My video card died on me, so I bought a replacement video card, a new PSU, and another gig of RAM to back it all up. Of course, when I tried to install the parts myself (without much experience in this sort of thing), I botched the job. Now I need a new motherboard.
I have no idea where to start when it comes to motherboards. I'm doing research now, but when it comes to spending my money, I prefer to have a few educated opinions on top of google. It would be awesome if someone could direct me to a compatible motherboard on newegg or the like!
This is my current motherboard: ASUS A8M2N-LA
Do I need to buy a new CPU to go with the motherboard? My current CPU is an AMDx2 Athlon, or whatever you call it. I can dig up some specs if neccesary. I'm installing a PCI-E 16x 8800GT, if that matters at all.
My factory computer specs can be found HERE.
I'm concerned about motherboard sizes. My dead motherboard is a Micro-ATX 9.6x9.6. Browsing Newegg, most newer motherboards were larger than my dead one. Will it make a difference?
I'm sorry if all of this information is a mess, I am really way in over my head here.
Thanks.
Edited, Jul 26th 2008 7:03pm by NazgulSHD
Edited, Jul 26th 2008 7:09pm by NazgulSHD
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Buying a New MotherboardFollow
Your mobo is a micro atx. So if you want a bigger one make sure your case can support it or make sure you just get a micro.
Other then that you need to look at find a amd mobo really that will support the processor you want. Most of the time just go to the manufacturers website for the mobo and it will tell exact stats. Just match those with your processor.
Also look at what type of ram ddr, ddr2, ddr3, cause you will ne a board that supports that type of ram. Also look at your graphics card and make sure it is support on the board to.
How much money are you looking to spend.
Other then that you need to look at find a amd mobo really that will support the processor you want. Most of the time just go to the manufacturers website for the mobo and it will tell exact stats. Just match those with your processor.
Also look at what type of ram ddr, ddr2, ddr3, cause you will ne a board that supports that type of ram. Also look at your graphics card and make sure it is support on the board to.
How much money are you looking to spend.
Asus makes some pretty solid boards, what exactly did you do to botch your mobo?
The difference in motherboard size shouldn't matter but if you can find the specs on your case somewhere we can make sure. If not, you can get a mid tower fairly cheap nowadays. How much clearance did you have from the mobo to the PSU and the mobo to the bottom of the case?
As long as you get a board with an AM2 socket that supports an Athlon 64x2 you shouldn't need to get a new CPU. Depending on how serious you are about gaming and what kind of price you're looking at can play a big part in what type of motherboard you get.
The difference in motherboard size shouldn't matter but if you can find the specs on your case somewhere we can make sure. If not, you can get a mid tower fairly cheap nowadays. How much clearance did you have from the mobo to the PSU and the mobo to the bottom of the case?
As long as you get a board with an AM2 socket that supports an Athlon 64x2 you shouldn't need to get a new CPU. Depending on how serious you are about gaming and what kind of price you're looking at can play a big part in what type of motherboard you get.
Let's see...
I'm willing to spend anywhere from $100 to (if really needed) $200. Is that reasonable?
My tower is in the shop at the moment, but I'll look for the specs online.
Well, apparently when I tried to install my new PSU, I either pulled or pushed something too hard, and ruined some socket or plug that connected the motherboard to the PSU. Is the processor permanently attached to the mobo? Can I take the processor out and use it in my new mobo?
My processor is an Athlon 64 X2 (W) 3800+ 2.0 GHz, and my RAM is 240 pin, DDR2 SDRAM.
Sorry I don't have any exact measurements on my case, if I were to judge, I would say it is a mid-sized tower. The best I can provide at the moment is this, which has a picture of the tower next to a 17 inch monitor.
Thanks.
I'm willing to spend anywhere from $100 to (if really needed) $200. Is that reasonable?
My tower is in the shop at the moment, but I'll look for the specs online.
Well, apparently when I tried to install my new PSU, I either pulled or pushed something too hard, and ruined some socket or plug that connected the motherboard to the PSU. Is the processor permanently attached to the mobo? Can I take the processor out and use it in my new mobo?
My processor is an Athlon 64 X2 (W) 3800+ 2.0 GHz, and my RAM is 240 pin, DDR2 SDRAM.
Sorry I don't have any exact measurements on my case, if I were to judge, I would say it is a mid-sized tower. The best I can provide at the moment is this, which has a picture of the tower next to a 17 inch monitor.
Thanks.
