Any potential problems with replacing a motherboard?

ColBackAgain

The title is basically my question,

Should I expect any problems when replacing the Motherboard on my machine?

I have a fairly specced out machine, that was BOUGHT from PC world and Ive been adding and removing parts as I see fit. (mainly case, gpu, psu, drives etc)

I don't run the original version of windows, as I got a better copy from college for free and I am using a separate hard drive to the original hard drive.

I am not completely up to scratch on motherboards, especially from pre-built machines. I know OEM versions of windows are like paired to a specific motherboard, or something?

Basically, will there be a problem replacing an matx motherboard from a pre-built machine, with a better motherboard?

Is there any problem with just moving the CPU and RAM over to the new motherboard? (assuming the socket for the CPU is the right one).

Or are they 'paired' to that motherboard or anything, by the manufacturer?

It's a foxconn motherboard, intel core i7 2600 cpu (not the 2600k! if that matters, as I know the 'K' series are unlocked for OC'ing) and some generic 8gb ddr3 ram.

Apologies if this sounds dumb, but I don't want to buy a motherboard to find out I can't use it. I'm only getting into PC hardware lately and this is probably the biggest part ill have swapped out now, so I want to make sure it's right.

Tea_Bag

what license is your windows?

you'll need to reinstall windows and drivers again, but that's about it.

Skill Magill

Tea_Bag wrote: »

you'll need to reinstall windows and drivers again, but that's about it.

Don't forget the backplate:)

ColBackAgain

Tea_Bag wrote: »

what license is your windows?

you'll need to reinstall windows and drivers again, but that's about it.

Ah grand. No it's a dreamspark version of windows pro. I plan on reinstalling soon anyway. But I ment the CPU isn't tied to the motherboard or anything right?

And one more question. I've 2 4gb sticks of RAM. If the new mobo has 4 slots, is there specific ones I should populate.

challengemaster

Tea_Bag wrote: »

you'll need to reinstall windows and drivers again, but that's about it.

Funnily enough, the most stable Win XP I ever had was swapped between 3 or 4 different builds and I never reinstalled. Never even properly removed old drivers. The funniest thing was, it never, never BSOD'd :pac:

ColBackAgain wrote: »

Ah grand. No it's a dreamspark version of windows pro. I plan on reinstalling soon anyway. But I ment the CPU isn't tied to the motherboard or anything right?

And one more question. I've 2 4gb sticks of RAM. If the new mobo has 4 slots, is there specific ones I should populate.

Nah, as long as the CPU and Mobo are the same socket (LGA1155) then there's no compatibility issues.

As for RAM - look at the guide that comes with the new motherboard. It'll tell you which slots are paired for dual channel. Mostly they're also colour coded too, though.

(also, how did you grab the dreamspark version?)

ColBackAgain

challengemaster wrote: »

Funnily enough, the most stable Win XP I ever had was swapped between 3 or 4 different builds and I never reinstalled. Never even properly removed old drivers. The funniest thing was, it never, never BSOD'd :pac:



Nah, as long as the CPU and Mobo are the same socket (LGA1155) then there's no compatibility issues.

As for RAM - look at the guide that comes with the new motherboard. It'll tell you which slots are paired for dual channel. Mostly they're also colour coded too, though.

[SIZE="1"](also, how did you grab the dreamspark version?)[/SIZE]

Dcu school of computing. We get all the free software for 'educational' purposes.

glynf

eoing1 wrote: »

Don't forget the backplate:)

+1, find out what your existing m.boards form factor is, mounting studs should match up if you replace like with like.

Also check the PSU has the correct 4 & 4/8 pin motherboard power connectors to match your new m.board. Though as its a 2600 it should have an 8 pin anyway.

ColBackAgain

glynf wrote: »

+1, find out what your existing m.boards form factor is, mounting studs should match up if you replace like with like.

Also check the PSU has the correct 4 & 4/8 pin motherboard power connectors to match your new m.board. Though as its a 2600 it should have an 8 pin anyway.

8pin? As in 8 pin power connector? It has a 4pin and 24pin

glynf

Yeah most modern ATX boards have a 24 pin as well an 8 pin 12V connector for the CPU. Depends on what PSU you have (has it a second 4 pin CPU you can use & what wattage is it), a 4 pin supplies 75W max and I think the i5 2600 is over 150W on load. If it was me I would get a new PSU as OEM PSU's would not be as reliable/well built as even a basic separates one.

