ECS=EVIL!!!!!!

Ok, one of the life changing transforamtions I went through involved my attachment to certain motherboard manufacturers. Some of you may remember I swore by Abit. Well, now I have been enlightened! MSI is the way to go.

So how did I get there? I had agreed to build a pc for a relative and bought parts totalling $700. To keep cost down, and since the pc wasn't for me, I skimppeded on the motherboard. That's where ECS comes in. Now ECS may make some other motherboards that are ok, but the one I bought, the P6S5AT, is a Pentium III/Celeron with DDR memory. But damn if I didn't look in the motherboard manual and see that to find more info on types of DDR tested with the board, they say to check out PCChips' website!! Whoa nelly! Ok, since it wasn't my pc, I went ahead and installed. Must say it seemed a spry little board...till the on-board sound wouldn't work. So, I have a Yamaha XG lying about...So I open the case and Blamo, the Modem is AMR. R as in ARRRGH!!! This damn AMRGGHHHHH slot is about 2 milimeteres away and on the outside of the AGP slot which was I had a TNT2 in. And guess where the CD-Rom Audio cable was located? Yep, right smack dab in that 2 mili spot of PCB. I turn off pc. Unscrew (That sounds fun!!). Gently rock TNT2 back and forth while pulling up (Damn that sounds funner!!). I hear Clack!!! Think nothing of it untill after card is free and I see the Power light on?!?!? WTF? I turned it off!! I reach back and pull out power cord. I insert AGP and notice a small brown piece that fits on the end of the AGP slot fall onto motherboard. Sinking feeling. PLug in TNT2. Plug in Power. Turn on. Beep Beep Beep. NO video. I TURN OFF PC. while removing TNT2 Power light comes on!! Yikes!! Settle down. Grabbed gForce2 MX, pull power, insert, and turn on, no vid, nothing. Pull power, remove MX. Grab old Voodoo Banshee. PCI. Works. So now, decisions Decisions. Do I go and grab a PCI 32 meg card and not say anything or replace motherboard. I go to shop and they laugh me out of there. NO way are they going to replace board. NO way will I shop there anymore. I ask a few other techs at job and one recomends small shop in chinatown. I go, guy there recommends MSI. All he uses. I get a PIII/Celeron, onboard Creative, PC133. Sweet board. Everything plugs in fine. Had it in my house for a week and ran QuakeIII for two days straight-no probs. Ran SiSoft Sandra burn in 12 times in a row-no probs. Left it on the whole time no probs.

So moral of the story, stay away from me..no wait, that's stay away from ECS motherboards.

P.S. Am going to buy a cheap case and build up the ECS board with a PCI vid and sell to some dumb fool in my apt building. Afterall it is a DDR motherboard.


P.S. since I now love MSI, my new board will be the K7T266 Pro2. Red PCB. DDR. AMD. Sweet.

I perfectly agree 100% about MSI mb's.
This company went all out making good boards lately.

I think there was some issues with their other boards in the past, but I think it is all straight now.

I love them for system builds for both PIII, Celeron, P4's and AMD tb's, duron's, xp's.

I look forward trying out their new Nforce mb.
Looks very promising.

I also like almost any Asus mb, some Gigabyte models, Tyans, and Intel mb's themselves.

However, I am no longer a fan of A-sh-it mbs.
Don't get me wrong, they make some good mb's, but they are not always stable and reliability is a concern for me. I can no longer trust them. :mad:

You should also unplug the computer before doing adding or removing anything... some motherboards will turn on when you plug or unplug expansion cards. Unlike a AT MB, a ATX PS will supply power to the motherboard even when the PC is off. That's what probably fried the board.....

I've only dealt with a few new MSI boards towards the start of 2001 but I have to say I was happy with how well they went.

I've also dealt with several Asus mobos this year in the hope of finding a manufacturer to recommend to clients who want top quality motherboards. To say I'm disapointed with Asus would be an understatement as every board I've sold has been back through the doors for one reason or another.

FIC and Gigabyte boards have also been very problemmatic. Abit boards have a history of poor design on Voltage regulators, often resulting in capacitor failure.

If I had a local supplier who sold MSI motherboards I'd be suggesting them as the better quality boards to clients. As it is, Soltek have been putting out excellent quality, inexpensive boards in recent times so they're the only manufacturer I've dealt with consistently in the last year. The KT266 boards Soltek are putting out look to have a poor voltage regulator design though(as do boards from most other manufacturers). Time will tell.

