[RESOLVED] AGP port destroyed...

[MikeCan]

Thanks for helping me on that last problem. All solved now... it appears the random electric spikes did cause some system lock ups and the power cord for the PSU was faulty.

Just a quick question...

Situation first:

Let's say a tower and monitor are set up on a desk. The monitor gets knocked off and the VGA port gets partially ripped off the mobo. The metal pins are in tact except 2 which went flying, but for the most part everything seems decently fine.

Now questions:
Can a professional fix that without having to replace the mobo? Any other solutions? Easy and ignorant question to answer I suppose. Thanks for taking a glance.

Motherboard: Asus P4V533-MX

Pictures:

[Nix]

Hmm nasty.

I would think a new mobo was in order rather than repairing and then finding out something else is wrong and then repairing that and finding out something else is wrong and then repairing and............

[Steve R Jones]

[photolady]

And it would be cheaper to replace the motherboard than pay someone to solder a new vga port. Hours of shop time, plus parts will be expensive.

[lgbpop]

[SuperSparks]

But I notice that board has an AGP slot. So it should be possible to disable the onboard graphics and put a normal graphics card in instead. Even a cheap card will probably give better performance that the onboard graphics.

[prouton]

...after straightening out all of the VGA port's pins so that they don't touch each other. Otherwise you might end up with an electrical short.

[SpywareDr]

... might be better to snip them all off flush just to make sure they can't ever touch each other.

[ahmedalmatook]

But I notice that board has an AGP slot. So it should be possible to disable the onboard graphics and put a normal graphics card in instead. Even a cheap card will probably give better performance that the onboard graphics.

i am with this proposal, more feasible and faster to apply

[MikeCan]

I'm going to buy a cheap card then, I was thinking of that as a solution if it was unrepairable so that sounds good to me. I'll snip them pins off as well so no power gets to them. Thanks for all the advice. Mark this up as RESOLVED. Until my next computer woe,

Hasta luego.

[MikeCan]

Actually I suppose I should ask your opinions on a cheap card as well since I'm on the subject. This machine only needs the most basic, it does not game or do 3d gfx. I'd go for the cheapest I see, but I don't want something shorting out on me either. What do you think? Thanks again.

[SuperSparks]

I'm not sure whether they ship to Paraguay, but there are a couple of Asus cards here for less than $25 US:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ice=&maxPrice=

Asus are a top brand, and you won't go far wrong with one of those.

[MikeCan]

I was looking at the Geforce MX4000 or the Radeon 7000 early this morning and figured I'd be safe going with either one. Thanks for the confirmation SuperSparks. I'm in paraguay so I dunno what will be available and what will be legit (second largest black market in the world). Any tips on making sure a card is legit by looking at it? I read an article a year or so ago on making sure you don't get cheated with your memory purchase. Any tips on this technology? Which card would be a better purchase? I have an embassy contact and their mail gets here within a week so I might just go through newegg afterall. Thanks for the help. Go ahead and mark as resolved.

[SuperSparks]

I know how to look for dodgy software, but fake hardware is not something I really know how to spot I'm afraid. I think the only thing you can do is to stick with a reputable supplier.

BTW, you can mark your own thread as resolved, yoy'll find the option in "Thread tools" at the top of the page.

[lgbpop]

I've got the Radeon 7000 in an older Socket 370 computer and it works just fine for basic use and slowpoke games like Solitaire or Elf Bowling III. Just avoid brands like Raúl's or ñVidia.