Desktop PC - how hard to upgrade motherboard?

[FCollinsBuckeye]

Okay, so I've got a Compaq presario that's a few years old. I like my Windows XP as well as all the software I've got on there. Trouble is, my RAM and processor are getting outdated - to the point that I can't play my newest PC game!! (AoE III)

So, I'm wondering how hard it is to simply change out my motherboard. I need more RAM and more video RAM mostly, but a new processor would help matters as well.

Anyone ever done this or have some advice?

Thanks!

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

doing it "somply" makes the entire operation virtually impossible. Good luck.

[tmporter]

You can go to any computer parts store and buy a new motherboard and a chip that is compatible with that board. You buy ram memory chips and take everything home. Most of the video cards and sound cards just slide into slots on the motherboard. You simply make sure that you aren't on carpet or any other surface that will generate static electricity and begin to remove screws and cards from the old board. You unscrew the motherboard from the tower and put the new bard and chip in.(I would have the store put the chip into the board if not already done) screw it in place and put the cards back in and rconnect the bus and power supply. I haven't done any of this in a while, but the last time I did it took a little over an hour to get everything out and back in.

[Best Buckeye]

I found that a new processor works better than a "precessor too.
It is not all that hard to change out the motherboard , take out the old and put in the new. along with the new processor. Just make sure that the motherboard has all of the bells and whistles you want along with enough RAm for what you want to do.
It should have step by step instructions as you load the new motherboard not only on how to switch it but also to set it up for your old HD. Since the HD contains all of your old programs they will still be there but you probably will have to reload some of them, if not all.

[Dryden]

Changing out a motherboard is really, really easy, unless you go buy some mass-produced proprietary junk like a Dell or a Compaq.

Oops. Did I say that out loud?

As soon as I got to the sixth and seventh words of your post, I thought, Damn, he's screwed!

[FCollinsBuckeye]

Dry:

Do you think it will be that hard? The deal is, wifey says 'no' to a new PC, but has consented to 'upgrading' the existing one. The way I see it, a new motherboard/processor is essentially a new PC with the old HD. All I need is more RAM (I don't think my current motherboard will take enough RAM for my needs) and more video RAM (I believe I have on-board video)...