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Date:  Sun, 15 Apr 2012 09:25:03 -0400 
From:  Carl Denk <cdenk@windstream.net> 
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To:  Microcontroller discussion list - Public. <piclist@mit.edu> 
Subject:  Re: [TECH] PC motherboard help/suggestions - And the story goes on :( 
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Ordered a Supermicro C2-SBC-Q motherboard from Provantage, installed it, 
powered up expecting a nice splash screen on the monitor - NOTHING. 
Twice now have switched the P4 and memory between the new board and 
intermittent Intel board with same results. Intel powers up and runs 
Linux at least for an hour. The new board powers up the CPU fan, but 
even with only the power connected, an no memory or other things plugged 
in, not one beep. Did swap PSU's also. Checked with supermicro techies, 
they agree it's a MB problem, offered to RMA it. I'm going to try to 
return it to Provantage for refund. In 2 weeks will be in Atlanta at 
daughter's near Fry's store. Might take computer along and buy a MB 
there, maybe even let them install it.

I have very seriously thought if it's something I'm doing, but seems to 
be either very poor products, or a very unusual situation of quality 
control gamble.

All these motherboards show some bare copper on the bottom with small 
vias not filled holes, I still question is that is a a quality wave 
soldering job, and if I can look at the board before accepting, a reason 
to reject??  The Intel boards have no components on the bottom, the 
supermicro has some small surface mount mainly under the CPU.

The older Intel boards were made in Ireland and bulletproof. The later 
Intel boards I have and the Supermicro were all from China. I would 
prefer USA made, but not likely I will find that. Trying hard to stay 
away from China totally. Any suggestions?

On 4/11/2012 12:58 PM, V G wrote:
> On Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 10:23 AM, M.L.<m@lkeng.net>  wrote:
>
>    
>> Carl, I always look at Asus motherboards first. The Z68 chipset boards
>> can do some amazing things and I've never had a motherboard failure
>> with Asus or Abit. (Not so for Gigabyte or other cheaper brands.)
>>
>>
>>      
> I don't think they have Z86 for socket 775. They do for socket 1155.
>
> I have an ASUS P8-P67 and Core i7 and I've never ever experienced a
> motherboard failure with ASUS. I have with other bands like Gigabyte.
>
> You might just want to build yourself a new computer using  modern
> components (DDR3, AMD Bulldozer CPU, modern motherboard). It shouldn't be
> too expensive actually, since I don't think you're going to be sticking a
> $500 video card in there.
>    
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