I had my pc for a year now and my motherboard (msi b150 pc mate) just bit to dust i think. Is there any alternatives with the same componants? There isnt very much b150 pc mates availible anymore as far as I looked. I dont want to spend over $120 because I spent alot for a new cpu which isnt necessary. Specs: I5 6400 (old) i5 6600k (new) Amd rx 480 sapphire 16gb ram ddr4 1tb hhd
Well, all you really need is a new motherboard by the looks of it. If your board is still under warranty, I recommend seeing about getting a replacement first. Otherwise, by the looks of it, you could get a new motherboard if you still have that new i5. Also, you may need to get a new key for your Windows install if it is 7 or above.
The manufacterer is at the other side of the country so it might take a good few weeks posibly and I just dont have the patiance to wait that long. My plan is to get a replacement and use the warranty for the dead board that way ill have a backup board. Im just seeing if theres anything with the exact componants since i thought itll be fine with it. Im no pc expert so im just relying on the internet. Anyway replacing the motherboard isnt gonna affect my files in the hard drive is it?
Your harddrive, RAM, graphics card and core should be fine as long you get a motherboard that is compatible with DDR4 and has a LGA1151 socket. --- Post updated --- However, if you do plan to use that motherboard, you are going to need a new key for Windows (if you do use Windows).
Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 keys are bound to hardware configurations, so you may have to get a new key if you don't use a duplicate of your motherboard you registered your key with. (Maybe not Windows 7, but I'm sure 8 and 8.1 is likely bound. 10 is for sure.)(Edit 2: Ok, only with Windows 10 or if you used an OEM key.)
Oh right. Forgot about that. I guess as long you don't need to change hardware many times, you should be fine with this.
If you have a k-series (unlocked) CPU, you should get a Z170 board so that you can overclock. The MSI Z170M Mortar is $95 USD on Amazon.
You can replace a dead motherboard with a like or similar model motherboard and keep your Windows copy, you just have to call microsoft activation automated number and that you only have Windows installed to ONE computer if it asks. If you have the retail copy of Windows (regardless of version), that fully supports upgrading any and all parts. It won't even chastise you about de-activation. If you have an OEM copy of Windows 7 or 8.x it just means you'll have to call the activation hotline and have to type in an activation code. Usually it's okay if you haven't installed Windows within the last 60~90 days (I think it's 90 days), as it 'forgets' you after that amount of time and will take a new motherboard or equal difference without throwing a fit and denying you. Windows 10 OEM on the other hand, is more strict. If you talk to a human at some point with this, tell them your motherboard died and you got another motherboard for it that's roughly the same and it's still the same computer. If you upgraded from RETAIL Windows 7 or 8 to 10, you will be fine with the upgrade. If you buy a B150, Z170 motherboard the system should boot just fine as the old hardware config matches the new one. Just make sure to double-check your bios settings (Set the date, set your boot device, check temps and voltages etc), and such before attempting to boot the old Windows copy. Definitely return you old board so you have a backup, and give it a system stability test (try out all the ram slots, try the usb ports, make sure it sees a video card, etc), before your warranty is out so you're not caught with a defective board again. If you don't use it you can sell it when you sell off the system later. You can do ADVANCED REPLACEMENT where they cross ship a new or refurbished board to you at your expense, they'll put a hold on your credit card (required) and refund it when they get the old board back. Make sure not to bend any CPU socket pins or they won't accept the return, regardless of methods. I wouldn't worry TOO TOO heavily on the overclocking features, you won't get THAT far with an intel K-series chip before you run into cooling issues due to the rubbish POS thermal paste they use inside the cpu-package itself, and the small gap due to the compound/glue they use for attaching the 'lid' or IHS (metal heat spreader) to the cpu substrate itself. The overclocking issues from the 3xxx series to the current series are nothing short of well known. I had to delid my 4790k and use liquid ultra just to keep it below 72C (at all cores on 4.4ghz) on pretty much the best air cooling money can buy, in a full tower, just to keep it from throttling itself down. The stock coolers are USELESS on these K chips when the turbo kicks in. Don't recommend delidding a 6xxx/7xxx series chip if you're new to it, too easy to break it and it DOES void the warranty.