Ordered new mobo, have questions about newer features

My mobo, well, is a piece of crap. It's titled the Asus M2N-E SLI and is just about the lowest rated board I've seen from Asus. It's just fail. I've been thinking about replacing it for a long time, but now that I'm getting secondary processor clock interrupt BSODs, I know it's time. I ordered the Gigabyte GA-MA785GM, which has a 4/5 with 385 reviews on Newegg.ca, which is pretty damn swell. Sometimes its easy to fall into a trap where 1 or 2 customers rated the product in the 4 or 5 star area, only later once its lifetime and full extent of its fail is realized do customers come back and drop it down to 1 or 2 stars. 4/5 for 385 reviews is pretty fantastic.

Anyway, the BSODs could be caused by either the CPU or Mobo, but even if it were the mobo, I would not send it back on warranty only to get a refurbished product of the same fail model. If the CPU is the true culprit than fortunately, warranty will prevail.

This is where my question begins, those who hate backstory

The new mobo has an onboard HDMI port. My Nvidia VC has 2 DVI-out ports, as usual. I am wondering if the monitor you're using has to be connected directly to the video card's video-out ports or if it can redirect through the motherboard's HDMI port, while not sending a video feed, still does its normal processing.

This has mostly to do with being able to send an audio/video feed to my monitor (HDTV) so that I may use the TV speakers as additional front speakers, as the other option (DVI) doesn't send audio.

Also, the onboard video chip is ATI while the video card is Nvidia. Not sure if this is a problem.

Example time:

Which video card do you have?

Many of the newer Nvidia cards will carry sound through the HDMI cable if you use the included audio cable. (Drawing a blank on the name right now sorry)

You need the cards DVI to HDMI adapter, and the tiny audio cord (It's only two wires, two pin, I can't believe I can't remember the name it's super simple) Anyway plug one end of the cable into the card and the other end into the motherboard.

if the case supports the mobo form factor, there is no issue at all. you can use a full tower and mATX mobo and thered be no problems.

quote Northern49

Is it hard, or are there any tips or suggestions for moving a CPU from one motherboard to another? I didn't use any thermal paste, and the heatsink is fairly rudimentary.

It's easy,

You'll need to reinstall windows with the new board,

Unless your cooler is lapped, use thermal paste.

You can call Microsoft, and have them let you use the same key... Or just use the same key again, and if you get in trouble, call and explain what happened.

wait, you paid an unnecessary extra 100 bucks for another copy of windows? why? what respect? they are a multi billion dollar company.

the best you can do is keep twisting it in opposing directions. you may need some alcohol substance to assist in breaking up the paste, but i dont remember the name of the product. the screwdriver thing is not a bad idea either, but be careful - try to avoid scratching the processors contact surface.

thats a very creative technique you got there. i havent been this impressed since the HAF 922, and that is saying a lot.