Replacing a motherboard

[jreddy]

I think I've got a bad motherboard and I want to replace it. I want to
make sure my memory and current processer are both compatible with the
new board. Currently I have a BioStar M7VIZ v8 motherboard. I believe
it's a socket A, but not sure. I was hoping to simply buy the same
board somewhere but it doesn't seem to be available anymore. I don't
want to spend much money either. I've searched the web but I can't
find any means of determining if the new MBs will work with the
hardware currently be used by my current motherboard?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[John Doe]

I think I've got a bad motherboard and I want to replace it. I want
to make sure my memory and current processer are both compatible
with the new board. Currently I have a BioStar M7VIZ v8
motherboard. I believe it's a socket A, but not sure.

Searching Yahoo for
BioStar M7VIZ v8
looking at the first result, the first thing is "M7VIZ V8.X SOCKET A"

So, yeah, it's socket A.

I don't want to spend much money either.

How much is that? Mainly curious.

I've searched the web but I can't find any means of determining if
the new MBs will work with the hardware currently be used by my
current motherboard?

That is difficult to follow. How are you able to search the Web
without finding your mainboard page?

In my opinion, you should ask a local techie friend for help to
replace your mainboard. If you know what you're doing, replacing the
mainboard is easy (with potential complications). If you have no
experience and aren't technically inclined, you can trash your system.

Good luck.

 

[Paul]

I think I've got a bad motherboard and I want to replace it. I want to
make sure my memory and current processer are both compatible with the
new board. Currently I have a BioStar M7VIZ v8 motherboard. I believe
it's a socket A, but not sure. I was hoping to simply buy the same
board somewhere but it doesn't seem to be available anymore. I don't
want to spend much money either. I've searched the web but I can't
find any means of determining if the new MBs will work with the
hardware currently be used by my current motherboard?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

This bundle consists of a processor and a motherboard, for $70.
The board uses DDR RAM and has an AGP slot. It uses an S754 processor,
which is included with the board. The processor is OEM, so there
is no heatsink and fan. Your power supply needs a 2x2 ATX12V power
connector (square shaped, two yellow wires and two black wires feed it).

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3156977&CatId=1735

This is my favorite cooler, for $30. This will cool your OEM processor.
And blow a little air onto the Northbridge cooler and MOSFET sinks.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118112

That might be easier than trying to find a good socket A board.

Sure, there is Ebay, but Ebay is not for everybody.

In terms of Socket A boards at retail, we seem to be down to the
PCChips boards :-( I don't know if I could find an Nforce2 based
board or not.

Socket 939 boards also use DDR RAM, but then the price might be
too high for one of those. In the case of Socket 939, there are
motherboards, but they have PCI Express video slots, so you
cannot use your AGP video. That is why I looked for a S754,
as there are still the odd one of those around.

If you still want to search for a Socket A, I would think a lot
of the ones that are still around, could work for you. It is
just that the brands that remain, are a lot of bottom dwelling
scum, and there might be odds of getting a DOA from one of those.
When a motherboard only costs $40, why would they test them ?

Good luck,
Paul

 

[John Doe]

That might be easier than trying to find a good socket A board.

Sure, there is Ebay, but Ebay is not for everybody.

It might be okay for him, since he's probably dead in the water
anyway.

In terms of Socket A boards at retail, we seem to be down to the
PCChips boards :-( I don't know if I could find an Nforce2 based
board or not.

Socket 939 boards also use DDR RAM, but then the price might be too
high for one of those.

Guessing what "too high" is.

In the case of Socket 939, there are motherboards, but they have PCI
Express video slots,

They also have PCI video slots.

so you cannot use your AGP video.

Assuming he has AGP video, and that he even knows the difference.

If you still want to search for a Socket A, I would think a lot of
the ones that are still around, could work for you. It is just that
the brands that remain, are a lot of bottom dwelling scum, and there
might be odds of getting a DOA from one of those. When a motherboard
only costs $40, why would they test them ?

