How to Change a Motherboard and Keep Windows Untouched

I have been wanting to upgrade my Motherboard, CPU and ram for a while now but I had been dreading re installing Windows and all of my applications. After searching around, I came across a built in system preparation method which seemed interesting. It prepares Windows in a way so that the next time it boots, it re installs any new hardware just like when Windows first installs. This allows for Windows to accommodate itself nicely on the new hardware. Sysprep

All you have to do is:

  • Open Command Prompt as administrator
  • Run: “%windir%\System32\Sysprep\Sysprep.exe”
  • Set the action to OOBE, Generalize, and Shutdown
  • Wait for Shutdown
  • Install New Hardware
  • Boot up and install specific drivers

Core i7-4790K Performance Testing (HDD & SSD)

A friend of mine let me use his computer for some testing. We first ran the tests using a Western Digital Black hard drive, then using a Samsung 840 Evo solid state drive.

System Specs:

Core i7-4790K

16GB Corsair Vengeance

Asus Z97-E Motherboard

EVGA GTX 760 Superclocked 2GB

Thermaltake 750W Modular Power Supply

First using the Hard Drive and the ASUS Bios setting of normal, the tests were as shown below (PassMark, FurMark, 3dMark):

Standard_PerformanceTestStandard_PerformanceTest2 FurMark 3dMark

Then using the preset optimal mode in the BIOS the following performance test was completed:

Performance_PerformanceTestPerformance_PerformanceTest2

Once the SSD was installed, the overall PassMark Rating was boosted by a hefty amount to 5743 from 3837:

PerformanceSSD_PerformanceTestPerformanceSSD_PerformanceTest2

14.12 AMD Catalyst Omega Software Released

AMD has released a rather big software update called Catalyst Omega. This is supposed to allow developers to optimize their games better for AMD devices. Both graphics cards and APUs are supposed to see massive gains in certain games. In day to day tasks it runs the same as compared to 14.9 with no real difference outside of specific games. I have run 2 3D benchmarks on 14.9 and 14.12 to see if there were any general improvements to unoptimized games/benchmarks, but the results were almost the same before and after the update.

GPU: Gigabyte R9 270OC with stock clocks

Download: http://support.amd.com/en-us/download

14.9 2
Furmark 720p Benchmark on 14.9
14.9
PerformanceTest 3D Test on 14.9
14.12 Omega 2
Furmark 720p Benchmark on 14.12 OMEGA
14.12 Omega
PerformanceTest 3D Test on 14.12 OMEGA

OnePlus One Android 5.0 Lollipop First Boot and UI Test (CM 12)

OnePlus One Lollipop Android 5.0

I loaded up a fresh build of Lollipop from XDA for the OnePlus One. It is running well overall but I do miss some of the CM options that were on CM 11S. Android 5.0 feels so light and so smooth and switching between applications feels great. Watch the video below for an idea of how setting it up looks and the general UI afterwards.

Forum Post with Lollipop Build

Nokia Lumia 635 vs. Moto G (2014) Speaker Test

The Nokia Lumia 635 is a great budget device, but how does its speaker compare to that of the Moto G (2014)? I have an impartial video below showing the two in the same testing scenarios. My personal opinion is that while the Nokia Lumia 635 is much louder than the Moto G (2014), it is not more enjoyable. The Moto G (2014) has a much wider range and overall sounds better. It also has stereo speakers which make it much more immersive as compared to the Lumia which is rear firing. The Lumia does not sound bad, and it is actually surprisingly good, it is just a bit lacking in terms of being able to reach the deep end. Their audio output quality and power meanwhile are roughly the same with the Moto G (2014) being slightly warmer when played on my speakers. Overall they are both decent but the Moto G (2014) isn’t loud enough and the Nokia Lumia 635 isn’t full enough.

Here is the video comparison:

AMD Catalyst 14.9 Stable Released

After a long wait, the stable release of the AMD Catalyst Control Center version 14.9 was finally released. This version is supposed to bring massive gains in several games and I hope it is true. In day to day tasks it runs the same as compared to 14.4 with no real difference outside of specific games. I have run 2 3D benchmarks on 14.4 and 14.9 to see if there were any general improvements to unoptimized games, but the results were almost the same before and after the update.

GPU: Gigabyte R9 270OC with stock clocks

14.4 2
Furmark 720p Benchmark on 14.4
14.4
PerformanceTest 3D Test on 14.4
14.9 2
Furmark 720p Benchmark on 14.9
14.9
PerformanceTest 3D Test on 14.9