New Hardware (motherboard/fan)

PCHbreeze · 04-22-2007, 11:40 PM

First, I want to say thanks again for everyone whose given me input in the computer-support section. I truly appreciate it.

Now:

My dads computer went out. It was the fan on his Emachines T2642 and I guess it burnt up his mother board because of it.

Questions:

1. It is the motherboard that has that main fan on it, right? The one in question is right on the circuit board but I'm just trying to confirm what my bro-in-law said (he's not the type to lie, but the type to not really be sure of what he's talking about before he speaks).

2. Can I get any Emachines compatible motherboard?

3. What are some good places to purchase?

Thanks again guys.

bzbatl · 04-22-2007, 11:57 PM

1. In general, motherboards don't have fans (unless we're talking about the tiny fans for the chipset - but I'd bet good money on emachines not having those anyway).

Your CPU's fan probably went out. Which is mounted to the motherboard.

2. Don't bother. Replace the motherboard, CPU, and case, and rip out the drives. Emachines are the bottom end of retail computers. Spend a little bit of cash and get good quality parts if that's your wish.

3. newegg.com - how much do you want to spend?

Krazy Hawaiian · 04-23-2007, 07:20 AM

If your trying to fix it for cheap, more than likely you can get by with just a mobo/cpu. Best place to find the best deals is http://www.pricewatch.com/

cases are fairly universal if you know what model it is and the cpu speed call a couple of the places price watch will show you close to where you are and tell them what you want to do, most decent stores will know what wil fit and set you up. For a store to be listed on price watch they have to be reputable or they get taken off the search listing pretty quickly.

PCHbreeze · 04-23-2007, 04:08 PM

I'm going to either use this for very basic operation so I don't need any speed or abilities.

I guess I should have phrased the question better. Does it matter what brand/type of motherboard I get? What are the types? Which will fit into the slot? I'm concerned about compatability issues.

thanks

PCHbreeze · 04-23-2007, 04:23 PM

I'm thinking a motherboard from 3-4 years ago should be fine, so I dont see myself spending more than $75. Does that sound right? I just need it for Microsoft Word and nothing else.

kch88 · 04-23-2007, 07:14 PM

a 3-4 y/o motherboard should be 10 dollars. They're barely worth the silicon and copper they're printed with anymore. Motherboards (generally speaking) are compatable with any other components in your box. If you think the CPU is fine and are just trying to replace that, then you need to get a motherboard that will fit your CPU. Motherboards are basically paired with a certain set of CPUs, everything else will hook up just fine (hard drives, video cards, mice, speakers, etc). One thing to note, your old motherboard may have had an onboard sound card, and if your new one doesn't, you won't be able to play sound without getting a separate sound card.

I'd need more info to tell you what to get specifically.

Krazy Hawaiian · 04-23-2007, 10:45 PM

For 75 bucks you can find pretty decent stuff on pricewatch. you most likely need a cpu and mobo. look at combos the type is atx Abit or Asus make the best. I prefer Intel cpu's but AMD is ok too, it's user preference.

Cant really give any precise info without knowing exactly what you have.

bzbatl · 04-24-2007, 12:40 PM

What type of RAM is it? If you get a newer CPU/mobo combo you might need new RAM, as well. And possibly a new power supply.

Heh.

PCHbreeze · 04-24-2007, 05:34 PM

Good thing my dad left that sticker on the front of the computer...

The thing is maybe a year old...

Emachines T2642

He bought the whole package for $400...2.6GHz, 40GB 256mbDDR 6usb ports

intel extreme graphics 845gv

I dont know if its the CPU but I think so. It wont start up at all, or even try. Some error message comes up whenever it tries to power up but i think its from the monitor. It says "self test G" and its in green.l.."check your pc and signal cable R" and its in red...."monitor is working B" and its in blue.

the fan on the motherboard (a big one right on it...its the only fan on this computer) quit and burnt whatever was on it. It might just be the CPU after all.

(pictures coming up...i need to switch computers)

PCHbreeze · 04-24-2007, 05:41 PM

Can I get a decent CPU for about $10?
I dont want to invest too much on this spare computer...if I use it, it will be for MS Word. If I give it back to my parents, it'll barely be for non-online casino games and a typing exercise program my mom likes for some reason.
attached is the board in question...the big square is where the fan sat, and it had grease on it (to conduct the heat I guess). Hope it helps.

Thanks again for any suggestions. I dont think I want a new motherboard because it would downgrade all the components that are on it with whatever i replace it with (my price range). I might just get a new cpu, but i dont know where that is.

kch88 · 04-24-2007, 05:58 PM

You are getting that message on the screen because the monitor isn't getting a signal at all. This doesn't tell us much in itself. Just says that the board isn't working very well. It's hard to tell if it's the CPU or what. If the fan stopped working and the CPU was run without the fan and without a heatsink (I don't see one on there for the CPU, unless it's mounted under the fan which they are sometimes), it could very easily have fried itself.

Oh, and that is the CPU. That metal looking thing under where the fan used to rest is the CPU. You can take it out by pushing out and then pulling up on that lever on the side (it should pop up once you pull it out). The CPU will then be loose in its sockets and able to be pulled out and replaced. The CPU must be compatible with the motherboard if you try to replace it. Anything intel 470 socket (IIRC) will work with new intel chipset motherboards.

If it's AMD you'll need to get an AMD motherboard to support it. Hard to tell what broke. I wouldn't recommend buying a used CPU (hard to test reliability and stuff, could've been overclocked, etc). You could probably find a last generation socket 470 Intel chip new for around 20 dollars. It will be slower than what you have, but it doesn't sound like you care.

If you just want a PC to run word on, with no frills, you could probably find a full computer (just tower, no monitor, etc) for around 50 bucks somewhere. Hell, even Goodwill has computers sometimes that can run a word processor.

Krazy Hawaiian · 04-24-2007, 07:29 PM

That is a Intel P4 2.8 cpu The little silver lever on the top edge releases it. It only goes back in one way!

That is a small or mini ATX mobo make sure you get a small size board or it wont fit....

OK most likely you will need both a mobo and cpu. If you try to put a new cpu on that board it most likely will toast it because when the cpu went down it probably fried some part of the board. The clue here is the messages you are getting about the monitor... normally a bad cpu or other problem will give a series of beeps which if you know the code wil tell you wtf is wrong. If it beeps a lot thats not good LOL

That mobo has onboard video so you need a mobo with video on it or spend $$ for a video card as well.

Chances are getting a similar cpu mobo combo you will be ok but there is no gaurantees...