Typically when I chose a motherboard to build business workstations out of, I use that motherboard for the entire cycle of the technology; meaning usually, I use a particular motherboard for a particular Intel chipset; changing motherboards when it’s time to move on to the next chipset.
Normally I will not have to RMA (return as defective) any motherboards for a long time. Then, once in a while, a particular motherboard shows itself to be a problem. The last one was the P4T533 series which had a habit of one day either locking up or not coming alive when powered up. If it happened during the 3 year warranty, Asus would replace it (I would have to come up with a loaner for a couple of weeks) and it would then be fine forever. If it died after 3 years; new machine.
I am now starting to see the emergence of another problem board, the Asus P5LD2 Deluxe. Below is a photo of a P5LD2 Deluxe and an Asus EN6600 video card that I paired with this board on many occasions.
What is happening to these boards is that a couple of voltage regulators are getting fried. Why? Who knows. Asus technical support will point to the Antec power supply. But is that really likely to happen on several occasions with different computers in different buildings and different cities? Only if the unit is an inherently bad design.. and that’s possible.
But the problems with Antec that I read about concern low or poor voltage, not motherboards burning up.
And here’s the video card:
What’s the fix?
Well, the first time I just replaced the motherboard, video card and power supply. As soon as I applied power, it all fried again – same components.
So the next time, I RMA’d the processor and memory also.
Could it be the Antec power supply? Maybe. But I have used the same power supply with different Asus motherboards and not had any problems..so far, anyway.
In the meantime, BACKUP – just in case (no data lost to date), and have a spare PC on hand.
