Sources for Powerful Motherboards (attn: gamer types)
I have just been notified by the Microsoft techs that my desktop computer's motherboard is failing and a replacement is likely to cost $700. That is a bit pricey for me, and I wanted to see what others who have a computer similar to mine can tell me about what my options might be. I don't have the specs for the motherboard yet, as Microsoft is shopping around for me. I am assuming I'm not going to like what they tell me.
Here's the background with my computer. A few years ago, a student who had once been in one of my classes told me he was building a new computer for himself, despite the fact that he had just built one the previous year. Since my computer at the time was getting old, I asked him about purchasing the one he had built the previous year. This student was an avid gamer and spares no expense in pursuit of his hobby.
At first he wanted a lot of money for it, but after a few months of trying to sell it for a high price, couldn't do so, and eventually decided to sell it to me for a much more reasonable price. I compared the specs at the time and if I were to buy it retail, it would been around a $3000 computer.
I've had a good experience with the computer and don't really want to replace it, so my question is about sources for motherboards.
Cher
= new reply since forum marked as read
CPU: 3.20 gigahertz AMD Phenom II X6 1090T
RAM: 4096 megabytes usable installed memory
the four DIMM slots are all empty except for one, which has 4096 MB
Motherboard: ASUS TeK Computer INC. Crosshair IV Formula Rev 1.xx
I checked Amazon on the motherboard and the Crosshair V is going for $219.
I guess I will have to wait until Mon. and call ASUS, you think?
You asked what problems I am having. I had Windows 7 running fine on this computer, but I couldn't find my product key code after I installed a new hard drive. Microsoft suggested upgrading to 8.0, and then I upgraded to 8.1.
The problems were boot-ups. It would always boot up, but after going to sleep, it would sometimes fail to revive and it would tell me I needed to repair. Repairs never worked, so I went to booting up from a USB. After booting up fine with the USB, it started telling me that it wasn't detecting an OS.
I researched this and found that others seemed to think it had to do with UEFI and Legacy BIOS. Now we're talking firmware adjustments, and I have little knowledge about that, so that's why I took it to the new Microsoft retail store at a mall around 20" from where I live. I purchased a one-year service contract for what seemed to be a fairly reasonable price.
I had backup of the data, so I'm fine there.
I'll greatly appreciate your input.
Cher
The magical jelly bean site is a real find. Thank you so much!!
Unfortunately the old HD wasn't working when I removed it, however, I do still have it somewhere. I would like to test it. Even though I only changed it out back in January, my human memory is not recalling how it went bad.
Re the service contract, it wasn't too high of a price and the labor they'e already put in on it has been worth it to me. I don't know if they'd make any money on the new motherboard. I'll find out Monday. When I asked them about ordering the new motherboard, they said they'd have to wait until Mon. to talk to anyone. They seemed unfamiliar with even how they would do that! Weird.
Cher
And it's running 8.1. But I was able to get the specs and posted them.
I don't think the motherboard is going to cost me 700. I checked the price for the version after mine and it's only $219.
Now I'm wondering why they would tell me such a thing--that a new motherboard would cost me that much.
Thanks for your suggestion, though, gvstn.
Cher
Much to my surprise, the Microsoft techs didn't seem to know about the Belarc Adviser. When I called out to get the above specs, they said they'd have to open up the computer. I laughed. I asked don't you know about the Belarc Adviser and they didn't. I told them it was pretty slick and they should give it a try. That's how I got the above info--they ran it on my computer and then sent me a couple screen captures.
Cher
I physically took the computer to the Microsoft retail store in the mall.
I had my files backed up, but Microsoft also backed them up for me.
Cher
barebones possibiities.
This is a real option for me.
Thank you!
Cher
