LGA 1155 Motherboard recommendation?

Khaleal · Jun 16, 2016

Hi,

So my ASUS P8Z77-V LE PLUS has died (red DRAM_LED) on my secondary PC. I've RMA'ed the motherboard to ASUS twice and they send it without repairing it twice (they claimed that they repaired it). so now I need a replacement.

Secondary PC config:
CPU: Core i7-2600 Overclocked to 4.2Ghz
MB: ASUS P8Z77-V LE PLUS
RAM: 2x8GB 1866MHZ Kingston HyperX Fury RAM
Graphics card: Gigabyte R9 280X
SSD: ADATA SP550 240GB + 2x3TB Seagate Barracuda

I searched for LGA 1155 motherboard on eBay, Amazon, Aliexpress and found the following motherboards:
ASUS P8P67 LE ($60)
GA-P67-DS3-B3 ($55)
GA-Z68P-DS3 ($67)
All of the above motherboards are used/refurbished units.

Which one is the best among these motherboards? Are there any better options that are not listed above?

jimmysmitty · Jun 16, 2016

How have you determined that the board is bad and it is not a DRAM problem or (doubt it) CPU? If they test it they test that the board POSTs with RAM and a CPU.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

That is a better option as it is new and a Z77 chipset as well.

junkeymonkey · Jun 16, 2016

seems like you could still get the asrock z77 xtreme 4 ??

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77%20Extreme4/?cat=CPU

''RAM: 2x8GB 1866MHZ Kingston HyperX Fury RAM'

I bet that's hard on that sandy as well and sandy is like - Memory Types DDR3 1066/1333

so I bet it tends to fail if can work at all at them speeds

http://ark.intel.com/products/52213/Intel-Core-i7-2600-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-3_80-GHz

like said in this best answer

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/275089-29-2600k-overclock-memory-stability-issues

a lot of luck could be involved a oc to 1600 would be a safer bet or try a ive chip instead on the board you got now if supported

Khaleal · Jun 16, 2016

jimmysmitty :

I've tried using different CPU (i3-3240) and different RAM stick (Kingston ValueRAM 1x8GB 1333MHz) and motherboard doesn't POST. All I get is solid red DRAM_LED.
Last RMA they claimed that they have replaced the CPU socket but the socket doesn't look like a new socket and motherboard still refusing to POST.

jimmysmitty · Jun 16, 2016

Khaleal :

Well I am not sure how you would be able to tell if it is a new socket or not. They all look the exact same.

While your testing sounds good, what conditions are these in? In the case or outside of the case? Anything else plugged into it?

It does sound like a bad board and the one I linked is probably one of the best. There is another higher end Asus but it also costs $200+ dollars.

Khaleal · Jun 16, 2016

junkeymonkey :

The motherboard was working fine with this exact CPU and RAM before I RMA'ed the board the first time (due to power issues on the motherboard), After I got it it worked 1 time and then it stopped working.
The RAM isn't overclocked. 1866Mhz is it's factory frequency.

The ASRock z77 xtreme 4 looks like a nice motherboard but it costs around $150 without shipping. Please remember this is a sandy bridge build that I'll likely be upgrading within 2-3 years at max.. So I'm not willing to spend that much to fix the current build. I want something that will get me going without losing much functionality.

Khaleal · Jun 16, 2016

jimmysmitty :

Khaleal :

Well I am not sure how you would be able to tell if it is a new socket or not. They all look the exact same.

While your testing sounds good, what conditions are these in? In the case or outside of the case? Anything else plugged into it?

It does sound like a bad board and the one I linked is probably one of the best. There is another higher end Asus but it also costs $200+ dollars.

I tested the motherboard outside the case. Nothing is plugged into it. Only CPU and RAM and a monitor.
As I said before, The ASROCK costs about $150 without shipping and I'm not willing to spend that much on a sandy bridge system that I'd likely upgrade in 2-3 years max. I don't mind using used hardware as well.

jimmysmitty · Jun 16, 2016

Of the ones you listed the Z68 boards would be the best, it has all the features of the P67 and the new features added into the Z68 series.

