Switching from 6600k to Ryzen 7 2700 without a clean install means removing all Intel software and settings manually.
Switching from 6600k to Ryzen 7 2700 without a clean install means removing all Intel software and settings manually.
You have an AMD board, if not you should get one. I use a 2400G and I’ll mention that they heat up a lot these days. I also replace my CPU every four months because of the heat, and I use an RX580 with 4GB RAM. Make sure the internet is on during the installation, or I risk damaging my GPU and CPU by trying to overclock.
Newer chips tend to generate more heat than preferred, requiring improved cooling solutions and better performance than standard components. Repasting offers little benefit unless you're dealing with poor thermal paste that dries too fast. Thermal paste isn't the answer; effective heat dissipation and proper pressure are key.
I'm concerned about Windows failing because the operating system copy would move to a new hardware platform. If there are keys tied to the installation board, using a different board could cause key verification issues, triggering reactivation or preventing it altogether. Sometimes it's possible to transfer OS and drives between systems, but not always. It would be safest to perform a clean install whenever possible.
Other than a potential software key problem, Windows 10 manages this situation quite effectively. In the worst scenario, you might have to start in safe mode and manually install chipset drivers from the AMD site. I own a compact SSD running Win10 that I've replaced with different chipsets—C2D E8400, Intel Pentium 4th gen, and Athlon 200GE/A320. In my experience, Windows recognized the new hardware and provided adequate drivers to get the system operational without major issues, just a few reboots were needed to complete the installs. It’s not as smooth as some Linux distributions, but it doesn’t require much effort. A clean installation remains the ideal choice, particularly when switching from the old MBR format to the newer GPT format, though this can be handled afterward with simple command-line tools.