How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer

poehere
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - inside of computer - locate front panel cables Today 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.

Total Time: 45 Minutes

Yield: 1 computer tower

Supplies:

1 empty computer tower
1 motherboard - all in one/with processor
1 memory chip - DDR3 4GB
1 DVD drive
1 hard drive
1 power supply

Steps:

Open the manual that is supplied with your motherboard and find the page that shows the front panel configuration.

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - computer manual

Locate the cables from the front panel. They are marked Power SW, Reset SW, GND Power LED, and H.D.D. LED.

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - closeup of cable designations

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.

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - locate front panel pins and attach cables

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.

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - attach USB front panel cable

Inset the motherboard plate on the back of your computer. The plate holds the motherboard in place.

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - insert motherboard plate on back of computer

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.

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - insert motherboard into plate and make sure it is properly aligned

Screw the motherboard in place.

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - screw motherboard in place

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.

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

There are two cables that supply power to the motherboard. Locate these cables and attach them to your motherboard.

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - attach power supply cable to motherboard

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.

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - insert DVD drive into front of computer

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.

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - turn computer around and align DVD drive in tray and screw in place

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.

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

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.

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - open package of SATA cables and attach to hard drive and DVD drive

Attach the 2 SATA cables to the motherboard.

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - attach SATA cables to motherboard

Locate the 2 SATA power supply cables and attach one to the DVD drive and the other to the hard drive.

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - locate SATA cables attached to motherboard then attach to hard drive and DVD drive

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.

How to Change Your Motherboard and Build a Computer - insert memory chip

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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likekinds
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!

poehere
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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