I know a computer shop that tells me the ECS K7S5A motherboard is junk. (they claim 30% return rate)..what do you think?

[jacktesterson]

Yeah Ive heard nothing but good things about this board, and when I went to talk to a local company, they tell me its junk and that it has a return rate of 30% +....truthfully I think its false. I have a ECS K7VZA in my computer and it has been nothing but satisfying, not a glitch or a problem, 100% stable. Im just looking for an opinion...please help!

Gonna be used with a XP 1800+

 

[Vinny N]

I'd more likely claim that 30% of the people who buy the K7S5A are using it with a crappy power supply.

If nothing else, part of that 30% surely is people not knowing what they heck they're doing? It's probably the case for more than just ECS K7S5A motherboards too.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: Vinny_N
I'd more likely claim that 30% of the people who buy the K7S5A are using it with a crappy power supply.

If nothing else, part of that 30% surely is people not knowing what they heck they're doing? It's probably the case for more than just ECS K7S5A motherboards too.

Have built one with a 250w CompUSA psu..still running along merrily and another with a VTech 300w psu and its doing fine as well..

 

[Budman]

Originally posted by: Vinny_N
I'd more likely claim that 30% of the people who buy the K7S5A are using it with a crappy power supply.

If nothing else, part of that 30% surely is people not knowing what they heck they're doing? It's probably the case for more than just ECS K7S5A motherboards too.

I tend to agree,most of the problems with that board comes down to a cheap underpowered power supply.

 

[osage]

Granted it's a small sample, but with the 3 I own I have been 100% pleased. all good stable systems, the oldest one is a year old now.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: AMDHardcoreFan
Yeah Ive heard nothing but good things about this board, and when I went to talk to a local company, they tell me its junk and that it has a return rate of 30% +....truthfully I think its false. I have a ECS K7VZA in my computer and it has been nothing but satisfying, not a glitch or a problem, 100% stable. Im just looking for an opinion...please help!

Gonna be used with a XP 1800+

You might want to find a new local store to shop at.

 

[smp]

Other boards will work with those same cheapo power supplies .. so which is cheap? The PSU or the board? I've never had one so I can't really put an opinion here.

 

[Markfw]

Wel, I have two of them. When I first got them I thought they were junk (used with 1 old bios and PC133 SDRAM) I upgraded the bios and changed to DDR, and they have been almost perfect ever since. (not quite as good as by Abit board). But of course if I didn't know a lot about computers, I might have returned them, or RMA'ed them. There are a lot of things you need to do to make a stable system, the motherboard, memory and PSU are actually the three most important parts of your system for stability (aside from bios settings and drivers)

With all of that said, the ECS K7S5A is a good inexspensive board when implemented correctly.

 

[Vinny N]

Originally posted by: smp
Other boards will work with those same cheapo power supplies .. so which is cheap? The PSU or the board? I've never had one so I can't really put an opinion here.

I don't think anyone would say that the board isn't cheap. But those power supplies are still cheap whether they work with other boards or not

 

[smp]

Originally posted by: Vinny_N

Originally posted by: smp Other boards will work with those same cheapo power supplies .. so which is cheap? The PSU or the board? I've never had one so I can't really put an opinion here.

I don't think anyone would say that the board isn't cheap. But those power supplies are still cheap whether they work with other boards or not

heh heh .. okay, so you save money on the board but then you have to splurge on an expensive PSU

 

[tenoc]

You do not need an expensive PSU, merely a good one.

 

[Valinos]

My advice to you: Most local Mom & Pop computer stores are owned and operated by idiots - nationwide.

Let me emphasize, MOST...not all...

 

[zepper00]

If you go over to www.OCWorkbench.com and check the K7S5A FAQ, you will have little problem with that board. The thing is that stores can't make any money off of that mobo out there<g>. ECS is part of the group that makes PC Chips and PC Cheaps has a lousy reputation.
.bh.

 

[thorin]

The K7S5A is likely their cheapest motherboard of course they're going to try and talk you in to something else so they make more money off of you. There is nothing wrong with this board, I've read 100s or 1000s or posts/reviews/articles of people praising/loving this board. The simple fact is you can't beat it's price. It also supports Thoroughbred with the latest BIOS update.

And if in a year or so you decide it doesn't have some feature you want then you won't feel bad about replacing it with next years low cost board.

I'll use CPUs to illustrate what I mean:

I can get a 2100+ for $310 (CDN), or I can get a 1800+ for $155 (CDN). Why wouldn't I go with the 1800+ for now and then if I find it isn't enough then upgrade again at this time next year, getting whatever is $155 at that point 2800+ Barton or lowend ClawHammer (whatever) then I still haven't spent more then $310 (I made a few pennies in interest in the bank) and the 2800+ Barton (er wahtever) I buy probably kicks the crap out of the 2100+ I could have bought. This can easily apply to a $55 motherboard (maybe by next summer you decide you need SerialATA or a 333 or 400 FSB) so you go for the similar $55 motherboard upgrade next summar. (Spend less now and be able to upgrade more often and not feel guilty).

Thorin

 

[KillerCow]

Beware of S.W.A.T.

Sell What is Available Today

 

[VTrider]

heh heh .. okay, so you save money on the board but then you have to splurge on an expensive PSU

Yeah but let's face it, people should have a quality p.s in their system anyway - doesn't have to be expensive, just quality. It's so often the most underlooked component in people's system builds and it has the potential to cause the most problems. God, how many headaches, troubleshooting hours have been experienced by people while all the while it's because of their power supply and they still dont' know it? It saddens me

I must point out however, I'm running an Antec 430watt TruePower ps on a K7S5A and I experience cold/stall boot problems about 25% of the time. Now, I doubt it's my power supply. I read somewhere that somebody else had this same problem (w/same board) and talked about ECS skimping out on the number and/or quality of capacitors on motherboard therefore making it hit or miss on boot (capacitors not charging quickly enough to follow through boot process?). I dunno, it's my only beef with this board.

-VTrider

 

[edjam]

Have two here, think it's a great board for the price.

 

[Fulcrum]

Mine works fine for me.

 

[aswedc]

Mine would not boot if there was a PCI video card in any slot but the second to last one. After I flashed the BIOS, it was fine. The K7S5A isn't the inexperienced, but if you can get it running it runs well.

 

[spaceman]

ive owned 3 of them and have two friends who own them.so 5 for 5 from my experience.
they have been among the most stable amd boards ive owned.every bit as stable as any msi/asus/gigabyte.

buy one, u wont be disappointed.
people like to hate on this board becuz its cheap.
a werid thing is,the local mom and pop stores sells them here for $99.00!!!!(i almost lmao out of the store.)i understand a mark up,but $99.00?


edit:my sole gripe about this board is the sheer size of it,it is a tank.

 

[Jmmsbnd007]

30% is a bit high but then again, it's ECS.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: ncircle

a werid thing is,the local mom and pop stores sells them here for $99.00!!!!(i almost lmao out of the store.)i understand a mark up,but $99.00?

That's a fair price when you buy local.

 

[V00DOO]

I'm running an Antec 430watt TruePower ps on a K7S5A and I experience cold/stall boot problems about 25% of the time

I had the same problem, went out and got me a 430 Watt Enermax PSU. That didn't solve the problem, RMA the board and got a new one and been going strong ever since.

 

[Heretik]

I've built three systems using this board...two for friends, and one for sister.
Total number of "tech support" calls I've gotten regarding those systems = 1 (my nephew hosed Windows....hardware was fine)

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: KillerCow
Beware of S.W.A.T.

Sell What is Available Today

Yup, you don't got one to sell, then bad mouth it and sell what's in stock.