Choose a motherboard compatible with your I5-13600K for optimal performance.
Choose a motherboard compatible with your I5-13600K for optimal performance.
Hello, It seems I am having terrible luck. I have had to send back two different MSI Z690 boards ( Force and ACE) to two different online retailers because I thought they were not new. One board did not include the paper manual as described in included items on the manufacturer's website. Several of the plastic film pieces were missing, and the bottom of the board felt sticky. I am not sure, but it seems like someone received it, started to unpack it, didn't feel comfortable with it and sent it back. The latest board I received today, just a little while ago. It was covered in dust. Someone's hair was on it, plastic film was damaged or was missing, and some of the cpu pins didn't look like the others. The weren't bent that I could see, but when I shined the light on them there was an area that was a different color and it looked like they could have been bent and then fixed. Honestly, the board looked like it sat on a tech's workbench for a month waiting on a part. Maybe things have changed, but it has been my experience when I have bought motherboards in the past, the static bag keeps the board looking like new until the customer removes it for the first time. There shouldn't be dust all over the board. I didn't want to take the chance with either of them. I won't name the retailers, but they are where a lot of people buy their components. I included a few pictures of the board I received today so you could see what I am talking about. Naturally, I am disappointed. Both of the boards were on sale for a good price and shipped and sold by the popular, major online retailers. No third parties involved. What board manufacturer do you have the most confidence in? I realize many go with the older chipsets and that was what I was trying to do, but I am not confident that I would actually receive a new board if I went that way again. I liked the feature set of the Ace, but not the price of a new Z790 version. Thought are appreciated. Edit: Sorry the pics are so big. That was not my intention.
I confirmed the product details on the site and found no signs of being open or refurbished. The images suggest it was intended to be new. Your order appears to match that description. It makes sense to return it soon if you see any issues.
I suggest this motherboard here: https://www.asus.com/us/motherboards-com...plus-wifi/. They offer both DDR4 and 5 versions, plus non-Wi-Fi options depending on your needs. I typically visit a local Microcenter or purchase from Amazon (not third-party) or Newegg. Both have good experiences like yours. In short, this is what I recommend and best luck with!
Thanks! Your point is spot on. I think ordering directly from the maker would increase my chances of getting a replacement board. Right now, I’m not too concerned about finding something on sale; I just need a new one. These returns are really frustrating.
It's not a certainty and won't be inexpensive, but you might find a board meant for the 14th generation, especially a pre-order item that hasn't been released yet, like the MSI Z790-A MAX.
People often find themselves renting cars and traveling across states to collect items. Retailers are currently treating figures like Musk and Bezos as almost divine, which leads them to dismiss employees. Probably those handling returns are just treating it like inventory, quickly picking things up and sending them out again. This is why similar stories keep appearing. No one is completely right, but I haven't faced this problem myself yet. I expect it will happen soon.
Yeah, I hope so. I picked up a few lessons from this situation and plan to be more cautious moving forward. Thanks for the advice. As I keep researching and shopping, what do you think about using multiple layers in your boards? I’d say 8-layer PCBs tend to be stronger. What about 6-layer ones? Any downsides to those?
I believe Buildzoid reviewed (or discussed) it in one of his videos. The six-layer boards show increased temperatures in specific sections. This isn't a major concern for most CPUs like i3 or i5, but with high-end processors running at top speeds, it can get quite hot.