why cant u replace mobo in a compaq

[navyac]

How come you cant replace a mobo froma compaq presario with a say DFI board. It looks like it will fit, I mean im just curious because all the sudden my comp is really working crappy and i want to build a new one

 

[bunnyfubbles]

if the case is of an ATX standard, then you shoudl be able to replace it. However you can't just replace motherboards and expect the system to work as there are chipset drivers that need to be uninstalled/reinstalled. Then you'd need to make sure that all the parts hooking up to your Compaq would be compatible with the motherboard you choose to replace the old with. That is unless you plan on getting other new parts, such as a CPU or RAM. You also might need to be careful about your video card, if its integrated on your current compaq motherboard then you'd need the new motherboard to have integrated video or else you'd need a new video card. (the same would be true if you're moving from AGP to PCI-e)

That being said, more information would need to be gathered about what parts are in your compaq and what parts you wish to upgrade to.

 

[mechBgon]

1) The PSU in the Compaq may not be compatible with a new setup. 480W native ATX2.0 24-pin PSUs are what DFI recommends for their popular nForce4 models. I sort of doubt you'll find an off-the-shelf Compaq sporting that level of PSU, so plan for a new case & PSU. Antec SLK3000-B + a quality ~500W ATX2.0 PSU would be a safe bet.

2) If you're using the OEM Windows license that came with the Compaq, then expect it to freak out at the sight of a different motherboard. It's probably SLP-locked to that particular motherboard model, and even if it isn't, the OEM license isn't legit for the new build. At this point, I'd suggest sticking to retail-boxed full versions of WinXP (which you can sell off), rather than a one-use throwaway OEM license. Or hold out for Vista and buy it retail-boxed, so you can use it again and again as you upgrade from one platform to the next, over Vista's 10-year lifespan.

3) plus what bunnyfubbles said, look at your parts compatibility closely.