PC motherboard problem help pls

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timtiam

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#69180 4-Oct-2010 21:51

HI all,

My Dell desktop just died couple of days ago. when you turn it on, CPU and hard drive are running but no signal on monitor and keyboard. (I guess the motherboard has died or somehow. ) Can someone please tell me how to fix it? we have a spare PC at home, can i switch CPU and hard driver to the other one?

Thanks heaps

powerforce

162 posts

Master Geek

#388217 5-Oct-2010 13:23

you can put your hard drive in your old PC assuming it uses the same connections.
(it will use either IDE or SATA connections)

I doubt you will be able to transfer your CPU over though. Unless your old PC uses the same "socket" CPU.

what CPU does your current PC have(the one thats not working) and what CPU does your old/other PC have?

timtiam

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#388222 5-Oct-2010 13:32

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Thanks powerforce, I remembered my broken PC got AMD dual core 2.5G CPU, not sure with the other one ( will check it tonight, I doubt they are the same). If i unplug the hard drive and put in the other one, do i have to reformate it, I don't want to loose all the data.

Cheers

powerforce

162 posts

Master Geek

#388227 5-Oct-2010 13:39

nope you dont have to re format it.
pretty much plug it in (to the motherboard, and the power supply)
Ensure its enabled in BIOS (will proberbly do it automatically)
And it should work.

timtiam

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#388234 5-Oct-2010 13:48

brilliant, i will try it tonight. but if i want to fix the problem for the long run. Can i replace the broken one with any brand/model motherboard? or it has to be Dell's.

powerforce

162 posts

Master Geek

#388244 5-Oct-2010 13:59

You can replace it with any compatible motherboard.
You would not replace it with a Dell motherboard.

The thing to do would be to purchase a new motherbord that is compatible with your CPU then transfer your RAM, Harddrive, and CPU over to the new motherboard.

Will need to know exactly what CPU you have.

timtiam

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#388265 5-Oct-2010 14:23

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my CPU: AMD Athlon(TM) 64 X2 Dual-Core processor 4200+ 1
BPR-056 -(512KB + 512KB L2 Cache, 2.2GHz)

how can i find if the new motherboard is compatible.

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

powerforce

162 posts

Master Geek

#388388 5-Oct-2010 17:50

Ok well according to google it would seem that processor was made in 2 different sockets..
socket 939 and socket AM2.

You will need to find out which one your CPU is

timtiam

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#388423 5-Oct-2010 19:48

socket is AM2, my other PC has Intel Core2 duo Processors 2.0 G 2 M Cache CPU and motherboard is Asus P5L-1394. Is that compatible? thanks

Lias

5655 posts

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#388537 5-Oct-2010 22:53

timtiam: socket is AM2, my other PC has Intel Core2 duo Processors 2.0 G 2 M Cache CPU and motherboard is Asus P5L-1394. Is that compatible? thanks

Nope.

It's been quite a few years since Intel and AMD CPU's went into the same sockets. (Super Socket 7 being the last if I recall.. And that must be a good 10-12 years ago)

You probably want a board like this:

http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=420994

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