Changing my motherboard HELP!

[dk-spec]

hi every1,

I'm new here and i'm hoping that ye can help me.

I have a medion md8820- Intel core 2 duo e6600 @ 2.4ghz
Geforce 8800gt 512mb
450 watt psu
2gb pc2-4200 ram 533mhz
Windows Vista home premium sp1

This computer has a msi ms7255 mobo which I feel is now severly lacking for my needs. Its max supported ram is 2gb and doesnt support core 2 quad. I was looking at buying a Gigabyte motherboard GA-EG31M-S2, I know its cheap but I am on a budget which may be overstretched as I may have to buy a retail copy of xp or vista as the one i have is oem. Another reason for me choosing this mobo is that it can hold all of my current hardware. I will eventually buy 2 x 2gb sticks of 800mhz ram but for now the 533mhz must do.

unfortunately i'm not allowed to use links, sorry for inconvenience caused looking up the info.


can i have opinions of this board plz.
Another issue that i have is that of the oem vista, if i change mobo then it is invalid, anyway i can work around this or is there anyway i can buy a cheap oem version of either xp or vista anywhere?

phew- if anymore info is needed plz ask.
btw- i'm hoping that changing the mobo is straight forward, any1 had any experience of this?
I'm used to opening the pc and changing parts- i've changed ram, cpu, graphics cards, psu and pci cards.

Any help would be appreciated!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Either of the following motherboards will do the job:

http://tw.giga-byte.com/Products/Mot...ProductID=2779

http://tw.giga-byte.com/Products/Mot...ProductID=2615

They have got good reviews:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/575

http://www.virtual-hideout.net/revie...3L/index.shtml

http://www.overclockersclub.com/revi...yte_gap31ds3l/

The P31-DS3L is under £50:

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Pr...ource=googleps

The EP31-DS3L is around £53:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148802

The P31 chipset prefers 2x2gb as opposed to 4x1gb though.

[dk-spec]

hi, thanks for the reply but i forgot to mention it has to be micro atx, is the GA-EG31M-S2 ok in ur opinion?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

hi, thanks for the reply but i forgot to mention it has to be micro atx, is the GA-EG31M-S2 ok in ur opinion?

The motherboard has got a bad review:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2327963,00.asp

These is probably better:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129592

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1...71&modelmenu=1

It has the later ICH8 southbridge which the G31 and P31 lack.It will support 8gb of RAM unlike the 4gb of the G31 and P31 chipsets. It will only take 1066mhz quad cores like the Q6600.

This motherboard will support the later 1333mhz quad cores:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/JandW...TX-Onboard-VGA

[dk-spec]

thanks again for replying. I am still attracted to the gigabyte board so i think i'll chance it. my current board is ms7255, would there be any issues fitting the new board in the case? if there is can i make it fit in by drilling new holes on the case?

what is the difference between ich7 and ich8

[mehmeh]

If the current board is mATX and the new board is mATX it should slot right in. Motherboard mounts are pretty much standard regardless. At worse you'll have to shift/add/takeaway a couple of stand offs, which are little copper coloured things that you rest the mobo on and screw into through holes in the motherboard to secure it in the case.

Also consider the size of your case. It might have a mATX board fitted at the moment, but that doesnt mean its a mATX case and means you could stick a standard sized motherboard in there which would really open up your options for the budget.

Can't help on the ICH question, SATA controller is a SATA controller to me.

[dk-spec]

thanks, the case is smallish, so an atx wouldnt fit unfortunately.

[Methanoid]

thanks again for replying. I am still attracted to the gigabyte board so i think i'll chance it. my current board is ms7255, would there be any issues fitting the new board in the case? if there is can i make it fit in by drilling new holes on the case?

what is the difference between ich7 and ich8

Did you buy the Gigabyte? If so please PM me.....

[dk-spec]

Did you buy the Gigabyte? If so please PM me.....

Ya, I bought the Gigabyte GA-EG531M7-S2 mobo.

[Methanoid]

Ya, I bought the Gigabyte GA-EG531M7-S2 mobo.

Well you have disabled incoming PMs so I cannot PM or email you... perhaps YOU could enable them and/or PM me? Or email me (username)@gmail.com

[dk-spec]

Well you have disabled incoming PMs so I cannot PM or email you... perhaps YOU could enable them and/or PM me? Or email me (username)@gmail.com

sorry about that, I'll email you on the above address.