replacing a pc motherboard help?

Question

i think my intel penium 4 motherboard has died and i just want to replace it instead of buying a new computer. there is a great deal for a pentium core duo motherboard at frye's; how can i tell if it will fit in the pc case? would all the screw holes line up? thanks for any helps

Answer 1

Take the case off and haul it into "frye's". There ask your question.
I don't think you have any worry...at worst you would have to get another case but still be ahead of buying a new puter. Might want to do some checking as some geeks I hear aren't all that crazy about Intel pentium....Acer might be an alternative but I don't keep up on the magazines or chat groups recent recommendations.

I will offer I won't do biz with Dell Computer ever again.

Answer 2

Most motherboards you see on sale will adhere to what is called the "ATX Form Factor". This is a standard for building hardware and computer cases that is so very widely adopted it's not even funny, most PCs will use this. Apples do not (at least not the last time I checked). Laptops also, do not. There is another similar structure called "Micro ATX" which is smaller and will not fit in your computer.

But so long as its an ATX motherboard it will fit perfectly. This will include about 99% of the motherboards you look at. Sometimes screwholes are missing if they are not needed. But the ones that are will always line up.

Check on ebay for good prices on motherboards. I buy computer stuff off there all teh friggin time and I've never had any real issues with anything I've bought. Most components arrive in their original packaging, as new.

When installing your new motherboard be very careful not to scratch anything. Every little capcitator and 'line' has a purpose and if you scratch it you may as well throw it away. This is especially important to stress over when putting your heatsink on your cpu, as this is when most scratches are likely to occur if the thing is hard to get on.

If hard drives and stuff seem like they're not working properly, check to make sure the cables aren't upside down or back to front.

Answer 3

Well first off i hope the new board you plan to get is the same socket as your current processor ... Second just get a tape measure if your unsure and measure your motherboard, if its around 12 inches long x 9.6 inches wide it's Atx and just get a Atx motherboard and the holes should all line up..
as long as your case isn't like some Dells i've seen where the motherboard is clipped in and not screwed in you should be fine.

Answer 4

On the very minimum you'll must do a restore installation of windows. Possibilities are that your present windows install won't even boot after you change the motherboard until you do a repair installation. If the repair set up works, you then will have to still have all your purposes and data intact. Worst case is that you will have to reformat your hard power and thoroughly reinstall windows. If so, you lose the whole lot you have not backed up until now. Oh, The LGA775 is not your chipset. That is the socket design of your processor. To your case, the I975X is your chipset.

Answer 5

There's a bit more to consider besides the "form factor" (ATX vs. others). You need to also make sure your hard drives will match up with the new motherboard. If you have SATA hard drives and you buy a motherboard without SATA ports, you will have to buy a separate controller card. Also, if you have a special controller port on your motherboard for your video card (AGP), your new motherboard may not support the AGP type card slots and only support PCI or PCI Express. In this case, you would need a new video card.

If you take your current motherboard in with you and ask them, they are more than qualified to tell you whether a specific motherboard will suit your requirements.

Good luck! =-]

Answer 6

Hi If you have a normal tower case the new motherboard should fit ok. Motherboards come in different sizes so you may have to move the pegs on the base plate to line up with the new motherboard
Make sure you get a motherboard that your processor and memory will fit in

Go to my website help pages this might help you out
http://www.geocities.com/[e-mail]/index.html

Help page 1 is fitting a motherboard

good luck

Answer 7

Usually the form factor of same processors is the same. Just in case confirm it with the vendor. Well with your processor you get manual how you install it on the motherboard. Also if you have done it before, you know its not a tough task till you don't bend processor pins. Also to replace ram. put pressure on the side locks. This releases the lock. Now look at the notch at the ram and the slot on the mainboard. Now just place it in the slot and apply pressure until the locks on the side are set. For replacing other cards,etc. are nothing just push in types. Hope you do flow in this. For particular problem please post specific question for step wise solution.

Answer 8

on the very minimum you could ought to do a restore installation of abode windows. danger is that your modern abode windows set up received't even boot when you replace the motherboard till you do a restore installation. If the restore installation works, then you actually ought to nevertheless have all of your applications and records intact. Worst case is that you'll ought to reformat your problematic stress and thoroughly reinstall abode windows. if so, you lose each little thing you've not subsidized up before. Oh, The LGA775 isn't your chipset. it somewhat is the socket layout of your processor. on your case, the I975X is your chipset.

Answer 9

Look in your old motherboard's manual too see the "format factor" of your actual motherboard's format. Then compare it with the format factor of the motherboard you want to buy.
If the one you want to buy is such a great deal, it might be worth the work to make a few cuts and holes in your case to fit the MB in it... ;-)

Answer 10

if the current pc you have is a manufactured pc like dell, emachines, hp etc. then it will not fit, atx case=atx motherboard