You can skip down if you want, just don't buy Albatron

The family computer was getting pretty slow, so my parents decided to let me build another computer while they take my old one (it was a pretty sweet deal). Anyway, I'm putting my computer in ship-shape to give it to my family, and I thought that I would flash the motherboard bios to the latest version, especially because I was seeing garbled text on boot-up for months (with no real performance problems past that). So everything goes alright, the flash screen tells me it's finished, to press f10 to continue. Sweet. I do that, I get a black screen, though everything else is still running. Every time I boot it now, hard drives seek, fans whir, but nothing happens on screen, corsair LEDs have fun then freeze, and sometimes I'll get repeated beeps.

So I decided to call Albatron tech support (I have a KX18D Pro II Socket A board that otherwise has been great) and it was hard enough to get a number, harder to get a person. In fact, after a couple of days of trying, leaving messages, I call and it seems like their phone support has disappeared. I've sent my e-mails like they asked, got one a good week and a half after my submission with them telling me to reflash my BIOS. Thanks, buddy, I'll just flash them without any visual aid, perhaps sprinkle it with some fairy dust! I told them they misunderstood, explained, I haven't heard back from them. Really, I typed all that to say don't buy albatron because their tech support is nonexistant. I realize they're not exactly a popular motherboard manufacturer, but I'm sure some of you have eyed a graphics card of theirs.

AND THE REAL QUESTION

I think it's about time to say screw it, grab a new socket A motherboard, especially because considering the stuff my family throws at these machines, I might need to "contact" tech support again. It doesn't need anything flashy - just agp 8x really. I'm giving my old chip a break, keeping it at stock for my family, so overclocking is unnecessary. It doesn't need to be budget, though it doesn't hurt. All I want is stability and strong tech support, especially for the long run. I tend to like to switch up my motherboard companies, give everybody a shot, so I'd rather not buy MSI, Albatron (of course, if you recommended it to me, you'd be a jackass), or DFI. Any ideas?

P.S. What isn't fair here is that my new rig is up and kicking ass.

I don't know about technical support, but I've had a lot of good success out of my Asus A7N8X-X motherboard. It's socket A, also. Run it in my machine that's on almost 24/7, and had no problems whatsoever (knock on wood) thus far.

I've only built a few computers by each part independently, and they've all been socket A. I've used MSI, Epox, and now Asus. Epox and the Asus were good, but the Epox randomly blew a transistor or resisistor.

Doubt I helped much, but that's just my two cents.

MSI, Abit, Asus, DFI and Gigabyte for Socket A. The cheapest 8X AGP motherboard, that's not PCChips or ECS will probably be MSI.

actually I forgot that I have a very pretty Gigabyte board in my dad's computer at work. His computer is barebones, but that sucker just keeps on crunching. I kind of miss it, it was my second build.

If you can, please provide specific board models

I've heard lots of good things about the Gigabyte boards. How about this sweet $46.00 Gigabyte board? Good price, probably not a bad mobo. Not to mention it's pretty.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128237

Quote: Originally Posted by subdismal I've heard lots of good things about the Gigabyte boards. How about this sweet $46.00 Gigabyte board? Good price, probably not a bad mobo. Not to mention it's pretty. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128237

Gygabyte boards are my fav if you want a stable no overclocking board. They can take a beating and I have never heard of anyone having problems with them. MSI is usually good but I always find they skimp out somewhere, and you dont relise it until its too late(after you purchased it).

Quote: Originally Posted by _Sexy_Pants_ AND THE REAL QUESTION I think it's about time to say screw it, grab a new socket A motherboard, especially because considering the stuff my family throws at these machines, I might need to "contact" tech support again. It doesn't need anything flashy - just agp 8x really. I'm giving my old chip a break, keeping it at stock for my family, so overclocking is unnecessary. It doesn't need to be budget, though it doesn't hurt. All I want is stability and strong tech support, especially for the long run. I tend to like to switch up my motherboard companies, give everybody a shot, so I'd rather not buy MSI, Albatron (of course, if you recommended it to me, you'd be a jackass), or DFI. Any ideas? P.S. What isn't fair here is that my new rig is up and kicking ass.

The Asrock K7S41GX is a good little microATX board, It has onboard lan, audio, and video. It is FSB 333 and only has 2 PCI and AGP 8 slots. The onboard audio and video is very good. I think it runs about $45 USD. BTW, Asus owns Asrock.

Quote: Originally Posted by smoke The Asrock K7S41GX is a good little microATX board, It has onboard lan, audio, and video. It is FSB 333 and only has 2 PCI and AGP 8 slots. The onboard audio and video is very good. I think it runs about $45 USD. BTW, Asus owns Asrock.

I opted for a gigabyte, but I learned yesterday that I might be building an mATX machine for my dad. I'll keep this in mind