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How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer


Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - inside of computer - locate front panel cablesToday it is easier than ever to change your computer's motherboard. In the past you needed to set the motherboard's dip switches and install the processor and fans. However, today's motherboards come assembled with the processor and fan. There is no need to set the dip switches. Basically, all you need to do today is inset the memory chip on the board.

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Total Time: 45 Minutes

Yield: 1 computer tower

Supplies:

Steps:

  1. Open the manual that is supplied with your motherboard and find the page that shows the front panel configuration.
  2. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - computer manual
     
  3. Locate the cables from the front panel. They are marked Power SW, Reset SW, GND Power LED, and H.D.D. LED.
  4. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - closeup of cable designations
     
  5. Locate the front panel pins on the motherboard. Follow the diagram in the manual to attach the front panel cables to the pins on the motherboard.
  6. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - locate front panel pins and attach cables
     
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  7. Attach the USB front panel cable to the pins on the motherboard. You will find the location in the manual. Afterwards attach the audio cable to the motherboard.
  8. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - attach USB front panel cable
     
  9. Inset the motherboard plate on the back of your computer. The plate holds the motherboard in place.
  10. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - insert motherboard plate on back of computer
     
  11. Place the motherboard inside the tower and inset the motherboard into the back plate. Make sure you have the board is properly placed inside the plate. You can tell if the board is in the correct position by the screw holes on the board. They need to line up with the screw pins on the bottom plate of your computer tower.
  12. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - insert motherboard into plate and make sure it is properly aligned
     
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  13. Screw the motherboard in place.
  14. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - screw motherboard in place
     
  15. Inset the power supply inside your computer tower. Line up the screws of the power supply. You will notice on the left side of the power supply, one screw hole is higher up than the rest. This belongs on the bottom of the power supply and will line up with the indentation on the left side of the computer tower. Afterwards, screw the power supply in place.
  16. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - insert the power supply
     
    How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - align the power supply and screw in place
     
    How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - power supply in place
     
  17. There are two cables that supply power to the motherboard. Locate these cables and attach them to your motherboard.
  18. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - attach power supply cable to motherboard
     
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  19. On the front of your computer tower inset your DVD drive into the slot. Slide it in from the front side until it clicks in place.
  20. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - insert DVD drive into front of computer
     
  21. Turn the computer tower around so you can see the trays that hold the DVD drive. Here you can align the drive with the holes in the tray. Screw the drive in place once it is aligned correctly.
  22. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - turn computer around and align DVD drive in tray and screw in place
     
  23. Inset your hard drive into the tray on the computer tower. The hard drive sits in the lower trays on the tower. Align the hard drive with the holes on the tray on the computer tower. Afterwards, screw the hard drive in place.
  24. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - insert hard drive into the tray
     
    How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - screw hard drive in place
     
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  25. Open the SATA cables that are supplied with your motherboard. Attach one SATA cable to the hard drive and the other SATA cable to the DVD drive.
  26. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - open package of SATA cables and attach to hard drive and DVD drive
     
  27. Attach the 2 SATA cables to the motherboard.
  28. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - attach SATA cables to motherboard
     
  29. Locate the 2 SATA power supply cables and attach one to the DVD drive and the other to the hard drive.
  30. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - locate SATA cables attached to motherboard then attach to hard drive and DVD drive
     
  31. Inset your memory chip into the slot on the motherboard. Press gently on the two ends of the chip until you hear it click into place.
  32. How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer  - insert memory chip
     
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  33. You are now ready to close the side panel on the computer tower. Plug in your power cable, keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Power on the computer and load your favorite operating system.

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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 523 Posts
August 9, 20170 found this helpful

I have replaced motherboards. I have upgraded RAM from 2GB to 8. I have swapped out DVD drives. I have replaced hard drives and power supplies and Internet and graphics cards.

But you know what? I never thought about building my own computer. Your very well written article has awakened me to the fact that, 'Hey, Doug, you could build your own computer and you didn't even know it!

Thanks, Poe. Wonderful article!

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
August 10, 20171 found this helpful

You are so welcome. Yes, many people don't realize how simple and easy it is today to build your own computer. You save a lot of money and you end up with a better machine.

 

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