The best way to Change Your Motherboard on PC

Altering a motherboard is a frightening job and requires extra superior data. By swapping a motherboard, you’ll have to disconnect and reconnect all the opposite {hardware} parts. It’s no good to take the previous motherboard out in case you don’t know learn how to set up a brand new one. 

This information will present you a step-by-step resolution to interchange your present motherboard with a brand new one safely and in a fast method. One can find each learn how to take away and set up a brand new motherboard.

Additionally, you will study what preparations you want and learn how to keep away from the most typical errors to forestall injury to your {hardware} elements, so ensure to not skip any steps.

Preparations Earlier than You Change a Motherboard

Just a few key issues to notice earlier than you disassemble your PC are:

The best way to Take away a Motherboard?

Earlier than we begin, please be aware that there are literally thousands of completely different motherboards, so the precise steps may fluctuate barely; nevertheless, you possibly can apply all of those steps for many motherboards.

Detach Exterior Cables From Your PC

The very first thing is to close down your PC and take away any related cables from shows, peripherals, or the web. 

Open the Aspect Panels

Each laptop case ought to have two aspect panels. You have to take away each earlier than altering out the motherboard. 

Take away any screws holding the aspect panel on the again aspect of your PC. After completed, the aspect panels ought to slide off from the steel slide-on locks (In case you aren’t certain the way it’s completed, we have now a separate information on opening the PC case).

An vital be aware right here is that you simply may need to clear your PC from mud earlier than putting in your new motherboard. We have now a separate detailed information on PC cleansing.

Detach All Cables From the Motherboard

Maintain on, cease first. Guarantee to floor your self by touching your steel PC case! I discovered that static electrical energy may very well be unlucky after it fried my costly model new GPU.

Disconnect any cables related to your motherboard, and transfer them apart. Preserve them related to your energy provide in case you aren’t certain the place they need to match into your PSU. 

Take away Your RAM 

Take away any RAM sticks current in your motherboard by unlocking them from the highest and backside plastic holders and gently pull them out. In case you face any important resistance, double-check if each the highest and the underside RAM locks are opened. 

Take away Your CPU Cooler and CPU

When swapping out motherboards, it’s essential take away the CPU and the CPU cooler. Begin by unscrewing the 4 cooler screws or disabling the aspect levers of your cooler and take away the cooler. 

After the cooler is eliminated, fastidiously take away your CPU chip by pulling it outward. Be extraordinarily cautious to not injury or bend the CPU pins once you take away them.

In case you are not sure learn how to take away your CPU cooler, we have now a separate detailed article.

After your CPU is eliminated, it’s essential clear the previous thermal paste. To take action, please use a really delicate microfiber fabric.

Then gently rub any previous thermal paste off utilizing a round movement. You’ll then must reapply the brand new thermal paste on high of your CPU earlier than putting in your CPU and its cooler onto the brand new motherboard.

Take away Your Video Card From the Motherboard

Be sure that any energy cables are disconnected out of your GPU, after which gently pull it out by holding it on the cooler. After the GPU is faraway from the motherboard, please take away any extra {hardware} elements resembling NVME SSDs, sound playing cards, and many others., from the motherboard’s backside slots.

Take away any followers that may hinder the elimination of your motherboard

In case your case is smaller or you have got customized cooler followers, they may bodily block your motherboard from getting eliminated. 

All it’s essential do to take away them is to unscrew them from the PC case and disconnect them from the motherboard’s fan energy ports.

Take away All Screws Holding the Motherboard to Your PC Case

Motherboards are normally held by about 4 screws positioned across the corners, so take away any screws that maintain them in place. 

By no means use energy instruments as they may injury the fragile silicone coating or destroy the screw mounts. Use a easy hand-held Philips-style screwdriver as an alternative.

Take away the Previous Motherboard From Your PC Case

In case you’ve accomplished all of the earlier steps, it’s time to take away the previous motherboard. It should not have any related parts that you simply received’t want to reuse. 

Change the Again Aspect I/O Panel With a New One

Each motherboard comes with an I/O again panel for all of the ports. It’s a small flat steel piece with cutouts for various cable ports and is normally sq. in form. You have to take away it since your new motherboard most likely used a special type and isn’t appropriate with the previous I/O steel cutout.

Some I/O panels are held by screws, others merely pop in through latches. So do no matter it’s essential take away the previous I/O steel cutout.

After eradicating the previous I/O panel, it’s essential set up the brand new one equivalent to the motherboard that you’re putting in. Be sure that the course of the brand new I/O panel is dealing with the right method up. Bolt it again on or snap

The best way to Set up a New Motherboard?

Putting in a brand new motherboard is nearly the very same course of however in reverse. Nevertheless, there are a couple of adjustments, so guarantee to learn up. Putting in each cable and half is definitely a lot tougher than simply disassembling it.

