Just marked my mobo with a screwdrivers :s

[Merlin4458]

Yup some of u may laugh, but its those ****ing AMD heatsinks. My thumb couldnt withstand the pain of pusing down those metal bars anymore. So i got a screwdriver to push it down. My luck, the screwdriver slipped and scratched the mobo right by the cpu, over 2 lines. My pc now wont boot. I have marked/scratched/dented two conductors.
Thinking ive just broken my mobo

Opinions

[nichomach]

Ouch. Double ouch. I suppose the only thing I could suggest is making sure that it's still clear of all the metal in the case. Were you replacing the CPU? If so, do you still have one to test it with? Doesn't sound too good though. Everyone's done something like it at some stage if they've been building machines, not that that's going to make you feel any better, of course.

[Merlin4458]

i was going to put a xp-120 on, but the heatsink would NOT come off, i had to use the screwdriver cause iwas damaging my thump. I never actually managed to get the heatsink off. My board is still under warrenty with ****** ( they might be reading, not scan) So i could send it back hoping they wont notice the big scratch, or i could jsut buy a new mobo. Thing is im strapped for cash but would like to replace the mobo with something as good.. Doesnt have to be asus.....
Ideas on that front too, and and thanks for sympathy

[Noni]

Try it with one ram stick.

[Merlin4458]

why? When i boot, My leds on my corsair, only 1 yellow led lights up, instead of the usual all light up and then settle. I took one ram stick out and the ram did the same, if i have too sticks in, only one will light up. Sounds to me like ive just owned my motherboard..

Any recomendation on a new mobo around the 60-70 mark?

[scrandman]

Abit KN8-SLI.

[nichomach]

Seconded. Very nice board to work with, and what I currently run. Passive chipset, so none of the screechy chipset fan probs that afflict some Abit mobos.

[CrapshoT]

I've done that twice,both on asus a7n8x's.Both brand spaning new as well.Now i use my multi screwdriver tool handle.It's like a screwdriver where the ends come out and are interchangable.The top of the clip fits snuggly in the end and wont slip off under the pressure.

[schmunk]

Getting a board with the exact same chipset as your current one would greatly ease any Windows migration troubles...

[BUFF]

Getting a board with the exact same chipset as your current one would greatly ease any Windows migration troubles...

you might be surprised (I was).
When I switched from a DFI SLI-DR to the AT8 just for giggles I did a straight swap instead of a Repair or fresh install & was absolutely gobsmacked when it worked perfectly (mind you I wasn't running the SW IDE drivers or the NAM).

[nichomach]

On the basis of my experience with it you'd have to be either masochistic or stark ****ing bonkers to run the NAM...