Should i get a better motherboard?

[Minimite11]

Well, i got an ASUS A8V-E Deluxe, it was the first coponent that i bought, and i didn't know anything about computers until after i bought it, and my RMA period is already expired, so if i got another motherboard, i would have to try and sell this thing.

My other specs are:

S12 600W Seasonic
AMD Athlon 4000+ San Diego
OCz Platinum DDR 400 2GB (2pcs x 1GB) 2-3-2-5
WD 74GB 10000 RPM SATA 150
WD 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 150
ATI Radeon X800XL

None of the other little things really matter...

So now, i already put the computer together, but i did not turn it on yet, because im waiting for my X800XL to get here, so i still have a chance to replace my motherboard. I did however already install the CPU, and i put the heatsink and fan on it already. CAN i take off the heatsink and fan, and switch it to another motherboard, and will the thermal glue still stay in the heatsink and work again? That is, if i get a different motherboard...

What do you think?

 

[Peter]

I don't see you making any ACTUAL complaint about the motherboard, so why bother?

 

[akugami]

Well, I haven't read any reviews on the board but from what I hear, the VIA K8T890 chipset is not a bad one. However, most people like nVidia nForce motherboard based chipsets because they've been relatively happy with them. I myself have a nForce4 based motherboard. I'd use this current board and see how you like it. Run some testing software like Prime95, 3DMARK'05 and and any other demanding software such as looping a game demo (Doom3, HL2, etc). If it runs stable then I see no reason to spend more money to change your motherboard.

Now, as for the heatsink question, if you've already installed your CPU onto the motherboard and put the heatsink on then if you remove it you MUST remove the thermal pad that is already on there. It's not thermal glue btw, thermal glues are usually epoxies (two liquids you have to mix together to form a glue) and these will really glue your heatsink to whatever you're attaching it to. For a new user, I'd recommend using Arctic Ceramique as a thermal paste if you decide to change motherboards.

Again you MUST remove the thermal pad if you take off the heatsink. Use a flat edge like a credit card or a hard plastic ruler and scrape off the excess from both the CPU and the heatsink. Use denatured alcohol or alternatively use at least rubbing alcohol with at the very least 70% isopropyl to clean off the CPU and heatsink of excess goop that you can't scrape off. Use a non lint producing cloth to clean off the heatsink and CPU. Some of the better paper tissues can also work but if it produces a lot of lint (in the case of cloth) or paper fibers then it's no good. Put some of the thermal paste onto the CPU and start spreading a layer as absolutely thin as possible onto the CPU. You want it paper thin if possible while covering all of the CPU. Do not layer it too thick or when you put on the heatsink it will get squished out, creating a mess. This is also the reason why I recommend Arctic Ceramique to new users. Arctic Silver is slighty better but it's conductive and harder to clean up if you make a mess. Arctic Silver being conductive can mean it spreads somewhere and can cause an electrical short and killing either something on the motherboard or your CPU.

 

[Zap]

What's so terrible about an Asus motherboard?

 

[TStep]

Wow, one man's trash is another man's treasure. I don't think the mobo you currently have is crap by a long shot.

 

[The Pentium Guy]

You should be fine with it. What's wrong with it? Most of the issues, if ther are any, should have been worked out already. Why don't you set the thing up and THEN tell us if you want to get rid of it.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Thats a nice motherboard! The only reason to change is if you want to go PCI-e with the graphics card, or you want the features offered on the nf4 boards like dual gb lan, 8x sata ports, sataII, ect...

 

[The Pentium Guy]

A8V-E = VIA K8T890 = PCIe

 

[MADMAX23]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Thats a nice motherboard! The only reason to change is if you want to go PCI-e with the graphics card, or you want the features offered on the nf4 boards like dual gb lan, 8x sata ports, sataII, ect...

He's right,man!

 

[Promethply]

The ASUS A8V-E Deluxe is a very good AGP based Athlon64 mobo, no need to worry about it

 

[The Pentium Guy]

A8V : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131510 AGP
A8V-E: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131523 PCIe.