Aopen motherboards- any good?

[Arrmed]

Hello,
I'm looking at this Aopen motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813137065

the only real reason I would get this motherboard is because of the ALC880 Realtek audio codec it has on it, most of the other motherboards have the ALC850.

Now is Aopen a pretty good company, do I have anything to worry about?
In other words is the 50 dollars I save by getting it and not a MSI board and the Audigy 2 Value going to be spent in RMA shipping costs?


Thanks,

 

[Alex81388]

They arn't that great in my opinion.

 

[Counter-Strike]

Looks ok, just dont expect to OC much w/ it.

 

[Arrmed]

Any reason for not being that good? besides overclocking?

Also-

I am getting a set of those nifty 5.1 sourrond sound headphones. Now, In regards to quality I know the Audigy 2 Value is better- but what is the difference between the Realtek codecs- 850 and 880- in sound?
And also- How much would I have to gain by springing for the Audigy 2 Value?

 

[Counter-Strike]

Well an upgraded sound card is usally always better than onboard audio, so that is your motivation right there. Get an 8 channel card for sure. That board looks stable enough, you should b fine.

 

[Arrmed]

Well- if audio didnt matter and I get the Audigy 2 Value- Would I be better off going Gigabyte or MSI?

Such as these:
Biostar
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138249
MSI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130491
Abit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127221