Motherboard RMA

[Diode3000]

My MSI Neo4 died after using it for 2 days. I sent it to MSI for RMA. It's now been almost a month and they haven't sent me a motherboard yet. After reading that other people had the same problem with MSI, I was wondering if this is a problem for a lot of motherboard companies.

I know other PC parts are fantastic with RMA. Ussualy sending you a replacement first.

As for MSI, I couldn't reach anyone by phone. I tried for several days. I did get a response to an email, although not quickly. They just said, "our turn around time is within 10~14 working days." No other info. It's now been more than 14 working days.

It doesn't seem right to me. What do you guys think?

-JP

 

[lonelypauly]

I thought they had some sort of deal where they could send you a new board that you pay for and get credited that amount when they recieve your defective board. What happened to your mobo? What are your system specs?

<b><font color=blue>Athlon64 3200+ Winchester/MSI Neo4 Platinum SLI/MSI 6800 Ultra/1 GB Kingston HyperX (Dual Channel)/74GB WD Raptor/600Watt Enermax Noisetaker/ Dual Mitsubishi 21 Inch Monitors</b></font color=blue>

 

[Cybercraig]

Usually after only two days the vendor will just replace it. Make sure you follow their policy and MSI will get it done eventually. It took Chaintech a month on my last RMA and I had to pay for shipping both ways.

Abit IS7 - 3.0C @ 3.6ghz - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - Yellowtail Merlot

 

[Diode3000]

It was an AMD64 3000+ Winchester
OCZ 450watt PS
ATI x800 XL
WD 74gb Raptor
PQI 2x512 3200

It ran well for 2 days, then while web browsing, just shut off. When I tried to turn it on, it wouldn't. Fans wouldnt spin, no blinking lights, no beeping. I thought it was the power supply. After testing however, the power supply worked in another PC. And a working power supply made no difference. I followed MSI's procedures for diagnosing the motherboard. Reseting bios, removing battery....etc etc. As far as I can tell, it was the motherboard that died.

I dropped off the motherboard at MSI myself to make sure I can get it processed quicker. Thats after I filled out an online RMA form, which once filled out and accepted, asked me to ship the dead motherboard.

There was unfortunately no option for receiving a motherboard first. I would have gladly paid a deposit to have had that option.

I first submitted the RMA on the 4th of April. It seems like such a long process. I've been checking their online RMA status webpage daily.

I don't really know what to do. It's been awful being out a computer this long. It's one thing for it to be like a hard drive, memory, vid card or sound card. All those are easily replaceble with something temporary. But a motherboard means my whole PC is out. And it's been a month.

 

[Cybercraig]

If you bought it direct from MSI that's the catch 22. I usually have enough stuff laying around to prove my point to the manufacturer. You could actually have a bad CPU and mimic the same symptoms. Never-the-less, I know what it feels like to wait forever. That's why I always have a backup PC. Another thing I've found that helps is to have a business address. You just seem to get better service if they think they are dealing with a business. Good luck.


Abit IS7 - 3.0C @ 3.6ghz - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - Yellowtail Merlot

 

[Diode3000]

I guess I'll do like you said and buy a new board.

I do have extra PC's. A small 2400xp shuttle, and a 3.2ghz HTPC. But I wanted to overclock the new PC and let it be my main gaming machine. Sux cause I dont have the machine I want and paid for. Not to mention the price of my other components have gone down and I haven't used them.

As for diagnosing the motherboard, there were no techs to talk to, or email. You can only email customer service. So I can't talk to anyone to tell them I already checked out the motherboard.

If this happens again, I will try to use my works info.

In the end however, I don't think consumers should go through this. I'll have to read about peoples experiences with other motherboard companies. Maybe it's just the Taiwanese companies. I don't know.

-JP

 

[endyen]

The good boards dont need to be rma-ed much, but Abit Asus, DFI and Epox all have good support lately.
Dont even bother looking at non-Taiwanese boards, if you find one, it's probably rebadged or crap.

 

[RichPLS]

Yeah, buy only American parts if you want quality.

<pre><font color=red>°¤o,¸¸¸,o¤°`°¤o \\// o¤°`°¤o,¸¸¸,o¤°
And the sign says "You got to have a membership card to get inside" Huh
So I got me a pen and paper And I made up my own little sign</pre><p></font color=red>

 

[endyen]

Can you name 1 American mobo maker? I do mean a company that actually manufactures mobos in the U.S.

 

[Diode3000]

It's now a new month and I still haven't received my motherboard from MSI. I have ordered a new motherboard because I can't take the wait any longer. I emailed them recently inquiring on the RMA status. No response yet.