Looking for an Am2 board

[thestrangebrew1]

For a potential client. He said he installed a new psu and it started smoking so he thinks it fried his Compaq am2 mobo. He said it's a reg. sized tower, so my question is, will the standoffs on a micro atx board like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157274

match an atx factor from Compaq? I haven't actually diagnosed his problem, just had a brief conversation over the phone with him. Haven't seen his rig or anything yet. He's just fishing for parts etc. Normally I wouldn't bother, but I'm trying to build client base. My hunch tells me no, this will not work (at least properly) because I wouldn't be able to use the correct standoff mounts and might have some unused slots which wouldn't be good. He couldn't even tell me what cpu he had, except that it was an AMD 64.
He installed a GTS 450 which reqs 400w psu, so he got a Kentech(?) 400w psu and tried to power it up lol.

 

[mfenn]

The MicroATX mounting positions aren't a strict subset of ATX, so no it wouldn't work right out of the box. I think it's doubtful that Compaq would use standard (re-)movable standoffs in their mass-produced boxes.

That being said, it's unlikely that the machine is actually full ATX. An AM2 box is well into the era where the standard consumer desktop was MicroATX.

 

[VirtualLarry]

The MicroATX mounting positions aren't a strict subset of ATX

I'm pretty sure that they are.

Anyways, keep an eye out on geeks.com for a refurb AM2+ mobo. They come and go quickly. They had some Asus boards with four RAM slots and support for 140W CPUs, for $35. Those were nice, I wish I had spare funds to snag one or two of them.

 

[JackMDS]

When you buy todat a new mATX Mobo and a general ATX tower in almost all cases there will not be a problem.

Unforunatly the Boxes of the Brands that sell ready made computers are varying in sizes and placement of components. You actuialy have to open the box make sure that everything is removal, the size and back plates opening is compatible with new Mobo. No peripheral components placement is block component on the Mobo (example the DVD or other drive can clash with Mobo memory and other onboard components).

In most cases connecting the front panel Switches, lights, front audio, and USB can be a problem because the Ready made computer might have a propriety plugs to connect the wires to Mobo headers.


😎

 

[cubby1223]

it started smoking

Personally I would not purchase anything until I saw the computer first-hand and examined what is still functional and what is not.

He couldn't even tell me what cpu he had, except that it was an AMD 64.

It could be a socket 754 motherboard, it could be a socket 939 motherboard.

For a potential client...
Normally I wouldn't bother, but I'm trying to build client base.

This situation has disaster written all over it. Which operating system is on the machine? Does he have restore disks? Which chipset does the motherboard use? How many files does he want transferred to the new system? How many programs will he demand be reinstalled? How many programs will he demand be reinstalled of which he does not currently even realize is on the machine, nor has the install disks or license key anymore? Do you have to track down his email account settings to enter back into Outlook? Who will be accused of mishandling the system if you take it in then realize after examination the hard drive is toast along with all his data files and family photos?

And with you asking about motherboard standoff locations and a Compaq machine of which you don't have a system model for - some jobs are better referred over to the Geek Squad. Let them lose money on the job.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I agree with cubby1223. If you can't get the exact motherboard that came with the machine (search Ebay), then pass on this job. It's way more headache than it's worth.

 

[ElFenix]

amd64? any chance it's the old SR1710nx that was a major hot deal item 6 or so years ago?

 

[yvesj]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157274

this is a really good board .
i did use one for one year last year .
now buy ram 5-5-5-15 g-skill .79.99
get to lower if want the best speed and with a ssd drive it is really hard to beat for speed .
you even beat a lot of ddr3

 

[mfenn]

I'm pretty sure that they are.

You might be pretty sure, but that doesn't meant that you are correct. Refer to page 10 of the ATX 2.1 spec. Holes R and S appear in MicroATX boards but not in ATX boards.