Core 2 Extreme, ATX, Max 8GB DDR2 Motherboard

The ASUS P5E series combines powerful performance with great energy efficiency. This Intel X38 chipset motherboard supports DDR2 8000MHz dual-channel memory architecture and Dual PCI Express 2.0 x16 lanes for doubled graphics speed and bandwidth. With the embedded ASUS EPU (Energy Processing Unit), the power supply is digitally monitored and fine-tuned with improved VR responses in heavy or light loadings. Working together with AI Gear 3, it automatically provides power for higher performance or saves energy when running low intensity applications – attaining the best possible power efficiency and energy savings to help save the environment.

AI Lifestyle Series motherboards bring lifestyle and personal computing together. They provide you better system performance to enjoy graphic-intensive games and applications. The cutting-edge audio feature dramatically enhances the quality of voice signal. Thoughtful design allows you to set up your system easily. To create a peaceful environment, several new and improved innovations are included to reduce noise and temperature. Don´t change your way of life for a computer. Instead let the ASUS Lifestyle Series improve the quality of your life.

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GeForce 6100, Athlon 64 X2 Motherboard

M2N-MX SE Plus supports the latest AM2+ CPUs with better overclocking capabilities and less power consumption. It provides extremely high performances and shortened data access times by supporting for 2000 / 1600 MT/s HyperTransport Bus, dual-channel un-buffered DDR2 1066 memory support and AMD Cool ´n´ Quiet! Technology.
The NVIDIA GeForce 6100 GPU Northbridge supports Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0, NVIDIA PureVideo Technology with unprecedented integrated video quality, and PCI Express interface. The NVIDIA nForce 430 MCP delivers NVIDIA MediaShield storage management technology allowing easy RAID configuration (RAID 0, RAID 1) for Serial ATA 3Gb/s.

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NForce570Ultra, Athlon64 X2 Smprn, 2000MHz, Max8GB Motherboard

AI Lifestyle Series motherboards bring lifestyle and personal computing together. They provide better system performance for graphics-intensive applications such as 3D games and deliver cutting-edge audio features that dramatically enhance the quality of voice signal. Thoughtful design further allows quick and easy system setup. To create a peaceful environment, several new and improved innovations are included to reduce noise and temperature. Don't change your way of life for a computer. Instead let the ASUS AI Lifestyle Series improve the quality of your life.

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Process of replacing the motherboard

The process of replacing the motherboard began with removing the old motherboard. Now it's time to compare the old motherboard with the replacement motherboard to see how the physically match. I've pulled the I/O core shield out of the back of the case, and I've placed it on the I/O core of the old motherboard. You can see (if the flash isn't blinding you:-) that the old I/O core didn't have a game port or integrated sound, which the new motherboard supports. New motherboards should always ship with their own I/O shield, but with a second-hand replacement like we're using here, you have to make due. Fortunately, the old I/O shield has punch-outs in the proper locations.

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Important motherboard connection

To make the most important motherboard connection first, and that's the power switch. It's normally labeled "PW SW" or "Power SW" and the motherboard will be labeled with "PW SW", "P-ON" "PW" or something similarly cryptic. You won't hurt anything if you attach the power switch to the wrong connector in the block, but you won't get the PC to turn on either. I went ahead and connected the rest of the front panel leads to the motherboard, but you really don't need to. Nobody uses reset switches or keyboard locks anymore, most motherboards have a built in piezoelectric speaker, and who cares about LED's.

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A PROBLEM MOTHERBOARD

1. CLOCK that won't keep correct time. >>Be sure to check/change the battery.
2. CMOS that won't hold configuration information. >>Again, check/change the battery.
Note about batteries and CMOS: in theory, CMOS should retain configuration information even if the system battery is removed or dies. In practice, some systems rely on the battery to hold this information. On these systems, a machine that is not powered-up for a week or two may report improper BIOS configuration. To check this kind of system, change the battery, power-up and run the system for several hours. If the CMOS is working, the information should be retained with the system off for more than 24 hours.

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Check motherboard manufacturers

If manufacturers combine the motherboard CPU and the PC motherboard, this can save you money. Most customers like the motherboard-CPU combo because it saves them money and time. Don't overlook sales on dual-core processor motherboards (computer motherboards industrial strength). Sometimes these can be a steal, especially since companies are always looking for faster processing speeds.
Look at individual motherboard manufacturers' websites for their PC motherboards. To become more familiar with motherboard manufacturers, look at AnandTech's website. AnandTech covers every motherboard you can think of. Find additional motherboard information at Tom's Hardware. They will have photos of the motherboard, and go into depth on each feature. They also will give you the pros and cons of motherboard bundles, such as: Is it smart to have audio and video integrated on the motherboard or is it better to purchase these items separately?

