Anyone know what the fuck is up with motherboard prices these days. When I build my current computer I put the very best motherboard avaliable at the time in it (ASUS nForce4 SLI) and it cost just over $100. Now, the top-of-the-line motherboards are running $350+ (nForce 790i). Why have the prices inflated so much for the high-end boards?

4/9/2008 2:11:00 AM

economy?

4/9/2008 2:32:15 AM

Quote :

"the very best motherboard avaliable at the time in it (ASUS nForce4 SLI) and it cost just over $100"

My ABIT nForce4 SLI board was like $250 shortly after that chipset came out, so maybe you are remembering incorrectly...

I just put together a new computer and the board I went with was $230 and is one of the best.

4/9/2008 2:47:52 AM

^^^when did you buy that mobo? I thought mobo prices have always had a big range. I mean they are adding new features and such. More pci-e ports, integrated hdmi, sound, etc etc.

4/9/2008 2:50:07 AM

yeah, i think it's always been like that...new chipset comes out, and/or the features of the board are amazing (multiple pci-e, HDMI out, etc.), and they're going to be more expensive...why would they offer the latest and greatest for only $20-40 more than the dated models?

4/9/2008 9:42:04 AM

I was mistaken. I just dug out some paperwork and I paid ~$180 for my A8N-SLI in the winter of 2004-2005. But, still.... $350 for a fucking motherboard!

4/9/2008 12:08:47 PM

it's because there are a LOT more enthusiast type boards for gamers & overclockers... have you bothered to LOOK at those $300+ boards? they have huge copper heatsinks & heatpipes on everything, the northbridge, southbridge and mosfets... most boards (and older boards) don't even have ANY cooling on the mosfets or southbridge... they also have more features (dual Gigabit NICs, 8x SATA ports, RAID, more connections for audio / usb, all solid-state caps, etc.)

[Edited on April 9, 2008 at 12:23 PM. Reason : .]

4/9/2008 12:22:28 PM

^ I've purchased motherboards will all of those things for much less money. I'm not denying that they're nice pieces of hardware. I just think they're too fucking expensive for what you get.

Of course, I think it's also insane that it's a E6850 is $270 while a QX9650 is $1000 and a QX9770 is $1500. I could understand a QX9650 being $600 or $700, but not $1000. Is a consistent price to performance ratio too much to ask for?

4/9/2008 1:04:23 PM

the latest products are very expensive because the very early adopters will pay $texas to think they are getting some uber-computer that no one else has.

then prices come down and normal people buy the stuff. so i guess my point is that normal people aren't expected to buy the brand spanking new stuff, they charge a premium for it because they can and a small percentage of buyers will still buy it.

4/9/2008 1:58:44 PM

I want to be an early adopter. I love high end computer gear. I just don't have $100 bills coming out of my ass.... well, there was that one time with the three strippers and the midget.... um.... forget i said anything.

4/9/2008 3:00:50 PM

Quote :

"Is a consistent price to performance ratio too much to ask for?"

yes.

4/9/2008 3:08:12 PM

^sigh

4/9/2008 3:09:58 PM

When you pay for the extreme edition you're also paying for the unlocked multiplier.

Good deal on a Q9450 for 300$:
http://slickdeals.net/?permadeal=12154#direct_deal_12154

4/9/2008 3:39:59 PM

^^


i feel ya.

4/9/2008 3:47:02 PM

Although you've got to admit quad core processors are CHEAP now. You can find the Q6600 for under 200$, and the new 9 series quad cores are under 300$ now too. The "extreme" editions will always be expensive because they know someone will always want to buy the most expensive when overclocking a cheaper processor often works just as well.

[Edited on April 9, 2008 at 3:51 PM. Reason : .]

4/9/2008 3:48:23 PM

yep, and the coolest thing about quad core procs is you can run 2 SMP clients on one machine and get 3,000-4,000 points per day for the NCSU Folding at Home Team!!!1

message_topic.aspx?topic=118820

[plz to join everyone]

4/9/2008 4:09:50 PM

^you already have my ps3, isn't that enough?

4/9/2008 5:34:35 PM

^ You can't fold enough.

4/9/2008 5:57:02 PM

^^ we appreciate your contribution, but your computer(s) would be nice too

4/9/2008 9:22:56 PM