Stuff I need to change my motherboard

[Mise]

I'm replacing my motherboard. It's been a while since I've done this (last time I did it was on an Athlon 1800 XP) so I'm just wondering if anything's changed.

I figure I need that thermally pastey stuff (the stuff that goes between the CPU and the heatsink), since I'll need to detach the CPU from the mobo, which I'm guessing requires removing the heatsink.

It's a Intel Core 2 Duo 6320 if that makes any difference.

Aside from that, I don't think I need anything else, do I?

Cheers

 

[Cutlass]

If you are moving from an old AMD compatable to a new Core 2 mobo you will need new memory, probably a new video card (if one is not a part of the board, and possibly new hard drives because many new motherboards only support serial ATA which you would not have had on your old system.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

I think Mise meant that the last time the motherboard was replaced, it was for an old Athlon 1800.

If its the same socket, then you need to unclamp or unscrew the heatsink, pull up the retention clamp on the cpu (gingerly). Then, carefully lift the cpu out and wipe down the top of the heat spreader with a paper towel. Then, apply some new thermal paste, spread it evenly, place it into the new motherboard and reattach the heatsink.

So besides the thermal paste, you shouldnt need anything.

 

[Mise]

Sorry, I should have explained a bit better. I'll give you the full scoop...

I ditched my old computer (the Athlon 1800 XP) around October last year. I got a second hand computer, which was simply labelled "Intel C2D 1.8ghz", for a bargain price. It was, in fact, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor @ 1.86Ghz, but it was an HP "business" machine -- the motherboard didn't accept PCI-E graphics cards, even though it had a PCI-E slot in it. Now, I've been stuck with this thing for 6 months or so, with a brand new PCI-E gfx card inside it that doesn't work. I want to get rid of this mobo and replace it with one that I can actually play games on.

All the stuff inside it is suitable for the my processor / mobo requirements. I'm basically just taking the old mobo out, and putting a new one in (except that pretty much involves building the whole thing from scratch).

Am I right in saying that: I unplug the DVD drive, HD drive, Gfx card and Power supply, take them out of their bays if necessary, then "unhook" the heatsink and take it off, lift out the processor, unscrew the old mobo and replace it with the new mobo, put the processor back on, put the "thermally pastey" stuff on the back of the processor, slap the heatsink on and hook it into position, plug all the other stuff back in, sacrifice a virgin, and then turn it back on?

That's what I did last time, just wondering if things have moved on since then...

 

[Mise]

I think Mise meant that the last time the motherboard was replaced, it was for an old Athlon 1800.

If its the same socket, then you need to unclamp or unscrew the heatsink, pull up the retention clamp on the cpu (gingerly). Then, carefully lift the cpu out and wipe down the top of the heat spreader with a paper towel. Then, apply some new thermal paste, spread it evenly, place it into the new motherboard and reattach the heatsink.

So besides the thermal paste, you shouldnt need anything.

13 minute crosspost

Thanks stickciv, good to know that I don't have to learn anything new...

 

[Genocidicbunny]

You should probably remove the motherboard before removing the heatsink. I know a guy that damaged his motherboard when the backing plate for the heatsink fell and scratched the motherboard. Its not very likely, but don't risk it anyways.

Also: what do you mean the gfx card wouldnt work? Did you connect all the power cables to it? Is there enough power being supplied by the PSU for it?

 

[GVBN]

Also: what do you mean the gfx card wouldnt work? Did you connect all the power cables to it? Is there enough power being supplied by the PSU for it?

It was one of those PCI-E "extensions" that won't accept normal video cards

 

[Genocidicbunny]

What do you mean? All PCI-e are compatible with bigger slots and afaik, they only have one form factor...

 

[GoodGame]

If you haven't played with the Conroe style sockets, check out a video first as things are different then they were with the 478 sockets (no pins on chips, and the zero-force system is a little more complex).

There are two types of PCI-E, 16x and 1x. ;*).
And also apparently there are two revisions of the 16x, a 1 and a 2 version, though most likely if its not a brand new model its a version 1.

I usually leave the mother board in place. Steady hands!!!! :*) If you drop anything on the mobo, use tools that are demagnetized (buy a tool kit from a computer supplier) to pick it up gently.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

PCI-e v2 is backwards compatible with v1. There are actually 4 standard sockets for PCI-e as well: x16, x8, x4, and x1. If he has a x16 slot then any gfx card that size or smaller will fit.

 

[Mise]

RE: Gfx card:

It's a PCI-E 16x slot. The gfx card "fits" and is powered up etc. However, this particular motherboard was made by HP -- or at least the bios was -- and it will not accept ANY gfx card that isn't HP's own "ADD2" (or something like that) device.

I'm guessing it's because it's a "business" PC (i.e. to prevent people buying them wholesale and reselling them when they get thrown out, which I guess is what happened with me...).

 

[Shadylookin]

just throwing it out there but is it a possibility that you could flash the bios to one that will accept graphics cards?

installing the motherboard is pretty straightforward just make sure all the parts are compatible.

 

[ainwood]

RE: Gfx card:

It's a PCI-E 16x slot. The gfx card "fits" and is powered up etc. However, this particular motherboard was made by HP -- or at least the bios was -- and it will not accept ANY gfx card that isn't HP's own "ADD2" (or something like that) device.

I'm guessing it's because it's a "business" PC (i.e. to prevent people buying them wholesale and reselling them when they get thrown out, which I guess is what happened with me...).

IS there a bios update you can apply?

 

[Mise]

I've googled, and I can't find one. I'm pretty sure they just don't support any other cards in that slot. It's not a popular, mainstream machine - it's a business pc, so the support is purely geared towards businessy stuff. If it was a "home" pc, I'm sure there'd be enough complaints to get them to release a bios update to that effect.

 

[GoodGame]

I'd suggest researching a new mobo based on the form factor of the old one.
Picked one out yet? I'd suggest Asus or Gigabyte.