Member Avatar for RiceKernel

I currently have a factory made Acer Aspire AM5802.
My current motherboard is an factory built Acer mobo. It sucks, because it has compatibility issues with a Hackintosh(Don't me ask for links . No warez allowed here)

I have 8GB of DDR2 placed within 4 DIMMs(2GB each then). I have an Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 running at 2.66Ghz.My graphic card is a Nvidia Geforce GT220 and a Realtek RTL8190 card for wireless.

I'm planning to buy this :
1. http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128449
or
2. http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128357

I would like to know if , 1. It's gonna be compatible with my other components 2. Suitable for all-purpose usage ( I'm a heavy multitasker and very low profile gamer) .

For a side note, do you think I should get the 1st motherboard so I can use my 8GB of RAM or the second one for 4GB of RAM. What are the pros and cons.

Thank you a lot for your time!

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Dani AI

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A few practical points to make the swap as painless as possible, and to answer the “will my parts work?” question beyond the two board choices already mentioned by and the RAM/OS note from .

Start with a compatibility checklist before you buy or install:

  • Confirm the CPU socket and the motherboard’s CPU support list (a BIOS update may be required for some CPUs).
  • Match memory type and population rules in the new board’s manual (which slots to use for dual‑channel and whether mixed DIMMs reduce stability).
  • Make sure the board’s form factor and GPU slot position fit your case, and that the PSU has the correct 24‑pin + CPU 4/8‑pin connectors.
  • Count SATA/USB/front‑panel headers if you need them. Download chipset, LAN, audio and storage drivers for the new board and copy them to USB before swapping.

Installation and OS notes:

  • As said, use a 64‑bit OS to address more than ~4 GB of RAM. Expect to do a clean OS install after a motherboard change — OEM recovery media tied to the original OEM board often won’t boot or activate on a different board, and Windows activation may require a new license. Image your current drive (full disk image) and back up personal data first.

Practical troubleshooting after swap:

  • Clear CMOS if the board won’t POST, test with one stick of RAM at a time, reseat CPU cooler and reapply paste, and boot to BIOS to verify RAM frequency and voltages before loading an OS. Run MemTest and a stress test to confirm stability. For wireless and any non‑standard cards, verify driver availability for whatever OS you plan to run; some Wi‑Fi modules need vendor drivers not present on a fresh install.

Summary: pick the board that meets socket/BIOS and form‑factor needs, supports the RAM you want to keep, and has driver support for your OS. Preparing drivers and a full backup before you swap will save the most headaches.

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Member Avatar for caperjack

i say go for the one that takes the 8 gig ram.
you will need to use 64 bit OS to take advantage of the full 8 gig .
when you change you board ,your acer windows recovery dvd[if thats what you plan on using ] will likely not work

Member Avatar for RiceKernel

Hahaha thank you for your reply. I don't plan on using the recovery cd... useless for me anyways.But will my other hardware comply with the board ?

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