If you have to replace your motherboard, how do you know it will be compatible w/ other devices?

Question

Someone was talking about it. And I didn't know the answer.

Answer 1

First off, are you replacing just your motherboard or are you replacing your RAM and processor as well? If not you'll have to check if the new motherboard supports that type of RAM or that processor (If the motherboard is at least a year old its very unlikely).

Also you have to check if your new motherboard has enough of the required expansion slots for your add-ons such as video card, sound card, network interface card, etc.

Another thing you need to check is the compatibility of the hard drive(s) most older ones use ATA (otherwise known as IDE or EIDE) but the newer ones generally use SATA. Your motherboard is more likely than not to support an older hard drive.

Answer 2

most devices will be compatible with just about any motherboard unless you've got some real legacy old school hardware. If you're still not sure, research the specific motherboard you're looking at buying. a technical site that I've used for that purpose more than once is tom's hardware (I think it's called that, it's been a while since I was in a situation where I was replacing hardware and researching it)

Answer 3

The answer is are you going to upgrade or stay the same? If upgradeing will you use a motherboard with a faster chip,a cpu or faster ram? Do you want to use a sata drive? and next make a list of all your componets and look on the web site of the mother board to see it it will support what you have. Remeber to go faster everything justabout has to change except the harddrive and the audio card.

Answer 4

it depends on What is Your Existing MotherBoard ...

But if u go for replacing to a Latest Version then i think it would be better to even part away with ur CPU/RAM and HDD with a C2D set