Can you replace motherboards

For example, you might want to use an M. This is a very small format SSD which screws directly into your motherboard. But you'll need a motherboard which supports M. Or perhaps you want a computer which supports fast transfers via Thunderbolt 3, in which case you'll need a motherboard with Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. Finally, if you're looking to squeeze a bit more performance from your system, or you're just looking to learn, you might want to try overclocking your CPU.

To do this, you'll need not only an overclockable CPU, but also a motherboard which supports overclocking. To facilitate an upgrade, you'll need to match up your new hardware to your existing hardware -- or you can go buy a set of all new equipment. The most crucial bit is that the motherboard and CPU must match. You can use online sites like PC Part Picker, which is an invaluable resource for first-time PC builders , to check whether your parts are compatible with each other.

If it's not, you'll need to upgrade. Unfortunately, there isn't a workaround for this one, but you can write it off as a learning experience. The RAM's frequencies and voltage must also match up to the motherboard's desired range. To learn more about how to avoid bottlenecks, see our guide to how to pick the right components for building your next PC.

Georgina is a science and technology writer who lives in Berlin and has a PhD in psychology. When she's not writing she's usually to be found tinkering with her PC or riding her bicycle, and you can see more of her writing at georginatorbet.

For Faster CPUs. Switch cables—power and reset—are not polarized. You can connect them in either orientation, without worrying about which pin is signal and which ground. Most cases use a common wire color, usually black, for ground, and a colored wire for signal. Most cases provide one or two frontpanel USB 2. To route USB to the front panel, you must connect a cable from each frontpanel USB port to the corresponding internal connector. Figure shows the standard Intel pinouts for the internal front-panel USB connectors, which are also used by most other motherboard makers.

With such a case, connecting the front-panel USB ports is a simple matter of plugging that monolithic connector into the header pins on the motherboard. Unfortunately, some cases instead provide eight individual wires, each with a single connector. Figure shows Robert finally getting all eight individual wires connected to the proper pins. Yes, we know it looks as though Robert is sliding a single 4-pin connector onto the header pins, but trust us, those are four individual wires.

The best way Robert found to get all the wires connected properly was to clamp the four wires between his fingers aligned as a single connector and then slide the group of connectors onto the header pins. And the second group of four is much harder to get onto the pins than the first set.

Several of our tech reviewers are we the only ones who didn't think of this? Years ago, connecting an audio cable from the optical drive to the motherboard audio connector or sound card was an essential step, because systems used the analog audio delivered from the optical drive by that cable. If you didn't connect that cable, you didn't get audio from the drive. All recent optical drives and motherboards support digital audio, which is delivered across the bus rather than via a dedicated audio cable.

Few optical drives or motherboards include an analog audio cable nowadays, because one is seldom needed. The "Enable digital CD audio…" checkbox should be marked. If it is not, mark the checkbox to enable digital audio. Also, some older audio applications do not support digital audio, and so require an analog audio cable to be installed even if the system supports digital audio. We suggest that you install an audio cable only if needed. Otherwise, you can do without. The next step is to reconnect the drive data cables to the motherboard interfaces, as shown in Figure and Figure Make sure to connect each data cable to the proper interface.

See Chapters 7 and 8 for details. After you connect the drive data cables, don't just leave them flopping around loose. That not only looks amateurish, but can impede air flow and cause overheating. Tuck the cables neatly out of the way, using tape, cable ties, or tiewraps to secure them to the case. If necessary, temporarily disconnect the cables to route them around other cables and obstructions, and reconnect them once you have them positioned properly.

The next step is to reconnect the power connectors from the power supply to the motherboard. The Main ATX Power Connector is a pin or pin connector, usually located near the right front edge of the motherboard.

Locate the corresponding cable coming from the power supply, verify that the cable is aligned properly with the connector, and press the cable firmly until it seats fully, as shown in Figure The locking tab on the side of the connector should snap into place over the corresponding nub on the socket. A partially seated connector may cause subtle problems that are very difficult to troubleshoot. The power supply also has a 4-pin connector very similar to the ATX12V connector with matching tabs or rails that you can snap or slide into the pin connector, thus converting it to a pin connector.

I've seen people reject this kind of power supply because they don't understand how it works: either they need a pin power supply and the 4-pin connector is unlatched or they need a pin power supply and the 4-pin connector is latched. In either case, they don't figure out the combination mechanism, and so think the power supply is incompatible with their motherboard. Many recent motherboards are designed to accept the newer pin ATX Main Power Connector rather than the original pin version of that connector.

If the new motherboard is pin and your power supply is pin, you may be able to connect the pin cable to the pin motherboard, leaving the extra four pins unused.

