Photographer, videographer, and gaming expert discuss Intel to AMD transition concerns.
Photographer, videographer, and gaming expert discuss Intel to AMD transition concerns.
Hello everyone, I’m starting this journey with some research and forum discussions. I’m still figuring things out and don’t want to make any mistakes without clear guidance. I haven’t made any changes yet, but I’m thinking about swapping my 12700K for an AMD CPU such as the 7800X3D or 7900X, or something else entirely. Since I built my PC myself, I have some experience, but changing motherboards and CPUs feels quite different. My main concerns are:
1. When I install a new CPU and motherboard, does the system automatically reinstall Windows after the first boot? I’ve noticed that fresh installs often start up correctly, which is reassuring but not surprising.
2. As a semi-professional photographer and videographer, I rely on this machine for editing photos and videos, as well as gaming. I have several drives—two 2 TB M.2 SSDs and an 8 TB 2.5" SSD—each dedicated to storing media. If I clean install Windows, do the drives need to be formatted again? Will everything function properly once the new hardware is up?
I’m searching for a thorough guide because the tutorials I’ve found seem incomplete or lack detailed steps. This is why I’m asking for your help. Thank you very much for any advice or resources that could clarify this process. I’m still deciding between my current setup and potential upgrades, so having accurate information will be crucial before I move forward!
Ensure a smooth setup with no reinstall required for Windows 10 and above. Success comes from plug-and-play across multiple machines, with zero installation hiccups. Windows handles this well; only consider a fresh install if issues arise. A clean start on a new drive works too, keeping the old drive intact—ideal for backups. If you switch to Windows 11, no reformatting is needed. Just assemble the PC and keep everything in one place. The specs of 12700 + 3080 are solid for your needs, giving you a couple more years before upgrading.
Are you considering an upgrade? The 12700k remains a strong chip, and the Ryzen 7000 offers only modest gains for you. Plus, the 12700k’s GPU supports certain codecs, enhancing editing quality when using H.265 422 10bit.
I value the quick responses and the discussion about the final details I missed. It seems I might need to wait a bit before making any adjustments. I also found it helpful to go through the upgrade steps again, so I’ll remember that. It’s interesting to see the different perspectives on reinstalling Windows. I became excited about keeping up with new releases and the AMD buzz, thinking about future-proofing with AM5 and upgrading soon. However, your advice reminded me to stick with the current configuration for now. Here’s my setup link: https://pcpartpicker.com/user/JS75/saved/7czrMp
I noticed similar points being made, though I didn’t go through the details thoroughly.
It doesn't seem very reliable. They mentioned the same about sTRX4 (3000 series Threadripper with a price around $2000+) only to replace it after just one generation of chips (https://hothardware.com/news/amd-ryzen-t...en-2-trx40). AMD has a proven track record on mainstream systems, but I'm not very confident unless they provide more solid details. Probably you'll find a more durable option with Intel instead.
They attempted to revisit the long-term AM4 backing several times, but ultimately chose the correct path after facing significant criticism. They expanded support for Zen2 on B350/X370 models and introduced Zen 3 compatibility on B450/X470 and subsequent B350/X370 boards.
It seems many issues stemmed from inadequate planning rather than intentional harm. Older boards featured compact BIOS ROMs that are now difficult to update because newer chip support disables older ones, and most motherboards resist updating existing BIOS versions. I’d hope AMD recognized this with AM5 if they plan to maintain compatibility beyond just the physical socket. Comparing Intel’s Z170/270, 370/470 with AMD’s offerings shows similar challenges—same socket but different chip support. Technically, you could modify a 9900K onto some Z170 boards, though it wouldn’t be straightforward.