is out now? How is it?

I don't know if I need to jump onto it yet. I have a full xp computer so I really don't know what the benefit of sp1 is just yet. Should I wait a month or two for it to be field tested?

[Ai Haibara]

It's apparently only available for testers in release candidate form. I'm not sure when the final version will be out, though I've seen forum posts (on a different forum) claiming it'll be around March or April. (They also say those who have installed this release candidate or any of the other versions of SP1 may have to uninstall those prior to installing the final release, but I haven't seen that warning on the RC notes. It's probably a good idea, anyway.

And, yeah, I'd probably wait a little bit after the final release to see if there are any problems, though there are some things I'd really like to see 'fixed' now... :/

[redwudz]

The system I'm trying SP1 on is easy enough to re-install so I don't have a problem with using SPI beta. But the final version should be out in about July of 2008. So far, I haven't noticed any difference, but I haven't bothered to read through all the info that came with it either. If you install this, you will have to uninstall it when the full version is released.

It's big, makes a lot of changes. Some changes they held back till the final version. It also takes a while to DL. I did it over three days to get all the updates in there.

I wasn't really having any problems with Vista, so it's hard to tell if it improved anything.

You can download it through the regular update procedure, but first you have to jump through a few hoops to make it available.

These are the SP1b overview notes:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=090DEAF6-2EAA-4AAA-8B3B-2E199...displaylang=en

If you want to install it, look here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9de6260e-4275-482d-9524-de850...displaylang=en

Hopefully I got all the links right. If not, just do a Google search for ' vista sp1 ' and you should find the info.

Again, I wouldn't install it unless you have a specific problem that it addresses. It's still beta and could cause problems with some systems. And you will have to uninstall then reinstall the final version when it's released.

[yoda313]

@ Ai Haibara - thanks for the info

I wasn't really having any problems with Vista, so it's hard to tell if it improved anything

That's kinda what I'm wondering. I mean i have the usual windows hiccups but nothing that is "earth shattering". If its all just under the hood stuff I don't know if I'll really need to do it.

I'd certainly wait for the fallout first before jumping onto it.

It also takes a while to DL. I did it over three days to get all the updates in there.

Three days????? What speed are you running? I am at about 300kpbs dsl. It might take me a week to get this when its final!!

[redwudz]

It's not the connection speed. I have 7000kbps cable. Each part needs a while to 'digest'. And they keep adding in other parts. My auto updates are once each day, so that's why it's slow. But it is about 500MB for the all language version. But you can get it in parts like I did, then it takes a while to DL it all. It also is customized to your system, so you rarely would DL the whole package.

One nice thing that may not be related, I'm not seeing so much constant HDD activity anymore.

I don't know exactly what it 'fixes', but at least it hasn't caused any problems. But I would also wait till the summer when they release the regular version. The computer I am running it on is easy enough to restore if I have problems.

[yoda313]

Ok. Thanks for the info redwudz.

[redwudz]

I installed the AMD 2.2 Ghz Phenom quad core CPU in my Gigabyte MB. No real problems. I did have to update the BIOS first, but never did that when going from single core to dual core CPUs.

Works great. I OC'd it to 2.4Ghz and it's been stable so far. No problems at all with Vista. It apparently ignored the change. The CPU is slower than my OC'd 2.8Ghz dual core CPU it replaced, but makes up for it with encoding speed, about 60% faster. Might be a little better with DDR2 1066 RAM and a AM2+ MB.

[yoda313]

Thanks for the update redwudz. That is encouraging

I am still not sure if I will commit to an upgrade or not. I watched Superman Returns on hddvd through my 360 addon on the pc the other night. I watched it all the way through and there were only a few minor hesitations. Almost like layer changes on a normal dvd. Very brief and almost imperceptible. The best part is the heavy action sequences never hesitated at all. I may have enough horsepower to do bluray after all. And these limitations may be an effect of running a usb drive versus an internal drive. Well I'll find out this week.

[yoda313]

BUMP!!!

WEll I decided to take the plunge - for 48.00 here it is:


Model
Brand AMD
Processors Type Desktop
Series Athlon 64 X2
Model ADO3800IAA5CU
CPU Socket Type
CPU Socket Type Socket AM2
Tech Spec
Core Windsor
Multi-Core Dual-Core
Name Athlon 64 X2 3800+
Operating Frequency 2.0GHz
HT 2000MHz
L1 Cache 128KB+128KB
L2 Cache 2 x 512KB
Manufacturing Tech 90 nm
64 bit Support Yes
Hyper-Transport Support Yes
Virtualization Technology Support Yes
Multimedia Instruction MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, 3DNOW! Professional
Voltage 1.20 V/1.25 V
Thermal Power 65W
Cooling Device Cooling device not included - Processor Only



My level 1 is only 64x64 right now so this should really give me a speed boost. I bought some thermal grease with it.

QUESTION - can I use my existing fan with it?

QUESTION 2 - any definitive do it yourself installation guides? Otherwise I'm paying 40.00 and taking this to bestbuy and having them do it. I did check the geeksquad website and they do offer to install it even if you don't buy the parts from them.

EDIT -

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph07139&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&produc...dlc=en&lang=en

I found this at the hp website for my model (covers basics). I think I am confident I can do this myself. I did buy thermal grease with the processor. I intended to reuse my existing fan right now. I got three day shipping, I haven't gotten a confrimation of processing yet. I suspect I'll get it by Friday.

[johns0]

You can you use your fan.Its easy to install the cpu,just put a bit of grease in the middle of the cpu,about the size of one and half grain of rice and put the fan over it,the pressure will spread the grease out,no need to spread it yourself,just dont take the fan off and put it on again,you will have to regrease it and start over.

[akrako1]

not sure if you already bought it, but Microcenter beats everyone for prices on CPU's...

$57.99 for AMD® Boxed Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4000+
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0258875

[jagabo]

not sure if you already bought it, but Microcenter beats everyone for prices on CPU's...

$57.99 for AMD® Boxed Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4000+
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0258875

"Usually ships in 7-21 business days."

[akrako1]

"Usually ships in 7-21 business days."

Sorry, I'm lucky enough to live only a few miles from their Chicago location. Now if only the nearest Fry's was a little closer....

[yoda313]

You can you use your fan.Its easy to install the cpu,just put a bit of grease in the middle of the cpu,about the size of one and half grain of rice and put the fan over it,the pressure will spread the grease out,no need to spread it yourself,just dont take the fan off and put it on again,you will have to regrease it and start over.

So just a little dab will do ya then huh? Will it give me a suggested amount in the grease that I bought?

Thanks akrako1 I did already buy it. I was going for low ball on the price completely. Yes I do see that it was probably a better deal. However any dual core processor will be better than just a single core. I'm looking forward this to. Here's hoping.