In need of new AM3 mobo

pigflipperpigflipper The Forgotten Coast Icrontian
edited August 2010 in Hardware
Last fall, I bought a brand new system: Phenom II X3 720 BE, DFI 790 chipset mobo, 4gig (2x2gig) OCZ RAM, AMD HD5850, Samsung 26" HDLCD.

Since I bought those components, the RAM has been RMA'd, the motherboard RMA'd twice (same problem both times, no boot, constant code 88) and currently running on the backup system of an AMD XP4200 X2, 2gigs DDR3200, Nvidia 7900GT.

I am done with the DFI motherboards. They were lightning fast and wonderful to tweak and mess around with, full of features, but two complete failures in less than a year? No thanks. And with my future financial outlook, the need for a high end Crossfire capable board is no longer there.

With that in mind, what boards would y'all recommend in the $75-$125 range? Going to buy from Newegg (as with almost all of my purchases over the past decade) so make sure it is a board they carry. Also looking at a new case to replace this severely aged Lian-Li PC1000S with a price range of $40-$75.

Thanks of your input in advance!

Comments

  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited July 2010
    We've had a lot of great luck with Gigabyte boards here at HQ.
    <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-3467298-10440897?url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128438&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-Motherboards+-+AMD-_-GIGABYTE-_-13128438&amp;cjsku=N82E16813128438&quot; target="_top">
    GIGABYTE GA-890XA-UD3 ATX AMD Motherboard</a><img src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/image-3467298-10440897&quot; width="1" height="1" border="0"/> $20 off at the egg right now.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited July 2010
    With all those hardware failures, it sounds like a PSU issue, not a motherboard issue.
  • pigflipperpigflipper The Forgotten Coast Icrontian
    edited July 2010
    Only motherboard and one stick of ram failed, everything else is fine and working great (HD5850 has been hijacked by my dad for his i5 system). I will check the PSU with a volt meter tomorrow though, just in case...oh wait, its the PSU powering my current system with no issues...

    Prime: I was looking at the Gigabyte boards, mainly because in my price range, they and Asus were the only brands I recognized.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited July 2010
    Do not get an ASUS. They've really gone to shit as far as BIOS and reliability go. ASUS is focusing on bigger things now, and they've kind of let their motherboards go.

    GIGABYTE and ECS are where it's at for AM3 right now.
  • RyderRyder Kalamazoo, Mi Icrontian
    edited July 2010
    MSI is as well.

    I have the 890FXA-GD70 as well as the DKA790GX, both working very well.
  • ardichokeardichoke Icrontian
    edited July 2010
    I throw my support behind Gigabyte (as usual). My UltraDurable series board in my desktop performs great and was pretty much of a steal. I also have a Gigabyte board in my HTPC which is a non-UltraDurable board that has still be rock solid for me.
  • pigflipperpigflipper The Forgotten Coast Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Went with a Gigabyte 890 chipset board and a NZXT Beta Evo case. Used the Newegg Affiliate link :-) <3
  • pigflipperpigflipper The Forgotten Coast Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Ok, got the new board in, new case, everything plugged in, ready to go. Power switch...NOTHING. Recheck connectors, hit the power again, boot up but with beeps and it hangs before displaying BIOS.

    Called Gigabyte, they listened to the beep code over the phone, told me it was one of three things: CPU, GPU or PSU. Well shit.

    Ordered a new PhenomII X4 945 and 800w PSU, they are getting here today. Going to try first with just the new PSU in, then with the new CPU if that test fails. As to the GPU, I doubt it is the problem because the same error happened with both onboard and the HD5850.

    So, Thrax, you could very well end up being correct. I hope you aren't though because that means I would be wrong :-p
  • TushonTushon I'm scared, Coach Alexandria, VA Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Don't tell Thrax he is right. EVER. That is all.

    Well, I guess I should say "hope it works!" or something.
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