Motherboard Help

[Galacanakis]

Here's my problem, I bought this motherboard for my pc. I just learned today from Best Buy who did a diagnostic test on it that the motherboard is defective as far as the memory area is concerned. I'm sending it back to newegg, and I wanna get this computer done, i've been putting it together since the beginning of january and am really tired of these problems.

This is the motherboard I was initially looking at, but my roomate (who I thought knew more about computers than I did) told me to get the MSI board. Well, anandtech has given the soltek a good review, and it's gotten almost flawless reviews on Newegg. Is there any reason i should not get this board. Any other recommendations?

AMD 3200+ 939
Corsair DDR400 512x2 Dual Sticks
Radeon X800 Pro
200 gig Hard drive (ata-133)

Thanks for the help, this forum has been really great responding to my questions so far.

 

[ChicagoPCGuy]

That Soltek board is one of the best. Yes, you got a defective MSI board--MSI has had spotty QC for quite some time in my experience, and many others on these boards. Some others swear by MSI, but were lucky enough not to have been victimized by the crack pipe smokin' QC engineers over at MSI. If you get a MSI board that is not defective, then you will have a great board.

That said, you can get a defective Soltek board as well. Your roommate is not necessarily less knowledgable than before.

 

[Daddyjaxx]

Using one right now. It is a great motherboard.

 

[crazyeddie]

I just installed this MSI motherboard in my PC and it's running terrific! Every motherboard manufacturer has defects now and then (even Asus, but don't tell anybody), sometimes you just feel unlucky.

One way to help your chances of getting a good board out of the gate is to go to MWave and buy a motherboard bundle. For $9, MWave will install your CPU, heatsink/fan, and RAM onto your new motherboard and test the whole thing to make sure it's working properly before they ship it. It's a good way to test for bad boards or RAM incompatibility before you ever get your product.

Heck, for $79, Mwave will even let you spec out an entire PC with whatever components you want and then they'll install and configure everything for you. I've had plenty of days where that seemed like a really good use of $79.

 

[Galacanakis]

Hmm, well. I went to a friend of my dad's who knows alot about computers and computer code, older guy, and he swears by asus. Should I get this soltek or should I wait a little longer to find a good asus board (though I really don't wanna wait any longer). This is my first pc and I am learning about all this stuff. Would you guys recommend buying newegg or finding a reliable local computer store (he's been going to a certain one for 6 years). Thanks for the feedback.

As of now, I'm deciding between this asus and the soltek-939 unless compelled otherwise. I'm leaning towards the soltek (as I was when first finding parts for my pc).

 

[friedrice]

I finally parted from ASUS after building my own computers over the last 6 years. A little sad, but asus only had nForce4 SLI's out and not worth the extra money. Even though it seems about everyone on these forums have one. One of these days i'm gonna figure out how people have so much money to blow on SLI computers over just a good single video card solution

 

[Mari0Br0s]

bankrupt

 

[Daddyjaxx]

The Soltek is better than the Asus, read the reviews.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I agree. After reading what the review was on this website as well as feedback on other forums and Neweggs rating, I would go for (and eventually will) the Soltek. Dollar for dollar your best value and how often do you see an actual rep of any company on a forum talking with consumers? There was one from Soltek answering questions, providing advice and being really, really cool about it.
For customer service alone Soltek gets my $$ and vote.

 

[Galacanakis]

Ok, well, before I buy this bad boy, I went over all my parts and everything matched up, but I have a reputation for going over things too fast and missing them. If anyone spots anything let me know. Thanks alot for all your help.

CPU
Hard Drive
CPU Fan/Heatsink
Case
Memory
Video Card

 

[Galacanakis]

lets see if this works

*bump*

 

[Traire]

You guys do know that Newegg pretty much will only posts positive feedback on products now? They will edit out negative stuff. So going by the feedback at newegg isnt a sure fire bet.

Soltek is a decent comapny, but so is MSI. You just happened to get a bad unit. That can happen to almost any company.

 

[Peter]

"bad in the memory area"? Here's my bet that it's the RAM, not the mainboard. www.memtest.org

 

[Galacanakis]

Does anyone know a friend who has the soltek, this pc has gotta last me 4 years or so and i was wondering how long lasting the soltek motherboard is.

 

[Chinoman]

You went to Best Buy?... They probably banged the board on a desk and said it was broken...