# Motherboard Questions
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 17, 2008, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484 "2008-12-17T00:03:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484/1 "2008-12-17T00:03:47Z")
Well, I need to upgrade my motherboard in my self-built computer, and [here’s](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358&Tpk=Gigabyte%20GA-EP45-UD3P) the one I"m looking at. Two questions:
1. I have [this](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115003) processor, a Core 2 Duo that has a 1066 Mhz FSB. The motherboard says it has a FSB of 1600/1333MHz. Am I right in assuming that my processor will still work, just not as fast as the motherboard could let it work?
2. What exactly happens to the rest of the system when the motherboard is replaced? I’d like to just have to install the new drivers and be ready to go, but I doubt that it’s that easy. Will I have to do a full reinstall of Windows?
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### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484/2 "2008-12-17T00:13:35Z")
Yes, it will work, as the manufacturer’s website [shows](http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=2919&ProductName=GA-EP45-UD3P).
As for Windows, I’m not sure. It _should_ be able to work things out, but there’s only one way to find out. You should expect to do an upgrade install.
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### Author:  [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484/3 "2008-12-17T00:19:35Z")
Huh. I spent about a half hour searching, you’d think I would have found that. Thank you.
Edit: This motherboard would support eSATA, right? I assume it would, but it doesn’t say anywhere on the page.
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### Author:  [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484/4 "2008-12-17T00:27:08Z")
Always assume you will need to do a full clean reload of windows with a motherboard replacement. Unless you are using a board with the same manufacturer and series chipset its unlikely the system will boot fully into windows.
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### Author:  [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484/5 "2008-12-17T00:58:46Z")
> [@Silophant](#):
>
> Edit: This motherboard would support eSATA, right? I assume it would, but it doesn’t say anywhere on the page.
There may be a backplate for it in the box, if not its like another $4 for one from the same site.
> **[KINGWIN ESAC-02 1.3 ft. eSATA PCI Bracket cable - Newegg.com](https://www.newegg.com/red-kingwin-15-63-cable/p/N82E16812226003)**
>
> Buy KINGWIN ESAC-02 1.3 ft. eSATA PCI Bracket cable with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!
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### Author:  [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484/6 "2008-12-17T01:31:41Z")
I have one of those already, it’s just that my current motherboard doesn’t support the hot-swap function.
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### Author:  [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484/7 "2008-12-17T01:34:36Z")
> [@Silophant](#):
>
> I have one of those already, it’s just that my current motherboard doesn’t support the hot-swap function.
Hot swap is pretty much a given on sata these days.
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### Author:  [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484/8 "2008-12-17T02:07:33Z")
Ah. I had hoped so. Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484/9 "2008-12-17T15:01:35Z")
Just had my first experience with eSata over the weekend with an an Antec external drive enclosure. [http://www.antec.com/usa/productDetails.php?lan=us&id=77150](http://www.antec.com/usa/productDetails.php?lan=us&id=77150)
It came with an adapter for eSata which I installed since my computer doesn’t have a port. Works fine if it is attached and turned on at boot up but to hot swap I have to go to Device Manager and click “Scan for new hardware” to detect it … not a big deal. The eSata is much faster than USB.
I am puzzled about the difference between eSata and the non-e version, though.
And yes, expect to do a full reinstall of Windows with a new motherboard.
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### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484/10 "2008-12-17T16:11:49Z")
> [@drachillix](#):
>
> Always assume you will need to do a full clean reload of windows with a motherboard replacement. Unless you are using a board with the same manufacturer and series chipset its unlikely the system will boot fully into windows.
The OP should be able to do an upgrade install - replacing the hardware drivers, but keeping all the software intact.
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### Author:  [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484/11 "2008-12-17T16:32:10Z")
> [@Quartz](#):
>
> The OP should be able to do an upgrade install - replacing the hardware drivers, but keeping all the software intact.
In theory, yes. In practice maybe one out of three. Even when it does work, you tend to end up with glitchy machines. The OP should not \*count on
- being able to just do a repair install, and should not count on being able to use the machine without a full reload of windows.
Please remember, I do this every day, I have tried dozens of time with mission critical systems for small businesses that need to be back online ASAP. Even if it was slow/glitchy putting them online to close out the day and do a clean load after hours would be the perfect scenario.
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### Author:  [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484/12 "2008-12-17T16:35:08Z")
Yep, I agree, with a motherboard swap, the best thing to do is to start with a fresh install. the gods forbid something glitches up and now you won’t know if it’s the mobo or a glitchy repair install.
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### Author:  [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motherboard-questions/477484/13 "2008-12-17T17:38:20Z")
> [@Turble](#):
>
> I am puzzled about the difference between eSata and the non-e version, though.
>
> And yes, expect to do a full reinstall of Windows with a new motherboard.
eSATA (external SATA) is just a connector standard; it’s slightly more robust than the internal version.
As others have mentioned, sometimes an upgrade or repair install of Windows will work, but in some occasions, you will need a clean install. I believe that Windows will also need to be re-activated, as the MAC address and other hardware identifiers have changed. Or, at least, that used to be the case.