How To Replace Motherboards In Desktop Computers

Reasons for upgrading Motherboards

• When lack of slots for an adequate graphics card
• Failure of Mother Board due to power issues, BIOS problems
• No RAM slots for installation of adequate RAM.

Now time for deciding whether you want to keep the same part or you need a new part

to double check that all existing parts fit.

Buying New Parts

If you want to completely upgrade your PC and buy new components along with you motherboard, you are effectively building a new computer.

When buying new motherboards look for:

• Availability of RAM slots
• Presence of PCI expresses slots for Graphic Card.
• Mother Board CPU slots which can support more then one type of Processors. For example LGA 775 processor slots supports, Dual core, Core2Duo, Core2Quad Processors.
• Presence of onboard slots like Audio, Ethernet, USB. Now a day’s all mother board comes with these ports by default.

Other Necessary Parts: Now a day’s PC configuration is like this

CPU: Intel Dual-Core, Core2Duo or Core2Quad

RAM: Minimum 1GB

Optical Drive: DVD Writer

Hard Disk:Minimum 160GB

Monitor: 18.5” or 19” TFT.

Once you have purchased your motherboard and other necessary part, you are ready to install it.

Taking out the Motherboard

You will need just a screwdriver for the entire process

1. Disconnect all the wires  and connectors behind your computer
2. Take out  Computer Cabinet Cover
3. Then move on to largest wire that connects the power supply to the motherboard
4. Then remove other wires such as LED, Power Switch and Reset Button
5. Remove IDE connectors from Hard disk and Optical drives
6. Open the case – you may need to use a screwdriver for this
7. ‘Ground’ yourself by touching the large metal bar across the computer towards the top. So that you can avoid static electricity effect on electronics parts as usual as  on your body parts
8. After this, if you installed any PCI cards or graphic card in PCI slots remove very gently, begin by pulling up the end of the adapter.
9. There is a hook on the other end of the graphics card. Be aware of this when fully detaching the card. Lay the card to the side when you are done.
10. You now have to take off the heat sink and fan located on the CPU.
11. Detach the wire from the heat sink and fan from the motherboard.
12. Depending on what model of CPU you have, you need to take off the heat sink and fan first. There should be a latch that you lift that will release both the heat sink and fan.
13. You now need to take out the actual motherboard.
14. There will be screw all around your motherboard. Unscrew these and you should be able to lift it up out of the computer relatively easy.
15. Once you have the motherboard out, you need to take off the RAM and actual CPU.
16. Lift the metal latch located above the CPU socket.
17. Gently lift the CPU up and off the motherboard. You may need to move it from side to side a little to loosen it.
18. On either side of the RAM will be some handles. Push these down and the RAM card should pop right out. Be careful to not use too much force.

Remember:

• No water or food anywhere near where you are working
• Never use force if something is not going right

Re-Attaching the New Motherboard

Once you have successfully taken out your old motherboard, you can now proceed to install the new one. The steps taken here are basically the same as detaching the motherboard, but in the opposite way.

1. First, put the CPU onto the motherboard and close the metal lock.
2. Open the handles on the RAM slots and push the RAM into it. There are corresponding holes on the RAM cards so make sure these are aligned.
3. You should here a click with the RAM is attached properly.
4. Take the motherboard and place it in the computer.
5. Depending on the two types of motherboard you have, you may need to realign the ‘legs’ that the motherboard is screwed onto. In this case, take out the legs and screw them back in the corresponding shape to the larger holes on the motherboard.
6. After doing this, screw in the motherboard.
7. Plug the power supply into the motherboard.
8. As before, you now need to replace the heat sink and fan on the motherboard. Place them onto the CPU and latch it in.
9. Remember to plug the wire leading out of the fan into the motherboard for power.
10. You now need to install your graphics card.
11. Sliding in the end of the graphics card that has the hook first, slowly lower the other end until it fits nicely onto the motherboard. You may need to lift or switch a handle to secure it in place.
12. You now have to reattach all the wires you took out.
13. Start with the larger ones. Since you should not have removed the read/write drive and hard drive when taking out your motherboard, they should still be in place. Plug these into the respective slots.
14. Now plug the rest of the wires in.

Related:How To Install Laptop RAM Modules.

image credit:Techiwarehouse