So the guy in Fry's tells me ....

[SanDiegoPC]

I've got another build coming up right now for a good customer. I'm always buying Asus boards and have for many years. In fact there are very few boards I've used over the years 'cause of the success I have with Asus. Maybe 5 RMA's in fifteen years.... and hundreds of builds. Not as many builds perhaps as some on this forum, but certainly several hundred.

But as I'm deciding which price point I need to be in for this particular build, the guy that runs that aisle is telling me they aren't Asus brand boards any more unless you buy their high end ones. The 150.00-200.00 price range gets you another mfgr's board that is relabeled by Asus. Any takers on that subject? First I've heard of it.

He says MSI is now king, Asus high end is second, and Gigabyte comes in third. Unless you need low to middle range. then it's GB over Asus.

This guy claims to be reporting on just what I am interested in overall - Quality VS: Number of Rma returns...not in numbers of units sold (which I could care less about).

-Paul in San Diego

 

[NumericalMethods]

I think the guy is talking about ASRock, Asus's 'budget' line of boards. The ASRock boards seem to offer great value for money, although I've never had the pleasure. That doesn't mean that Asus don't have any boards of their own at a similar price range though. Depends on what socket you're looking at but, Asus currently have 4 1366, 21 1156 & 2 775 boards in stock, costing between $100-200 at newegg right now.

 

[SanDiegoPC]

I think the guy is talking about ASRock

Could be - I'm not going to argue that point at all because I don't know. It was interesting info though & I figgered I'd share it. FYI, what I wound up with was indeed an MSI motherboard.

I figgered I'd give one a try.

 

[nenforcer]

I totally agree with this.

Using the M4N98TD EVO as an example, this board has onboard video but ASUS doesn't include the headers to take advantage of it. They also use a less proven VIA onboard audio codec.

The only other competitor is an MSI NF980-G65 which includes the onboard video and a more proven Realtek audio codec. It only costs about $20 more as well and is identical with rebate.

I have noticed this across the board with ASUS second tier motherboards having a eerily similar color scheme to Gigabyte boards and less quantity and quality of included accessories when compare to their boards of a few years ago.

I think the reason is that ASUS is trying to move into more of a complete system builder (EEPC, notebooks) and has less emphasis on the lower margin motherboards.

In fact I've been more impressed with some ASSRock boards recently than their ASUS counterparts (AMD 870).

 

[Zap]

He says MSI is now king, Asus high end is second, and Gigabyte comes in third.

There is no ranking in motherboard manufacturers beyond volume. It is opinion. Oh yeah, take a look at this thread.

One company manufacturing something for another company to stick their name on is not that unique. So, don't be too upset when you find out that Thermaltake did not make the Thermaltake branded power supply in your system.

 

[manimal]

I cant remember where I read it but recently there was some news about Asus buying boards from someone else...looked for it could not it...

 

[Zap]

manimal, have you checked the link I posted in the post right above yours?

 

[SanDiegoPC]

There is no ranking in motherboard manufacturers beyond volume. It is opinion. Oh yeah, take a look at this thread.

One company manufacturing something for another company to stick their name on is not that unique. So, don't be too upset when you find out that Thermaltake did not make the Thermaltake branded power supply in your system.

Agreed. "talk about the Chinese outsourcing snake consuming its own tail.." - well put by somebody in that other thread.