MSI x99A SLI PLUS, memory controller issues

[jddem]

So i have the following:
MSI x99a SLI PLUS
i7 5820
8x8 gskill DDR4 2400
intel 750 SSD 400GB
1000W PSU
GTX 970 Gigabyte G1 4GB (3 1080 lcds> dvid,dvid, hdmi)
running 100% since 2015-05
quick aside:
system was always slow to post bios screen from cold boot, never thought much about it.
-------
anyhow, 2016-07-07
on a reboot, system display was all whacky (like safe mode and on one screen, then flickered and went normal but icons were all mis-placed.) rebooted fine after that 2x.
then.
went to open MSI command center (in windows environment) and it wouldn't open.
did a normal windows reatart (via start menu) and system would not boot.
at all
Did typical unplug all components, reset CMOS, yadd yadda, nothing.
finally got system to boot with only 1 stick of ram in in DIMM1.
Did some playing around and no matter the stick, 1 stick would always boot. then i added back in the sticks and got to 7, when i added the 8th, no boot. had to remove all and start at 1 again to get it to boot. didn't matter which stick, (no its not a bad memory stick)

finally got it running with 2 sticks (although cold boot sometimes does the weird display thing), pulled all my data to backup machine (a 9 year old dell, btw... )

so I contacted MSI and they are sending me a replacement.

I did some research and it seems that this is the only issue that these boards have (memory controllers). Since I am getting a refurb, any input on how to thoroughly test? this is my main system for work (lot of $$ tied up in it).

Would you recommend I buy another board and just use the msi replacement as a backup/ sell it off? or are their refurbs good?

Whats the BEST x99 board out there (since i bought all x99 components)
I really thought the x99a SLI PLUS was a good board.

 

[Lutfij]

1| As far as I know, the memory controller is not on the board but on the CPU die after the advent of the first gen Core I processors.

2| Have you tried flashing or reflashing your BIOS to the latest revision?

3| Selling it off would be a good idea since refurbished units tend to come bundled with limited warranty.

4| There is no sure way to identify a good or bad board until building with it and for that reason I'd suggest building atop your motherboard box as though you were breadboarding.

5| Some other folks have been complaining about the boards giving out as you've stated and pretty much all of them are from MSI so they have been undergoing some QC issues as of late(even with their Skylake boards).

6| You may want to look into the new range of Asus X99 boards or the older WS series board from Asus if you'd like a smaller form factor. In fact you can look into EVGA X99 Micro 2 or the FTW as well.

 

[jddem]

Well, I am very happy with the Customer Service from MSI
1. They did an advance RMA (which from my understanding is rare)
2. The replacement mobo carries the remainder of my original Factory warranty.
3. After installing mobo i discovered 1 bad ram chip, so i had to RMA 4 (the whole kit) to GSKILL.
now machine is running 100% (I did check this against the original board too, looks like i got unlucky 2x, lol)
very happy with both MSI and GSKILL ; both RMAs were relatively quick.

 

[Lutfij]

^So the RMA on both the board and ram solved the issue. Often times you can have bad boards leaving a factory and in any given batch there are possibilities that the entire batch may be defective but the fact that they did an advanced RMA ensures the end user that these sort of issues can be had with out ripping your hair.