How To Install A Motherboard & How To Remove A Motherboard

How to install a motherboard

Installing or removing a motherboard is not a difficult procedure, it could best be described as fiddly.

pc motherboard diagram

As long as you don’t rush and are properly prepared you should have no problems.

Before we begin the Install Procedure we shall firstly cover how to remove a motherboard for the benefit of anyone who is upgrading.

The tools we’ll need for the removal and installation of a motherboard are as follows..

• Phillips Screwdriver ( preferably magnetized, it’s much easier to put the screws in, and if any drop in side the case it’s very easy to get them )
• Flat bladed screw driver medium size
• Pair of long nose pliers
• Small pot , saucer etc to put screws in

To begin with always make sure the computer is unplugged from the mains supply.

Secondly when touching any electronic components always make sure you are earthed. Checkout our ESD article

How to install a motherboard article

To begin with remove the computers cover.
Trace the connections from the computers power supply to the motherboard.

There should be two connections ( one if it’s a Pentium 3 or older ) Unplug all devices such as DVD / CD , Hard Drive , Floppy Drive , all these devices will have a Data cable running to the motherboard and a Power cable running to the power supply.

Next remove the cables running from the case to the motherboard these include , the reset button , power led , power switch , hard drive led .

It’s worth making a note of what goes where.

If you or anyone else is going to use the motherboard in the future, plugging these cables in without any instructions can be a real pain.

Now use the Phillips screwdriver to remove any cards.

All of the cards should just pull out.

But sometimes the Graphics or PCIe/AGP port will have a small catch on the front of the connector, you just have to press this and then you’ll be able to pull out the card.

If you need to remove the RAM it’s just a case of simply pulling the motherboards RAM holders outwards, you’ll then be able to remove the memory.

Removing the processor , can be a little bit tricky , first you’ll have to remove the heatsink/fan , to do this unclip the fans power connector from the motherboard ,

Now press down the heatsink lock and use the flat bladed screwdriver to un-secure it from the motherboard

Now you just need to raise the Motherboards Processor locking arm , and you’ll be able to remove the processor.

Now everything has been removed from the motherboard it’s just a question of removing all of the screws holding it in.

Don’t forget to keep the screws in the small pot or saucer, to lose any means the new motherboard will not be properly secured or earthed.

Search for more on how to install a motherboard

computer adviser how to install a motherboard article