[SOLVED] Need help with replacing motherboard. Not sure what direction to go.

[spankdcano1986]

This was the previous motherboard that I had installed. ASRock FM2A88X+ Killer but with my kids spilling liquids within my machine my motherboard is now spent. I know there certain requirements I need to meet while purchasing one i.e Chipsets/Sockets. So I am having a hard time trying to figure out what to purchase without having to spend a whole lot.

Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88X+ Killer
Processor: AMD A10-7700k Radeon R7, 10 Compute Cores 4C +6G 3.80 GHz
System: 64-bit
GPU: Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1060
OS: Win10

Any help would be appreciated, just not sure if I can use all of my same hardware or if I need to purchase a new processor and what not as well. Oh and its mainly used to play Blizzard games, Diablo, WoW, Overwatch!

Thanks again.

 

[Zii]

FM2 is a bit older, but if it works for you, it works for you.

You'll want to buy another motherboard that's an FM2/FM2+ (FM2+ preferred)
Not sure what size your case is, but you're using a standard ATX board now, so you should look for another ATX.

Although, you CAN buy a micro-ATX or a mini-itx FM2, I would not recommend doing so because it limits how many PCI devices you can have connected if you ever need to plug in anything aside from the GTX1060 in the future.

Essentially, anything here will work: https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&N=100007625%20600469846%20600474773

The rest is based on your budget and if you care at all of the looks of your motherboard.

 

[GangstaSlime]

If you're looking for the same brand, ASRock, there are a couple cheap options:
--> https://www.amazon.com/ASRock-Micro-DDR3-Motherboards-FM2A68M-DG3/dp/B00Q6FVL0Q/
--> https://www.amazon.com/ASRock-Micro-DDR3-Motherboard-FM2A68M-HD/dp/B00QTP118U/

Gigabyte is one of the best brands mainly because their sturdy and usually cheap, so here's a couple that you could also pick if you want:
--> https://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-A68H-SATA-Motherboards-GA-F2A68HM-H/dp/B00T7XTT6C/
--> https://www.amazon.com/MSI-Micro-Motherboard-A68HM-E33-V2/dp/B00XI4NQBK/

**Here's my real suggestion**
Based on the specs you've listed, it's clear you could definitely use a processor upgrade. I would highly suggest investing a new processor that's at least a little newer and a good mobo to go with it as FM2 sockets/processors are getting harder to find. If you were looking to stick with AMD, I would recommend looking into their FX Series (typically AM3 socket) if you're looking for a cheap upgrade, or you could even look into the Ryzen Series (AM4 socket) if you were looking for a bigger upgrade (the older Ryzen processors are pretty cheap now). Upgrading to either AM3 or AM4 will both require a mobo upgrade.

If you decide to invest in a new processor and mobo that are a different socket type, you would also need to make sure your CPU cooler supports the new socket type, which may or may not be another thing to buy. If you did go for an AM4 board, you'd also need to switch to DDR4 memory (I'm assuming you currently have DDR3).

 

[spankdcano1986]

If you're looking for the same brand, ASRock, there are a couple cheap options:
--> https://www.amazon.com/ASRock-Micro-DDR3-Motherboards-FM2A68M-DG3/dp/B00Q6FVL0Q/
--> https://www.amazon.com/ASRock-Micro-DDR3-Motherboard-FM2A68M-HD/dp/B00QTP118U/

Gigabyte is one of the best brands mainly because their sturdy and usually cheap, so here's a couple that you could also pick if you want:
--> https://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-A68H-SATA-Motherboards-GA-F2A68HM-H/dp/B00T7XTT6C/
--> https://www.amazon.com/MSI-Micro-Motherboard-A68HM-E33-V2/dp/B00XI4NQBK/

**Here's my real suggestion**
Based on the specs you've listed, it's clear you could definitely use a processor upgrade. I would highly suggest investing a new processor that's at least a little newer and a good mobo to go with it as FM2 sockets/processors are getting harder to find. If you were looking to stick with AMD, I would recommend looking into their FX Series (typically AM3 socket) if you're looking for a cheap upgrade, or you could even look into the Ryzen Series (AM4 socket) if you were looking for a bigger upgrade (the older Ryzen processors are pretty cheap now). Upgrading to either AM3 or AM4 will both require a mobo upgrade.

If you decide to invest in a new processor and mobo that are a different socket type, you would also need to make sure your CPU cooler supports the new socket type, which may or may not be another thing to buy. If you did go for an AM4 board, you'd also need to switch to DDR4 memory (I'm assuming you currently have DDR3).

Thanks for the info, think I am going this route...

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z170-PRO-GAMING/?fbclid=IwAR17AS3CoJSgnfDcjYbFwQ0y5YCPPyR2tuveUUAhTZcWRWlNvx1f0bvE0vk -Mobo

https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Unlocked-Skylake-Processor-BX80662I76700K/dp/B012M8LXQW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549421701&sr=1-1&keywords=6700k+cpu -Cpu

https://www.amazon.com/Patriot-Signature-2666MHz-PC4-21300-Heatshield/dp/B07BRYVFKL/ref=sr_1_4_acs_ac_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549421896&sr=1-4-acs&keywords=ddr4 -DDR4

 

[GangstaSlime]

If you're looking for the same brand, ASRock, there are a couple cheap options:
--> https://www.amazon.com/ASRock-Micro-DDR3-Motherboards-FM2A68M-DG3/dp/B00Q6FVL0Q/
--> https://www.amazon.com/ASRock-Micro-DDR3-Motherboard-FM2A68M-HD/dp/B00QTP118U/

Gigabyte is one of the best brands mainly because their sturdy and usually cheap, so here's a couple that you could also pick if you want:
--> https://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-A68H-SATA-Motherboards-GA-F2A68HM-H/dp/B00T7XTT6C/
--> https://www.amazon.com/MSI-Micro-Motherboard-A68HM-E33-V2/dp/B00XI4NQBK/

**Here's my real suggestion**
Based on the specs you've listed, it's clear you could definitely use a processor upgrade. I would highly suggest investing a new processor that's at least a little newer and a good mobo to go with it as FM2 sockets/processors are getting harder to find. If you were looking to stick with AMD, I would recommend looking into their FX Series (typically AM3 socket) if you're looking for a cheap upgrade, or you could even look into the Ryzen Series (AM4 socket) if you were looking for a bigger upgrade (the older Ryzen processors are pretty cheap now). Upgrading to either AM3 or AM4 will both require a mobo upgrade.

If you decide to invest in a new processor and mobo that are a different socket type, you would also need to make sure your CPU cooler supports the new socket type, which may or may not be another thing to buy. If you did go for an AM4 board, you'd also need to switch to DDR4 memory (I'm assuming you currently have DDR3).

Thanks for the info, think I am going this route...

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z170-PRO-GAMING/?fbclid=IwAR17AS3CoJSgnfDcjYbFwQ0y5YCPPyR2tuveUUAhTZcWRWlNvx1f0bvE0vk -Mobo

https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Unlocked-Skylake-Processor-BX80662I76700K/dp/B012M8LXQW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549421701&sr=1-1&keywords=6700k+cpu -Cpu

https://www.amazon.com/Patriot-Signature-2666MHz-PC4-21300-Heatshield/dp/B07BRYVFKL/ref=sr_1_4_acs_ac_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549421896&sr=1-4-acs&keywords=ddr4 -DDR4

Looks like a good plan