Upgrading CPU without doing a fresh install of Windows?

I changed my old Socket AM Phenom X2 2,4GHz to Socket AM2+ Phenom X4 3,5 GHz (with mainboard and RAM). My Windows 7 asked for new drivers and rechecked registration. I have a MSDNAA version of Windows so there was no problem with re-registration. If you have OEM it might ask you to call Microsoft and tell them that you had to change some parts of your PC (I had that problem with my old Windows XP - they gave me a new code via phone).

I've changed CPUs several times over the years and Windows doesn't give a shit.

Shouldn't cause any problems. If you have a new CPU it should work with both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows so you're unlikely to have a problem in that respect (at one time they only supported one or the other), and if you do need to reactivate Windows it shouldn't be a problem — normally takes more than one piece of new hardware to necessitate reactivation.

your pc won't explode, the interrupts will be handled before that happens. at worst, you'll just have to reinstall windows

Sentura, never say never!

Changing the CPU will not cause windows to lock up on you but changing motherboard on the other hand might do that, though I only know one instance of that happening and that was Vista. Dunno if win 7 does that anymore.

Where's mino? I guess it blew up.

try with a better cpu cooler if you feel it gets unbearable, though 65 is pretty high. my cpu used to idle around 37-39 (celcius) and peak around 45-50. i don't think i've ever had temps above 55-57 with any part of my computer

Is it running at default clock speeds? If it's overclocked then the stock cooler will start to struggle as it was never meant for that. Still, it's always better to get a 3rd party cooler regardless.

peaking at 65 degrees on a hot day is nothing to be too worried about, but a better cooler is always a fine investment =) especially when you have alot of hot days.

You could always try spraying some compressed air directly into the CPU if it's running hot. If that fails, nothing has better cooling power than a spray bottle of cold water (except liquid nitrogen)!

Quote from Serenius

You could always try spraying some compressed air directly into the CPU if it's running hot. If that fails, nothing has better cooling power than a spray bottle of cold water (except liquid nitrogen)!

or, you know, vacuums

Quote from Minotauro

Yeah I'll do that. Better spend a few bucks on a cheap case fan than having to buy another CPU. I didn't overclock it by the way.

Fun fact: I scavenged this CPU from my ex-work PC I bought when Ubisoft shut down

To clarify: by cooler they mean the big heatsink+fan that attaches to the CPU itself. Although Intel's stock Core 2 onwards coolers actually perform about as well as most third-party coolers in my experience, I dunno about AMD.

Also be sure your cooler is totally attached to the CPU — I once left one corner not pushed in properly and temps shot up. Also if a cooler is repeatedly the conducting gel on the cooler might rub away and stop being effective, again increasing temps.

Stuff to keep in mind!

Quote from Minotauro

I've just went and bought 2 case fans and the situation improved a little. The CPU seems to idle at 50ºC now (it was idling at 57ºC). That's OK I guess because it's pretty hot today (34ºC or so).

for such a hot day, in a room with probably bad isolation, I think that's fine.. in the summer (it gets around 30 degrees max here) my cpu (phenom II x4 940) idle's between 51 - 55 degrees. that's about 10-15 degrees more then during the coldest winterdays. works like a charm, never had any problems apart from having applications making use of all 4 cores...