Asus Motherboard Blues

[divinemadness]

Rather helpfully Asus don't list what FF means (or any other actual errors from what I can see) which seems to make the idea of a diagnostics card somewhat pointless when you can't diagnose anything with it.

[synaesthesia]

FF in just about all cases of postcards and on-board diagnostic LED's is the first set of characters shown at power on - pre POST. If they stay on, we're talking either BIOS or hardware failure.

And from the OP, if it was showing FF, why did you insinuate that you continued to add components?
As for the earlier comment (couple of pages back) regarding having warnings on the boxes about the fragility of goods - let's not start getting into a "Lets sue McDonalds because I'm a clumsy idiot and spilled a cup of coffee over me! I didn't know it was going to be hot!" fight (that's not taking the mickey - at least not out of you!) Building a PC, as with handling any electronic goods isn't an easy and quick process, and everyone makes mistakes at times. I've sat on a £2500 graphics card before now. Thankfully 1. it wasn't mine and 2. even so, I ended up spending a good day perfecting my soldering skills and learning the ways of the oscilloscope gods to fix it.

Anyway, back on point - there is a 48 hour policy (48 hours after receipt of goods) with which to notify the retailer of any issues such as these but then again what's not to say that you'd bent those pins within that timeframe. Anything could have caused it however the balance is ultimately tipped in Scan's favour. There are QA procedures in place for every product, in this case the socket will have been QA checked previous to the protective cover being placed, then again for the rest of the motherboard's manufacture and packaging process. It doesn't mean that things don't get missed - they do, but the procedures are set and obviously a lot more rigorous than the end user is likely to be.

Now, what happens if it goes through to small claims? Ultimately the biggest loser in the case would be yourself - they will, as has been mentioned require proof that you either received the board in that condition, or indeed proof that it was caused by yourself. I can only speak as someone who used to deal with insurance returns on laptops/laptop components, however it will be fairly simple for anyone at Scan or acting on Scan's behalf to find any point of stress on or around that pin where a screwdriver slipped, a hand or finger was placed or a passing cat decided it looked a bit funny and wanted to play. Maybe it would be fruitful to ask Scan to have a closer look for you - after all, they've very little to lose as it doesn't reflect on them - they received it boxed as you did.
Then of course the cost of going that far. I'd wager you spent more than the cost of a replacement taking this further.

So, my advice? Get it sent back to you. Find a friend who may be able to look into repairing the motherboard for you. Or slap it on Ebay - you'd easily recover way more than half of it's original selling price even faulty, just be very clear on how you sell it. Include scan's picture above, mention the circumstances. There are people out there like me who will be happy to spend half an hour of their own time to save a few pounds and repair it themselves.
Then, get your replacement. You could be out of pocket by as little as 50 pounds. It's still money, however one of these things you should chalk down to experience.

Retailers have to protect themselves too - they have to turn a profit in order to survive, to pay their bills, just like you do. They can't throw around good-will measures willy nilly, certainly not these days, and are just as answerable to the law as yourself. BOTH parties would have to prove your points in court. And regardless of how good your proof was, which in this case is pretty much just your word, the balance is tipped in the retailer's favour and they are more able to prove damage than the consumer.

[Tobias]

I just wish someone could tell me what I did wrong, apart from not examining the CPU socket with a a magnifier before I inserted the CPU. Apart from that I did exactly what all of you would have done to put it together. And it didn't work. So i sent it back to Scan and they found a bent pin and that makes it my fault. That's all I know. Would a court really find my dissatisfaction so implausible?

[GoNz0]

go for it, with the info saracen has they dont have a clear cut case.

[divinemadness]

I just wish someone could tell me what I did wrong, apart from not examining the CPU socket with a a magnifier before I inserted the CPU. Apart from that I did exactly what all of you would have done to put it together. And it didn't work. So i sent it back to Scan and they found a bent pin and that makes it my fault. That's all I know. Would a court really find my dissatisfaction so implausible?

As Saracen says, no one can really say.

I personally think considering all the measures taken to protect the socket during transport and so on, that Scan have a reasonably strong argument for saying it more than likely reached you in ok condition.

It could go either way because no one actually has any hard evidence, just likelihoods and their own word.

The only thing I do, which I think everyone should, is take photographs. If you had done that you could just take it out, point out that you did no such damage or it was there when you received it and there would be no argument.

[DavidP]

All this preoccupation with how the socket arrived, how it became damaged etc. The board did not function as it should, and it likely has no connection with the bent pin, quid pro quo, the board does not conform to contract.

[divinemadness]

All this preoccupation with how the socket arrived, how it became damaged etc. The board did not function as it should, and it likely has no connection with the bent pin, quid pro quo, the board does not conform to contract.

