[anarxaki]

I'm having a computer that is almost 8 years old. It still meets my needs and had no thoughts of replacing it, till the motherboard started giving up on me. I'm looking for the cheapest way to replace it. Ideally just the MB but since it's too old, I'm willing to buy a new CPU as well.

 

Motherboard

Sapphire Tech. LTD. PE-AM2RS690MV (Socket AM2)

CPU

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+: 

Brisbane 65nm Technology

RAM (total 4GB)

2 OCZ2P8001G

1 Kingston 2G-UDIMM
(I've been told that these two are not really compatible)

Storage

Seagate ST3160815AS ATA Device (SATA)

Western Digital WDC WD10EARS-00Y5B1 ATA Device (SATA)

Western Digital WDC WD3200AAKS-00B3A0 ATA Device (SATA)

Optical Drives

TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-224BB ATA Device

 

 

What should I look for?

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What's the budget?

[SpywareDr]

What's the budget?

[anarxaki]

I think I messed up, I have two open topics, and I already got a suggestion:

 

I did find one Hybrid board, taking both DDR2 and DDR3, > http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813157581you would still need to go through the reactivation process.

 

I would make do and consider building a new computer. 

 

I think it meets my needs. My budget is 100EU at most, I found it for 60. And I don't need to replace anything else, CPU, RAM, HDDs and power supply are compatible. And it leaves some room for future upgrade, at least RAM and CPU.

[iammykyl]

Gday SpywareDr.

This is the MB that still works but has 2 RAM slots faulty, (confirmed unrepairable by a PC repair shop) > http://www.sapphiret...0&pid=233&lid=4

Link to the orignal post should you want to take a look. > http://www.geekstogo...-2#entry2495132

[anarxaki]

And these are the two local stores (I hope you can manage the greek letters)

http://www.techstore...n68-gs4-fx.html

http://www.e-gate.gr...68c-gs4-fx.html

 

Both are named as "Asrock N68C-GS4 FX" but they only mention the AM3 compatibility and nothing about AM2 and my CPU. Unless it's a special edition for promotion in Greece, I guess they just chose to leave out the "old" CPU specifications. But I can always give them a call and verify that it is indeed compatible.

[iammykyl]

Your first linked board      N68-GS4 FX is not compatible,  from the Asrock site, > http://www.asrock.co...DIA/N68-GS4 FX/ 

Your second linked board N68C-GS4 FX is compatible,  from the Asrock site, > http://www.asrock.co...IA/N68C-GS4 FX/

The power connect sockets on the MB are OK for your PSU. 

Buy this Board, > http://www.e-gate.gr...68c-gs4-fx.html

 

Greek is  OK , Esperanto is hard  

 

Edit to add more content.

 

This is your CPU, > http://products.amd....tail.aspx?id=46

This is a video for install/uninstall, a wrist strap is not essential, just touch a bare metal part of the case before handling parts or working inside the computer,

Important, before starting, run the computer for 1 minute, then disconnect the PSU and start the heatsink/CPU uninstl. 

> https://www.google.c...TtVtYxQ&cad=rjt

 

When you pick up the MB from the shop, ask them what fluid they use for cleaning of TIM.  also you want a non electrically conductive TIM. 

After removing the old thermal paste, (TIM) and you have installed the CPU on the new MB, you will need to apply new TIM, before installing the heatsink/fan. I use 

[anarxaki]

Oh goodness! I had to do one thing, check the letters in the motherboard name, and I failed!

Thank you for noticing it, and for the rest of the instructions. I 'm following the Arctic Silver removal/applying instructions. http://www.arcticsil...om/methods.htmlThe use of a coffee filter as a cleaning cloth was amazing!

Can I impose on your kindness for one last question?

Since my soon-to-be new motherboard has only 2 DDR2 slots, I'm forced to work with only 3GB of RAM. Can I use one DDR2 and one DDR3? I was thinking of this one > http://www.e-gate.gr...r16n11s6-2.htmlbut it's not on the Memory Support List. http://www.asrock.co... FX/?cat=Memory

[iammykyl]

Your welcome anarxaki  .

 

 

new motherboard has only 2 DDR2 slots, I'm forced to work with only 3GB of RAM. Can I use one DDR2 and one DDR3? 

NO. you cannot put RAM in the DDR2 and DDR3 slots at the same time. use your 2 sticks of OCZ2P8001G until you have the system built and running, then we can look at upgrading the RAM when you have a bit of cash.

 

Don't know how far you have got so far, but will give my build tips.   It is much easier to do some of the build outside of the case.

 

If you have already remove the old MB.

Place it on the MB box, (this provides insulation) > clean the CPU, > remove the CPU from the socket, put it to one side.

If the MB has a mini system speaker, take it off, put it and the old MB to one side.

 

Remove the existing I/O shield from the back of the case and replace it with the from the MB box.

Look carefully at the standoff on the MB mounting plate, make sure the are the same pattern and number of screw holes in the new MB, no extra ones.

 

Place your new MB on the box, > install the CPU, > apply TIM, > install the heatsink/fan, > connect the CPU fan to the CPU fan header on the MB.

Install the 2 sticks of DDR2 in the correct slots.

Install the MB in the case.

Connect the hard drive SATA cable to the SATA Port 0.0 on the MB, > comect the DVD to SATA Port 1,1.  Be a good idea to use the new SATA cables, from the MB box.

 

Connect the rest of the cables, then

Please post back before switching on. 

[anarxaki]

I'll print your instructions and use them as soon as I get the new MB.
One final (I hope) question: Why use the two OCZ sticks and not one OCZ (1GB) and the Kingston (2GB)? Is this permanent installation or temporary till we change the BIOS settings? Because with only 2GB ram I cannot cope. The memory usage will climb to 95%

[iammykyl]

Just temporary until Windows is installed because we know they will run in Dual mode.  Some info on memory configuration, including Intel Flex Mode, but I am not sure if AMD has a similar controller.   Until I can find More about AMD, I would be very reluctant to mix the different RAM types in the same channel slots, don't want to destroy your new board.   Will get back to you soon.

> http://www.avadirect...ex-Channel-RAM/

[anarxaki]

OK, no worries, I was just curious.

I ordered the motherboard today, I guess it will take 2-3 days to get here.

[iammykyl]

Unless another reader can link to a spec sheet or white paper, I don't think AMD has an equivalent to Flex Mode, so installing different sized RAM in the same channel, all sticks will run in single channel mode.

After we get the new system up and running, we will look at installing mixed voltage RAM.

 

When you start the dismantling, will you have another means of communicating with us?

[anarxaki]

When you start the dismantling, will you have another means of communicating with us?

 

Yes, I will use husband's laptop but only in the mornings. Due to our time difference this probably means that there will be one reply per day. I do not complain, I'd rather have my computer set up correctly than fast.

[iammykyl]

OK anarxaki  

If you don't have any problems with the rebuild you can go to 2 of 3 on the linked Tutorial.

You have your OS product key written down??? 

You have saved any Data you want???

 

Post if you have questions, > http://www.wikihow.c...stall-Windows-7

You may not have access to the internet util a LAN driver isinstalled.

After the OS is installed, Place the MB driver/utilities disc in the computer, > restart and boot to CD.

Install all the drivers that are detected.

On the utilities tab, do not install any trial software or search engines. 

 

Restart the computer and allow Windows to update, 

Install Anti Virus, I use http://www.avira.com...-free-antivirus

Install your preferred Browser then please post back with results. 

[anarxaki]

Thanks for the further steps.
My motherboard is ready to be sent, so I'll probably get back to you in 2 days.