The short version ...

18 month old PC

ASUS P5N
Intel Quad Core 2.3
4GB SD/1066
8600GT graphics

About 6 months ago, I started getting blue screens and restarts. The blue screen never lasted long enough to read the first couple words much less the error. The event log pointed to voltage errors. Looking at the cooling fans for the processor, video card, 3 drives and a 500W power supply, I figured the problem was an easy fix.

I replaced the marginal PS with a dual bus 650W unit. All seemed good ...

About 3 months ago, the system began locking up occasionally. Not often, just often enough to be a tad annoying. Event log kept pointing to memory issues. So, I figured it to be a bad DIMM

I replaced the G-Skill with Crucial and it appeared to fix the problem.


About 2 weeks ago, the same symptoms returned, only this time with more frequency and it would be blue screen once or twice and then a system lock would occasionally get thrown in.

And over the last couple days, it has got progessively worse and worse, to the point that it never even reaches the bios prompt nor do the keybord/mouse power up and there are no audible "beeps".

So, I think I have either fried a motherboard or processor or both.

So, I ordered this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131358

with this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115202

Before any one has a heart attack, NewEgg had a combo deal, there is a $50 mail-in rebate and I had a returning customer 15% off promo code. I saved a tick over $200 on the combo. Pricey still but, I've been throwing parts at this thing for a while.

Now, I've never exchanged a MB and processor before.

How difficult is it to install a processor? Any tips?
I have some thermopaste to use for the the heata sync and then a new fam to keep it all cool.

Once I get everything installed and I power it up for the first time, will it automatically see my system drive? Or will I have to start from scratch? I plan on just powering it up with the system drive only and then add peripherals as I go. Again, will it automatically pick up the drives as I plug them in?

What about my graphics card? Will I have to reinstall all the drivers or will the system just pick them up?

Remember, my system drive is fine as far as I know. So, everything for everything is on there.

Sorry for the long post, just venturing into uncharted territory and wondering I I should expect.

Thanks for the help.

Call me...

The processor is easy to install. Just index it (the pins will only let it go in one way), lock it in the slot, clip the fan on to the board, plug the fan in and "go". The board will typically use lots of different drivers, and you'll have to load many of them, but it will come up and run, and may keep your video card drivers functional. If not, it's an easy fix.

No worries, we'll get you fixed up.

And, you can mail the leftovers to me. I'll test them for you and see if I can tell what's bad.

I have all the original installation disks so that's not really an issue.

I was hoping for a seamless as possible swap ...

Generally, you'll swap in the board, swap in the drives and video card and turn it on. Just load the driver disk that came with the new board and load the drivers for that board. That will get you most of the way done. After that, just make sure things work and update drivers off of the web as needed.

And don't worry about the heatsink/fan. You got a retail boxed cpu that comes with the heatsink/fan already mounted and ready for use. Unless you're doing any overclocking, leave it alone and slap the cpu in as-is.

Good luck and have fun! I love this stuff. I keep telling my wife it's time for a new mobo/cpu combo. She's not buying into it just yet. Maybe it's because i keep spending money on my cars? haha.

Yea, I need one more MOBO and I'm ready for another machine. I have all the other parts laying around, I just need a board. I don't know that I need a machine, but that won't stop me. I might put this one in the garage.

Parts should begin trickling in today.

Yell if you need anything. You have my cell number.

You never said what OS. XP, Vista, 7beta?

XP

Well alrighty then ... Up and running once again.

A couple small snags worth noting ...

First of all, The BIOS picked up my existing Drives without a problem. Getting the BIOS to recognize them in the correct order was frustrating for those of us BIOS challenged. A couple taps of the keyboard and a well timed cable shuffle ... success.

Next came XP turning off the USB ports. They were fine while navigating the BIOS. Both my keyboard and mouse are USB. Kind of hard to run the driver disc without mouse or keyboard. But in true Microsoft Windows fashion, it magically stopped killing the ports after numerous excursions through the BIOS maze. And yes, USB 2.0 and Legacy USB were enabled. Just boom ... there they are!

And speaking of driver disc ... sometimes the OS would recognize the disc and sometimes it wouldn't. I would install a set of drivers from the disc on an occasion where the disc (not the drive, the disc) and the restart prompt would come up. Upon reboot, the disc would read blank. Another reboot, and it would reappear ... or not. But once I got all the drivers installed, it hasn't failed to recognize the disc since. Another Windows wave of the magic wand.

Any way, thanks to everyone that helped and especially to Kevin for the time on here and on the phone ...

Glad you got it sorted. Not sure how much I helped, I think we spent more time talking about notching tubing than computer parts. Either way, I'm always glad to help.