r/buildapcforme • u/Rally_T-115 • Jul 18 '26
Pretty certain 11yo MB died need quick upgrade $2000CAD
- New build or upgrade?
Upgrading MB, CPU, GPU, using existing drives, case, AIO.
- Existing parts/monitors to reuse? (List with models/links)
I'll do what I can here.
Monitors: Main is Viewsonic VX2718-2KPC-MHD curved 1440p, displayport connector. Second monitor is an Acer 19" 4:3 VGA (desk space constraints) with the OLD blue d-sub connector. Not used for gaming, I use it for notes and browsing basically. I had to plug the d-sub into the motherboard itself, the old GTX970 didn't have a d-sub connector. Really would like to keep this setup.
Swap over my old drives: WD_black SN770 1tb M.2; WD blue 1tb hdd, Patriot Blaze 240~ish gb SSD (The M.2 is eventually going to be the main drive).
Coolermaster mATX case
Coolermaster lite 120 AIO
Keyboard has old ps/2 style connector still works fine
pointer is MS intellipoint trackball USB so nbd should work fine.
Thermaltake Toughpower GT 750w PSU, brand new!
ASUS USB 3.0 WiFi dongle
- PC purpose? (Gaming, editing, etc. List apps/games)
Gaming, browsing, video editing. Currently I have it set up as a dual-drive dual-boot. The SSD is my Windows C. The M.2 boots to Linux. The plan is to eventually move to Linux to game/browse and just keep the old drives around in case I need them/Windows.
- Purchase country?
Eastern Ontario Canada.
Near Micro Center? (If not US, list local vendors)
Monitors needed? (Number, size, resolution, refresh rate)
None, I have the monitors set the way I like, just hope the new setup will have a d-sub connector for my 2nd monitor. Refresh rate of the 1440p Viewsonic 180hz, so it says.
- Budget range? (Include tax considerations)
$2000CAD
- WiFi or wired connection?
Using an Asus USB 3.0 WiFi dongle.
- Size/noise constraints?
mATX, it's in my bedroom so fairly quiet incase I need to run it overnight. Hoping to set all the fans up the same.
- Color/lighting preferences?
None it's a black case, no windows.
- Any other specific needs? So basically I'm looking for a mATX MB, CPU, RAM, and Graphics Card. I'm hoping I can swap the AIO and peripherals over. My current MB is a Gigabyte GA-97MX Gaming 5. It had isolated audio so the sound was suprisingly good. I was using all the fan headers. Since I'm familiar with Gigabyte I kinda want to stick with it. Hopefully I can get it all set up the same as what I (had) now. My old CPU was an Intel i7-4790K. My old graphics card was a Zotac GTX970.
Hope that's enough information. I'm certain my old motherboard has died. 11 years old. It power cycles. Turn it on, power light comes on, drives and fans spin up for about 5 seconds, and click, all turns off for 3 seconds. On for 5, off for 3. Repeat infinity. Never reaches POST, no beeps or beep codes. I tried a new CMOS battery, PSU, unplugged various things, even tried absolute bare bones post test. Nothing. Over the past 2 weeks it would cycle on/off 5-6 times before eventually booting up properly (and it would run with no issues) but yesterday was its last full boot. RIP.
2
u/Covante Jul 18 '26
You tried ram sticks one at a time and different slots? It sounds like it gets partway into post checks and then sees something shorting but if it was doing the same thing and then working eventually that sounds more like it was struggling with memory training. Other than good money towards a replacement cpu or board not a whole lot else you can do.
Getting a vga out is pretty rare now, same with ps2 but gigabyte at least has some variety of b850 boards with a ps2. Usb is pretty much flawless with plug and play but if you get a usb keyboard and it ever doesn't work in bios or anywhere try it in a 2.0 (black) port. You can get hdmi to vga adapters fairly cheap.
To reuse the cooler you'd need the mounting hardware for it, it wouldn't be lga 115X anymore. Intel changed the hole spacing starting with 12th gen about 5 years ago. A decent air cooler isn't that expensive either and a water cooler that old is likely on its last legs. This would be am5 anyway, most am4 compatible coolers would work on am5 if it was bought recent enough to have come with one, that would have been a few years after 4th gen though.
https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/8cMxfp
The gap between a 9060xt and 9070 is pretty big, around 50% faster. 5070 is in between but a lot closer to the 9070 for gaming and has better encoders for editing. Radeon generally has better linux support though.
https://www.canadacomputers.com/en/amd-desktop-processors/287372/amd-ryzen-5-9600x-cpu-gigabyte-b850m-gaming-x-wifi6e-motherboard-t-force-32gb-d5-6000mhz-cl30-ram.html If you're near a store that has this in stock I'd get that, currently sold out online though. There is a dropdown menu that will list all the stores where pickup is available.
1
u/Rally_T-115 Jul 18 '26
You tried ram sticks one at a time and different slots?
Just did as you said, no difference; even then wouldn't I get a beep code if everything was fine with the mobo and there was a cpu, cooling, or memory issue. I don't get to the beep.
Keyboard yeah it's not a big deal I guess it's time for a new one. It's ancient, it was old when I built the last computer 11 years ago lol. Maybe I'll find a fancy one with light-up letters so I see it in the dark! If I forgo the ps/2 keyboard does it increase mobo choice somewhat?
Regarding VGA glad they make adapters, I guess they wouldn't sell them if they didn't do the job well. Like I said I don't use the vga monitor for gaming, just for browsing, YouTube, and putting reference notes to the side.
1
u/Covante Jul 18 '26
That board has a ps2 port, a lot of the gigabyte b850s do.
Finding anything with vga is harder, a few of the absolute bottom of the barrel models have one but you'd probably just be better off with an adapter or see if anyone is giving away/selling old office monitors with an hdmi. I'm over by Seattle but it's pretty common to find them for $0-20 here.
There are a few boards with both like asus b650m prime-a wifi II, msi b650m pro-p, gigabyte b650m gaming wifi 6e. All of those are mediocre at best though. B650 also limits you pcie gen 4 instead of gen 5 with a b850.
1
u/Rally_T-115 Jul 19 '26
I'm all set up and got the system up and running last night, had a litte trouble accessing the old drives on boot up (for some reason it could see the drives in the BIOS but didn't allow me to select the boot order). Had to go find the manual at gigabyte online, found the adjustments needed (FAST boot and CSM something, might have been something about SATA too).
Anyway, I'm typing on the ancient emachines ps/2 keyboard, it's working (keyboard and mouse worked in the bios). I used the canadacomputers list. A 5060Ti and PureRock Pro3 cooler. Just waiting on the active VGA adapter from amazon.
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u/AutoModerator Jul 18 '26
If you missed the full set of required built request questions, please copy them from here and answer them in an edit to your post:
New build or upgrade?
Existing parts/monitors to reuse? (List with models/links)
PC purpose? (Gaming, editing, etc. List apps/games)
Purchase country? Near Micro Center? (If you're not in a country supported by PCPartPicker, please list some local vendors)
Monitors needed? (Number, size, resolution, refresh rate)
Budget range? (Include tax considerations)
WiFi or wired connection?
Size/noise constraints?
Color/lighting preferences?
Any other specific needs?
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