Received this "B Grade" motherboard. Would you trust it?

CoolJoe · 3 Jul 2018 at 20:10

I bought this motherboard from the clearance:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/b-gr...1150-ddr3-mini-itx-motherboard-bg-450-ms.html

I got it today with just the box, anti-static bag and the board and nothing else. Fair enough as it's on clearance (although I wouldn't call the WiFi antenna's an accessory). First noticed some water marks on the back, I then noticed someone has tampered with it, scratched off the soldermask to reveal grounding points as far as I can tell, there are some tracks which are scratched too. They have even soldered some of the board.

I just want to know if I'm being petty with this, as I don't even want to risk my other components with this board. Would you trust it?

https://imgur.com/a/SLLpQJ1

tom_e · 3 Jul 2018 at 20:15

Nope, back it goes.

Ree · 3 Jul 2018 at 20:17

looks more like well, well used than what you would expect from a b grade item imo. i would return it if it were me.

CoolJoe · 3 Jul 2018 at 20:18

Thanks. I have contacted them earlier today but yet to get a response.

Back it goes for sure.

Jamin280672 · 3 Jul 2018 at 20:21

That's not B grade, that's scrap, at best its C grade

eddiew · 4 Jul 2018 at 00:04

Water suggests an LN2 run? Return for sure.

Akagi · 4 Jul 2018 at 00:27

I guess it depends how cheap it was but I'd send that back. B grade items should have bits missing or be box opened returns, but that has clearly had something spilled on it which has marked the PCB.

Bailey · 4 Jul 2018 at 08:30

Hello there

Sorry to hear of this issue, I have arranged a return and a pre paid label and we will get this processed asap for you.

Bailey

CoolJoe · 4 Jul 2018 at 09:14

It was £50, found selling used on ebay for £70, but in that condition, I don't trust it at all. Someone has even used a marker / paint to cover up something they did to the board near the grounding pad.

It's a shame as I bought DDR3 memory and an LGA1150 CPU for this, but I can't find a decent board with my requirments as they've all been discontinued. I'm having to send back the CPU and memory and buy a LGA1151 board which use DDR4 memory.

Daftbrown · 4 Jul 2018 at 09:48

Is an ASRock Z87E-ITX any good to you?

Glanza · 4 Jul 2018 at 10:30

Your sorted now with the return but that would be going straight back, I don't think anyone would be classing that as B Grade.

CoolJoe · 9 Jul 2018 at 18:59

Daftbrown said:
Is an ASRock Z87E-ITX any good to you?

I've gone for an AM4 board now for Ryzen. My cheap VR build plan went out of the window.

Bailey · 10 Jul 2018 at 10:01

Just an update

I got the board back and as I was curious I have personally tested and inspected it.

The board POST'ed perfectly fine with all memory modules populated into the OS, I then ran a stress test on the board and it worked stable with no issues.

All in all there was nothing wrong with the board

Bailey

Heisenberg · 10 Jul 2018 at 10:09

Bailey said:
Just an update

I got the board back and as I was curious I have personally tested and inspected it.

The board POST'ed perfectly fine with all memory modules populated into the OS, I then ran a stress test on the board and it worked stable with no issues.

All in all there was nothing wrong with the board

Bailey

I still wouldn't have been happy to receive a board in that condition from B grade tbh. Looks like it's been through some weird testing. Also booting and running a short stress test compared to full time heavy use is two different things.

JasonM · 10 Jul 2018 at 13:33

Some years ago I purchased a B grade motherboard from OCUK and some of the plastic DIMM connectors were snapped, return was accepted no problem but I had to wonder if anyone has even looked at it before re-selling.

On the flip side I've had B grade items from OCUK and they have arrived perfect as new, guess it's a bit of pot luck really.

LePhuronn · 18 Jul 2018 at 12:43

I had a B Grade Titan waterblock from a competitor that was covered in sticky fingerprints and remnants of red coolant that looked like cherry aid. Nothing some ketchup on the copper couldn't fix, but I don't personally consider "used and filthy" to be B grade.

GWANGY · 1 Aug 2018 at 13:21

I wouldnt have been happy to receive that , but even as it posted etc I wouldn't be sure of its long term reliability as , somebody pointed out, possible LN2 "suicide run" could have shortened the life somewhat .

aimless · 11 Aug 2018 at 09:23

nothing wrong with refurbished stock - and you can sell on for pretty much what you bought it for.

GWANGY · 11 Aug 2018 at 10:55

Some stuff goes up in value , not just paintings, but sometimes people need to replace like with like on old kit .. how much is DDR3 worth now ? 2x4gb ddr3 1866mhz low profile?