Risks with changing motherboard?

[DrFabulous]

Hello,

I have recently discoverd that my motherboard do not support SLI (msi z97 gaming 3). I am now concidering to buy a new motherboard so that i can install a second GPU in the near future.

From what I understand, it is quite hard to swap a motherboard because of some software. For example: some people say that they have to re-install a new windows wich seems pretty weird to me since the OS is on the harddrive/ssd. If someone could make the risks of changeing the motherboard a little more clear, that would be very helpful. 

Thanks in advance

 

(sorry if my spelling is bad, i'm Swedish)

[Guest acdcman200]

2 minutes ago, DrFabulous said:

Hello,

I have recently discoverd that my motherboard do not support SLI (msi z97 gaming 3). I am now concidering to buy a new motherboard so that i can install a second GPU in the near future.

From what I understand, it is quite hard to swap a motherboard because of some software. For example: some people say that they have to re-install a new windows wich seems pretty weird to me since the OS is on the harddrive/ssd. If someone could make the risks of changeing the motherboard a little more clear, that would be very helpful. 

Thanks in advance

 

(sorry if my spelling is bad, i'm Swedish)

You have to reinstall windows due to driver conflicts with different motherboards.

[Imakuni]

What's your current GPU and monitor, btw?

[Lolucoca]

You might get away with it. I, personally switched from an GA-EP31-DS3L to a GA-EP45-DS4 without problems, I just had to re-enter my windows key...

[DrFabulous]

3 minutes ago, Imakuni said:

What's your current GPU and monitor, btw?

I have a Gigabyte GTX 970 g1 gaming, and I recently bought a new monitor from acer, the XF270HU

[airdeano]

save your money.

sell your current GPU and upgrade to the best GPU you can afford.

doing a mobo swap ($$$), possible short on PSU ($$$), then buying a second GPU ($$$) for a questionable gain in performance. we do know that SLI/CFX doesn't scale well in all applications/games. buying the best tiered GPU, using what you have already is a better step. then when you have topped out the top end card, then look to increasing the GPU count or research a better platform.

[DrFabulous]

12 minutes ago, Lolucoca said:

You might get away with it. I, personally switched from an GA-EP31-DS3L to a GA-EP45-DS4 without problems, I just had to re-enter my windows key...

So you did not have to do anything in terms of uninstalling old drivers and programs?

 

 

14 minutes ago, acdcman200 said:

You have to reinstall windows due to driver conflicts with different motherboards.

Ok, so there is now way of geting around it then?

[Imakuni]

1 minute ago, DrFabulous said:

I have a Gigabyte GTX 970 g1 gaming, and i recently bought a new monitor from acer, the XF270HU

As I thought... you don't SLI.

 

You instead sell that 970 of yours + the money of the new GPU + whatever you'd spend on a new mobo and put it all towards a single, stronger GPU. Whether it be a 980ti, Fury X or whatever crap will launch later this year, it's surely a better bet than going with 970 SLI.

[Lolucoca]

@DrFabulous Not at all. But be very careful since it might not work with your Windows installation. I mirrored the hard drive to another one and tried it, keeping in mind that I had a backup if it failed. 

[Guest acdcman200]

1 minute ago, DrFabulous said:

Ok, so there is now way of geting around it then?

There are but they cuase issues its better just to back up your data and reinstall windows.

[DrFabulous]

Thanks for all the awnsers, i will do a bit more research before i decide what i'll do but your awnsers has helped very much

25 minutes ago, acdcman200 said:

There are but they cuase issues its better just to back up your data and reinstall windows.

 

25 minutes ago, Lolucoca said:

@DrFabulous Not at all. But be very careful since it might not work with your Windows installation. I mirrored the hard drive to another one and tried it, keeping in mind that I had a backup if it failed. 

 

26 minutes ago, Imakuni said:

As I thought... you don't SLI.

 

You instead sell that 970 of yours + the money of the new GPU + whatever you'd spend on a new mobo and put it all towards a single, stronger GPU. Whether it be a 980ti, Fury X or whatever crap will launch later this year, it's surely a better bet than going with 970 SLI.

 

28 minutes ago, airdeano said:

save your money.

sell your current GPU and upgrade to the best GPU you can afford.

doing a mobo swap ($$$), possible short on PSU ($$$), then buying a second GPU ($$$) for a questionable gain in performance. we do know that SLI/CFX doesn't scale well in all applications/games. buying the best tiered GPU, using what you have already is a better step. then when you have topped out the top end card, then look to increasing the GPU count or research a better platform.