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Choosing motherboard Guide

Choosing motherboard distributors requires sifting through their claims and services. Many claim to offer excellent customer service and technical support, but when problems arise, you need to be able to contact customer service or technical support easily. The distributor's ability to solve your problems is also crucial.
Try talking and dealing directly with motherboard manufacturers rather than distributors. High-quality motherboard manufacturers such as Asus and MSI want you to be their partners to increase their market share. In return, their assistance should help increase your profits. Go with a reputable motherboard manufacturer because it will strive to:
1. Produce reliable PC motherboards.
2. Hire qualified technical support personnel who can answer your motherboard questions.
3. Promote good sales on motherboard bundles.

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Processor and the socket

Processor sockets are keyed to prevent improper installation. Notice in the picture on the right that both the processor and the socket have two corners without pins. This is to prevent the processor from being installed the wrong way. Modern processor sockets are of ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) design. If the processor is aligned properly with the socket, gravity alone should cause it to drop right in. You should never need to use force to insert a modern processor. Never, never, never.

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Connect the ATX power connector To Motherboard

Connect the ATX power connector from the power supply to the motherboard. Do this now. If you forget about it and later fire up your computer while the ATX connector is not connected to anything, then you will fry your computer's power supply.

On Pentium 4 and most other high-powered computers, you will also have to connect the P4 connector to the motherboard. You may also have to connect power to some high-end video cards and certain other components.

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Installing the Motherboard Standoffs

The standoffs are screwed or inserted into the chassis, and the mobo in turn is attached to the standoffs through the mounting holes in the motherboard. This creates a small space that prevents the back of the motherboard from shorting out against the metal case.

Don't be surprised if your motherboard has "extra" holes for which there are no corresponding holes in the case. This is normal. Very few cases and motherboards will match exactly. As long as you use all the mounting holes that do match, you'll be fine. (And there's no charge for the extra holes.)

Standoffs should NOT be inserted into any "extra" holes, however. Standoffs installed in holes on the case that have no corresponding holes in the motherboard can cause the motherboard to short out. And don't over-tighten them. Hand-tight plus a smidgen is enough.

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Installing the motherboard

Before actually installing the motherboard, read the motherboard manual (it's that paper thing that came in the box) to make sure absolutely sure that it is compatible with the processor and RAM that you will be using and that the jumper settings, if any, are correct.

Most modern motherboards have a "jumper-free" option that can be selected (usually by setting a jumper, amusingly enough) that will allow you to control the motherboard settings from the keyboard during CMOS setup.

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How to replacing a motherboard in a desktop computer

The first step to replacing a motherboard in a desktop computer is to remove the old motherboard. That may sound trivial, but it's literally half of the job, and I'm splitting removal and installation onto two pages so it doesn't get too big. In order to remove the motherboard, you not only have to disconnect all connections between the motherboard and components in the case, you should also remove any cables that are simply in the way. Remember to touch the metal edge of the case to ground yourself from time to time. Some techs like to leave the power supply plugged in for a ground, but that's pretty crazy with ATX technology, since if the switch on the back of the supply goes on, the power supply will be live. I unplug the power supply and avoid dancing on the rug to generate static electricity. We start by removing the 1x4 power connector from the hard drives.

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Screws through the motherboard

The motherboard is actually mounted in the case with a series of screws through the motherboard, seven in this case, all of which must be removed. About the worst thing that can happen when you're replacing a motherboard is that one of the screws will turn and turn without releasing. Normally, this is due to the screw having been over-tightened in a brass standoff, which comes unscrewed from the motherboard pan and remains attached to the screw. If you think this is happening, proceed to removing the rest of the screws first so you won't place undo strain on the motherboard by flexing it up. If the standoff thread in the motherboard pan is stripped, you can take off the other side of the case and grab it with vise grips from the back.

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Standard ATX motherboards

Standard ATX motherboards feature a single 10x2, 20 pin connector for the power supply. The connection features a sort of a simple latch which is released from the nub on the motherboard connector by depressing the top of the latch (just below my thumb). You can also see the nub on the motherboard connector, on the side near the motherboard edge. It can take a bit of force to pull the connection out of the motherboard even once it's release, since there are 20 tight connection, so be prepared to use your off hand to hold the motherboard down if the edge lifts as you remove the connector.

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Motherboard in computer

Motherboards also contain important computing components, such as the basic input/output system (BIOS), which contains the basic set of instructions required to control the computer when it is first turned on; different types of memory chips such as random access memory (RAM) and cache memory; mouse, keyboard, and monitor control circuitry; and logic chips that control various parts of the computer's function. Having as many of the key components of the computer as possible on the motherboard improves the speed and operation of the computer.
Users may expand their computer's capability by inserting an expansion board into special expansion slots on the motherboard. Expansion slots are standard with nearly all personal computers and offer faster speed, better graphics capabilities, communication capability with other computers, and audio and video capabilities. Expansion slots come in either half or full size, and can transfer 8 or 16 bits (the smallest units of information that a computer can process) at a time, respectively.
The pathways that carry data on the motherboard are called buses. The amount of data that can be transmitted at one time between a device, such as a printer or monitor, and the CPU affects the speed at which programs run. For this reason, buses are designed to carry as much data as possible. To work properly, expansion boards must conform to bus standards such as integrated drive electronics (IDE), Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA), or small computer system interface (SCSI).

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