Or maybe not DOA, maybe intermittent problems of some sort. And good
luck troubleshooting that.

I'm impressed by the claim he knows that his mainboard is causing the
problem without even knowing the type of mainboard socket.

 

[jreddy]

Sure, there is Ebay, but Ebay is not for everybody.

I've looked on eBay and will probably go this route

It might be okay for him, since he's probably dead in the water
anyway.

I bought the original board, processor, memory, etc.. two years ago
via TigerDirect as an bare bones system.

They also have PCI video slots.


Assuming he has AGP video, and that he even knows the difference.

I'm aware of the difference, however I'm simply using the onboard
video so this is not a concern. No games or other video demanding
software being run on this computer.

Or maybe not DOA, maybe intermittent problems of some sort. And good
luck troubleshooting that.

I'm impressed by the claim he knows that his mainboard is causing the
problem without even knowing the type of mainboard socket.

It was two years ago when I bought the machine. It's acutally one I
built for a neighbor and I didn't keep any of the documentation for
it. A lightening strike fried the cable modem, onboard lan connection
and motherboard. This was determined by trial and error, swapping
computers and installing a nic card. The motherboard was last to go.
Anyway, new modem and nic card were required to get another computer
running. Once I had this other computer working with the new modem
and nic, I tried starting up the computer I think needs the new
motherboard and it wouldn't start. PC Speaker continuously makes a
clicking sound.
http://groups.google.com/group/alt....=motherboard+clicking&rnum=2#354e4e4517098c61


Anyway, I simply want to replace the motherboard for less than $75. I
would like to use the same memory. The AGP/PCI-E video isn't a
concern as there is no card in the current system. Can I simply get
another A socket motherboard with decent onboard video? Will the
memory work?

According to Crucial.com the memory should be DDR PC3200. So should I
be looking for a Socket A motherboard that works with DDR PC3200
memory?

Thanks again in advance

 

[Paul]

I've looked on eBay and will probably go this route


I bought the original board, processor, memory, etc.. two years ago
via TigerDirect as an bare bones system.


I'm aware of the difference, however I'm simply using the onboard
video so this is not a concern. No games or other video demanding
software being run on this computer.



It was two years ago when I bought the machine. It's acutally one I
built for a neighbor and I didn't keep any of the documentation for
it. A lightening strike fried the cable modem, onboard lan connection
and motherboard. This was determined by trial and error, swapping
computers and installing a nic card. The motherboard was last to go.
Anyway, new modem and nic card were required to get another computer
running. Once I had this other computer working with the new modem
and nic, I tried starting up the computer I think needs the new
motherboard and it wouldn't start. PC Speaker continuously makes a
clicking sound.
http://groups.google.com/group/alt....read/thread/61e61df23bf4a950/354e4e4517098c61


Anyway, I simply want to replace the motherboard for less than $75. I
would like to use the same memory. The AGP/PCI-E video isn't a
concern as there is no card in the current system. Can I simply get
another A socket motherboard with decent onboard video? Will the
memory work?

According to Crucial.com the memory should be DDR PC3200. So should I
be looking for a Socket A motherboard that works with DDR PC3200
memory?

Thanks again in advance

The easiest thing to do, is plug the exact chipset your current motherboard
has, into the search engine here. That will give a list of motherboards, plus
pictures.

http://www.motherboards.org/mobot/

For example, if your motherboard had KM400 and VT8237, then the KM400 seems
to be associated with FSB333 or slower, and DDR266 for memory. An example board
is the MSI KM4M-V.

If your board actually has a KM400A, I think that goes faster. An example board
using KM400A and VT8237 is Asus A7V400-MX SE.

The thing is, I don't know if there is an easy way to find a list of socket A
boards with built-in graphics, or assembly a list of chipsets that support build-in
graphics. At least searching for the same chipset, gives you somewhere to start.

Note that the Mobot is not perfect, as it was populated by hand. Some popular
boards will be missing, and some very obscure boards are present.

