Motherboard trouble/question - New build advice

[Hitoshura]

I usually don't turn my PC off when I fall asleep, I woke up to check on my downloads/uploads and my screen wasn't moving. I did a quick reset and it just stayed frozen on the first page that shows the motherboard brand. I notice my motherboard isn't making any kinds of blips and bleeps but powers on the CPU fan and every other fan like normal.

I unplugged everything one by one and still not a single sound from the motherboard. Is it dead? I remember a few years back my CPU failed and the motherboard went crazy with bleeps. I am just wondering if it could have damaged anything while it burnt out.

My cousin is dead certain it's my motherboard and thinks I should upgrade. I can't spend over $200 this coming pay check. He has suggested the following:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138111

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16819103242R

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226112

Though if it's just the motherboard that went out, I would rather just use what I had:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ASUS-A8V-MX-VIA-...item58889f8683

I know, I know PC3200 in this day and age is a sin but it's still 4GB's.. and I just have no idea how much of an upgrade the stuff linked above would be. Any advice would be awesome, I have until next week to decide. Currently on a very old Acer laptop from 2003, it's burning my hands lol. It has 25GB of free space, it couldn't even install Aion.

[sruon]

May as well just buy a motherboard for cheap and save for a real upgrade.

[Hitoshura]

Another friend of mine has steered me in a slightly better direction.

http://i25.tinypic.com/2mhde6w.jpg

[sruon]

I don't know what you do with your comp but that's still a pretty bad upgrade imo. :/

[Hitoshura]

Not exactly trying to upgrade by a milestone here, just need something fast, cheap, so far it's much better than what I had. I only play Aion, and what I was running on was just fine except for the big fort raids. I just want something that will run Aion again, but now probably better. What do you suggest I go with?

This laptop is being loaned to me until I get my own back up, I can always upgrade the CPU later with that motherboard.

[Olo401]

Your second friend did a little better, but I wouldn't recommend a 740G motherboard.. they're just WAY too old.

Also, I have to tell you it was long overdue time for a full rebuild. I know you're tryin to save some money here but you should consider creating a new starting point for future upgrades. We can still do it fairly cheap, but it might take two paychecks to get there. I'll post a build in a little while.. kinda got busy here at work.