Reputable dealer for refurbished motherboards?

davmat787

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2010
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I am 99% sure I will be in the market for an LGA1156 motherboard for my i7-880 that is currently in an HP 8100. Naturally it uses a proprietary mobo and PSU, which can't be upgraded. :rolleyes:

Any suggestions on where to look for "older" parts like an LGA1156 motherboard?

Thanks!
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,869
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Also, see about Spartan Tech, TigerDirect, AxionTech. Some online resellers get into the business of acquiring "pulls" from OEM machines and OEM test rigs.

Chances are, though, you might even find the same businesses selling under either E-Bay or Amazon. No-- I think it's the latter . . . .
 

davmat787

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2010
5,512
24
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No place more economical for 1156'ers than a little site called ebay.

I should have mentioned that I prefer to buy somewhere other than eBay, but will use that as a last resort. Surely there are companies out there selling overstock or refurbs I do thank you for the quick reply and suggestion regardless.

Anyone remember which models were the quality 1156'ers? SLI is not required but would be a nice bonus regardless.
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,869
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I should have mentioned that I prefer to buy somewhere other than eBay, but will use that as a last resort. Surely there are companies out there selling overstock or refurbs I do thank you for the quick reply and suggestion regardless.

Anyone remember which models were the quality 1156'ers? SLI is not required but would be a nice bonus regardless.

I feel the same way. I was lucky once for the purchase of a defective PT533-R Asus board that I was able to return for refund. The E-Bay ad was posted by some computer store somewhere between SF and Sacramento -- maybe Walnut Creek. It was run by some Asian-American lady, and all I lost was time and inconvenience.

There is one place which sells OEM pulls you may want to avoid, or at least assure yourself that you can reverse the transaction. I wish I could remember the name . . . CompuTech, TechuComp, something like that. As I recall, they were run out of Seattle or Bellingham, WA. I remember getting a bum graphics card from them, and while it functioned, you could tell it was defective. I can't remember what happened with that, or whether I troubled myself over it, since it was a bundle of three cards.
 
May 13, 2009
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Best place for used PC parts is right under your nose. Anandtech for sale/trade forum.
Just learn the rules and use proper precautions to avoid getting ripped off. I've been using it for a few years now and it's great. I hardly ever buy new PC stuff. Why would I when I can get such great deals on used stuff?
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,869
2,184
126
Best place for used PC parts is right under your nose. Anandtech for sale/trade forum.
Just learn the rules and use proper precautions to avoid getting ripped off. I've been using it for a few years now and it's great. I hardly ever buy new PC stuff. Why would I when I can get such great deals on used stuff?

You know . . . it dawns on me there is an argument for that. If sellers are "members," they wouldn't want to be haunted and scourged by other members who got ripped off. Also, if more people here can distinguish more certainly or thoroughly between what is working and what is broken, they'd be more likely to just discard a broken item given the first incentive.

We constantly have new people entering the forums, but we also have plenty of "old hands." If the old hands tend to build new computers regularly, there may be plenty of good parts here.

You may have a point with this, and I may soon take more advantage of it.
 
May 13, 2009
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Honestly there are guys here on Anandtech I trust to get a working part from, shipped in a timely matter, and packaged correctly before I'd trust Newegg or Amazon. How many times have you gotten new parts doa? Or hard drives just throw loosely in a box from Newegg or Amazon?
 
May 13, 2009
12,333
612
126
You know . . . it dawns on me there is an argument for that. If sellers are "members," they wouldn't want to be haunted and scourged by other members who got ripped off. Also, if more people here can distinguish more certainly or thoroughly between what is working and what is broken, they'd be more likely to just discard a broken item given the first incentive.

We constantly have new people entering the forums, but we also have plenty of "old hands." If the old hands tend to build new computers regularly, there may be plenty of good parts here.

You may have a point with this, and I may soon take more advantage of it.

I always look at how long they've been here, how much heatware they have (heatware is feedback given any time a transaction is made here or Hardforum and a couple other sites), how active they are, etc.. It's easy now to spot the guys that are legit and those that aren't.
 

SKORPI0

Lifer
Jan 18, 2000
18,500
2,426
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I've had luck with refurb mobos from Newegg in the past for building systems for friends/family. Haven't done that lately though. Kind of worried from hearing about bent socket pins on the newer returned mobos (LGA 1155/2011). I would try a local B&M like Micro Center and Tiger Direct (if locations are available) just in case it doesn't work then you can return them and save on shipping.
 

abekl

Senior member
Jul 2, 2011
264
0
71
Honestly there are guys here on Anandtech I trust to get a working part from, shipped in a timely matter, and packaged correctly before I'd trust Newegg or Amazon. How many times have you gotten new parts doa? Or hard drives just throw loosely in a box from Newegg or Amazon?
I've never gotten an improperly packaged device from NE or Amazon.