Ouch---When bad goes to worse

[Fireborn]

Kept trying to power up the computer-see latest posts:   

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,87693.0.html

All of a sudden the motherboard started to power up, and the chip that reads "Nividia nForce" next to the graphics card started to smoke.  Shut down the system.

Not good. 

[Aardobard]

The good news is we have a new suspect!  Sorry about the vid card.

[BC_Programmer]

where does the video card come in? the nForce chip is ON the motherboard...

[Fireborn]

Time to start shopping for a replacement motherboard that won't require buying all new perifs as well.

Still puzzles me why this happened??? 

Makes me wonder if it would have been better if I left the computer on while I was out of town.

[BC_Programmer]

Hmm, couldn't say why it happened. Probably was better that you had it off while you were away- imagine if it did that when you were away... could have set your house on fire.

As far as replacement motherboard... just make sure it can accept your current CPU; or get both a new CPU and a new motherboard... heck use this for an upgrade oppurtunity (if you can afford it).

Hard drives, optical drives, and expansion cards would likely work in any motherboard.