New motherboard - easy to install ?
 

I'm looking at getting a new motherboard, probably a Epox 8RDA3+. The question is are new motherboards easy to install, or am I asking for trouble doing it myself. Let me know your thoughts.....

I would call it easy, but I have built several systems from just an armful of parts and an empty (usually antec) case.

Since this is your first time, you may want to have someone handy that knows what he or she is doing to guide you. It can't hurt to have a second pair of eyes.

I find it easy, but I have been working with computers for 20+ years and replaced hundreds of mobos.

The biggest problem I find is the heatsink. Hopefully your case has a removable motherboard tray as that makes it 10x easier.

The process is not difficult at all, but it definitely does help to have someone who has done it before assist you. There can be certain complications, such as the aforementioned heatsink, but do everything carefully and you should have no problems.

Just remember, new mobo also means new OS installation.

Watch out putting the memory and heat sink on - dont bend it too much!

First off as they have stated above it helps if you have someone who knows what they're doing present.

If this is your first time I would highly suggest also you take your time and dno't rush. If you rush you screw things up. What I want you to know right away is the way you attatch the motherboard is with something called Risers and place the motherboard on these risers and then screw them in to secure the mobo. Make sure you don't have any risers in the wrong places and or any other extra metal contact with the motherboard. You could incidentally short it out. Heat sink application on a new processor is easy to just slightly harder than easy. If you have an Athlon based CPU the core is fragile so don't let the heatsink move around a lot and make sure pressure is applied in an equal spread so you don't crack the core.

I recently built a new system and this was the first one i put together myself. I had someoen there to help though, which I would recommend.. Mounting te mobo is pretty easy.. just put screws where it says to in the book it comes with. Like someone else said be carefull with the heatsink.. they can be a Pain to put on and I know people who have busted a hole in thier mobo with a screwdriver or something trying to put it on.. this is where having someone around really helps =)

Ok thanks - I'll give it a go.

I was really nervous about the first one I did. I didn't have anyone to assist me, so I just took my time and double checked everything I did. It went pretty smothly. I think you'll do fine.

Keep the instruction book handy :) Usually most mainstream boards have pretty decent manuals.