(PeteCresswell) wrote:
Per Andy:
The board is Micro ATX. Identify the Intel CPU that it's using to make
sure that the replacement motherboard can use it.
http://www.ehow.com/list_7515591_fox...fications.html

Thanks.

"Micro ATX" was the magic word I was searching for.

The CPU's ancestry seems tb in question (viz
http://tinyurl.com/3v8xtr4), it looks like I'll have to buy a new
heat sink too, and also it's not impossible that a defective CPU
was part of the problem this box was trashed.

In that context - and I think I'll just suck it up and buy a new
CPU along with the board.

OK, try this. Clean off the thermal paste from the processor.
You can carefully wipe the first bit with a paper towel or Kleenex.
Then, take another cloth and put a bit of isopropyl alcohol on it,
and clean up the residue. Isopropyl is not the correct solvent,
but it won't hurt anything you splash it on. There are much
stronger solvents, but they can damage electronics you splash
them on.

If you want real chemicals for cleanup, you can get a two bottle
kit like this. At least one of these bottles, contains the right
solvent. Isopropyl is just a liquid to push the stuff around with.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100010

Some pre-applied materials are phase change, and are a solid at
room temperature. I've had at least one computer, where I had to
scrape the damn stuff off (which isn't really a good way to do it),
because I couldn't get it off otherwise. Isopropyl didn't help
me that day.

In any case, the objective is to look underneath. This is a picture
of one way to mark a processor. In the center, you can see the SSPEC
code of "SL7PU".

http://cdn.cpu-world.com/Images/uplo...L_00001509.jpg

Don't give up yet :-)

Paul