So O.G. you blame ECS for you not unplugging the computer from the wall? Sorry to say but don't blame ECS because you didn't want to unplug it from the wall. I've been using an ECS for almost a year and.......can it be?????......It worked like a charm!!!!!

imo....
i have an ecs board k7vza, solid as a rock. With atx power as it is, there is always current to the board, UNLESS it's unplugged, or if the psu has one there is a rocker swith that shuts power off to the machine...i agree with the low level owl of me don't blame ecs for your mistake.
i know ecs is not the best board, but own up to you mistakes if you make them....
as i do in life...making enemys

I've used ECS boards in retail before. Not bad, but not something I'd use personally.

I guess I am lucky , I have unplugged cards with the power plugged in ( Not video though )
I have since learned to unplug the system , then I hit the power button to discharge the caps , Then I change the hard ware , I only fried one board by trying the short the power switch pins with a screw driver
I have had no problems with Asus ( except that one time with the screw drive ) , Lots of problems with Gigabytes
:)

[quote]Originally posted by Low Level Owl:
<strong>So O.G. you blame ECS for you not unplugging the computer from the wall? Sorry to say but don't blame ECS because you didn't want to unplug it from the wall. I've been using an ECS for almost a year and.......can it be?????......It worked like a charm!!!!!</strong><hr></blockquote>

First of all, you don't know me so let me tell you something. Don't post replies to me unless you first read and understand my posts. I don't like dealing with people who just shoot off a quick reply.

Second, since you obviously do not, and will not, understand what I was saying, here it is: I don't blame ECS for the problem. What I came to learn was that ECS is evil for using PCChips motherboards. And in the 6 plus years I have been building my own PCs and working Tech Support, I have never once run into problems while removing cards with the power cord still plugged. As a matter of fact, that is the first time I have ever had any problems related to this. So I blame PCChips. So there. Nyah nyah nyah.

Again, if you are only reading this part of my post and want to snap off some witty (only to yourself reply), forget it.

ASUS Motherboard's are rock solid, I would'nt through choice use any other, my latest a P4T even has a green led on it to show when no juice is in it. MSI are nice, but my own is ASUS and no other, if they come back its because people can't set them up properly.

regarding MSI, I've been to several different shops since then and all recommend MSI as solid, stable boards. One even uses them exclusivly. He will order other boards but at a 10% markup...sounds cool to me....mebbe I should do that when building for others...

[quote]Originally posted by TRICKPLAYER:
<strong>ASUS Motherboard's are rock solid, I would'nt through choice use any other, my latest a P4T even has a green led on it to show when no juice is in it. MSI are nice, but my own is ASUS and no other, if they come back its because people can't set them up properly.</strong><hr></blockquote>

So you saying that anyone who might have had problems with ASUS can't set them up properly? Does that mean that if I get an ASUS board that constantly crashes, later determined to be say a fault with the motherboard, is still my fault cause I don't know how to set it up properly, despite 6 plus years of building and apparently knowing enough to set up other motherboards...?

Uhm can you not reply to any of my posts, please.

[quote]Originally posted by O.G. Lycia:
<strong>


can you not reply to any of my posts, please.</strong><hr></blockquote>

If you keep quarrelling with people who post replies, I'm sure your request will be granted.

[quote]Originally posted by Platypus:
<strong>

If you keep quarrelling with people who post replies, I'm sure your request will be granted.</strong><hr></blockquote>

No one is quarrelling. But whtever gets them to not post lame replies, whatever.

As far as unplugging components goes while the power is plugged in, my understanding is that it's a bad idea removing RAM due to the standby voltage. This is generally indicated by a light on the motherboard.

Due to it's nature, having a more or less direct link to main memory, it's probably a bad idea to be plugging in or unplugging AGP cards while the motherboard has standby voltage.

The PCI V2.2 specification states that is hot pluggable and I've never had a problem with removing or installing PCI cards with standby voltage on, although some motherboard manuals say to disconnect power before changing any system components.

Of course if you are using the computer chassis as a ground point to prevent ESD, then having the power plugged in is a good idea. Power supplies without switches are inconvenient to say the least.