To Open Box, or not to open box?

[Kekewy]

I'm getting ready to order all the components for my new rig. I'm ordering from Newegg because I've always had awesome luck with them and the motherboard I want has an open box option. I've never gotten an open box part before and generally avoid it. But the OB board is about 30 bucks cheaper. Has anyone ever bought an open box motherboard from Newegg? Did it turn out good? Or should I just pay the extra thirty bucks and buy new. The brand is Asus if that matters any.

 

[runninkyle17]

usually the open box boards don't come with anything but the board. I don't know about you, but for $30 I would much rather have all the accessories that come with the board just in case I ever want to sell the mobo.

If it was $100 cheaper then that would be different, but for $30 just buy a brand new mobo.

 

[Bruiser1]

I'm getting ready to order all the components for my new rig. I'm ordering from Newegg because I've always had awesome luck with them and the motherboard I want has an open box option. I've never gotten an open box part before and generally avoid it. But the OB board is about 30 bucks cheaper. Has anyone ever bought an open box motherboard from Newegg? Did it turn out good? Or should I just pay the extra thirty bucks and buy new. The brand is Asus if that matters any.

The thing I'm unclear on is the warranty. Is the open box warranty only good for 30 days through Newegg, with no longer warranty through the manufacturer? I've never been clear on this.

That aside, other components I might take a shot with for the right price. A motherboard probably not.

 

[Jimbo]

For only $30 cheaper it's not worth it.
Ask yourself, how will you get just the I/O shield from Asus. Look into the cost of that before you push the "BUY" button.
You may find you are saving only $10, and for that, it's not worth it.

 

[Kekewy]

Point taken. I'll stick with the one in the box. I have seen some good open box deals, my friend got an awesome deal on a graphics card that way. It doesn't sound like this motherboard is gonna be one though. Thank you all!

 

[Zap]

The thing I'm unclear on is the warranty. Is the open box warranty only good for 30 days through Newegg, with no longer warranty through the manufacturer? I've never been clear on this.

Depends on the manufacturer. Some open box items are marked as refurbished so it would have limited warranty. HDDs are an example of this. Also, some manufacturers may not accept for RMA an item that has "open box" in the proof of purchase.

my friend got an awesome deal on a graphics card that way. It doesn't sound like this motherboard is gonna be one though.

That's a bit different because graphics cards are easier to thoroughly test and can be fine even if it doesn't come with accessories. For motherboards, most people want at least the I/O shield, but you aren't guaranteed to get that.

FYI I'm currently using an "open box" motherboard at home. The onboard sound turned out to be somewhat broken, so I had to use a sound card.

 

[klocwerk]

My Asrock Extreme x58 was an open box, came with everything as have most other people's I've heard from on the forums.
Yes, you could get a bare board, but the odds are you'll get everything you need (which is really just the I/O shield).

 

[michal1980]

i've had terrible luck with Open box stuff from newegg. Tons of missing pieces, one had a piece of some after market heat sink on it.

If it was 50% off or >60 bucks below the cost of new, i'd try again, otherwise its just not worth it.