Open Box motherboards?

[EniGmA1987]

I am going to be buying a Crosshair V Formular board, but I noticed Newegg has a few open box ones for $45 off. Has anyone had any experiences with an open box MB from Newegg? Is the risk too high on something like this? Saving $45 is a pretty decent amount which is why Im considering it.

Or possibly an Open Box Sabertooth 990FX for only $150? Whcih would be better to get for both overclocking potential and 4-5 year reliability?

[Kobaltrock]

I am going to be buying a Crosshair V Formular board, but I noticed Newegg has a few open box ones for $45 off. Has anyone had any experiences with an open box MB from Newegg? Is the risk too high on something like this? Saving $45 is a pretty decent amount which is why Im considering it.

Or possibly an Open Box Sabertooth 990FX for only $150? Whcih would be better to get for both overclocking potential and 4-5 year reliability?

Some of those open boxes have just the product, with nothing else. No cables, no panel to stick on the back of the case, no nothing but the product.
One friend that got it said it came with everything, but was DOA.
Another friend got one and it came with nothing but the driver CD, but it worked.
It could be a refurb, or it could be a box that newegg itself had to open for whatever reason.
Factor in how much it would cost for you to send the product back to them, and the time without the machine, and if it is cheaper than the savings compared to something new, then I guess you can gamble away.

[Dimitriman]

Not worth it, with cases sure. But your main component of your system, the mobo? no way jose. Stay away from those.

[slaveondope]

Own 4 open boxed boards from Newegg all have been great without issue. Some items like cables may be missing but most of us already have plenty extra. In fact my Asus GeneII was open box, ran WCG for over a year and still managed to put up the best 920 1024m wprime ever.

[LagunaX]

I would only do it as a secondary system that I would have time to return if it was DOA.
Factor in the cost of possible return shipping, the cost of a missing backplate, etc. and see if it is financially worth it.
I've gambled before and have been fine but it is the 1 mobo that you've been eyeing that you spend a hour screwing in and assembling the psu, hsf, etc. that turns out to be DOA - you might be better off buying a used mobo off the forums or ebay that is stated to be working at pull.