Gill01's Corner

Sean Garcia3 said:I honestly can't wait for that motherboard to arrive at your place so you can finally see for yourself that everything is perfectly fine and stop nitpicking over nothing.

If the board turns out to be flawless, I’ll gladly admit that my colleague was right to grill me about the SSD, though it seems everyone is obsessed with upgrading their storage lately anyway.🤔

Look, you could easily find bad reviews for an ASUS Sabertooth or even a Formula board if you looked hard enough. There aren't any set rules here. While the odds of getting bent pins on a motherboard right out of the box are incredibly slim, if you start searching online, you'll see it happens to everyone—even with high-end boards from Gigabyte, ASUS, and the rest.

As for that SSD, your buddy is just being jealous.😁

Timothy Kim60 said:Look, you could find horror stories about ASUS Sabertooth boards or Formula series motherboards just as easily. There are simply no universal rules here. While the odds of finding bent pins on a motherboard straight out of the box are incredibly slim, if you go searching on Google, you'll see it happens to everyone—even with high-end boards from Gigabyte, ASUS, and the rest of them.

As for that SSD, your friend is clearly just green with envy.😁

He’s just rambling on about how the SSD needs to run in AHCI mode while the HDD stays in IDE mode, implying that using an SSD will lead to nothing but trouble.

Brian Campbell36 said:I mean, he’s basically rambling on about how the SSD needs to be in AHCI mode while the HDD stays in IDE, and how using an SSD might just lead to nothing but headaches.

not really 😁

I think you've got a point there, though maybe not the whole story. Before you go ahead and install Windows onto an SSD, you really should make sure your BIOS is set to AHCI mode. See, an SSD just isn't built to run on IDE—if you try to force it, you're actually cutting into its lifespan. A standard hard drive can technically get by without AHCI, but for an SSD? It’s pretty much essential.

Larry Ortiz5 said:You aren't entirely wrong, my friend; before installing Windows on an SSD, one absolutely must configure the BIOS to AHCI mode. An SSD simply isn't designed to operate under IDE, and forcing it to do so prematurely wears down its lifespan. While a standard hard drive might function regardless, the distinction is vital when dealing with an SSD.

Hold on—is Windows 7 actually capable of communicating between an SSD and an HDD if they are set differently (as you suggest, with the SSD in AHCI mode and the HDD in IDE mode)? 🤔

Based on what I am gathering from the discussions here:

1. Plug the SSD into a SATA 3 port on the motherboard (to utilize the 6 Gbps bandwidth rather than the older SATA II 3 Gbps limit).
2. Switch the SSD configuration from IDE to AHCI mode.
3. Manually modify the Windows registry value from 0 to 3.
4. Install the most recent drivers specifically for the SSD.

It is quite remarkable that such an expensive piece of hardware requires such a convoluted series of adjustments just to perform its basic functions reliably. 😁

I simply want my motherboard to function correctly, without facing missing pins or other hardware anomalies.

I haven't caught up on this entire thread from the very beginning, so I might be missing some context—feel free to set me straight if I've got any of this wrong. If you're planning on swapping out your motherboard for a new one, it’s probably best to just wipe everything and do a fresh Windows installation. Since there's a good chance the new board will have a different chipset, starting from scratch is usually the smartest move.

Check your motherboard manual to see which specific SATA ports are rated for SATA 3 or 6Gb/s—you'll want to plug your SSD into one of those to get the full speed you're paying for. And, of course, make sure you head into the BIOS and ensure the controller is set to AHCI; it doesn't matter if you have a standard hard drive on that same controller too.

To be honest, I tried messing with the registry settings a few years back after accidentally setting my controller to IDE instead of AHCI, and it was a total nightmare because I couldn't get Windows to reinstall properly. That's why I suggested a clean install earlier—between the potential chipset differences on a new board and the risk of the registry tweak not working out, it's just a safer bet.

Larry Ortiz5 said:I haven't been following this thread from its inception, so I may be lacking the full context—please correct me if my understanding of the situation is flawed. However, if you are planning on swapping out your motherboard for a new one, wouldn't it be prudent to perform a clean installation of Windows? Given that any new motherboard you acquire will likely feature a different chipset, a fresh install would be the most logical course of action to ensure stability.

