How to Upgrade a Motherboard

Motherboards hold all the pieces that make up your computer. It supplies all the wiring and connections needed to make your computer run. However, you may feel that need to upgrade or replace your motherboard.

Before anything can be done, you need to be absolutely sure that you have to upgrade your motherboard. As a stand-alone part, motherboards are probably the part that would least likely need an upgrade. Some reasons for having to upgrade would be:

• Not enough space for an adequate amount of RAM
• No slot for an adequate graphics card
• Damage to the actual motherboard

You then need to decide whether you want to keep the current parts of your computer, or buy completely new ones along with your motherboard.

Keeping the Same Parts

If you want to keep the same parts in you computer after purchasing a new motherboard, you need to start by looking at the parts you already have. In this way, you need to look for a motherboard that is compatible with your existing computer parts. This is essential because you do not want to buy a motherboard that is not compatible with any of the parts you already have.

You may not know what parts your computer consists of. To find this out:

• Right click on 'My Computer'
• Go to Properties
• Go under Hardware
• Click Device Manager

You can now see all the parts that your computer has. Remember to write these down for future reference.

After doing this, you can start looking for a motherboard. Sites such as Newegg are a great way to compare and contrast different models.

When looking for a motherboard, make sure that it has the following:

• Enough RAM slots
• A PCI slot that is compatible with your graphics card
• A CPU Socket that is compatible with your CPU
• Enough USB drives to comfortably fit everything you may want to plug in
• Optional: Onboard sound to save some money and have a spare PCI slot

Once you have chosen a motherboard, be sure 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.

All the parts that you choose must be based from your motherboard. Each part must be compatible with the motherboard you choose in order for your computer to run.

When buying a brand new motherboard, look for:

• Enough RAM slots
• A PCI Express slot for a good graphics card
• A widely accepted CPU slot to increase your CPU model options
• Optional: Onboard sound

Once you have purchased your motherboard, you are ready to install it.

Taking out the Motherboard

You will need just a screwdriver for the entire process

1. First, disconnect all the wires behind your computer
2. Start by taking out the largest wire that connects the power supply to the motherboard
3. Move onto the smaller wires that are used for processes such as LED, Power Switch and Reset Button
4. Take the larger ones out next: the wires running from the read/write drive and hard drive.
5. Open the case – you may need to use a screwdriver for this.
6. 'Ground' yourself by touching the large metal bar across the computer towards the top. Static electricity can completely destroy parts. Doing this gets rid of the static electricity in your body.
7. Start by taking off all the wires that are connected into the motherboard. You can move these wires to the side.
8. The graphics card is located towards the bottom of the motherboard. There will most likely be a switch or latch where the graphics card extends to the back of the computer. Lift or switch this latch.
9. Very gently, begin by pulling up the end of the graphics card is closest to the back of the computer. This side should lift up.
10. 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.
11. You now have to take off the heat sink and fan located on the CPU.
12. Detach the wire from the heat sink and fan from the motherboard.
13. 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.
14. You now need to take out the actual motherboard.
15. 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.
16. Once you have the motherboard out, you need to take off the RAM and actual CPU.
17. Lift the metal latch located above the CPU socket.
18. Gently lift the CPU up and off the motherboard. You may need to move it from side to side a little to loosen it.
19. 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 latch.
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.

Remember:

In doubt, always refer to the motherboard manual.

Testing the new Motherboard

After installing your new motherboard, you are ready to test it out. Reconnect all the wires you had into their respective slots on the back panel.

Turn the computer on. If you hear a beep, that is the sound of the motherboard detecting the hard drive. This is perfectly normal.

Changing your motherboard should not result in any major changes to the software on your computer. Make sure that everything still runs smoothly.