Advice on upgrading the motherboard

[D_B_Miller]

I'm looking to ugrade the motherboad of my HP Omen 870-175na in order to add more RAM. I've currently got my eye on the following motherboard. I'm very new to upgrading and I wanted to check whether my choice will work, it it's a good one and if there are better ones.

ASROCK B250M PRO4 S1151

Official Website Specification

[TheOldMan]

It appears that motherboard might work with the case and the CPU.  Keep in mind that Windows OEM does not usually transfer to a new motherboard and still function, which would mean purchasing a Windows 10 product key.  It might accept the COA sticker key but do not count on that.  Figure the expense of the Windows 10, also.

[D_B_Miller]

Thank you for the quick reply. I think I found a solution to the windows key issue. In the Anniversary Update they added the ability to tie the license to an account rather than a key. So when I change the hardware I login into the account rather than try and remember the key.

I'll keep that in mind though when changing the motherboard.

Do you know of any other brands I should look at?

[TheOldMan]

I think you misunderstand about the product key for Windows 10.  On an existing OEM PC, the M$ servers assign a digital key to the hardware configuation.  When the motherboard is changed out, that key will not activate the OEM install because the hardware has changed.  If your PC has a COA sticker, then you might get by with using that, but do not count on that.

Since that unit is a HP product, I am not going to advise on changing out the motherboard with a retail board.

[D_B_Miller]

Thank you for clearing it up. To what extent can I upgrade my system without buying a new license? Is there a digital way of finding out if I have a COA sticker or is it a physical sticker on the hardware?

[TheOldMan · Accepted solution]

I have an Omen similar to the one you have, while yours is a higher spec machine, I do not see a physical COA sticker on these newer HP models.  The older models did have a physical COA sticker to enter the key after a reinstall of the Windows, if it did not self activate.  On these Windows 10 PC's, I know it is decided by digital licence but to the extent of how??  I do not know.

To answer "To what extent can I upgrade my system without buying a new license?"  I am not clear on this.  Read this and decide for yourself, if you can

https://www.howtogeek.com/226510/how-to-use-your-free-windows-10-license-after-changing-your-pc%E2%8...

[D_B_Miller]

Thank you for your help on the matter. I'll mark your response as the solution as it's a bigger problem than I originally suspected.