Well here is the story.
Computer was up and running and everything was fine. Then I heard a spark and computer shutdown. Could smell something had burnt and my first instinct was PS. Knew there was going to be some surgery happening so I blew out my case and took out Vid card and 1 Stick of RAM to start diagnosing problem.
Checked that all power connections were tight and fired it back up. This time I got a spark and a big plume of smoke thrown out of the top fan in my case. Well then I knew whatever it was that was toasted would probably smell burnt, so I took everything off the MB and took it out. Using my nose, I found the mosfets to be the culprit. Took of the heat sink and sure enough found a nice sized burnt area surrounding on of them. Not sure which component failed though because the mosfet solder points and most of the surrounding resistors were all toasted and the motherboard coating was burnt up as well (probably the source of the smoke).
Anyway, that story was just for your amusement. The main reason for this post is the fact that my other components are now homeless. My first reaction was to part out, but checking some prices, there are some cheap boards these days for LGA775.
TLDR: Start here
I was going to upgrade this year anyway, but it seems like bad timing not being able to wait for BD and 2011.
Here are some options I was debating on:
1. Buy a M-ATX board and make a LGA775 HTPC and buy Sandy Bridge / BD capable board rig.
2. Put M-ATX board in my case and use parts for HTPC once I do buy a new system.
3. Part out system and make new HTPC to use as main rig until new system is built.
4. Leave laptop hooked up to keyboard and monitor while leaving computer parts lying around and complaining how my computer room still stinks like smoke.
Any more ideas ?
Money is not really an issue, though I would like to try and spend it wisely and do something that seems to make the most sense.
BTW: sorry no pics. I only have a cheap cell phone for pics and they do not look that good.
Computer was up and running and everything was fine. Then I heard a spark and computer shutdown. Could smell something had burnt and my first instinct was PS. Knew there was going to be some surgery happening so I blew out my case and took out Vid card and 1 Stick of RAM to start diagnosing problem.
Checked that all power connections were tight and fired it back up. This time I got a spark and a big plume of smoke thrown out of the top fan in my case. Well then I knew whatever it was that was toasted would probably smell burnt, so I took everything off the MB and took it out. Using my nose, I found the mosfets to be the culprit. Took of the heat sink and sure enough found a nice sized burnt area surrounding on of them. Not sure which component failed though because the mosfet solder points and most of the surrounding resistors were all toasted and the motherboard coating was burnt up as well (probably the source of the smoke).
Anyway, that story was just for your amusement. The main reason for this post is the fact that my other components are now homeless. My first reaction was to part out, but checking some prices, there are some cheap boards these days for LGA775.
TLDR: Start here
I was going to upgrade this year anyway, but it seems like bad timing not being able to wait for BD and 2011.
Here are some options I was debating on:
1. Buy a M-ATX board and make a LGA775 HTPC and buy Sandy Bridge / BD capable board rig.
2. Put M-ATX board in my case and use parts for HTPC once I do buy a new system.
3. Part out system and make new HTPC to use as main rig until new system is built.
4. Leave laptop hooked up to keyboard and monitor while leaving computer parts lying around and complaining how my computer room still stinks like smoke.
Any more ideas ?
Money is not really an issue, though I would like to try and spend it wisely and do something that seems to make the most sense.
BTW: sorry no pics. I only have a cheap cell phone for pics and they do not look that good.