If the motherboard has components too near the connector, the pin cable may not seat. In that case, buy an adapter cable that adapts the pin cable to fit the pin motherboard connector. Conversely, if the motherboard is pin and your power supply pin, the motherboard may require more current than the pin cable can provide. In that case, the motherboard will have a standard Molex hard drive power connector. After you connect the pin ATX Main Power Connector cable to the pin socket on the motherboard, connect one of the Molex hard drive power connectors from the power supply to the auxiliary power connector socket on the motherboard.

Failing to do this may cause boot failures or other problems. The ATX12V connector is keyed. Orient the cable connector properly relative to the motherboard connector, and press the cable connector into place until the plastic tab locks, as shown in Figure Failing to connect the ATX12V connector is one of the most common causes of initial boot failures on newly built Pentium 4 systems.

If nothing happens the first time you power up the system, chances are it's because you forgot to connect the ATX12V connector. To do so, align each adapter with the corresponding motherboard slot.

Make sure that any external connectors on the card bracket clear the edges of the slot. Carefully align the card with the slot and use both thumbs to press down firmly until it snaps into the slot, as shown in Figure When a newly built system fails to boot, the most common cause is that the video adapter is not fully seated.

Some combinations of adapter, case, and motherboard make it devilishly hard to install the adapter properly. It may seem that the adapter is fully seated. You may even hear it snap into place. That's no guarantee. Always verify that the card contacts have fully penetrated the slot, and that the base of the adapter is parallel to the slot and in full contact with it.

Many motherboards have a retaining bracket, visible in Figure as two brown tabs to the lower right of the heatsink. This bracket mates with a corresponding notch on the video adapter, snapping into place as the adapter is seated. If you need to remove the adapter later, remember to press those tabs to unlock the retaining bracket before you attempt to pull the card. After you are certain that the video adapter is fully seated, secure it by inserting a screw through the bracket into the chassis, as shown in Figure If the video card has an externally powered fan or requires an external power connection, make sure to connect a power cable to the video adapter before you move on to another task.

Install any other expansion cards in the same manner, making sure to connect any power or data cables they require before you start another step. At this point, the motherboard upgrade is nearly complete. Take a few minutes to double-check everything. Verify that all of the cables are connected properly and that there's nothing loose inside the case. We usually pick up the system and tilt it gently from side to side and then front to back to make sure there are no loose screws or other items that could cause a short.

Use the following checklist:. With the cooling systems, storage devices, and expansion cards removed, the computer case interior should provide enough moving space for unseating the CPU.

If you retained the CPU fan in Step 2, unplug its power connectors and unscrew it from the motherboard. Unseat the CPU from its socket by lifting the locking arm. The locking arm is typically a lever that spans the side of the CPU. Lift the CPU without touching and accidentally bending the pins on the socket. Once you separate the motherboard's primary components, disconnect all power connectors from the power supply unit.

Unlatch the pin main power connector and give it a gentle nudge while pulling on the cable head. Do the same if a four-pin volt power connector has an attached cable. Disconnect all remaining data cables, front panel connectors, LED lights, and main power and reset switches. After removing all connections, you can finally remove the motherboard from the computer case. To change motherboards completely, you have to install the new replacement board. We have a whole section discussing how to install a motherboard.

Check it out to complete the motherboard replacement process. If you'll use the same storage device that held your operating system before motherboard replacement, there is no need to reinstall Windows To make this possible, take a few steps before replacing your motherboard.

The challenging part is getting your operating system to work with your new motherboard after replacement. This task should be a breeze for owners of a Windows 10 Retail license. Microsoft designed Windows 10 Retail for reinstallation and reactivation using the same Microsoft Account.

Users of Windows 10 OEM may find it more challenging to re-activate the old existing OS, which may compel them to purchase a new product key. Once you learn how to replace motherboards, you would have learned how to set up a whole computer. Since all components attach to the motherboard, its replacement basically involves removing and reattaching everything.

Remember to always check for compatibility so that you can avoid wasting time assembling the wrong parts. We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Spread the love. Quick Navigation Reasons for Replacing a Motherboard. The Necessity for Faster Data Transfers. Can You Just Replace a Motherboard?

How to Replace Motherboards Step by Step. Reasons for Replacing a Motherboard Why would you want to replace a motherboard in the first place? Damaged Components When a motherboard or any of its components are damaged, then it might be time to hit the tech shelves and find a replacement.

Better Processor Some processor upgrades may require further improvements to your system. Better Expansion Options Another reason to change or replace your motherboard is if you need more or better expansion slots.

The Necessity for Faster Data Transfers Modern motherboards allow faster data transfers between hardware components and storage devices. PC Building Practice The best way to learn how to change a motherboard is through practice.

Exact Same Model If you replaced a motherboard with the exact same model as the existing one and did not alter any settings on the first one, nothing different happens upon reboot. Different Models There are so many motherboard models mixing up the various chipsets compatible with processors. Incompatible Models Using a new motherboard that is incompatible with your old hardware, especially the CPU, will result in startup malfunctions such as the renowned blue screen of death BSOD.