How do I know if this mobo will work with my system?

times_champion · 21 Jul 2008 at 13:42

I currently have a Dell PC with a Pentium 940 processor and a 788GTX but am planning to upgrade bit by bit over the next few months to an E7200 and 8800GT. I obviously need to get a new mobo and I have seen an ASUS P5Q Intel P45 Skt 775, but how do I know for sure whether this will work with my current processor and my new setup?

Snakedoctor · 21 Jul 2008 at 13:43

Dunno, but you might have problems fitting the board into a dell case. They tend to use non standard stuff to prevent such things.

RizlaKing · 21 Jul 2008 at 14:25

Save your money till you can buy all your new stuff and then you don't have to worry also as said you might want to get a new case as well.

RJC · 21 Jul 2008 at 17:56

Link below shows what CPU's the motherboard can support, like what the 2 posters above mentioned, you need to check your case and power supply,
as this might not all the power plugs for gpu's and the motherboard.

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=P5Q

times_champion · 21 Jul 2008 at 18:03

Thanks - looking at that web page it does support my old and new processers, but this may be a thick question but how do I check the power plugs? The PSU is 380w if that helps - im planning on upgrading to a 500w PSU and new case when I get the gfx card around december, but how would i know if my PSU can support the P45 mobo and E7200?

hp7909 · 21 Jul 2008 at 18:24

IMHO (& having been in same situation) its much much much easier to just buy another case. Solves the doubts & should last you many builds & or upgrades

times_champion · 21 Jul 2008 at 18:33

But again, how would I know if the case I bought worked with the mobo?

hp7909 · 21 Jul 2008 at 18:36

times_champion said:
But again, how would I know if the case I bought worked with the mobo?

ATX standard. Most cases sold bare conform to that & so do mobos & PSU. As said above, Dell make a few alternations making others not fit

times_champion · 21 Jul 2008 at 18:49

Gits!

Oh well, worst comes to the worst I will get the mobo and processor and then install them all in the new case with the gfx card around december

Snakedoctor · 21 Jul 2008 at 18:51

times_champion said:
Gits!

Oh well, worst comes to the worst I will get the mobo and processor and then install them all in the new case with the gfx card around december

You can get very cheap cases with PSU fitted. Just dont expect then to be much good or last that long. Saying that, I bought a case and psu for about £30 about 7 years ago and it is still working to this day.

WJA96 · 21 Jul 2008 at 19:09

Dell are generally BTX (except some XPS systems) normal ATX motherboards don't fit and the PSU connectors are different.