Did some shopping around on newegg, and found a couple possible (I think) matches:
GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
ASUS M3A78-EMH HDMI AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
ASUS M3A78-EMH HDMI AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Those boards don't support the memory you had in the old system. If you kept the 4200 I would suggest getting new memory all together since 4200 is absolute garbage.
Your old system came with 4200 (533) but also supported 5300 (667)
The Asus supports 6400 (800) and 8500 (1066)
The Gigabyte supports 8500 (1066)
The motherboard is essentially the backbone of your PC, you have to make sure everything you have is going to be compatible with your new board. Make sure your new PSU has the proper connectors and output for your new board, make sure you have a PCI-E x16 slot for your new card, AM2 socket for your CPU, proper memory speed and IDE/SATA connections based on your HD and optical drives.
Assuming the CPU wasn't damaged then yes, it can be removed and reused.
Your old system came with 4200 (533) but also supported 5300 (667)
The Asus supports 6400 (800) and 8500 (1066)
The Gigabyte supports 8500 (1066)
The motherboard is essentially the backbone of your PC, you have to make sure everything you have is going to be compatible with your new board. Make sure your new PSU has the proper connectors and output for your new board, make sure you have a PCI-E x16 slot for your new card, AM2 socket for your CPU, proper memory speed and IDE/SATA connections based on your HD and optical drives.
NazgulSHD wrote:
Is the processor permanently attached to the mobo? Can I take the processor out and use it in my new mobo?
Assuming the CPU wasn't damaged then yes, it can be removed and reused.
Those boards don't support the memory you had in the old system.
They do.
If you kept the 4200 I would suggest getting new memory all together since 4200 is absolute garbage.
You have no idea what you're talking about.
Did some shopping around on newegg, and found a couple possible (I think) matches:
GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
ASUS M3A78-EMH HDMI AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Great boards, but the thing that makes them great is outstanding integrated graphics. You'd be better off with something cheaper with a north bridge designed for discrete graphics.
Disclaimer:
To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.
To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.
Alright, I'll search around for something that has less flashy integrated graphics (since I have a dedicated card) and more...well, good other stuff.
Smasharoo wrote:
Those boards don't support the memory you had in the old system.
They do.
They do.
Before I'm able to purchase a new mobo, I really need to get the whole RAM thing cleared up. Smash, are you saying that a newer mobo will be backwards compatible with older RAM? My dead mobo supports PC4200 and PC25300 RAM. Is it likely that I'll need to purchase new RAM?
If you arent useing ddr2 I would strongly suggest you upgrade to it.
I'm using DDR2, I'm referring to the PC4300 and PC2 and 633mhz and all that.
The boards are compatible with the 4200 you have, the board is just designed to run (supports) memory capable of much faster speeds.
You have no idea what you're talking about.
If you consider DDR2 thats barely better and in some cases worse then the old DDR, quality, you do that. I call it garbage.
Smasharoo wrote:
Raolan wrote:
If you kept the 4200 I would suggest getting new memory all together since 4200 is absolute garbage.
If you consider DDR2 thats barely better and in some cases worse then the old DDR, quality, you do that. I call it garbage.
If you consider DDR2 thats barely better and in some cases worse then the old DDR, quality, you do that. I call it garbage.
If you replace DDR2 1066 ram with 533 ram you see about a 8 second difference in encoding time for a 9GB video file. That's the difference we're talking about here. The primary reason people buy higher speed ram is that holds up better to FSB over clocking most of the time. The idea that you'd throw away slightly slower ram and buy new sticks for a system that's not going to be over clocked because the number on the box is higher is just stupidity. When dealing with AMD's on die memory multiple controller, it's even stupider.
Memory's pretty cheap right now, so if you want to upgrade, it's not a big deal. The idea that memory that performs at 99% relative to newer memory is "garbage" is the stupid part. If you want to spend another $40 for 2gb of 800, go for it.
Nexa's here today, I'll post more when she heads home.
Disclaimer:
To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.
To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.
This is an excellent motherboard that should fit your case, as well as support your current CPU and memory:
http://www.allakhazam.com/wiki/system_performance_guide#Mainboards|Mainboard
GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G Micro ATX Motherboard
Note that it has IGP, onboard graphics! Be cautious though in that the onboard graphics may only run less demanding games such as WOW or just about anything older than three years.
Regards,
Berek
http://www.allakhazam.com/wiki/system_performance_guide#Mainboards|Mainboard
GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G Micro ATX Motherboard
Note that it has IGP, onboard graphics! Be cautious though in that the onboard graphics may only run less demanding games such as WOW or just about anything older than three years.
Regards,
Berek
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