How to Install a Motherboard on a PC

As the technology and capabilities of computers continue to expand, there are times when you want to increase your current computer's capabilities but don't want to buy a complete new system. The practice of installing newer parts and peripherals is a much easier and inexpensive way to upgrade the system slowly. One of the most important things to upgrade is the motherboard.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Phillips screwdriver

1. Remove the old motherboard from the computer case. To perform this you will need to remove all the cables attached to the motherboard, remove all expansion cards, main processor and memory. Once you have removed the old motherboard, you are ready to install the new motherboard.
2. Touch a grounded piece of bare metal on the computer case to discharge any static electricity that might damage or destroy the motherboard or other components that you will be handling.
3. Position the new motherboard roughly where you will install it into the case. Take care not to touch the motherboard with the actual case. Note where the mounting screws are and ensure that there is a metal standoff stud installed at each of these points in the case.
4. Place the motherboard onto the standoffs and screw down the motherboard securely. The mounting screws are typically Phillips head screws.
5. Lift the metal or plastic latch on the main processor socket and install the processor chip. Carefully align the pins with the holes in the socket. The processor should settle into the socket securely. Make sure you have oriented the processor so that the rows of pins with an angled corner align with the corner of the socket that also has the corner void of pins.
6. Place the memory boards into the sockets on your motherboard. Pay special attention to the orientation and the specifications of the boards that you are installing. Not all memory boards are upward compatible with newer motherboards.
7. Install the connectors for the disk drives in the sockets or headers provided on the motherboard for them. There are different sets of headers or sockets for different drives and you will find these labeled on the motherboard.
8. Connect the many small-socketed wires to the appropriate header pins on the motherboard. You will want to refer to your manual for the motherboard to make sure you know what each set of wires is for and where the appropriate headers are on the board.
9. Install the expansion boards back into the new motherboard. Make sure you place them in the correct type of expansion slot of the new motherboard. There are three basic types of slots: AGP, PCI, and ISA. They are not interchangeable.
10. Connect the main power cords to the block of connectors on the motherboard. These are usually a bundle of many wires located near the power supply and connect onto the motherboard at the largest white connectors.

Tips & Warnings

• When choosing a new motherboard be sure to check the number and type of expansion slots that the board has. Take inventory of the cards that you currently have and which you will need to buy for the new board.

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