Time to dip in the Pocket

[#1]

Curses my PC has died.
Today it started flagging up a new USB device and failing to install it. It would do this 3 or 4 times in quick succession and then go quiet for a while. Anything plugged into a neighbouring USB port would not be recognised.
I therefore suspected a faulty USB port and this evening unplugged to offending port.
On firing it back up no USB device, mouse, keyboard etc. is working leading me to suspect a failed motherboard or power rail.
As the motherboard has other issues that I've so far worked around I think it's time for a complete replacement.
It's now a toss up between £500 or £750. Do I need a high end graphics card and the latest @Sandy Bridge' processor from Intel.
I don't do gaming on the PC but have done some video editing.
I've looked at this machine at around £750
or this machine at around £500
....and decided on the £500 machine slightly modified

[#2]

I hope modified was a better power supply
http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardware/149562-ez-cool-psu.html

[#3]

Don't go for Sandy Bridge just yet:  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/31/intel_cougar_point_update/
B.

[#4]

The power supply was uprated and I didn't go for the latest intel creation.

[#5]

For anyone else, Apparently only the defective boards have been shipping since Jan 9th.
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-032263.htm

[#6]

So a quick soldering job then

[#7]

Just thinking about my PC problem....this is the second PC I've had fail due to a USB issue.
The first time it was a front USB socket that developed a short probably due to the high number of insertions compared to the rear ones.
This current failure may well be the same and both times the casualty has been the motherboard.
Maybe they should have designed the socket to be more rugged considering it's intended use.

[#8]

Quote

Yesterday Intel announced the largest stop shipment/recall I can remember it ever making (excluding FDIV). The product in question? All 6-series chipsets, a necessary part of any Sandy Bridge (aka 2nd generation Intel Core microprocessor, aka Intel Core i7/i5/i3 2xxx) system. The fix for the problematic transistor requires a hardware change. The 6-series chipset design doesn’t have to be redone, but there’s a metal layer change that must be made. The result is a new stepping of the 6-series chipsets. Intel shipped with stepping B2, and the fixed version will carry a B3 stepping. Just half an hour ago, Gigabyte sent its replacement strategy for all of its own motherboards. The key messages are as follows: 1) Gigabyte has stopped shipment to and recalled any unsold 6-series B2 motherboards from distributors and dealers. 2) Any Gigabyte 6-series B2 motherboards that have already been sold will be accepted back for replacement with a B3 board, regardless of condition. I asked Gigabyte if this meant that non-working boards could also be returned, Gigabyte said yes - all eligible 6-series models with B2 stepping chipsets will be accepted back. 3) Gigabyte says that it should have 6-series B3 chipsets in April. 4) The replacement program will happen at the dealer/distributor level. You will have to exchange your board at the location you purchased it from. 5) Customers can either exchange their board (you'll have to wait until April for this to happen) or you can get a full refund sooner (immediately?). Gigabyte recommends going the refund route as that gives you more flexibility for what you want to do next. 6) The replacement board you get will be a brand new motherboard based on the B3 chipset. Gigabyte isn’t ready to disclose if there will be any new design features to these boards as well. 7) The cost of the product exchange will be handled by Intel and Gigabyte (presumably Intel is footing the entire bill). April is two months away, that’s later than the end of February. I’m guessing the first recipients of B3 stepping chipsets will be large OEMs and notebook manufacturers. The component guys will likely come second. Getting replacement motherboards won’t happen on April 1st if that’s when Gigabyte gets chipsets either. This could end up being an April/May thing instead of March/April. The refund option is a nice one, although I'm not sure whether etailers will let you return your CPU as well once it has been used. I suspect that's something you'll have to take up with the vendor itself. If you plan on sticking with a Sandy Bridge system, your best bet is probably to keep using your system as is today and just exchange when the time comes.

Gigabyte Announces 6-series motherboard replacement program

[#9]

Yep I'm glad I stuck with my choice.

[#10]

Are there any local companies you could go to and see what they have to offer? I'd always prefer to deal with a local firm with good word-of-mouth reputation. I've done that twice in the last ten years (I couldn't buy my second PC from the same place as the first as the first had been forced out of business by high business rates), and don't regret it.
Given that a lot of such firms are probably desperate for custom with the economy as it is, you might get a very good deal from them.
If nothing else, "You know where they live" 

[#11]

PCSpecialist are just up the road from Strat.
I have just ordered a Sandy Bridge desktop. It's now on hold because of this problem & I'm pondering which of the various options is best. My old main desktop is struggling along on it's last legs - a noisy PSU fan & non-working USB ports. USB I can live without as it's on a network, but the PSU is irritating & could lead to failure. I don't really want to revert to the earlier architecture but I don't think I can delay for a couple of months either. I don't want to repair the one I've got - it's not really cost-effective.