OT: I need a new motherboard.

[dogscoff]

I don't think anyone was putting you down Randall, they['re just suggesting that the diagnosis you've been given may be wrong.

If I had any idea what the capacitors were I could check. I am not a techie but I know someone who is ... he lives in another state

Do you have a digital camera? Take some pics of the offending hardware and send them to your friend. Maybe the damage will be evident from a visual examination (but maybe not- gotta be worth a try though). Hell, post them here, we'll take a look.