CAN WE HAVE A STICKY on hardware

[Imagine Video]

sig is now included

[GrassValley_MD]

There seems to be two areas of thought here...

1. A very strict hardware list and no tech support if you are outside of that.

2. Wide open and willing to help with any config.


We take the 2nd option which makes it very difficult to keep up and test every config possible, and even if we approve a board and the change the bios it can become a worthless piece of Hardware listed by us as good.

We have found that the users on this board have the most up to date list and all anyone has to do is ask.

Also, like Brandon mentioned it is much better and safer to go with a turnkey system from us or a proven integrator that is tested and works. Unless you REALLY know your stuff with computers and even then it can become a toss up, turnkeys are the way to go.


Mike

[GrassValley_KH]

Just to weigh in here - the Web site list is based on the in house testing performed by engineering/QC in Japan. Since the list of computer hardware out there is vast and ever growing/changing, it's simply not feasible to run a dedicated "we test computers" team outside of turnkey QC.

That said, I have a few more motherboards I'll be adding to the list shortly, which were tested and verified last month.

[STORMDAVE]

I gotta mention that it will be hard for GV to keep track of all the hardwares out there.

For companies such as Matrox it's easier because their cards don't work with all the hardware that's out there, they have a specific list (speaking from experience with their cards, but maybe that has changed with their latest...).

The GV cards are much more forgiving, which is a good thing.

Nowadays Intel is dominating, so your best bet is to look at the newer Intel chipset based motherboards from Asus, Abit, Gigabyte and a few others. Stay away from nForce, VIA, etc...althought some people might have no problem with those. These are the best motherboards on the market. Graphic cards are similar as well, they are very good nowadays and there aren't that many compatibility issues as they were a couple of years ago.

If you've been building computers for years and haven't been "in the game" lately, do some research on NewEgg and this forum. Read reviews for motherboards so you can keep yourself upto date.

If you are new to computer building, I would recommend that you google computer sites about building PC's. It is much easier nowadays...or just go the Turnkey route from places such as Guy Graphics or Grass Valley. They have their own support and when you have trouble you just call them and they'll help you out. With a custom built PC, you're pretty much on your own as each part has separate warranty and it will be very hard for you to keep track of what the problem is.

[GrassValley_BH]

To add to the good advice here... You do get what you pay for. I once bought a $30 motherboard from an brand-name company whose website ends in .com.tw for a cheap umpteenth-ondary system. Somehow, some way while adjusting the BIOS settings, the nVidia RAID controller got completely demolished.
Okay, no problem, use PCI RAID controller. Ran for about a week, then the BIOS was completely screwed. The video didn't come up properly, nothing. Components worked fine before, and continued to work fine in another motherboard.
Swapped out power supply, changed battery. Still hosed.
Replaced motherboard with exact same make/model. Ran OK again - for another week or so, then the nVidia RAID BIOS went kaput and I pulled the motherboard out and threw in the junk pile. $60 and 40+ hours NOT well-spent.

Always check the reviews and let the experience of other users in this thread serve as a general guide.

[STORMDAVE]

To add to the good advice here... You do get what you pay for. I once bought a $30 motherboard from an brand-name company whose website ends in .com.tw for a cheap umpteenth-ondary system. Somehow, some way while adjusting the BIOS settings, the nVidia RAID controller got completely demolished.
Okay, no problem, use PCI RAID controller. Ran for about a week, then the BIOS was completely screwed. The video didn't come up properly, nothing. Components worked fine before, and continued to work fine in another motherboard.
Swapped out power supply, changed battery. Still hosed.
Replaced motherboard with exact same make/model. Ran OK again - for another week or so, then the nVidia RAID BIOS went kaput and I pulled the motherboard out and threw in the junk pile. $60 and 40+ hours NOT well-spent.

Always check the reviews and let the experience of other users in this thread serve as a general guide.

Very true. Always stick with brand names...they are not that much more expensive than cheapo motherboards such as ESI etc etc.

They were having Abit p35 boards on sale for $90 (Deluxe) or $60 (Non Deluxe) these were excellent prices for these boards as they run in the higher hundreds...there's always a soft spot with good motherboards.