How to Replace IBM Computer Motherboards

The motherboard is a computer's nervous system.

Depending on when your IBM computer was made, the interior might be simple--or very complicated--to take apart. Dismounting the motherboard is the simplest task. To reach it, however, you will have to remove other components that get in the way, such as power supplies, cables and hard drives that stick out too much. Additionally, IBM computers from the early to late 1990s have structures such as mounting bars that were designed to discourage access to the computer's insides. However, these aren't impossible to remove.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver

Instructions

Opening the Case

1. Disconnect all the cables from the computer before starting.

2. Using a screwdriver, unscrew the back screws near the side of the case opposite to where the cable connectors are (where you connect the mouse and keyboard, among other things).

3. Store the screws in a safe place--they are very easy to lose.

4. Carefully slide the side panel out, putting one hand on the surface of the side panel and another hand on the edge. You might have to lift the side panel off the case to remove it after it slides slightly.

Extra Steps for Old IBM Machines

1. Unscrew the sides of the safety bar, which sits in the front of the interior as an obstacle to reaching the motherboard.

2. Remove the hard-drive bay in front of the motherboard by unscrewing both sides of it. You do not have to remove the hard-drive bay if it doesn't rest on top of the motherboard. Some later models do not have this obstacle.

3. Remove the plastic CPU fan case by unscrewing it from the side of the computer. Again, some later models do not have this, but it is essential that you remove it if you find one.

Dismounting the Motherboard

1. Remove the power supply by unscrewing it from the rear of your computer. (It is the box with the big fan sticking out the back of the computer tower and is usually on the upper-rear corner of the tower.) On older IBM models, you also might have to unscrew a mounting bar from the side of the power supply and remove it as well.

2. Disconnect all cables from the power supply leading into the computer, especially those on the motherboard.

3. Disconnect all IDE cables from the motherboard. These flat, thick cables are the only such cables in your computer.

4. Remove all peripheral components from the interior, including PCI and Legacy cards. Basically, all cards attached to the motherboard leading to the back of the computer must be unscrewed and removed. Remove the RAM as well if you plan to use the same RAM on your new motherboard.

5. Dismount the motherboard, unscrewing all the small screws on the circuit board leading down to the base of the case. This might take a while with certain screws; don't use too much force.

6. Mount your new motherboard, reversing the process you used to dismount the old one. Make sure the new one is screwed tightly to the computer, or else you will end up with a shaky motherboard. You do not have to screw a screw into every mounting hole, but it's a good idea to make sure the four edges of the motherboard are well mounted.

7. Place all peripheral components back onto the new motherboard and reconnect everything the way it was. In most cases, if you are reassembling an old IBM computer, it won't be necessary to remount the safety bar. This is just an obstacle that will get in your way every time you perform maintenance on your computer.

8. Place the case cover back on the computer and connect all the cables that went onto the back panel. Restart your computer.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you get a motherboard with the same CPU socket type as the old one--unless you plan on using a new CPU or your new motherboard came with its own CPU.

References

• Foner Books: Replacing a Motherboard