Running Windows 10 on a M.2 drive using another motherboard and/or processor is possible.
Running Windows 10 on a M.2 drive using another motherboard and/or processor is possible.
I'm uncertain about how long the Asus board will be available for RMA. To ensure accuracy, I've purchased a budget B450 board and a used 3600X for testing purposes. While I prefer running Zen3 on a B450, it would help confirm if my Asus board was the issue rather than the CPU. If the 5900X turns out faulty, having another processor would be beneficial. Regardless, will the existing Win10 installation on my M.2 work with a different board or processor, or will I need to reinstall?
It should work fine overall. The activation key could disappear sometimes, but that's the main concern. If you notice problems, reinstalling should help, though I don't anticipate any issues. I've installed Windows in much larger jumps than this one—like from B550 to B450 or even Z170 to X570—without any trouble.