Newbie in deep doodoo

[MobTel]

Hi Guys

I seem to have got myself in deep trouble, not having the confidence to build a w/c rig from scratch, I decided to buy a ready built one from a company called Vadim.(now in liquidation).After logging a couple of Bios problems it stopped talking to my screen.(it worked fine for 18 months)

I decided to replace the mobo with the same version, but I cannot source one.

So, my problem is twofold:

1. Can you recommend a SLI mobo that will handle my kit, particularly with regard to position of components and external connections, as movement of cabling and water cooling piping is very limited.

2. As I am well past my "Sell by date", my eyes are not as good as they used to be, and its been a good 10 years since Ive pulled a computer apart, does anybody know if there is some sort of club or group in my area (Basingstoke), that could advise/assist when I get myself into serious problem areas.

Thanks for reading a rather long post...:worship:

1 x Lian-Li V2100B Plus Black CASE

1 x LiquoCool Antarctic TX Extreme (CPU+Chipset+2VGA)

1 x Enermax Galaxy Modular 850W PSU

1 x Asus P5N32-E SLI Plus (Nvidia 650i - 1333 FSB Conroe)

1 x Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Retail (2x2.66GHz 1333FSB 4Mb)

2 x OCZ DDR2-1150 2x1024MB FlexXLC Edition Dual Channel Kit

2 x BFG Nvidia 8800GTX OC 768Mb PCIe HDCP

2 x 150Gb Raptor 10000 16mb E-SATA

1 x 750Gb Barracuda 7200.10 16mb Cache SATA II NCQ

1 x SONY-NEC Optiarc AD-7173A 18x DVDRW

1 x Pioneer 112DBK DVDRW

1 x Creative 7.1 X-FI ExtremeGamer

1 x Windows XP Prof SP2

1 x Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit

 

[k4p84]

as long as you get the same form factor motherboard, ie ATX as i presume it is you should not get many issues.

the general board layout is fairly similar on the boards, sockets are not going to be far from an average placement.

is you w/c set up include cpu, south / north bridge, mosfet, gpus?

if it is just a small cpu loop then it should be very easy swap.

 

[Sleekit]

Also making sure the motherboard supports your CPU and RAM.

Something like this...

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Asus-Striker-Extreme-V2-NF680i-SLI-S-775-PCI-E-(x16)-DDR2-533-667-800-SATA-II-SATA-RAID-ATX

 

[deathwish]

before you go out and buy parts are you sure that its the motherboard

try removeing all but one stick of ram

clear the cmos by removing the battery for a minute

try a different gpu

listen for any beep codes that the machine is making eg one beep is sucessful post

check all the connections to make sure that a cable hasnt fallen out

i spent hours only to find that the power had fallen out of my graphics card

do the fans spin when you turn it on or dose nothing hapen when you press the power button

Out of expericence most comon things to be at fault are the least obvios

if you need some help troubleshooting it i am always arround

 

[Ham]

And if it turns out you do need a new motherboard, avoid nvid's 6xx chipsets. They're awful. 750i is reasonably priced, 780i is a bit more expensive and 790i needs DDR3, so take your pick out of boards based on them.

 

[Thanh55]

I thinks if you really need SLI, why dont you go for 750i, 780i, 790i. Or just sell one of your 8800GTX and get a P45 board and use the rest component. Pull out everything and start again quite straight forward or you have to pay a premium price for someone rebuild your pc. We are here could help you out for rebuid your pc step by step with ease.

 

[MobTel]

Thanks for the posts

As far as I can I have limited the problem to the mobo, I had a couple of bios failed to load messages,then it would fire up after a couple of power downs, at the moment fans and pumps come on, also a couple of leds light up (cant see what ones)but no post beeps at all,no communication with display. But your quite right the problem could be anywhere, I'm do not have the tools to diagnose it. Prior to final fail, I removed SLI cable and soak tested both GPUs individually and in SLI mode, even replaced the bios chip.I cannot see anything wrong, and no smell of burning.

So thats why I decided to replace mobo, if that dont work PSU, then panic...

As im going this way, I might as well upgrade the mobo and probably the CPU, Im happy with the GPUs and memory, so that rules out 790i(I think).

Friends have suggested 2 mobos.."Biostar TPower I45", but I think this is crossfire or a "XFX 750i 72P9"??..

Is there a dummies guide to SLI chip sets out there, as I dont know the advantages of each type? (price is not an issue).

I think im more worryed about removing the heat pipes on the mobo to fit the northbridge w/c and air cooling the south and any vrm's that need it, and fitting them into the space.

So any suggestions would be welcome. thanks

 

[k4p84]

even replaced the bios chip.

erm!!

how about an EVGA Black Pearl board, fully watercooled, just plumb it up to the rest of your loop

 

[tinytomlogan]

Im only accross the water on the IOW if you get stuck matey.

 

[Thanh55]

If you realy stuck give me a buzz if you don't mind travel, I'm in Weybridge. A little patients you gonna do it anyway. Give yourself a chance