So he claims but that can't be verified as being truthful or not because for whatever reason and at whatever time the board has been damaged in another way that renders it untestable.

Again, not an accusation but it is entirely possible Tobias could have broken the pin himself, sent it back claiming it was non functional knowing full well about the pin but not mentioning it.

Similarly it could always have been like that and be the cause of the issue.

Or it could be unrelated and wouldn't even prevent the board working.

Or it was non functional and Scan bent the pin to get out of replacing it.

Basically, any number of scenarios could have happened and I don't think you can assume the bent pin has nothing to do with it, especially as it prevents any verification of the originally claimed problem which could be totally made up just as easily as it could be true.

[Agent]

FF is the last value that is possible with HEX codes on a 2 value display. It normally means that the boot sequence has reached the final stage and is complete.

[divinemadness]

FF is the last value that is possible with HEX codes on a 2 value display. It normally means that the boot sequence has reached the final stage and is complete.

Asus list 00 as being 'Leave BIOS and pass control to OS' which I would assume to be a completed boot sequence.

[Agent]

Asus list 00 as being 'Leave BIOS and pass control to OS' which I would assume to be a completed boot sequence.

Correct, but FF means "booting OS".
Passing the control to the OS is all well and fine - but if there is no bootable OS available, it'll often hang on that 00 code.
FF means the BIOS has considered it's job complete, although in some cases this can be an useless error in it's own right.

A quick run down is here

[Nelly.]

I know the 1st year is for the retailer to sort out but I'm just curious as to if all other motherboard manufacturers have this same sort of attitude towards it's customers in terms of policy?

From what I know even in the 1st year if you pay a £10 administration fee to Gigabyte for example they sort out the RMA anyway, I bet they would of sorted the RMA out, but alas this is Asus & everyone knows how terrible RMA procedure is with them, retailers only sell their motherboards because they sell so many their poor RMA setup doesnt mean anything.

By the way if your motherboard was returned to Asus it goes back to Taiwan, expect 6 - 10 weeks+ lead time for return, this is why I will never use an Asus motherboard ever again.

[Stinga]

I've just read you Main Post and have had the same problem,

I purchased a EVGA X58 3XSLI Motherboard from Scan, along with some other components,

But the Power Supply blew and damaged the CPU, Motherboard and Graphics Card,

I returned these items to Scan and they refunded them all except for the CPU and Motherboard,

The CPU was apparently found working and the Motherboard apparently had a bent CPU pin,

I have been building PC's for over 8 Years now and I know that I did not cause this damage, which leaves two possibilities, 1. The Motherboard already came like that. 2. Scan are purposly causing this to void warrenty.

Now I'm not suggesting that Scan are causing this, but to me it seems to coincidental.

If you read my thread "Item Damaged In Transit - Scan Dont Want To Know!" then you will see how coincidental our returns of a Motherboard are.

[GoNz0]

its amazing how many so called single pins are bent, its near on impossible to do with a big flat cpu.

[pauleden]

its amazing how many so called single pins are bent, its near on impossible to do with a big flat cpu.

I was thinking that too. Curious isn't it?

[GoNz0]

yep unless the customer is nipping in with a very small pin to bend one out of shape that is.

the cpu and the cover plate cannot cause it, the human finger is not capable of beinding a single bin,

its the pin fairy at large !

that and the fact it is well known about the socket design having that problem anyway.

i still stand by the fact that it could happen when scan removes the cpu cover, but they will never ever say thats possible will they. im sure every RMA guy in the land would throw his hands in the air every time he damages a board. well not unless he wants a P45 that is.

[Mossy]

yep unless the customer is nipping in with a very small pin to bend one out of shape that is.

the cpu and the cover plate cannot cause it, the human finger is not capable of beinding a single bin,

its the pin fairy at large !

that and the fact it is well known about the socket design having that problem anyway.

i still stand by the fact that it could happen when scan removes the cpu cover, but they will never ever say thats possible will they. im sure every RMA guy in the land would throw his hands in the air every time he damages a board. well not unless he wants a P45 that is.

very valid point im afraid for your guys, it could happen to anyone couldnt it ?

Slightly contradictive comments there your so sure its Scan, yet you admitt it could happen to anyone it doesnt need me it seems to point out the Facts your own posts say it all.


GonZo

You would stand by that purely and simply because you look for any opportunity to jump on the bandwagon. Trolling the Scan forums and making weightless accusations just because you feel you have to make trouble quite simply is getting very tiresom and only shows how childish you are. Take a break , have a Kit Kat or make some valid points that contibutes to these Care forums.