Mobo died!!! What to do, what to do?

[Wag]

I take it it's my mobo that died during a flash as it couldn't verify memory and when I tried to restart (and even after I cleared the CMOS) I get nada.

Sooo, since the rest of my components are relatively up to date: Opteron 170, XT1800PE 512 PCI-E, SATA drive, etc. The only thing that's not so up to date is I'm using DDR400.
Should I go with a mobo based on the Xpress 3200 Crossfire like the $109 (AR) ECS KA3 MVP but uses DDR2 800, the $144 ABIT AT8 32X that uses DDR400 (wouldn't have to buy new ram), or should I go with something else entirely?

 

[emilyek]

Pick up a nf4Ultra motherboard. They are cheap at the egg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...7+1071911282&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=22

 

[customcoms]

I would buy a DFI nForce4 Ultra-D for $100. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136152. Still the best S939 board ever built imo (and its bigger brothers). If you switch to DDR2 (AM2) you have to buy a new processor!!!!

 

[Wag]

Originally posted by: customcoms
I would buy a DFI nForce4 Ultra-D for $100. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136152. Still the best S939 board ever built imo (and its bigger brothers). If you switch to DDR2 (AM2) you have to buy a new processor!!!!

I'm confused. Why would I need to
buy a new CPU?

Also, wouldn't I want to buy the SLI version, as I'd like to leave that option open for me. Lastly, There Xpress 3200 Crossfire versions of the Ultra-D boards. Why wouldn't I want them? This one in particular.

 

[rhin00]

try email the company of your mobo. i had a bad flash too and they sent me new chip.

 

[Madellga]

Try to RMA your mobo. If that's not possible, Ebay your stuff (CPU, RAM) while they still have some value. For little difference, you can get a Core 2 Duo CPU and new RAM.

I just did that myself, actually my Opteron 170 was sold for more than I paid for my E6400. I did have to pay a difference on the mobo and RAM, but that was something like 50 bucks (including the CPU offset).

 

[Wag]

Originally posted by: Madellga
Try to RMA your mobo. If that's not possible, Ebay your stuff (CPU, RAM) while they still have some value. For little difference, you can get a Core 2 Duo CPU and new RAM.
I just did that myself, actually my Opteron 170 was sold for more than I paid for my E6400. I did have to pay a difference on the mobo and RAM, but that was something like 50 bucks (including the CPU offset).

Wait. People are offering me all these suggestions and I have no idea what they're talking about. Nobody's answered my first questions.

I don't think ASROCK is going to RMA my mobo, let alone give me a new BIOS chip for my crappy assed 939Dual-SATA2. Is it even possible? If I have to take my whole system apart I might as well get a new one.

If I do decide to upgrade CPU/RAM/Mobo, what should I get at this point?

 

[Peter]

Most machines do have a builtin recovery procedure. Figure whether you had an AMI, Phoenix, or Award BIOS, then read up on the procedure, and attempt it. Then ask your mainboard maker for a replacement chip, and/or find a local shop where BIOS FlashROM chips can be reprogrammed.

Only if all of that failed, it'll be time for a new board.

 

[Doh!]

If it's still under warranty, why wouldn't Asrock RMA your board?

It probably just needs a new bios chip. Take out the old one & just pop in a new one. No need to take the whole system apart.

For you question, how much are you willing to spend?

 

[Wag]

The bios chip looks like it's in a special socket that needs a special tool to pull.

As far as upgrading, what's the next level up from a Opteron 170/DDR400 system, and is Intel or AMD better?

 

[grooge]

just get a new 939 board and have fun.. not worth it to scrap the CPU and memory for something new. As for your asrock, just remove one memory stick, reset the BIOS and start it again. it may help.

As for newer ddr2 memory, well... You'll need a CPU supporting ddr2 memory, like AM2 line from AMD. The main difference between AM2 and 939 is the memory controller. one is for ddr and the other, ddr2. So, your memory is not "outdated", it is still perfectly viable for your CPU.

I don't know how long you plan to keep your current system, just get a motherboard that will fit your need. I now rather like ATI chipset better than nvidia because they put out less heat and the nvidia HDD controller is starting to show its age. It is not as fast as integrated controller that ATI chipset motherboard has. I just got myself a nice Asus A8R-MVP for my x2 3800+ and I like it a lot. HDD is fast, chipset is cool and fanless so the whole computer is rather quiet. I don't overclock, but if it was the case, I would have get the A8R32-MVP instead. But you can live very well with any nforce4 motherboard, as long as it has the feature you need.

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: Wag
The bios chip looks like it's in a special socket that needs a special tool to pull.

As far as upgrading, what's the next level up from a Opteron 170/DDR400 system, and is Intel or AMD better?

The tool can be had from Radio Shack for $10.49 + tax. PN 276-2101:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062619&cp

http://badflash.com/

 

[Madellga]

Originally posted by: Wag

Originally posted by: Madellga
Try to RMA your mobo. If that's not possible, Ebay your stuff (CPU, RAM) while they still have some value. For little difference, you can get a Core 2 Duo CPU and new RAM.
I just did that myself, actually my Opteron 170 was sold for more than I paid for my E6400. I did have to pay a difference on the mobo and RAM, but that was something like 50 bucks (including the CPU offset).

Wait. People are offering me all these suggestions and I have no idea what they're talking about. Nobody's answered my first questions.

I don't think ASROCK is going to RMA my mobo, let alone give me a new BIOS chip for my crappy assed 939Dual-SATA2. Is it even possible? If I have to take my whole system apart I might as well get a new one.

If I do decide to upgrade CPU/RAM/Mobo, what should I get at this point?

As for what we are talking about, head to Anand's article about the Core 2 Duo launch.

As for your original question, you asked "or should I go with something else entirely? "

And sorry for suggesting something for you. Next time I won't do it.