You ought to consult the motherboard manual to identify which specific SATA ports support SATA 3 or 6Gb/s speeds; doing so ensures you achieve the maximum possible throughput for your SSD. Furthermore, you must ensure that AHCI mode is enabled within the BIOS settings. It shouldn't matter if there is a traditional hard drive sharing that same controller.

Regarding the registry tweak, I attempted something similar several years ago when I mistakenly configured an IDE controller instead of AHCI, and I found myself unable to reinstall Windows entirely. This is precisely why I suggested earlier that a clean installation is the superior path—whether it is due to the hardware shift of a new motherboard or the potential failure of this registry modification.

And what, precisely, is the intended outcome of changing the Windows registry value for an SSD from 0 to 3?

Does this specific adjustment actually yield any measurable increase in the performance or speed of the SSD? 🤔

Don't sweat it too much, most SSDs come with some manufacturer software you can just run to get Windows optimized for the drive.

I wanted to reach out and ask you all something. I’ve heard from administration that an MBO delivery is scheduled for tomorrow, which would be wonderful news in theory, but there is a significant complication: none of us will be home until after 3:00 PM.

If this shipment arrives during the morning hours, there simply won't be anyone available to receive it. This leads me to a specific inquiry: if the courier fails to make contact, does the MBO service return the package to the local branch office, the main USPS facility, or directly to the City Express headquarters?

Where exactly would it be possible to pick up this parcel? As I have already established, neither I nor anyone else in my household will be present tomorrow morning to accept an MBO delivery should it arrive prematurely.🤔

It depends on how they ship it, I guess. Usually, it goes back to the FedEx hub, or maybe UPS or whatever carrier they use, and just sits there for a few days before they actually send it out again. They should give you a call before delivery so you can work out the details with the driver—maybe even have them swing by your office a day or two later, or you could just pick it up at the local distribution center if that's easier.

Brian Campbell36 said:Hey everyone, just wanted to check something. Admin mentioned an MBO delivery is coming tomorrow. It would be wonderful if we didn't all have to stay home until 3 PM waiting for it.

If the delivery happens in the morning, there won't be anyone available to receive it. My question is: if the courier can't deliver, does MBO send it back to the main office in Chicago, to the local post office, or directly to the City Express hub?

Where is the easiest place to pick up the package? As I mentioned, none of us will be around tomorrow morning to catch the driver if they show up early. 🤔

That’s really more on the retailers; they should be the ones leaving specific instructions for the courier...
Take a place like Amazon, for example—they don't even bother with detailed tracking or anything, even if you give them clear directions. They can be a bit lazy about it.
I haven't had much experience dealing with the Admin side...
It'll likely just head back to the main office, and you'll get it tomorrow.
On the other hand, companies like Best Buy have given me full tracking and mobile alerts... same with Walmart or Target.

fadedorca66 said:It really depends on their shipping method; typically, the package returns to the main FedEx hub, or perhaps UPS or whatever carrier they utilize, where it sits for a few additional days before being sent back. They usually give you a call prior to delivery so you can coordinate with the driver—perhaps even arrange for them to drop it off at your office a day or two later, or simply pick it up at the local distribution center.

In my case, I provided nothing more than a landline number; I didn't give them a cell phone number, and if I recall correctly, they don't even ask for one during registration. This is precisely why I am inquiring about how to track down my specific ID card after forty-two days of waiting.🍿

David Sanders4 said:That is entirely up to the individual retailers; they ought to be leaving those kinds of instructions for the courier service...
Take a company like a small local shop, for instance; they don't offer package tracking or any real updates, regardless of how clearly you explain your needs—they are just lazy...
I haven't had much experience with USPS...
If it's being sent back to the central processing office, you might receive it tomorrow.
However, when I dealt with a place like Amazon, I received full tracking and text notifications...and the same went for Best Buy or Walmart...

Would it not be reasonable for the postal service to leave a notice if no one is home? A simple slip of paper, regardless of color, stating where the ID can be picked up and how many days I have to retrieve it before it is shipped back to the main facility in Chicago (USPS)?

Brian Campbell36 said:It would be a nice touch if they included a note stating that if no one is home at the moment...

They actually do... just leave a phone number.

David Sanders4 said:It certainly will... just need the right phone number.

