How difficult is it to change motherboards?

[solomon Hunter]

So, I haven't built a PC yet, but I'm wondering if I can upgrade motherboards in the future and how annoying it will be.

 

[vapour]

MB upgrade -> reinstall OS. So almost like a new build if you change MB

 

[IInuyasha74]

Changing the motherboard is like building a whole new system. You don't have to re-install the OS. It is recommended, but if you uninstall the old drivers and install the new ones it will migrate fine. But from a hardware perspective, it is a pain.

You also really don't want to from a financial standpoint. Think about it. You pay $60 for a motherboard. Later you buy one that is $120. Great. So you rebuild your PC, and have a computer with a better motherboard and a $60 paperweight. You could always use it to build another system, but obviously that will have added costs. You might be able to sell it, but low-end motherboards don't usually sell well after they are used. It just makes a lot more sense to just buy a motherboard and stick with it.

 

[Calvin7]

Changing motherboards depends on the PC case you have to work with. A new bare PC case that accommodates the cooling system you want would be a good idea. Reusing an old OEM case would be less desirable but can be done if you have a size that uses retail boxed motherboard sizes.

 

[smorizio]

first rule of building is there always withing a few months newer cpu and mb. dont get on the change it every year bandwagon. most cpu now from one gen to the other only get you slighty faster speed. if your not built your pc now hold off till pci 4.0 cpu and mb drop next year. the only time i rebuild is if the mb dies on me or it been about 5-6 years and the old pc can run the os. most time i donat it as a web/word pc to the local libary for a tax write off. when you go to change the mb other parts like hard drive tech will also have changed. like right now the older sata ssd are going bye bye and newer ssd teck is replacing them.