Need new motherboard?

I am unable to access the Bios, even with a PS2 keyboard. The Bios had reset and installed a Promise Raid Controller (I don't use Raid) and will not install Bios). I need new motherboard (?). I have a ASUS K8V SE and AMR 64 3200 CPU.
Note: Some other functions have been going bad over the years (e.g., Front USB)

Can someone recommend a better motherboard?
Is Ebay okay for used motherboards? (I'd like one with 3 DIMM slots, many have only 2.

Any other suggestions welcome!!

Thanx

Contact me here or at

 

Just a couple of small comments :

- Re your motherboard you could try to reset bios (look up the mobo manual online, usually you have to remove the battery and move a jumper). Also, you find the latest bios and reflash.

- Re used mobo from eBay, remember you will have no warranty and usually no way to return/refund.

I see mobo and CPU combos around for $40, so the motherboard alone (new) can't be that much... A good one is the GA-K8VNXP, if you can find one.

In the end, most times you are better off price wise with a mobo+cpu combo.

 

Some Mobos are cheap, others are still in the low 100s. Thanx for the tip on GA.

 

Have you tried installing a new CMOS/BIOS battery? They're only about $3 and while a new battery won't fix the front USB ports (I'd be surprised if it did anyway ), it may fix the other issue(s) described. Personally, I'd stay away from buying used components on eBay like a motherboard. New MBs are fairly inexpensive; you can get a decent board for under $50 brand new. Here's some links:
AMD motherboards under $50 at Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007625 4025&IsNodeId=1&name=$25 - $50
Intel boards under $50 at Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627 4025&IsNodeId=1&name=$25 - $50
CPU & MB combos at Newegg (AMD & Intel in all price ranges): http://www.newegg.com/Store/ComboDeals.aspx?ComboStoreID=1&name=CPUs-Motherboards
Here's a good dual-core Intel 2.93 CPU w/ MB for under $120: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.495319
... and here's a good AMD quad-core deal w/ MB for about $155: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.500555

When buying CPUs, MBs, and hard drives, (and to a certain extent, video cards too), new products are the only way to go....

 

What do you base this statement on? Between eBay's buyer protection ( http://pages.ebay.com/coverage/index.html) and PayPal's (usually how most payments are made) the buyer has plenty of protection.
Also reputable sellers want repeat customers and will handle returns/refunds.

Sam

 

You can also try this company www.3btech.net . They carry refurbished older motherboards if you don't want to upgrade everything (CPU, memory, video card).

newegg.com does have bundles/combos if you do decide to upgrade. A lot of new motherboards have video built in but are not for heavy gaming. Also DDR2/DDR3 system memory is expensive, running about $90 for 2 Gb. So you can pick up a mobo/cpu combo cheap, memory will jack up the cost.

I've built a few systems for people in the past few months using Biostar's MCP6P M2+ board (has built-in video, uses DDR2 memory, the M3 version uses DDR3) and whatever cheap dual-core AMD CPU has been offered with it from Newegg. Board/CPU usually runs about $65 (I look for deals with free shipping) but it's the system memory that bumps the cost up.
Adding a dedicated 512mb PCIe video card can cost as little as $30 (will do video playback fine), a card better suited for gaming will be $100 and up.

So it really comes down to what the computer is sued for. If it's just a web surfer/email/Office machine looking for a refurb'd mobo could be fine. If you want to update it can be done for less than $175.

Sam