ColBackAgain

glynf wrote: »

Yeah most modern ATX boards have a 24 pin as well an 8 pin 12V connector for the CPU. Depends on what PSU you have (has it a second 4 pin CPU you can use & what wattage is it), a 4 pin supplies 75W max and I think the i5 2600 is over 150W on load. If it was me I would get a new PSU as OEM PSU's would not be as reliable/well built as even a basic separates one.

No i mean my motherboard has a 4pin. not an 8 pin. It's an matx board.
I have an xfx psu with a 4+4pin. But I only use one 4 pin. Bought a new motherboard though and that has an 8pin.

One more question, my new motherboard that I bought says ram runningf at 1600mhz is ivy bridge compatible only and 1333mhz or less is sandybridge. but i got a good deal on some 1600mhz vengence ram. My CPU is sandybridge, is there going to be a problem with the 1600mhz? or will id downclock to 1333mhz?

glynf

Ah OK, missed the bit about you upgrading the PSU.


Sandy Bridge's memory speed is 1333MHz, which is the maximum speed you will get with JEDEC settings. To get 1600Mhz or higher you will have to use an XMP profile in the BIOS to 'overclock' the memory.

If the RAM is 1600mhz and the motherboard supports 1600mhz and extended memory profiles it will work regardless of the fact it is a Sandybridge CPU.

ColBackAgain

glynf wrote: »

Ah OK, missed the bit about you upgrading the PSU.


Sandy Bridge's memory speed is 1333MHz, which is the maximum speed you will get with JEDEC settings. To get 1600Mhz or higher you will have to use an XMP profile in the BIOS to 'overclock' the memory.

If the RAM is 1600mhz and the motherboard supports 1600mhz and extended memory profiles it will work regardless of the fact it is a Sandybridge CPU.

Well the spec says:

**DDR3 1600 with Intel® Ivy Bridge CPU, DDR3 1333 with Intel® Sandy Bridge CPU.

***DDR3 2200(OC) is only supported with Intel® Core™ i7 3770K.

But the vengence ram is 1600mhz. Basically i'm just wondering if it will be usable when I do go to boot the machine, or will the motherboard just refuse to detect it? Like it's not a huge deal if it runs below 1600mhz, but i just don't want it to be completely unusable.

glynf

What m.board is it-can you post a link? It will default to 1333mhz with Sandybridge, but chances are the motherboards BIOS will have XMP profiles so you should easily be able to get the RAM to run at 1600. The real world difference is negligible anyway.

ColBackAgain

glynf wrote: »

What m.board is it-can you post a link? It will default to 1333mhz with Sandybridge, but chances are the motherboards BIOS will have XMP profiles so you should easily be able to get the RAM to run at 1600. The real world difference is negligible anyway.

there you go

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/B75M/?cat=Specifications

glynf

Under Memory:

'Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) 1.3 / 1.2'

So default speed Core i72600 will use 1333mhz, once you set up the XMP profile for your RAM 1600mhz is no problem.

ColBackAgain

Ah grand cheers for that. I have one on the way, so i'll post if there is any problems.

Rather than starting a new thread, may as well ask here.
The new motherboard is b75 chipset. (no idea what that means) but it says it supports 6 sata ports.
My motherboard comes with 5xsata2 and 3xsata3. How does that make sense, if only 6 are supported? Does that mean I can only use 6 at once?

glynf

No probs. Most boards support 6 SATA ports, some have 8 or 10-think anything over 6 ports usually requires a separate SATA controller chip. B75 supports 6 SATA, usually enough for most- one for DVD drive one for OS SSD/HDD which leaves four for storage drives etc. If you require more you can pick up 2/4 port PCI/PCIe SATA cards for reasonable money.

From the Intel B75 spec:


'Next generation high-speed storage interface supporting up to 6Gb/s transfer rates for optimal data access with up to 2 SATA ports.' So looks it like two ports at once max.

ColBackAgain

No i think "Next generation high-speed storage interface supporting up to 6Gb/s transfer rates for optimal data access with up to 2 SATA ports." means 2xsata 6gbs at once for best results.

But I can't understand why my motherboard would come with 5xsata 3gbs and 3xsata 6gbs ports, if I was limited to less than 8, based on the chipset.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/B75M/?cat=Specifications

Like surely having more ports on a board, that can only use some of them, costs more and drives price up. Like it doesn't make sense to me at all.

It would make as much sense as shipping a motherboard that has 2 cpu slots, but can only use one at a time.
Or having 4 ram slots, but only being allowed use 3 at a time.

:-S