So its come time again to upgrade a few computers, and I've got no idea what brands to stay away from. Last time I went with Epox boards, and before that Abit boards, and everything ends up with bad caps in the end. Are bad caps still the problem they were years back, or are things finally starting to clear up? Are there any safe-bet brands to buy? Does Abit still stick to only good japanese caps? How is Asus now?
Thank you to the guys at HEGE supporting Badcaps [ HEGE ] [ HEGE DEX Chart ]
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Buying brand new boards?
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Re: Buying brand new boards?
Ouch, it seems like its going to be hard to get something that isn't going to fall apart in a year. What defines "enthusiast boards"? A bunch of stuff most people don't need like RAID and status LEDs, or just anything except the ones with SiS chipsets and integrated video?
I try to stick with Via chipsets in the past, and now nForce boards. Definately don't need integrated video, but don't nee RAID or anything fancy either.
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Re: Buying brand new boards?
You'll be pretty safe with Abit AX8 if you need neither integrated video nor RAID. The AX8 is a ~$100(?) board with Via k8t890 chipset and 8237 southbridge. Full ATX and Socket 939. But if you want Nforce 4 then go with the AN8 v2.0, which has a heatpipe chipset cooler and actively cooled FETs. It's about $120 and has RAID but no video.Last edited by Chris1992; 08-06-2005, 01:42 PM.
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Re: Buying brand new boards?
Speaking of heatsinking,
My board has, had, chipset sinks clamped to the board with little tiny crockee hoops
soldered down.
When the chip got hot, one lifted and then the caps burst and then the video sub died and then poof, no post, board is gone.
How can solder (melts when hot) hold down the heat sinks?Jim
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