Dead Motherboard, replace with ??

[berntd]

I have a PC with blown Asus Z97 Gryphon ATX motherboard. Smoke came out near the CPU from a small IC or regulator or transistor- dead.
The PC power supply is good (I tesed it) and almost new, so its the high end graphics card, SDD, etc.

I want to replace the motherboard.

My dilemma:

Try and get the same model MB or buy a later/new one.
A used identical motherboard goes for about AU$120 more or less. and a new one about AU$485.
If I get the identical one, I am hoping to re-use the DDR3 RAM and CPU chip. The old CPU was a 4.2GHz Intel I7 on L1150 socket.

The cons are that:

1. I do not know if the RAM and CPU are still operational since the PC blew up.
2. There is no Wifi on the MB
3. If the CPU needs replacing, the choices for L1150 socket CPUs are limited

The Pros are:

1. Potentially the opposite of the above in that if the old parts work, I am winning.

If I get a new(er) MB, the CPU socket is different and the RAM is now DDR5, So those parts definitely have to be replaced.
Pros:
It should just work no issues.
It has Wifi
Cons:
I have to get a new CPU and DDR5 RAM.

What would you folks do in this case?
Perhaps there is a whole other option?

I use this PC for CAD work and writing software applications and firmware for embedded systems.
The old one was fairly snappy.

Best regards
Bernt

@admim:
I will try and regularly come here to check for replies until I can get notifications. Please have patience.

[Bruce]

They are all good questions.

The chances the motherboard blew AND took out the processor and memory are very small - but not zero. So that’s the gamble isn’t it???

Personally, and only because I’m at the stage in my live where the kids have flown the nest and the mortgage is paid off and there’s more disposal income around, I’d be taking the opportunity to upgrade all those parts you mention. Especially since the PC is your work-horse as well.

You could think of it as, if you weren’t needing the upgrade right now, when would you be, and all this has done is bring that point in time sooner.

Another consideration - why did the mobo blow, and while you think you may have a good PSU, that could have been the reason the mobo went south.

[berntd]

The broken computer was my previous work (office) computer and the company basically threw it out when it smoked itself. It had run non stop24/7 since 2016 with only the power supply dying once in 2022 and the graphics card fan becoming noisy (All that was fixed). The MB died in 2023.

My aim is to revive the broken PC as a WFH backup computer, but only if that is feasible. I don’t have heaps of money to burn (who does) and so I am carefully considering the options.

[PeterOz]

It is always easy to burn other people’s money.
However, I agree with Bruce this is your work so new would be best.
It all comes down to the issue of not knowing if the cpu and ram from the old system are in working order.
You buy the same MB and find they are toast you have blown $120.00 on a MB that is already used.
The used MB will also be circa 2016 you are pushing 8 years.
If this was one of my knockabout computers, I MIGHT consider the risk of $120.00.
For a work computer I would scrimp and save and use as much from the old as I could.
E.G New = MB,Ram,CPU
Old = Case, PS, SSD, Graphics card.
If you buy new.
You need to make sure the current PS will work with new equipment.
Also, If you do go new BEWARE of the common trap of matching Ram.
Cpu must suit MB
Ram MUST suit CPU and MB.
We see many cases of op’s buying E.G 3600MHz ram and the cpu only supports 3200MHz
And then come here and ask why the ram will not run at 3600MHz.

[berntd]

Ok everyone, thank you for the input.
I have taken it on board.

We can close this thread. BTW, can I do that myself somehow?

Bert regards
Bernt

[Bruce]

Consider it closed
All the best with your upgrade!