Motherboard help

[west4two]

I'm trying to upgrade my motherboard the one that i have can only have 1gig of mem would like to have at least 2. so here's my questions how do i tell what board can fit my case? Does the board have to match up with the pci and usb slots on the case? I guess my question is, how do I pick a board for my case? thanks for any help

[tokenuser]

The real question is "what case do you have"?

If it is a "retail" computer such as a Dell, HP, Gateway, etc., then you might be out of luck. If it is something you built yourself, then the case would have being designed to fit a certain motherboard layout ... ATX, BTX, ITX, Mini-ITX, etc. If you buy a motherboard that is appropriate for that type of case, then they gernally provide a replacement backplane cover that provides the holes that line up for video, sound, usb, etc., and automagically lineup with the slots for PCI cards.

So - give more details, and you will get better answers.

[gta_bmx]

If you have a proprietory-type motherboard/PS like a HP or Dell, then you can still upgrade the motherboard if you don't also mind buying a new case. As in, buying a new case with PS and a new mobo, then sticking your CPU/HD/RAM/Drives/cards from your existing PC onto the new mobo/case. You can get a bare bones system for like $70 or so -- that will come with the case/motherboard. Just make sure you get a mobo that works with your type of CPU and RAM and other parts.

[tehboris]

The BTX form factor Dell/HP use can also include a non-ATX power supply, so a new one many be needed. The CPU heat sink will also often rely on case fans exclusively for moving air, so a new heat sink as well.

[computoman]

I'm trying to upgrade my motherboard the one that i have can only have 1gig of mem would like to have at least 2. so here's my questions how do i tell what board can fit my case? Does the board have to match up with the pci and usb slots on the case? I guess my question is, how do I pick a board for my case? thanks for any help

Being all things are equal, If your mb is of the vintage that only takes one gig that if you replace the mother board you will probably have to change pretty much everything anyway. You will have to purchase new ram because the old ram will probably not work in the new board. Some motherboards will not take the old agp graphics cards and might even damage a new board. Your old power supply may not have enough wattage to support new equipment. They really do not sell ide drives anymore., so you will want to go with something that can support the new sata drives. It is almost better to keep that old machine and make it a headless server and get a new machine as they are so cheap these days compared to trying to piecemeal an upgrade. Most stores know that people now want to upgrade so they price those parts in their favor. I am in the same boat. I will end up making my machines diskless and have them boot from the network rather than buy sata controllers and sata drives for the old machines. Now I just have to build a new super server to support them.