4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Our 4 1/2 yr old Dell pc needs a new motherboard.

 

Apparently you can't buy one from just anywhere as only a Dell one will fit into the pc case .

 

Anyone had to do this? Does it cost a fortune? The alternative is rebuilding a new pc with a new case and the parts that are OK but having to reinstall Windows (a pain as this happened suddenly with no chance to backup - we have backup on an external drive but we'd still lose things .)

[WarrensWorld]

Depends on what model DELL you have. There's over 2500 DELL motherboards on eBay.

We've a 4600 I don't think it's that difficult to fit a replacement board, just as long as you've some idea of the basics.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hadn't even thought of Ebay . Thanks for the tip .

 

It's a Dimension 5000 - I'll go and have a look .

[Geoid]

Replacing the motherboard is a big job, you will need some knowledge of building computers.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I know . I have put a fan and memory in before and replaced a graphics card but I know this is beyond me . I can get a pc repair shop to do it for £35 or I have a friend who is in computers who could do it.

 

I'm just bamboozled by all the motherboard speak . I'll speak to Dell tomorrow and see what they say. If I can get a part number it might be easier to find the correct part on Ebay or elsewhere.

 

I've been quoted £144 to rebuild a new pc with our usable components but we'll lose all our data . Do you reckon that sounds reasonable?

[WarrensWorld]

You could try it this way DELL 5000 MOTHERBOARD £60.55 for the board and £29.00 UPS express parcel. Then get your friend to fit it, or give the repair shop £35.00 to fit it that still leaves you in front by £28.45 out of £144.00.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That's clever . Might well consider it .

[WarrensWorld]

If you get your friend to fit it will only cost you £89.55. That'll save you £63.45. Far better than paying £144.00 and you get your computer back and keep your data.......

 

We hate to pay full price for anything, especially in this credit crunch..... .

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Well, I have in front of me all the parts I need.

 

I'm very impressed with Dell, I must say. A very helpful chap emailed me a link to Ebay for a Dell I/O front panel (which I also needed as well as the motherboard!) as Dell didn't have one in stock. Cost me £9.50 rather than Dell's £25 plus P&P . I ended up buying the motherboard from Dell and it arrived the next day . I also got 2 more gigs of memory (you can't just stick any old memory on their boards ).

 

So it's cost about £177 but that includes extra memory, the front panel and the motherboard.

 

I'm going to attempt to fit it myself . Wish me luck .

[Geoid]

I'm going to attempt to fit it myself .

 

Before you do anything, go touch something metal, that is earthed (like a water pipe), if you do not get rid of static electricity, you will fry your computer (and all your shiny new parts)

[Leicester_H]

I always wear an earthing strap (as I have one and I might as well use it) when doing jobs like this.

 

see eg http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=4008&C=SO&U=strat15

 

I would strongly recommend improvising something similar.

 

H

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Don't worry, Fred, I did know that .

 

I don't have a strap but I understand as long as you discharge the static by touching the metal casing you're OK? (Last time I "went in", I kept touching it, probably far more than necessary .)

[Geoid]

Don't worry, Fred, I did know that

phew, my friend once tried to replace some ram on his dell, didn't get rid of the static, fried his computer beyond repair.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You have actually got me feeling more nervous now . I'm wondering how busy my friend's OH might be this w/e .

[Leicester_H]

Don't worry, Fred, I did know that .

I don't have a strap but I understand as long as you discharge the static by touching the metal casing you're OK? (Last time I "went in", I kept touching it, probably far more than necessary .)

No - it is best to keep contact with the metal casing / earth .

 

H

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I've actually decided it's more trouble than it's worth trying to do it myself (although I'd have been interested to see if I could manage it ). I'm going to take it into the shop (friend's OH has done us too many favours, the main one being building our walk in run ).

 

I reckon it's worth having it done properly rather than me having a go and possibly mucking it up .