Knowing the particulars of the processor (such as the OPN on the lid), or the
speed of the RAM (whatever label is stuck to it might tell you the details),
then you could be a little more focused on the particulars. By using the
above approach, of matching the chipset, if the hardware worked in the old
one, it should work in the new one.

Paul

 

[John Doe]

....

The thing is, I don't know if there is an easy way to find a list of
socket A boards with built-in graphics,

While shopping for AMD desktop mainboards, built-in graphics
mainboards seem to be the least expensive (and have fewest
expansion&memory slots), so just look for lowest price.

 

[Phisherman]

...


While shopping for AMD desktop mainboards, built-in graphics
mainboards seem to be the least expensive (and have fewest
expansion&memory slots), so just look for lowest price.

On-board graphics will save you money and it is a good choice for most
business applications. You should look for both on-board graphics and
a graphic slot on the motherboard for a future video upgrade. Don't
expect 3D gaming, playing a movie DVD, or upgrading to Vista with
on-board graphics. Going for the lowest price motherboard may not
save you the most money in the long run--built-in features like an
Ethernet port, sound, and extra memory slots may prove useful and less
expensive than buying an add-on card.

 

[jreddy]

I've purchased another motherboard via eBay. It's another Biostar but
a different model. Here is the comparison. Let me know if you guys
think I'll run into any issues.

OLD - Biostar M7VIZ NEW - Biostar M7VIQ
Processor AMD Athlon, Athlon XP and Duron AMD Athlon, Athlon XP
and Duron
FSB 200/266/333 200/266
Chipset VIA KM400 / 8235 VIA
KM266 / VT835
Memory 2 x 184-pin DDR SDRAM DIMM 2 x 184-pin DDR
DIMM
Video UniChrome 2D/3D Graphics S3 ProSavage 8
Video Integrated
LAN VIA VT6103 VIA VT6103
Size Micro ATX Form Factor Micro ATX Form Factor
Dimension 24.3cm X 22.4cm ( W x L ) 22.9cm X
21.3cm ( W x L)

 

[Paul]

I've purchased another motherboard via eBay. It's another Biostar but
a different model. Here is the comparison. Let me know if you guys
think I'll run into any issues.

OLD - Biostar M7VIZ NEW - Biostar M7VIQ
Processor AMD Athlon, Athlon XP and Duron AMD Athlon, Athlon XP
and Duron
FSB 200/266/333 200/266
Chipset VIA KM400 / 8235 VIA
KM266 / VT835
Memory 2 x 184-pin DDR SDRAM DIMM 2 x 184-pin DDR
DIMM
Video UniChrome 2D/3D Graphics S3 ProSavage 8
Video Integrated
LAN VIA VT6103 VIA VT6103
Size Micro ATX Form Factor Micro ATX Form Factor
Dimension 24.3cm X 22.4cm ( W x L ) 22.9cm X
21.3cm ( W x L)

M7VIQ - FSB is FSB266 max, so I hope your processor doesn't need
more than that. Processors like AthlonXP go to FSB333 and FSB400.

http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en-us/mb/content.php?S_ID=272
http://www.biostar.com.tw/upload/Motherboard/b20070515_56.jpg

The previous, M7VIZ is pictured here. The layouts share a lot
of common elements. The processor appears to run off +5V in
both cases, so no change in PSU should be needed.

http://www.biostar.com.tw/upload/Motherboard/b20070515_58.jpg

The Athlons are listed here. The number in the FSB column should be
multiplied by two, to get the real FSB. I.e. a 200MHz Barton
becomes FSB400. The FSB266 limit of the new board, means the
Model 8 with CPUID 681, is the fastest one intended for it.
If you ran a FSB400 processor, at FSB266, the core speed would
be 66% of the full speed. An FSB333 processor, run at FSB266,
would run at 80%. You didn't mention what CPU you've got.

http://web.archive.org/web/20031018050306/http://www.qdi.nl/support/CPUQDISocketA.htm

Paul