Fine, thank you. I was actually planning on hitting up half the Best Buy locations in town tomorrow until I can track down the correct address for the motherboard.

This is pure madness; forty-two days without a computer is an absolute nightmare.🤦

I can only hope that everything goes smoothly during the assembly process. Will every single component behave? One can only pray that neither the older hardware nor the new pieces—specifically the motherboard and the SSD—decide to fail me at the eleventh hour.

Just give them a call tomorrow morning around 9:00. Tell them you're stuck working until 3:00 and won't be able to swing by for the pickup before then, and just see what kind of workaround they can offer. Here are the contact details from ADM:

Sean Garcia3 said:Why not simply give them a call tomorrow morning around 9:00 AM? Tell them you aren't available to pick up the shipment until after 3:00 PM, and then see if you can reach a compromise that works for everyone involved. Here are the contact details for ADM:

I have received word that FedEx is returning the package to their local hub in San Bernardino.😁

I sincerely hope I haven't made a mistake by opting for the Asrock motherboard instead of the MSI model my colleague suggested. 🍿

I find myself pondering whether there is any greater culinary indulgence than a plate of truly exceptional dumplings. Is there anything quite so comforting as that perfect balance of seasoned dough and savory filling? One might argue that such a dish represents the very pinnacle of soul food, a testament to how simple ingredients can be elevated through patience and technique. It makes one wonder: have we lost our appreciation for these traditional staples in an era dominated by fast food and processed convenience? kaže:
The thermal performance of this board remains a point of significant contention, does it not? When one examines the heat dissipation capabilities of the VRM under heavy load, one cannot help but wonder if the engineers truly accounted for the sustained thermal pressures seen in modern high-end workstations. While the heatsinks are physically substantial, their ability to move heat away from the core components during extended periods of stress testing seems, at best, adequate rather than exceptional. Is it enough to satisfy a user running an overclocked processor for twelve hours straight? Perhaps for some, but for those of us who demand absolute stability, the marginal delta between idle temperatures and peak loads raises more questions than it answers. We see a certain level of efficiency here, certainly, but we must ask ourselves: are we paying a premium for actual cooling headroom, or simply for the aesthetic weight of the metal shrouds? Furthermore, when considering how this motherboard interacts with high-wattage power supplies—think of the sheer draw from a unit like a Corsair RM series—the stability of the voltage regulation becomes paramount. A component can look impressive on a spec sheet, yet fail to maintain composure when the silicon is pushed to its absolute limit. One must approach these reviews with a healthy dose of skepticism, looking past the polished marketing materials to find the raw, unvarnished data that actually dictates whether a system will crash in the middle of a critical task.
Get a grip, Bug. If you actually want some semblance of objectivity, you'd be better off heading over to the Review site instead.

I have reviewed this several times now, and I find myself returning to the same conclusion: the primary flaw here lies in the board's physical construction. It is remarkably thin, which demands an extreme level of caution during both the initial installation and when mounting any subsequent components. If you aren't careful, the PCB simply snaps under the pressure. It lacks the structural integrity to support a heavy CPU cooler without risk. In my own experience, however, I managed to install a specialized high-performance cooler onto my Asus motherboard without encountering a single issue.
What truly concerns me is the noticeable physical warping of this board compared to its peers; it’s clearly lacking the structural integrity one expects at this level. Furthermore, the thermal performance is frankly abysmal—it runs significantly hotter than any of its direct competitors, regardless of whether you're looking at models equipped with passive heatsinks or not.

Here we go again. Between the bug forums and the leading experts across the country, it seems everyone has an opinion on this motherboard.

The only people purchasing this motherboard are those who have absolutely no other viable options left on the market.

I find myself becoming increasingly pessimistic regarding this entire MBO situation.

The sole advantage here is that it features automatic overclocking.

Brian Campbell36 said:I just hope I didn't make a mistake picking this Asrock Mbo over that MSI board my buddy suggested. 🍿

It'll work out fine...

analogtiger19 said:Everything will turn out just fine.

Honestly, what on earth were they thinking when they designed such an ultra-thin motherboard? It feels like it was manufactured out of nothing more than construction paper. Seriously, does it even look like it's made of solid components? $33 Is it not blatantly obvious that other motherboards offer a far superior level of craftsmanship than this Asrock Mbo?