Set up the RAM Again to Your New Motherboard

Earlier than you rush to bolt your motherboard again into place, simply put it on high of the field it got here with and set up a couple of parts first.

Begin off by inserting the RAM into the brand new motherboard slots. Be sure that they’re dealing with the best course and that the RAM sort is appropriate along with your motherboard. They need to snap firmly in place and shouldn’t have any play.

Please reference your motherboard producer to verify which slots the RAM sticks have to go. You probably have two or one RAM stick and 4 or 6 attainable RAM slots, placing the RAM within the mistaken spot will end in your PC not booting. Save your self the headache and discover the right data beforehand, obtainable in your motherboard’s instruction guide.

Set up the CPU to Your New Motherboard

Right here is  the right solution to set up your CPU: 

• All new motherboards include a CPU plastic socket cowl. To take away it, undo the steel aspect lever that holds the CPU in place and take the plastic half out. 
• After eradicating the duvet, take your CPU and examine the 2 notches on their sides. They may point out which method the CPU suits into the motherboard. Don’t simply attempt to power it in place with strain, as this can completely injury the motherboards and CPU’s pins. 

Gently place the CPU into the socket; you possibly can flippantly shake it as soon as inside it to see if it’s snapped in.
Push the steel retention bracket and put the spring-loaded arm lock again as a replacement.

Set up Your CPU Cooler on High of the Motherboard

Earlier than you place your CPU cooler on high, please add a brand new layer of thermal paste in order that your CPU doesn’t attain the solar’s floor temperature!

• All CPU coolers must be held in place with a steel brace on the again aspect of the motherboard. 
• Put the screws contained in the CPU cooler retention backplate, put it onto the motherboard with its 4 screws, and put the CPU cooler on high. 

Gently tighten the screws of the cooler in a diagonal sample, ranging from the highest left > backside proper > high proper > backside left. By no means over-tighten them since it may injury the motherboard. Use a hand-held screwdriver to really feel when the strain is good.

Put the New I/O Steel Defend on the Again Aspect of Your PC Case

This step is self-explanatory; simply guarantee it’s dealing with the best method up. And don’t panic in case you don’t have a separate I/O defend; some motherboards have the I/O defend built-in and should not separate. 

And sure, you should utilize some power right here, as new I/O shields take a little bit of oomph to snap in place. 

Begin Connecting All Your Previous Parts Again

Begin along with your GPU because it’s the best. As soon as it snaps in place, join it to any exterior energy cables out of your PSU if relevant. 

• This subsequent step is the place most individuals get mistaken; you need to reconnect all of the completely different energy cables, onerous drive cables, and CPU fan cables again to the motherboard. 
• Your motherboard could have two bigger 8 and 24 pin slots – they’re for the PSU’s energy cables 
• The CPU fan energy slot is normally proper subsequent to the CPU socket.
• The PCI-E slots are normally underneath the CPU, and the SATA ports are to the best or backside aspect of the motherboard.

Please learn your motherboard’s guide fastidiously to make sure that precisely the place you’re inserting each cable. In case your SSD or HDD shouldn’t be accurately related to each the motherboard and the PSU, it merely received’t work, and your PC received’t boot.

Earlier than You Set up the Aspect Panels, Take a look at Your PC 

That is the scary second of fact! Earlier than you go on to bolt your aspect panels again in your PC case, please verify if the PC begins.

Your PC ought to boot up simply fantastic when you’ve got adopted all of the previous steps diligently. If it doesn’t, don’t fear; double-check each single connection and cable to the motherboard. See if all cables are snapped in place and never unfastened and within the correct slots. Test if the followers on the case, CPU, PSU, and GPU are spinning.

Congratulations, you’ve now accomplished probably the most complicated improve on any PC!

Take a look at All Your PC’s Parts and Set up the Newest Drivers

After a profitable PC boot and startup, it’s best to verify for any driver updates. A brand new motherboard wants completely different drivers than your previous one, and compatibility is crucial for stability and efficiency. Fortunately for you, we have already got an in-depth information on learn how to replace your drivers right here. 

Continuously Requested Questions

My Laptop Received’t Boot After Putting in a New Motherboard

Wait, in spite of everything this work, you place every part again up, and it received’t work? Don’t fear, and it’s almost definitely a unfastened cable. 

The very first thing to do is undergo your new motherboard’s guide and double-check if each connecting cable is in the best slot. Generally SATA or 8-pin slots that aren’t accurately “clicked” in place received’t work. 

In case you nonetheless don’t get your PC besides after this, begin by making an attempt out a special boot drive, then verify if the GPU is giving a sign to your show.

The second most typical motive why your PC received’t boot after a brand new motherboard is because of previous drivers. You have to go into your PC’s BIOS and manually set up the newest drivers to resolve this situation. In case you are unsure how to do that, we have now a couple of separate articles on updating your BIOS.