Hello,
I recently decided to get a new Motherboard and CPU, so I bought the i7 4790k and a Asus Sabertooth Mark 2. My previous CPU was a AMD FX-8120 with a OEM Motherboard from Acer (You can see why I wanted to upgrade) I went with intel because there are some old simulation games I have that hate AMD and work best on intel. I would like to know, step by step, how I would go about replacing the CPU and Motherboard?
I take it you are new to working with hardware yourself and the computer you have was pre-made or worked on by a friend?
Here's a video that's a complete guide to how to put a computer together, from scratch. At about 6 minutes he starts talking about putting the motherboard together and later in the video you see him put everything in the case. Just watch the parts you need to see what you need to unplug/unscrew and how to replace and reconnect what you need.
Depending on which version you're running, Windows will probably prompt you to reactivate. In which case you may have to call a number or re-enter your windows key - something to that affect.
I am not new to hardware, I have been building computers and repairing them for years (Its what I do for a job) I just have never replaced a Motherboard and CPU before and I want to know how would I replace it. Also, I have Windows 7 Ultimate.
While I kinda' find it hard to believe you've never replaced a MB & CPU if you work building/repairing computers for a living but anything is possible I guess. Assuming you know enough to shut the system down and remove the power cord from the box, you would start by removing both side covers of the case, remove any add-in cards like a video, sound, lan cards, unplug all the wiring going to the MB (power, SATA), remove the screws holding the board to the back plate/mounting tray, remove the MB, then remove the I/O shield from the back of the case.
Check your existing power supply to make sure it has the proper connectors for your new MB, I'll also assume you have installed the CPU, Heat sink/CPU Cooler and memory in your new MB, check the MB standoffs to make sure they are in the correct location for the new MB and also that there are no extra non-used standoffs in the way of the new MB.
Install the new I/O shield into the case, install the MB using the screws you removed holding the old MB, reconnect all the power connections to the MB from your PS, front panel header (the MB manual is your friend here) and the SATA data cables, reinstall any cards that will be reused ie video, lan, or sound, reconnect your power cord and peripherals like keyboard, mouse and monitor.
At this point it would be a smart thing to have already down loaded the newest motherboard/chipset/video drivers and have them ready on a USB thumb drive....Windows may also ask for it's installation media so have it ready also.
Push the power button and see what happens, if you don't let the smoke out of your MB and CPU and windows doesn't give you fits about authentication you just need to install the drivers, check that you have nothing tagged in the device manager that you might have missed, check the BIOS to make sure everything is detected and configured properly, then stress test the system for break-in and component failure assurance.
Wala!
1 Like
Thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for. I knew what to do hardware wise, software... not so much.
Your very Welcome....
The only thing I might add is since you have a Asus board there might be programs on the CD that came with the MB that you may want to install, but just don't use the drivers from the included CD they will be out of date although probably newer than the drivers that Win7 would have on it's install media, it's always a good to pre-plan and grab the newest drivers from the manufacturers website for the MB and any peripherals that are built on the board like LAN, audio and video.