I realize that I have posted in a few threads about this but I haven't provided the details of my experience. I thought it would be wise to post this since I would hate for anyone else to have to go through this.
RMA #1
June 21
I submit an RMA for my ASUS Z97-AR which would no longer power on. This happened suddenly and after verifying that the issue was not the PSU I decided to send for an RMA.
Jul 3
I receive an email with a link to a payment site stating it would cost $150 to have the CPU socket on my mobo replaced because of bent pins. I went back and forth with support for a while but they would not budge. They even sent me pics with bent pins, so I said... well I guess it isn't impossible that I bent the pins prior to putting the mobo in the box (I did put on the cpu protector but who knows). So I told ASUS they should send the mobo back to me because I wasn't going to pay retail price for a repair.... boy am I glad I made that decision.
On July 27th the board was shipped back to me. To my surprise, when I opened the box there were no bent pins. Checked the SN.. same, checked the socket... didn't look new. Weird.
RMA #2
July 28
I call in to report that my motherboard with "bent pins" did not have any bent pins. Took lots of high-res pictures and video of the socket, mobo, and serial number to prove it. Was told my warranty was invalid and they couldn't do anything for me. So I escalate, then I escalate again. Finally someone tells me that they will allow me to ship the mobo in again. So I do. ASUS also agrees to advance (cross) ship a mobo to me if I provide my CC info.
At this point I have ordered an AsRock Z97 Killer because I'm thinking this is going to take awhile. Hey, I'll sell the ASUS on Ebay once i get it, right?
RMA #3
Aug 11
I receive the motherboard replacement. Test it... seems to work. But the HDMI port is blown. Did lots of testing, multiple cables, displays, and using graphics cards (2 different ones). Yep, the HDMI port on the mobo is bad. Too bad because this is for a HTPC and I don't really want to purchase a separate graphics card for it.
RMA #4
I won't go into detail about the back and forth. On Aug 21 another board arrives. This one won't power up at all and there are bent CPU pins.
RMA #5
Separate process.. for some reason this time this had to go through the shipping department who I had to call and it was a whole separate process. I was told that it was likely that the board would be good "because they have access to better stock"... WTH?!
So I get the final board last week. Lo and behold, it powers up! And HDMI and everything else seems to be working! So I plug in a USB stick with memtest on it and it runs for about a minute.. then it turns off...
After further testing I found that any slight nudge or pressure will cause the board to lose power.
Again, tested multiple PSUs, two CPUs (G3258 and a 4690k), 3 different dimms, and lord knows what else. To make matters worse if the board is properly mounted with screws it mostly just won't turn on.
RMA #6
I escalated to what I understand is the highest point and requested a refund. They will not provide a refund or a new board. Only an RMA. I chose to quit because a mobo purchased for $87 is just not worth this trouble.
So now I have a non-working ASUS board sitting here. ASUS will gladly play the RMA carousel game with me more but I'm done. Every time I get another board from them I have to take apart one of my 2 PCs to test the board... it just isn't worth the trouble.
One more thing.. for each of these a new RMA form was required... ridiculous.
tl;dr;
Don't buy ASUS motherboards.
RMA #1
June 21
I submit an RMA for my ASUS Z97-AR which would no longer power on. This happened suddenly and after verifying that the issue was not the PSU I decided to send for an RMA.
Jul 3
I receive an email with a link to a payment site stating it would cost $150 to have the CPU socket on my mobo replaced because of bent pins. I went back and forth with support for a while but they would not budge. They even sent me pics with bent pins, so I said... well I guess it isn't impossible that I bent the pins prior to putting the mobo in the box (I did put on the cpu protector but who knows). So I told ASUS they should send the mobo back to me because I wasn't going to pay retail price for a repair.... boy am I glad I made that decision.
On July 27th the board was shipped back to me. To my surprise, when I opened the box there were no bent pins. Checked the SN.. same, checked the socket... didn't look new. Weird.
RMA #2
July 28
I call in to report that my motherboard with "bent pins" did not have any bent pins. Took lots of high-res pictures and video of the socket, mobo, and serial number to prove it. Was told my warranty was invalid and they couldn't do anything for me. So I escalate, then I escalate again. Finally someone tells me that they will allow me to ship the mobo in again. So I do. ASUS also agrees to advance (cross) ship a mobo to me if I provide my CC info.
At this point I have ordered an AsRock Z97 Killer because I'm thinking this is going to take awhile. Hey, I'll sell the ASUS on Ebay once i get it, right?
RMA #3
Aug 11
I receive the motherboard replacement. Test it... seems to work. But the HDMI port is blown. Did lots of testing, multiple cables, displays, and using graphics cards (2 different ones). Yep, the HDMI port on the mobo is bad. Too bad because this is for a HTPC and I don't really want to purchase a separate graphics card for it.
RMA #4
I won't go into detail about the back and forth. On Aug 21 another board arrives. This one won't power up at all and there are bent CPU pins.
RMA #5
Separate process.. for some reason this time this had to go through the shipping department who I had to call and it was a whole separate process. I was told that it was likely that the board would be good "because they have access to better stock"... WTH?!
So I get the final board last week. Lo and behold, it powers up! And HDMI and everything else seems to be working! So I plug in a USB stick with memtest on it and it runs for about a minute.. then it turns off...
After further testing I found that any slight nudge or pressure will cause the board to lose power.
Again, tested multiple PSUs, two CPUs (G3258 and a 4690k), 3 different dimms, and lord knows what else. To make matters worse if the board is properly mounted with screws it mostly just won't turn on.
RMA #6
I escalated to what I understand is the highest point and requested a refund. They will not provide a refund or a new board. Only an RMA. I chose to quit because a mobo purchased for $87 is just not worth this trouble.
So now I have a non-working ASUS board sitting here. ASUS will gladly play the RMA carousel game with me more but I'm done. Every time I get another board from them I have to take apart one of my 2 PCs to test the board... it just isn't worth the trouble.
One more thing.. for each of these a new RMA form was required... ridiculous.
tl;dr;
Don't buy ASUS motherboards.
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