Yes, if the board is assembled on the VIA PT880, then it along with the CPU and RAM just easier to replace because in the event of any failure to find spare parts for the repair of such a system is a huge problem - the chipset has long out of production, Pentium IV series of processors on the same core Willamate. Yes, it works if you place the order to raise the chipset drawings from the archive, and after about a year - half will give you a brand new still smelling of fresh paint chips, but each will cost you about how Uncle Sam nuclear aircraft carrier ....
As for the rest - but why do not you use the iron for the recognition of other means - for example Frenzy - a native FreeBSD (BTX) loader copes with this work, and at the same time to see the trouble spots.