How are AOpen motherboards?

[IEC]

I'm going to be building an SFF this summer, and I've been looking at mATX boards. Since I plan on keeping my AGP graphics card, I've been looking at s754 mATX motherboards. I also don't like VIA chipsets, so I'm looking at SiS-based motherboards. I'm currently looking at an AOpen s760GXm-S mATX motherboard. Now, I haven't heard much about AOpen - I know they manufacture many different things and they supposedly use all Rubycon capacitors in their motherboards... but has anyone had experience with them, and do they make stable and long-lasting boards? Performance is pretty much the same across the board, so I'm looking for a reliable and very functional board (good BIOS adjustments are part of what I consider good functionality).

Your thoughts?

 

[Lukozer]

To date i have built over 20 PC's using Aopen boards, 3 of which were my own PC. Aopen are simply my number 1 choice of motherboard manufacturer, they are absolutely rock solid in the stability department, and get their priorities right when it comes to motherboard manufacturing as they are willing to sacrifice a little (and i mean a LITTLE) speed for greater stability. Another positive for Aopen is their great customer service and RMA service. While you don't buy a motherboard with the belief that you will need to RMA it, it's good to know Aopen are pretty much unrivaled when it comes to this.

While they don't have the best reputation for overclocking, i have found them to be quite reasonable overclockers. That said, i'm certainly not hardcore so what i consider to be good, many may find mediocre.

You may be wondering why i'm not using an Aopen board now, after i've pretty much said they are all but Jesus christ incarnate.. The answer is simple, yet also inexplicable. Aopen do not have a single socket 939 board available! Shocking!!

 

[Puffnstuff]

I had a bad experience with them two years ago with the ak79d-max mb that had a bad memory controller. I rma'd it to newegg and they sent me a ak79d-400max to replace it and I never used it. Just lifted the lid on the box to make sure everything was in there and then closed it up and put it in a drawer. I ended up buying an abit nf7-s v2 to replace it and never had another problem. If you go over the the aopen sponsored forums you won't like what you see. I wish I'd went there first before buying it in the first place. Good luck with whatever you buy.

 

[Texun]

I'm not sure if this counts since it was a long time ago, but I built one Aopen socket 370 system a couple of years ago and it was stone solid. Ran smooth as silk.

 

[ClockerXP]

I've built 4-5 systems around the Aopen AK79D-400VN. Great motherboard with no problems at all. Overclocked well too. I found the construction very sturdy and the retention mechanism for the chipset heatsink to be excellent. Metal clips rather than the cheap push=pins you see on other motherboards. Also, I bought the boards with rebates and AOpen fulfilled quickly as well. All around I was very pleased with AOpen motherboards and would buy one again if it fit my system needs.

 

[kef7]

I recently built up a P4 system with an matx aopen board and have no complaints other than limited overclocking options. (which I was aware of)

two things I liked that I've never seen on other motherboards:
--AGP retention mechanism slid forward and back instead of the usual tab that flex from side to side; this was really nice because it can be a pain if the flex tab is hard to reach (which can be even more difficult in a matx case)
--cpu retention bracket was held on by metal nuts&bolts vs the normal plastic push pins

 

[KGB]

I have used AOpen boards for years and find them to be very high quality products.
Like Clocker, I have built several systems with the AK79D-400VM and have had nothing but good experiences.

Regarding the forums at AOpen, they must be taken in context. People go there to get solutions to problems and not to praise the products (like NewEgg).

 

[IEC]

Good to know all this, thanks for the info. Any other people on this forum have experience with AOpen? I know the motherboard I'm looking at has a quality backplate and retention bracket for the CPU, which is generally an indicator that the company CARES about the quality of their boards as well... I would like a s939 board, but there are no really good mATX 939 boards (ECS, Foxconn, and MSI I regard as not quite the best). I'm looking forward to June, hopefully there will be some better mATX 939 mobos (maybe AOpen or Gigabyte will make one?)

 

[TStep]

Originally posted by: kef7
I recently built up a P4 system with an matx aopen board and have no complaints other than limited overclocking options. (which I was aware of)

two things I liked that I've never seen on other motherboards:
--AGP retention mechanism slid forward and back instead of the usual tab that flex from side to side; this was really nice because it can be a pain if the flex tab is hard to reach (which can be even more difficult in a matx case)
--cpu retention bracket was held on by metal nuts&bolts vs the normal plastic push pins

Those are two little things that I thought were noteworthy as well. I just sold an AX4SG, 865G chipset and it overclocked well, had alot of options, and solid performance.

 

[keeleysam]

Originally posted by: ariafrost
Good to know all this, thanks for the info. Any other people on this forum have experience with AOpen? I know the motherboard I'm looking at has a quality backplate and retention bracket for the CPU, which is generally an indicator that the company CARES about the quality of their boards as well... I would like a s939 board, but there are no really good mATX 939 boards (ECS, Foxconn, and MSI I regard as not quite the best). I'm looking forward to June, hopefully there will be some better mATX 939 mobos (maybe AOpen or Gigabyte will make one?)

MSI are very good, ECS are good too (try them and stop spreading the FUD).

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: keeleysam

Originally posted by: ariafrost
Good to know all this, thanks for the info. Any other people on this forum have experience with AOpen? I know the motherboard I'm looking at has a quality backplate and retention bracket for the CPU, which is generally an indicator that the company CARES about the quality of their boards as well... I would like a s939 board, but there are no really good mATX 939 boards (ECS, Foxconn, and MSI I regard as not quite the best). I'm looking forward to June, hopefully there will be some better mATX 939 mobos (maybe AOpen or Gigabyte will make one?)

MSI are very good, ECS are good too (try them and stop spreading the FUD).

It's not FUD as far as I am concerned - I've had ECS boards, and they are fairly flaky. After a few months the integrated sound, a DDR slot, and a few other minor things stopped working in my K7S5A v.3 - never had that happen with any other board. The capacitors are not the highest quality either. Basically what I'm saying is that they make decent 'mainstream' boards, but for top-notch reliability and performance, better manufacturers simply make better motherboards. The warranty period is important to me as well - if a company makes a motherboard and backs it with a three year warranty, it is a good bet that they are confident it will last at least that long in most cases. Sometimes, you actually do get what you pay for.

 

[The Pentium Guy]

For some odd reason, I have an AOpen hard drive ribbon cable... on my ASUS motherboard. Don't ask....

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy
For some odd reason, I have an AOpen hard drive ribbon cable... on my ASUS motherboard. Don't ask....

I think AOpen actually makes quite a bit of OEM stuff such as cases, power supplies, etc. They seem to be a rather large manufacturing firm.

 

[stevty2889]

I've used serveral Aopen motherboards, and have been happy with them. I retired one of my Aopen boards to my dad's computer, running a 1.6ghz northwood at 2.1ghz for 2.5 years now. I have an aopen board with a 1.6ghz mobile northwood as well, no problems with either of them ever, stable and decent overclockers as well.

 

[StormRider]

I have a KT400 based Aopen board. I like the build quality a lot. For example, the DDR sockets seem like a higher quality than other motherboards I've used. It's been very reliable for the past 2 to 3 years of use.

 

[Blain]

I like AOpen MBs... Good quality... Feature rich... Stable... Fair priced.

 

[WT]

Another AK79D-400VN owner here. True, the AOpen forums are a bit of a shambles, I will agree with that, but the only original posters in ANY board forums are owners with problems, not someone without any problems installing their board offering up a glowing review.

 

[crazyeddie]

I've used AOpen motherboards and other components in the past. I've always found them to be high quality and reliable.