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From: Robert Blass on 7 Apr 2008 10:30
Why do motherboards range in price from $40 to $250?
Are their that many more features that justify a $200+ board?

Should I buy a $40 board or a $250 board?

I do not understand the benefits of one board over another.

Can someone here educate some of the feature I should want and not
want?


I'd really appreciate it, thanks.


From: Paul on 7 Apr 2008 18:42
Robert Blass wrote:
> Why do motherboards range in price from $40 to $250?
> Are their that many more features that justify a $200+ board?
>
> Should I buy a $40 board or a $250 board?
>
> I do not understand the benefits of one board over another.
>
> Can someone here educate some of the feature I should want and not
> want?
>
>
> I'd really appreciate it, thanks.
>
>

The price and the benefits to the user, are not proportional.

Sometimes, the price is partially a function of the chipset
used. The companies making the Northbridge and Southbridge,
charge more (much more), for some than for others. Yet,
when you look at the feature set (RAID capable disk interfaces,
PCI Express version 2.0), there is little to show for the
extra cost to the consumer.

The $40 motherboard, may have some corners cut, in its
design and manufacture. For example, some motherboards for
AMD processors, have recently been introduced, where the
Vcore regulator circuit, does not produce enough power
for the highest speed processors in the processor family.
And that also means, that overclocking lower speed processors,
could also be power limited.

A $40 motherboard may not be tested very well.

In some cases, connectors bust off, when you go to use them.

Checking sites that offer review comments, can help detect the
truly awful ones.

Something between those two dollar extremes, is where you want to be.
Choose something with a rich set of BIOS functions (adjustable
memory speed and timings, adjustable processor settings, Vcore,
Vdimm adjustments). Even if you are not an overclocker, there
may be circumstances where you need to debug a hardware problem,
and the adjustments can come in handy.

1) Download the manual and read it.
2) Check CPUSupport chart on the manufacturer web page. Read between
the lines. If certain high wattage processors are missing, the
Vcore capabilities could be limited.
3) Read the Newegg reviews.
4) Visit any web site dedicated to discussing the motherboard (vip.asus.com)
5) Run the motherboard model number through a search engine, and look
for comments or critical reviews.

Generally, the best boards are full sized ATX (12"x9.6"), as
there is more corner cutting (crappy BIOS) on the microATX
ones (9.6"x9.6"). Do the research, before you buy, so there
are fewer surprises.

Don't buy a new motherboard on its introduction date. Allow three
months or more, for the manufacturer to finish their BIOS design :-)

HTH,
Paul
From: ~misfit~ on 9 Apr 2008 01:02
Somewhere on teh intarweb "JamesH" typed:
> You get what you pay for the less money the less features and
> quality. I haven't bought a MB under $200 in many years and it is not
> the price but the features/extras.
>
> What features are you looking for? If you just want to get a MB then
> buy the cheapest you can. If you want to really build a system, then
> it pays to read reviews. Newegg has reviews on most every product. I
> use them as a gauge on what to get or not to get.

Anyone else second this? (Sorry James, not being disrespectful.) I don't
look at the Egg normally as they don't ship to where I live. However, if the
reviews are accurate that feature could be handy.

Cheers,
--
Shaun.


From: James on 9 Apr 2008 08:14
"Robert Blass" wrote in message:

> Why do motherboards range in price from $40 to $250?
> Are their that many more features that justify a $200+ board?
>
> Should I buy a $40 board or a $250 board?
>
> I do not understand the benefits of one board over another.
>
> Can someone here educate some of the feature I should want and not
> want?
>
>
> I'd really appreciate it, thanks.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if forecasting demand also has something to do
with the end price.

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