Can I replace the mainboard in this Sony Vaio desktop

[macf13nd]

Hi

Consider this computer (few years old, part of the quite flash VAIO desktop series).

It is a sony vaio VGC-RA104.

Specs are as follows:

Technical Platform

? Architecture Intel 915P

CPU Section

? Processor Name Intel Pentium 4 processor

? Processor Manufacturer Intel

? Processor Speed (Mhz)3600

? Model560

? Type Pentium

? L2 Cache (kb)1024

Memory

? Memory Size (MB)1024

? Memory Speed (Mhz)400

? Memory TypeDDR - PC3200 (DIMM)

? Max. Supported Memory (MB)2048

Graphics

? Graphic Card NameATI Radeon X600 XT

? Total Graphics Memory (MB)128

Multimedia

? Audio ChipsetALC880 - High Definition Audio Codec (5.1 Channel)

? Chipset Manufacturer RealTek

? Audio Type HD Audio

Drives

? Hard Drive SATA (GB)250

? Floppy Disk Drive Yes

Optical Drives

? Optical Drive CD x40, CD-R x40, CD-RW x24, DVD x12, DVD+R x8, DVD+RW x4, DVD-R x8, DVD-RW x4, DVD DL x2.4

? Optical Drive CD x40, DVD x16

Interfaces

? Memory Stick? Slot Memory Stick? Standard, Memory Stick? PRO

? Compact Flash Slot Yes

? SD SlotYes

? xD SlotYes

? USB Port(s) (quantity)7

? USB SpeedHigh/Full/Low

? USB Version2.0

? 4 Pin i.LINK (IEEE1394)1

? 6 Pin i.LINK (IEEE1394)1

? Microphone JackYes

? Line InYes

? Optical OutYes

? Front OutYes

? Rear OutYes

? Center OutYes

? Super VideoYes

? VGAYes

? DVIYes

? PS2 Ports2

? Parallel PortYes

? TV TunerYes

Connectivity

? ModemBuilt-in Modem V.92

? Ethernet network10BASE-T/100BASE-TX/1000BASE-T

Expansion Slots

? PC Card Slot1

? CNR Slot1 (0 free)

? PCI2 (1 free)

? PCI Express x161 (0 free)

? PCI Express x11 (1 free)

Can I replace the mainboard to put more RAM in than the current max of 2GB? It would also then be prudent to replace the processor. The case is of a high quality, which is why I think it's worth salvaging.

Is it a nightmare to replace the :)therboard on such an "OEM machine"?

Thanks for any help in advance, as ever. :)

[+PeterUK MVC]

The word possibly IF you know what to look for since I don't have the case.

ATX, mATX PSU & motherboard is what you need to find out.

[macf13nd]

appreciate the swift response, thank you.

I'll take some pictures of the internals and post when I get home from work.

[the big dill]

shouldnt be a problem - find out the formfactor (like peterUK said "ATX,mATX,etc.") and if you know what you need then good luck, if not, post the form factor and im sure we can help you! :)

[the big dill]

you dont have to take pics, just tell us the model of you motherboard - it should be printer right on the motherboard in the biggest letters there (usually near the ram or cpu)

cheers

[+LogicalApex MVC]

you dont have to take pics, just tell us the model of you motherboard - it should be printer right on the motherboard in the biggest letters there (usually near the ram or cpu)

cheers

OEM boards don't generally denote their form factor on them. Even my ASUS P5Q Premium doesn't say so on its PCB even though it is an Extended ATX board.

[macf13nd]

Model of motherboard found:

PTGD-VX (as you'd expect, it's a Sony OEM board)

I'll post pics in two minutes of the look of the case (i.e. where the power supply is located etc) as I think the layout will prove to make things difficult, as it wasn't designed to be mucked around with.

Thanks for help so far :)

[macf13nd]

here you go, have a look at that stonking PSU enclosure....!

[+PeterUK MVC]

here you go, have a look at that stonking PSU enclosure....!

As nice as the case is I think your just going to have to get a new case.

Pic of the back end just to be sure.

[macf13nd]

back end:

[+PeterUK MVC]

back end:

Yup you need a new case.

[macf13nd]

balls!

Thanks for all the help

[hdood]

Looks like a regular micro-ATX board to me. Is the faceplate over the ports on the back removable? If so, motherboards include one that just snaps on. The pinout of any buttons and LEDs on the machine might be more difficult though, and you might have to trace where all the wires go and add new connectors to them. The PSU could also be an issue if it's old and don't have the outputs needed by modern motherboards.

[+PeterUK MVC]

Looks like a regular micro-ATX board to me. Is the faceplate over the ports on the back removable?

I too was hoping it was a faceplate but its the PSU (see other pic).

[the big dill]

it would be pretty hard to explain how to replace a motherboard on that kind of case, since it is so rarely used... and that is the weirdest location to put in a power supply that i have ever seen! o_O

also, im pretty sure you can still replace the motherboard, you just have to be careful with the form factor

[hdood]

I too was hoping it was a faceplate but its the PSU (see other pic).

Yes. I mean to the left of the PSU where all the ports are. If you look at the bottom of that, it looks like it might be removable. I don't see how the PSU is an issue other than it maybe being too tight a fit for a large cooler.

[corpios]

I have the Sony RA 820G. If your system is like mine then it is liquid cooled. The way the cooling element sits over the cpu even after you have removed the spring mounted screws it restricts you from lifting the motherboard straight up and out of the case. The case seems to have been riveted around the internals once installed.

I obtained a perfectly matching replacement case from another RA series model with a good psu and a bad board and I was hoping to swap my good board out of my rusted (aka Hawaiian gold encrusted) case with a bad psu into the nice cleaner case. Once the board is unscrewed you just can't get it out of the case. I came to this forum hoping to find a clue as to what rivets to selectively drill out to effect a board swap.

Aloha

[bill905]

hi everybody,

its been a long time since ive tried and looking for answers!

but i come with good news!

my psu stopped working 1 year ago and it was a pain to get the part ended up buying it from ebay with a lot of patience.

yesterday night i opened it up again as it would be a shame to replace the pc. you dont have to replace the case its an amazing case!

as can see at the above picture from the back that the actual motherboard and cooler all slide out as one! please i might take some time putting pictures up as iam going to update ram ,motherboard etc ......

[bill905]

hi everybody,

its been a long time since ive tried and looking for answers!

but i come with good news!

my psu stopped working 1 year ago and it was a pain to get the part ended up buying it from ebay with a lot of patience.

yesterday night i opened it up again as it would be a shame to replace the pc. you dont have to replace the case its an amazing case!

as can see at the above picture from the back that the actual motherboard and cooler all slide out as one! please i might take some time putting pictures up as iam going to update ram ,motherboard etc ......