However at this point, why not just take that money and invest in a new CPU and board anyways instead of waiting 2-3 years?

Just another thought.

junkeymonkey · Jun 16, 2016

then you got to do the best you can with the left over 1155 boards pretty much phased out for what I can see on whats left over maybe more office type use boards or used on e-bay ???

just seem like you would cut your losses and headache and just build a nice up to date haswell [hard for me to recommend a issue full skylake I'd just do a haswell and skip skylake and see what comes next ?] lol...

thing is them boards you listed above is a step backwards from the z77 you using now I my opinion ??

my ''last '' 3 anus boards were a joke nothing but issues every time I turned around memory was one of them on one board. after 18 bios updates I figured there was no hope on it if the board needed that many

Tradesman1 · Jun 16, 2016

Do you have the latest BIOS? The Fury operate off PnP which often wasn't fully implented in many of the earlier versions of BIOS on both SB and IB mobos. What do the sticks set them selves up to?

junkeymonkey · Jun 16, 2016

that's a point but then should it work at least at default ?? but I still wonder on that sandy and that speed ? then another chip [ive] and diff memory and still a no go ?? almost like a bent pin issue ?? maybe why anus sent it back claiming tthey ''fixed it'' and just sent it back the same ? asus sent me just some ones elses junk board in the hopes I did not have a issue with it don't think it was close to any kind of referb at all just reboxed a different rma board and sent it out to the next guy

[from Kingston memory configurator and his board and there 1866]
''Note: The PnP feature offers a range of speed and timing options to support
the widest variety of processors and chipsets. Your maximum speed will
be determined by your BIOS

http://www.kingston.com/dataSheets/HX318C10FWK2_16.pdf

Tradesman1 · Jun 16, 2016

It could be a lot of things, as mentioned the implementation of PnP (especially for DRAM) was long in coming, we were into Haswell when the Fury line was released and to my knowledge, it's the only DRAM that runs off PnP, which is why an up to date BIOS is a probable must. 1866 with a 2600 is iffy (silicaon lottery) though most I've seen can run 1866 may take a bit more DRAM and/or MC (memory controller) voltage

junkeymonkey · Jun 16, 2016

well back to asus as uasual I thought this may be his review

''DO NOT BUY ANYTHING ASUS AGAIN!''

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131848

funny how most all the negative reviews covers all I say about asus in my ''last'' experiences

like
''bought a new motherboard from another company. Hooked up everything the same way and has worked ever since.''

''Contacted ASUS for RMA. I payed for shipping, and got it back about 2 weeks later, still having the same problems. Nothing was fixed. ''

see its not just me just how asus is anymore . seem like after the ''break up '' is the start of the decline

jimmysmitty · Jun 16, 2016

Out of 42 reviews that board has 4/5 stars yet you cherry pick a single review as proof of anything?

This is not helping the OP. Honestly it could be bad luck because I have owned so many Asus products without issues it is insane. I am however just one individual and my experience does not quantify the entire populations experience.

Khaleal · Jun 16, 2016

junkeymonkey :

It has the latest BIOS. RAM works at 1866Mhz outside of the box without doing anything.
Anyway, It has nothing to do with the RAM. The motherboard won't POST with Kingston ValueRAM 1333MHZ stick which is even in the RAM compatibility list.
That was my review indeed. After writing this review I sent the motherboard again to ASUS so they can fix the DRAM_LED issue but again, they returned the motherboard without fixing it (and claimed that they've fixed and tested it). And when I contacted them about the issue, they said, why not send it again?
As I'm currently based in Israel sending the motherboard overseas (and shipping it from USA to Israel using a freight forwarder) costs a lot of money. I've already spent $120 on shipping and my motherboard is still not working.

jimmysmitty · Jun 16, 2016

Then I suggest taking it up to a higher level and making them pay for the shipping. I would get a different board for sure but why not get them to pay to take it back and fix it?

