Replacing a busted motherboard...

[foolish_sagacity]

A few weeks ago my computer barbecued itself when my PSU got choked by my cat's fur. I've since replaced the PSU and it still doesn't power on. The power light will turn on for a brief second, and that's about it. I'm about to attempt to replace my GA-MA790X-UD4P motherboard.

Now...I really just want my comp to be back to normal. I can't tell for sure if the mobo is the only problem...I'm hoping my Hard drive and processor and GPU are ok. Anyways, I wanted to just replace my exact mobo..but that's apparently unreasonably expensive for last year's technology. I need a AM2+ capable mobo for my AMD X4 Phenom II Deneb Black Edition processor. Assuming that wasn't killed by my PSU going. I also need it to be dual channel 1066 240 pin memory.

Does anyone have any suggestions? And if i don't get the exact same motherboard, but say, an Asus or Biostar, will I have to much more than plug it in and go? Would I have to reinstall windows? I'd really like to get things back to how they were with my hard drive just as it was.

 

[T_T]

The rule of thumb is to always format the HDD when changing the mobo. This is to avoid registry conflicts. As for the replacement mobo, I believe that the Biostar TA790 GXE is similar.

 

[foolish_sagacity]

I'm leaning towards this open box Biostar for a replacement...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138146&cm_re=biostar_TA790GXE-_-13-138-146-_-Product

But this is my memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

And I notice G. Skill is nowhere on the compatibility. Does this mean the situation is untenible? Should I simply break down and spend the ludicrous ~$150 to buy my old mobo from somewhere not Newegg, or even Tiger Direct or Zipzoomfly?

Here's the mobo's comp. chart
http://www.biostar-usa.com/app/en%2Dus/mb/memory_report.php?S_ID=408

 

[aberchonbie]

i think you're about 95% safe for memory compatability. I believe that the memory modules listed in those charts are memory sticks that have been tested already but doesn't mean that other sticks won't work on it.. running 1066 ram, you'll probably have to edit ram settings anyways to make ur ram work..