I currently have 4 $250+ motherboards that were or continue to be sold advertising features that don't work. I have ALL of these problems on the high end boards, plus a few on low end boards where I would expect issues.

2 Ethernet ports, only one works
IDE channel that doesn't work
On-board raid that doesn't work
Motherboards that auto-detect memory at the wrong speeds
Motherboards that auto-detect supported processors at the wrong speeds
Motherboard with CPU-Free that does have a CPU multiplier setting in the BIOS, that changes in the BIOS on an unlocked (EE) CPU, but does not actually affect processors speed.
Certain chipset brand that runs so hot it's impossible to run stable without additional fans.
Bios update to fix an issue, updated per manufacturers instructions followed to the letter, rendered mobo dead.

Everything I inquire about is a "chipset limitation"......yet there is no mention of it in revised manuals or advertisements.

The forums are full of angry people with parts that are no good, and online consumer reviews with 20+% DOA or failure within 2 weeks.....

Issues that get addressed with Bios updates are one thing. Issues that never get dealt with are another.

What responsibility do these manufacturers have to actually deliver what we pay for? There are motherboards out there selling for over $300 that have known issues. Are people suing? Are people working with manufactures to get replacement parts? Are people sending these boards back on RMA? I have not had any luck sending back parts on known issues because a replacement part will have the same issue. I am just expected to take it as it is. How do they write a manual and not actually check to make sure everything works? We wouldn't accept a car if a door didn't work, a transmission didn't shift or a start when we turned the key, why do we take it when its a motherboard?

Newegg has the best return policy I’ve ever come across, but even they are tired of getting motherboards back because they don’t work. They have changed their motherboard policy from 1 year to 30 days because it’s costing them so much money.

I have a failed part in for RMA right now. I called yesterday and was told at least 6 more weeks, fin addition to the 4 weeks I’ve been waiting, or I can substitute a part of 1/3 value today. I think I-we deserve better. Am I just expecting too much?

a word: if they are selling you a $300 mobo, they saw you coming a mile away.
they call it the bleeding edge for a reason.
if you want rock solid, you gotta go for established tech. not for the newest, all new stuff is flawed and YOU are the proving ground. you can also probably blame intel for changing too many things to fast. i would have build intel for my last system, but the motherboard compatibilty issue was too much for me.

Welcome to the wide, wide world of computing. If it was easy it wouldn't be much of a challenge and we would all have too much time on our hands. Seriously, I don't have those problems to any real degree and I buy the latest and hopefully greatest parts available. I do read quite a bit before I choose, though.

Ethernet ports, only one works - enable other in bios or if it is RMA the board, problem fixed
IDE channel that doesn't work - enable in bios or if it is RMA the board, problem fixed
On-board raid that doesn't work - RMA
Motherboards that auto-detect memory at the wrong speeds = set them manualy...
Motherboards that auto-detect supported processors at the wrong speeds - flash bios, to get supported processors to work, or RMA it.

why would you bother to keep all this failing equipment and not RMA it?
if they are selling you sub $300 motherboards... they have a realy good RMA system. I have RMA'd my boards many times, some due to jut up and failing, some.. because they don't swim to well.
but I always get it RMA'd then the problem is gone.

Can you tell us which motherboards these are?

After that rant, why not spill the beans and tell us what maker and model of mobos you are talking about.

I can't help but wonder how many of your issues are PEBCAK.

I learned a long time ago to not buy the first prodcution run of a mobo. Thanks for reminding me of why I wait until after there have been at least two BIOS updates before I buy a particular mobo.

what difference does bios revisions do... wait a week and you will have a new one...
it's the board revisions you have to worry bout.

I have been pleased with most motherboards I have ever purchased. I just think you need to pick the right one for the application.

It's just been my experience that after a couple/few BIOS updates most of the kinks have been worked out. Generally speaking, a BIOS update ensures/improves the baseline functionaility of the chipset. And, for me it's a combo of the chipset and mobo maker that prompts me to purchase a board, features are secondary reasons.

A board revision is altogether different. If a mobo maker updates the board from 6ph to 8ph power, or relocates some capacitors, or use different VRM's, it can vastly improve the stability and reliability of the board. But a board revision is still uses the same chipset and offers the same baseline functionality as previous revisions. And even then, the board revision may need a couple of BIOS updates to work out the kinks.

Ethernet port, Raid and IDE channel don't work, period. Widely documented, and manufacturer won't issue RMA because a new one won't work either. As soon as they say ‘Chipset limitation”, they seem to be off the hook.

Not all motherboards allow you to set memory speed manually. Some do, others allow you to change it but fix mem speed to FSB.....which is fine if it picks memory correctly, but not if it doesn't. Example, mobo sets 800 memory at 533. You can choose between 2 ratios, but chances are you are either going to over clock the CPU or under clock the memory to less then optimum values. Yes, I knew over clocking was limited, but I assumed it would see the memory correctly. I researched before I bought, purchased SUPPORTED AND QUALIFIED parts to the manufacturers manual, but still got a mobo that didn’t work right. other mobo sees memory as 800? I did RMA that one yesterday.

I've researched the problems I am using for examples. There is no "fix" for any of them. Its product that was put to market without being fully tested. I've built hundreds of computers; these are not driver or bios issues. These are proven hardware incompatibility issues. When you buy a mobo with capability of 12 sata/pata devices and 2 types of on-board Raid, I'm sure not every combination of devices gets checked by every user. I run my stuff for a year and recycle my parts to friends and family. Some time you only find out later that features you didn’t use don’t work. I bought another board yesterday that has no reviews. It’s fine, I’ll test everything and send it back if it doesn’t work right. I found out the IDE channel didn't work in the process of building a file server. I had run all Sata, but now wanted to use up 4 old IDE drives for storage. I guess not without an IDE controller card

I don't want to bring brand into the mix, because all have boards with what seem to be more issues recently than in the past, and my issues are with 3 different brands. My question was of a more global in nature, as in: why do we put up with it? Sure I can RMA and wait 2-3 months for a replacement.....or stab in a NIC, sound card or storage controller card. But I'd rather have boards (premium) like we used to get 3-4 years ago when everything worked. If there is a hardware issue it should be dealt with promptly, as in: advance replacement or substitution vs. 2-3 months IMO.

Sounds like no one else is concerned, guess I'll just have to suck it up.

By that statement I assume you don't build many computers?

You got me, I like to be the first kid on the block. Like I said, I don't mind BIOS updates as long as issues get resolved. That is not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about product that has been out 1-2 years.

Absolutely priceless. I want a story to accompany such a wonderful quote.

But, OP, he's right, if it doesn't work the way they say it should (within the warantee period), RMA it! How hard it that.
If you're spending too much and not getting much out, stop the bleeding by adopting technology after it's been proven.

If you a buying a $300 motherboard, it is almost guaranteed that it has the option for you to manually set the RAM speed, and the individual timings. You are probably not looking in the right spot.