Khaleal · Jun 16, 2016

jimmysmitty :

ASUS support is pain in the ass to work with! All I hear from them is "I do apologize for the inconvenience caused." and "I understand the frustration." and when I ask them for solutions for this situation they said "I am sorry, I recommend sending back in the motherboard as there is no other option available." I asked them to pay for shipping or to replace the motherboard but they refused.
The is the second time I pay from my hard earned money to get the board fixed and they sent me the motherboard without fixing it twice! They don't seem to care at all!

jimmysmitty · Jun 16, 2016

Khaleal :

I have worked at call centers, multiple ones. Let me give you a few tips.

1. Stay calm. They wont help you if you get too heated.

2. Ask for a supervisor. They have vastly more power than a normal rep.

3. Be patient with them. As I said before, normal support reps have little to no power and sometimes their supervisors don't. They might have an escalation procedure they have to follow, and trust me they have to follow it or else they can be reprimanded and it is not worth it considering how poorly you get paid in a call center job.

That is IF you want to try to RMA the board. I think getting a new one, make sure there is a decent return policy like from Amazon Prime, and testing it. If it works then good. If it doesn't then back to square one.

If you want after you have a solution you can try to work with Asus or toss the board, it is your call. I am just trying to help you the best I can.

Khaleal · Jun 16, 2016

jimmysmitty :

The have escalated the case and I've received - 10 minutes ago - an email from their "next level" support (Robert Tinsley) and he says "We received a pass case from our support team regarding a request for shipping refund. Unfortunately ASUS does not in any way offer refunds for shipping."
I'm pretty helpless at this point as I can't do anything to them and can't afford shipping the board overseas over and over again as they don't care about the customer.
I've RMA'ed some products in the past like Kingston and Corsair, they're fantastic! I've never seen anything like ASUS terrible RMA and support experience!

jimmysmitty · Jun 16, 2016

As I said keep going up the chain. Every company is different in how they work. I don't think they understand what you want.

You need to ask for a prepaid shipping label to ship it back to them not a refund on the shipping. I am sure they can do that and since they are a very large customer to all the major shipping companies they probably get a big discount on shipping.

Khaleal · Jun 16, 2016

jimmysmitty :

I've never asked them for shipping refund. I asked them to send a replacement as I can't afford sending the board again (and they don't provide shipping labels since I'm outside USA)

Rookie_MIB · Jun 17, 2016

Hmm... I've not had any problems with Asus, but when I get their stuff I usually aim high - up to a point, you DO get what you pay for, but the problem is that to do that you're going to wind up dropping a fair chunk of change.

I have a used Asus board (P7F7-E WS) which is running a Xeon OC'd from 2.9 to 4.2GHZ, and it's going fine. But - that's a workstation level board - and getting one of those for your setup will cost you $150 minimum from what I can find on eBay (P8Z77 WS). However, if you think about it, at that point you're going to keep it for 2-3 years, and a workstation level motherboard tends to hold it's value quite well as they're made for high end builds (the Asus WS series are Quad-SLI capable). At that point - what's $50 year? 12 cents a day?

But - that $150 gives you some peace of mind because as mentioned, these are high end boards, and they'll hold up to abuse.

Here's the link to the one board...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASUS-P8Z77-WS-LGA-1155-Intel-Z77-SATA-6Gb-s-USB-3-0-ATX-Intel-Motherboard-/231965918043?hash=item36023f035b:g:KhwAAOSwd2xXPq1O

jimmysmitty · Jun 17, 2016

Khaleal :

jimmysmitty :

I've never asked them for shipping refund. I asked them to send a replacement as I can't afford sending the board again (and they don't provide shipping labels since I'm outside USA)

Look I am going based on your wording in your posts.

Have you, for laughs, tried a different PSU?

Khaleal · Jun 17, 2016

Rookie_MIB :

This motherboard costed me $149 back in the time when I bought it. It's not a budget board.
It's not even my main system motherboard! This was installed in a case and was turned on 1-2 times a week for few hours.

Khaleal · Jun 17, 2016

@jimmysmitty I've already tried a different PSU. Both Corsair VS550 and Corsair RM850X gave the same result.
I've received another mail from ASUS customer service manager (Robert Tinsley) and he refused my request to replace the board.

LGA 1155 Motherboard recommendation?

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