Dell Dimension 8400 needs new motherboard

[46and2]

I have a friend that I'm trying to help out.

He has a Dell Dimension 8400 computer and the motherboard is dead. The question is, if I get him an exact replacement (same part number) motherboard, will it be plug and play (just move everything from his old motherboard to the new one)?

He also has all the original installation disks if we happen to need them.

Thanks in advance.

- Ray

 

[lawson_jl]

If you do get an exact replacement it will be that easy yes. But for the price you could likely get a new mobo/cpu combo for the computer for less money.

 

[Mumbodog]

Should not be any issues.

After installing it, enter the bios and set the clock to the proper date and time, save changes on exit ind continue with booting.

May be hard to find a known good replacement for that old of a PC.

Might be time to buy a new PC.

There is a Dell part number printed on the motherboard, it is a long string, the first 5 are the part number, usually starts with a letter and then 4 numbers, this is what you want to look for, for an exact match when buying.

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[46and2]

Awesome! Thanks for the info. He is going to build another PC, but for now (he has no internet or anything) he just wants to get this one back up and running.

I found a motherboard for $85 shipped for that model, not too shabby

Thanks again guys.

 

[win2kpro]

Have you tested the power supply to verify that the problem is the board?

 

[46and2]

No, he had someone else do that. The capacitors on the motherboard are buldging out. It still powers up ok.