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Mobo died, could use some advice on replacement.

P

PalmettoTiger

Member
I was upgrading my processor (Duron 600->Athlon 1.2GHz) when I broke the locking arm on the CPU socket. Superglue wasn't strong enough to hold it together under the stress, so unless there's a way to replace the arm without getting a new motherboard, this one is dead. I'd like your advice on what to do now...

1. Just replace the current board (Microstar K7T-Pro2A). $50. BUT, upgrading to DDR memory or a faster CPU will need a new mobo.

2. Get the ECS K7S5A. $50. Retain ability to get DDR and a faster CPU, but give up 128 MB of RAM because it only has 2 SDRAM slots. (Right now I have 512 in 3 slots - 128+128+256.)

3. Get the Asus a7a266-e. $75. I can get DDR without a new mobo, but CPU upgrade is unclear... some places indicate 1.4 GHz is the max, others say it can go all the way up to Athlon XP.

Since I'm using Win XP I need all the memory I can get... a 256 MB module to replace my two 128s would be another $60. If I could sell the two 128s and get $45 or so, I'd go ahead and get the ECS board. Anyone know what used RAM is selling for? If someone can show me a reliable list of processors that the Asus mobo can handle, I might take the Asus instead. I can afford to do any of these, but I'd like to save as much as possible since my summer jobs aren't going to pay jack squat.

Any advice you guys have is help. Thanks!
 
I have a nice Gigabyte GA-7TXE motherboard which has VIA's KT266A chipset which supports DDR RAM(3 slots) aswell as Althlon, Duron, Althlon XP processors. Perhaps this would suit you, since it is reasonably cheap and quite stable too.

- James
 
I love my Shuttle AK35GTR it has 4 dimm slots for DDR w/raid (simple and easy to setup)

Newegg has it for $97 + $8 shipping (fedex saver)
 
the dude is on a budget..sheez...

<< 1. Just replace the current board (Microstar K7T-Pro2A). $50. BUT, upgrading to DDR memory or a faster CPU will need a new mobo. >>

can it be RMAed??



<< 2. Get the ECS K7S5A. $50. Retain ability to get DDR and a faster CPU, but give up 128 MB of RAM because it only has 2 SDRAM slots. (Right now I have 512 in 3 slots - 128+128+256.) >>

that would be the best route for now...depending on brand the 128 will fetch between 15 to 30 used but if you are able to RMA the K7T-Pro2A you might want to hang on to the ram ...if able to RMA(get the ECS for an interim board solution..can't be w/out a comp..) either upgrade your existing batch of ram(go DDR) or add to it with another 256MB pc133 module. If you go the sale the ram route setup a Heatware account.
 


<< I love my Shuttle AK35GTR it has 4 dimm slots for DDR w/raid (simple and easy to setup) Newegg has it for $97 + $8 shipping (fedex saver) >>



I second this opinion

Ausm
 
Kiwisurfer, Bartman, & Ausm - I guess I wasn't explicit about this, but I need a motherboard with 3 SDRAM slots, since I only have SDRAM modules and don't want to have to buy DDR in this current upgrade. But thanks for the tips anyway!

Scrap Silicon - I hadn't thought about RMA because I physically broke the board by being impatient/stupid. I'll go check the dealer's and manufacturer's site to see if I'm covered. I can use the school's computer clusters (which I'm doing right now) until a solution can be found, it just means I give up Outlook and all its calendar features as well as my games. A loss, but not worth dropping an extra $50 to have an interim board while the RMA travels.

Does anyone know what the Asus A7A266-E's fastest supported processor is? Their website indicates Athlon/Duron/XP at 1.4GHz (what rating XP would that be, BTW?). But they put that nice little plus sign on 1.4GHz, so maybe it goes higher? One store I've seen says it takes XP 2100+, but I'm not inclined to trust a store over the manufacturer. What about the K7S5A? What's the fastest processor it will support? Their website (scroll down) doesn't even list a top speed. It simply says "Socket A for AMD® Athlon/Duron (K7) processors."
 
Uh.. there's a simple sollution. Upgrade to Pal8045 HS/F and upgrade the probably noisy fan you've got on your current setup to some LA1 Panaflo (Whisper silent, cools well)'

Reason?

Pal8045 attaches by holes on the mobo, not by the socket lugs.

Edit:Ack, did you mean the Ziff lever arm?
 
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