New Motherboard

[Gunny04]

Alright........ I hate to ask but I cant find a A7N8X-VM (Board thats in my HP) replacement..... so, Can you guys help me out a bit? I cant buy the deluxe version as I have a medium tower..... so I cant have a huge one, I need a board with AGP 8X and supports 1 Gig PC2700 Ram........ 2 hard drives, 2 disk drives, floppy, etc..... Cheers, Gunny (Price is a problem I am limited to under 50!)

[richardd43]

If the case is the original HP case a standard motherboard will not fit in it correctly. The mounting holes in the HP board are drilled about 1/4 inch off from a standard board. Any board other than an HP replacement will set in by the amount of the offset. The board will bolt in but the connectors will not reach the back of the case and you will have to remove the EMF shield to connect everything.

[Delta_]

It would be easier to get a new case and put the motherboard into that.  You will (very likely) need a new PSU because the old one won't fit the new case.  Also if you are using OEM Windows then you will need a new copy, this is due to using a new motherboard.

[ctjoyce]

It would be easier to get a new case and put the motherboard into that.  

This is true.

You will (very likely) need a new PSU because the old one won't fit the new case.

This is not true. All PSUs are manufactured to the same ganeral size standird. So you can yank this PSU, and it will work. Also if I remember right, didn't you already replace it anyway?

Also if you are using OEM Windows then you will need a new copy, this is due to using a new motherboard.

This is also not true. You will need to reactivate. Not get a new copy. I have never had this problem with any of the OEM copys that I have used. I have been able to change everything from RAM to Processers with just a simple re actviation.

Cheers
Cameron

[richardd43]

Both of my old HPs restore disks were written for the motherboard that they shipped with. If everything was not there the restore would abort. HP did not ship Windows on a seperate disk.

Also the PSUs were 185 watts and not real great for upgrades. They are also about 2 inches shorter than a standard PSU so I had to cut a hole in the back of my case when I replaced the PSU to accommodate the longer length.

[Delta_]

Both of my old HPs restore disks were written for the motherboard that they shipped with. If everything was not there the restore would abort. HP did not ship Windows on a seperate disk.

Also the PSUs were 185 watts and not real great for upgrades. They are also about 2 inches shorter than a standard PSU so I had to cut a hole in the back of my case when I replaced the PSU to accommodate the longer length.

That is what i based my post on.  I have an old OEM rig that failed a few years ago (PSU failed).  A new PSU would not fit in the case, this meant a new case, but also the motherboard would not fit in the new case, so this meant a new motherboard.  As a result of the new motherboard the OEM Windows shipped with the original system would not run for obvious reasons.  The OEM o/s shipped with the system is designed for a specific motherboard etc...

[ctjoyce]

Hmm. This may be a HP only problem. Never had this problem with any of the Dells I have worked with.

Now the PSU being a low wattage, thats not unexpected. But usually if you know what your doing, you can get all the OEM crap out of the OS, and get just a basic windows install.

Cheers
Cameron

[Gunny04]

Well no suggestions on a motherboard? Dang.... my windows I burned straight off the computer into a boot disk..... its a full OS, I do not know if it contains drivers etc...... But if it doesnt work oh well, the PSU I added it its a standard size..... Was a tight fit and had to bend a few things, hence why I was looking for a similiar motherboard........ Not enough funding for a new case.. I have everything I need in (I think) working order other than a PSU and motherboard, though I do not know if my processer still works....... Might have fried it... Cheers, Gunny