Unlike updating RAM, hard drives, video cards, and other parts of the computer, Windows (and other operating systems) see upgrading the mother card as putting it on to another computer entirely. This requires that I not only make a physical update (switching the boards), but that I need to completely reinstall my operating system as well.
The good news is that I recently had practice doing just that on my son's computer. The bad news is that it is a time consuming, and sometimes frustrating process to get all of the drivers reinstalled and getting the computer back to the settings that I prefer. I'm worried that I might screw something up in the process and have days of frustration and worry in trying to fix my errors (as I did with my son's reinstall).
This should be worth the effort, worry, and concern. One way or the other, at least I will be learning and building something myself. Knowing how something is built (especially a computer) gives me a greater feeling of empowerment when using it.