MSI, Never Again

[Taddeusz]

I could strangle someone at MSI right now. The motherboard in my SageTV server took a nosedive last night. Opened the machine up and I was greeted with a lovely row of bulging capacitors around the CPU. It's not even that old of a board. About 2 years.

From now on I'm sticking with Intel branded boards. Just ordered an Intel DG43NB to replace the bad board. I hope it proves to be just as solid as the Intel DP35DP I have running in this machine.

[brainbone]

I have a number of Intel boards that suffered from capacitor plague, as well as Asus, Epox, MSI, Dell, etc. It wasn't just MSI that had the bad cap problem.

[Taddeusz]

Originally Posted by brainbone

I have a number of Intel boards that suffered from capacitor plague, as well as Asus, Epox, MSI, Dell, etc. It wasn't just MSI that had the bad cap problem.

I realize that. I've had several brands myself with bad caps. I just think it puts MSI in a bad light that years after the capacitor plague is supposed to be over that they're still using electrolytic capacitors that will eventually go bad. At least with Intel they're not using electrolytic capacitors in the most crucial areas even on their cheaper value motherboards.

[stanger89]

I understand your thoughts. I gave up on MSI years ago after two motherboards with AGP video card compatibility problems. I had quite a good run with Abit, not a problem with a one (starting with a BE6-II and a BE7) but then a long stint with AMD processors (Athlon 64 in various flavors).

But when I built my last computer I opted to "go back" to Intell and go for a full Intel setup. i7 920 riding in a DX58SO (and just recently stuck a 160GB G2 SSD in ) and I'll tell you what, I'm so glad I did. It's just the small things. Like I can wake this machine from S3 with my wireless keyboard, something that never worked on any of my AMD based systems no matter what I tried.

[Taddeusz]

Yea, any more I just want something that works. I don't do overclocking any more. The first Intel brand board I bought, the DP35DP, runs wonderfully. It's been with me for longer than the MSI board and still running strong even after a CPU upgrade. I don't think I'll be replacing it until it fails. Any more I really don't have a need for anything more powerful than what I have now.

[AJ Bertelson]

you can recap the motherboard with a soldering iron, some braid, and new caps. I am working on an old epox 8rda and making it into a WHS for my parents.

[Taddeusz]

Originally Posted by AJ Bertelson

you can recap the motherboard with a soldering iron, some braid, and new caps. I am working on an old epox 8rda and making it into a WHS for my parents.

I realize that. It's just not worth the effort for me. It was a value MicroATX motherboard to begin with. Spending extra money on it to get it working again just isn't worth the time and effort. A new motherboard, however is.

[brainbone]

Originally Posted by AJ Bertelson

you can recap the motherboard with a soldering iron, some braid, and new caps. I am working on an old epox 8rda and making it into a WHS for my parents.

I've only done this in the past to get the original system (Dell server) up and running long enough to convert to an ESXi virtual image.

Originally Posted by Taddeusz

I just think it puts MSI in a bad light that years after the capacitor plague is supposed to be over that they're still using electrolytic capacitors that will eventually go bad.

Good point.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by Taddeusz

It was a value MicroATX motherboard to begin with.

i think we found the source of the problem. the REASON the 'value motherboards' are cheaper, is because they use cheaper components. NOTHING is overspec'd, and as such, the expected life is FAR below optimal. You really do get what you pay for.

[Taddeusz]

Well, got the new board in. Installed it and had to do an "in-place upgrade" of XP to get it workable. After that it's working great! Nice thing about this board is that I no longer need any cards. Six SATA ports, on-board Intel gigabit ethernet, and on-board firewire. Everything I had PCIe or PCI cards for. If I ever decide to get a RAID card I have a full x16 slot for that and 3 additional x1 slots for whatever else I throw at it.

So far a sweet board!

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

i think we found the source of the problem. the REASON the 'value motherboards' are cheaper, is because they use cheaper components. NOTHING is overspec'd, and as such, the expected life is FAR below optimal. You really do get what you pay for.

Does anyone know how true this is? I have no direct knowledge on this topic, but I'd basically assume manufacturers would buy commodity components like caps in bulk, and basically all products would use (roughly) the same caps.

So, there would be a difference between brands, but generally different product lines at the same company would use roughly the quality of components. Possibly with significant differences in quality control though.

[Opus4]

To keep the repair Windows install vs. fresh install separate from the original topic here, I've moved those posts to:
System Upgrade: repair or fresh Windows install?

- Andy

[MitchSchaft]

Originally Posted by reggie14

Does anyone know how true this is?

It's always been like that. I learned my lesson back when I first started building PCs that you stay away from manufacturers like PC-Chips and other cheapies for the above stated reason.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by reggie14

Does anyone know how true this is? I have no direct knowledge on this topic, but I'd basically assume manufacturers would buy commodity components like caps in bulk, and basically all products would use (roughly) the same caps.

So, there would be a difference between brands, but generally different product lines at the same company would use roughly the quality of components. Possibly with significant differences in quality control though.

More expensive boards, even from the same company, will ususally use different components. Not necessarily different BRAND capacitors, but different Spec'd capacitors (and other components). This is in an effort to improve the stability of the high-end systems, and provide better power at higher loads (like overclocking). This has the added effect of when NOT overclocking, the components are run quite a bit below their ratings, and as such have greatly increased lifetime.