Computer Parts

[PaulMacC]

Hopefully the motherboard will fit in place, Im ordering the parts around 15th of May so yeah!
How would I go about installing these, the only thing I've ever installed in a PC was RAM lol

[N!ck]

Hopefully the motherboard will fit in place, Im ordering the parts around 15th of May so yeah!
How would I go about installing these, the only thing I've ever installed in a PC was RAM lol

Open your PC and have a look at where the screw holes are on your current motherboard. Here's some examples of where the holes are on m-ATX motherboards (they're all the same on standard ones).

http://xtremegears.files.wordpress.c...x58-t3h6_3.jpg
https://www.pcczone.com/media/catalo..._overhead2.jpg
https://www.pcczone.com/media/catalo...file_50_10.jpg

Also, make sure the back plate is removable. That's the bit with the red box around it in this image: http://uploadpicz.com/images/F9HDAYP.png It's just the metal bit that needs to come out, the ports themselves are part of the motherboard.

The best way to set it all up would involve formatting your hard drive and starting from fresh, but you probably don't want to do that. Here's how to do it without:

First, uninstall all divers from your computer relating to the motherboard. This includes things like the integrated graphics card drivers, sound drivers and chipset drivers.

Then turn the computer off and unplug it. Pull all cables out of the motherboard. Unscrew it and pull it out holding it by the heatsink. Pull the old backplate out (see above).

Put the new motherboard on top of the anti-static packaging it came in on a table. Whack the new processor in it - lift up the little lever and taking note of lining up the arrows so that you put it in the right way put the processor in making sure you don't bend the pins of skip a line of holes (I'd be pretty impressed if you managed to accidentally get it in the wrong way). Pull the little lever down to lock the processor in. Whack the heatsink & fan on top of it (it's pretty obvious how it goes on - put the metal bar of the heatsink on the relevant clips on the motherboard and pull the lever down to firmly attach it. I like to pick the whole thing up by the heatsink and give it a jiggle and shake to make sure it's on firmly. There should be no give in it as it should be a very tight fit. Make sure you plug the fan connector into the socket on the motherboard labled CPU_FAN or similar.

Then put the new RAM in like you have done previously - line it up the right way round and push it in until the plastic catches close on it and it makes a "click".

Now, from the old motherboard there should be standoffs already fitted inside the case where you screw the motherboard to - they look like this http://www.cybergooch.com/tutorials/...m/IMG_6805.jpg if there isn't any then that probably means your case is one that doesn't need any (ask someone if you don't find any standoffs under the old board).
Put the new backplate in and carefully lower the new motherboard in holding it by the heatsink. Line it up with the standoffs and the backplate. Screw it in. Connect all of the relevant cables - power, fans, hard drives, disk drives, USBs and importantly the power switch related cables (refer to the motherboard manual as to which cables should go where).

Turn on and install the new motherboard drivers.

[N!ck]

I can't edit, but I just remembered you're getting an Intel CPU and heatsink which fit differently to the AMD one which I just described. The CPU fitting is the same, but there's no pins to line up you just drop it in the hole making sure it lines up with the arrows and you hold it by the edges. The heatsink fits by a stupid, annoying method (IMO) which is difficult to explain - refer to the instructions carefully. You basically push the four corner pins into the holes until the butterfly opens on the back. And there's some twistio thing that I can't remember as I've not fitted an Intel heatsink for a while. It's a very snug/firm fit. Make sure you plug the fan into the motherboard.

[PaulMacC]

How do I install the new motherboard drivers, do they give you a CD to boot fro.
Sorry if I sound like a complete arse here.

[Recursion]

You would install Windows and then get the drivers off the internet, usually the LAN will work, if not then use a laptop or something and put the drivers onto a USB stick. The ones on the CD will be very out of date.

[PaulMacC]

Gulp, where do I get windows, I dont think I have my CD from ages ago O_o

[N!ck]

Gulp, where do I get windows, I dont think I have my CD from ages ago O_o

The way I have describe will use your previous installation of Windows, so wiping your hard drive is not necessary. The motherboard comes with a CD with all the drivers on so you install them from that.

The best way of doing it would involve wiping your hard drive and you would need a disk containing Windows to reinstall it.

[PaulMacC]

Will you method work too and is it easy-ish?

[Jordy]

When you change your mobo, you could just reinstall Windows but if you wish to continue with your current install you're going to have to get a new serial which will cost around £60-70 unless you find a way to bypass this.

[N!ck]

When you change your mobo, you could just reinstall Windows but if you wish to continue with your current install you're going to have to get a new serial which will cost around £60-70 unless you find a way to bypass this.

That's a good point as the installation by Dell will be using an OEM key and a new motherboard means it thinks it's installed on a different computer, so not a "genuine" version of Windows.

You can get around it be phoning Microsoft and telling them and they give you a key to make it genuine again.