We still have a functional motherboard (forgot to check the brand), probably bought back in 1997 or 1998, that my uncle uses for his server in his internet cafe. We bought another one last 2004, MSI motherboard, Pentium 4, and AGP. It's what I'm using now, and it's covered with dust that reached important components of the board. Cleaning it completely could be a big risk for the motherboard.
I'm running an "old" Asus, an A7V266-M in my test box, probably 2001. Bought it used last year and added a USB 2.0 card. The rest of the computer except the HDD and DVD burner is recycled, including the Compaq case (now badged NOTPAQ). The office computer is an "old" Abit KX7-333R. Probably 2002. Total cost = free. All recycled parts, including monitor, keyboard and mouse. 8 different junked computers went into it. It's ugly. Imagine EMachines optical drives with the big black and silver bezels sticking way out of a beige and blue ATX tower case. Runs great, though. I agree with wat0114. Barring defective components, the key for long lived desktops seems to be clean power. Using a good quality PSU and a line conditioning UPS has made a big difference for me. Also, good airflow and high quality thermal compound. Do laptops count? My main workhorse is a Latitude C510 laptop (now C610 due to used PIII transplant) shipped 8/1/2002 according to the service tag. Bought used 3 years ago. Since then, I've replaced the HDD, upgraded memory, new palmrest/touchpad, replaced CMOS battery but the mobo is fine! Used daily (right now in fact) and in all sorts of conditions.
My oldest motherboard is a DFI PA33, been in use since 1999. Next is a Compaq Presario motherboard that I bought back in 2003.
My younger brother's Dell computer's motherboard only lasted 3-years. My cheap Emachine has no problems with any hardware. My last custom built computer,the motherboard lasted 7 years
my mother board is gigabyte i think i have this motherboard before 3 years and i still use it its great and very good and also i use cpu 2.8 P4 and its still working
I've just finished my new build w/new Asus mobo, but my four year old Intel D925 is still going strong.
I have never lost a motherboard in a system I built, I have always upgraded before they had a chance to fail. Now, back in my real newbie days, I bought a Gateway, that motherboard failed. They send a dirty, slower speed replacement. The next one they sent was cracked. Third one worked, but I was building my own by then, I still have that PC Power & Cooling case, Giant and Steel (and for sale ).
2 of my machines are Dells circa 2002 and my desktop (a dimension) runs 24/7 and the laptop (a latitude) daily, both without motherboard, ram or cpu changes - the battery on my laptop still has 70% life left as well and its an original. Ive gone through 2 charges and 1 power supply and various harddives on both machines due to failures.
the oldest computer i have running in the house was bought when xp was just out a 2.53 Ghz intel in an HP.
I have got ASUS P4-R800VM. the strange motherboard with integrated Radeon 9100 Videocard. I have purchased it more than three years ago. Though it lasts long, but I have some problems time to time
Hehe, here I've got an Asus K8V-X from 2005, still functional as well as an Intel D850EMV2 from 2003, still functional......Climate here is very hot, very humid most of the time......
I usually get about 3 years out of a desktop MB, but my Win 2003 server's motherboard has been humming along now for 7 years. Guess it kind of proves out the theory that a computer is better off being powered up 24/7 than being shut off.
Most have MSI and one has BIOSTAR MOBO their on 24/7 and still going.. PSU another story, RAM, VIDEO those tend to fail more.
6 years and counting. I've thrashed this old PC to within a inch of it's life for 6 years solid and it just keeps going strong.
I'm using an HP Pavilion from 1999. It's been in almost constant use since 2002. Still has the original motherboard, power supply, and primary hard drive.
Earlier, when I was a geek I bought a new motherboard and other hardware once a year to have the latest. I have had my ASUS P5K for 2 years now and even though I bought a new processor and faster memory last year it is still going strong (computer online 24/7). I see no need to buy a new MB in the foreseeable future. I guess I'll buy a Quad processor next.
Most of mine have lasted way beyond the period of use of my computer, I usually don't keep a computer longer than 3 years...tend to upgrade to a newer motherboard and processor about at that time period. I've had 2x motherboards fail me...an Abit, and an MSI...and those failures were during the period of time when it was well known that had a few bad batches of motherboards made with faulty capacitors which bursted 'n leaked.