Motherboards Motherboard from ebuyer, socket melted - ASRock RMA experience

Ok, so I bought an ASRock P67 EXTREME4‏ motherboard from ebuyer a month ago, did a bit of overclocking of a 2600K and got it stable and folding nicely. Then it became unstable with restarts, BSODs, requiring Windows 7 recovering and then finally it wouldn't POST.

I discovered the 4-pin 12V plug had melted in the socket:



I have had this happen with a different setup in the past. On that occasion I replaced the plug on the PSU and cleaned up the socket and all was well - it never happened again. This time though the motherboard socket is too badly melted to accept a plug so I need to return it to get it repaired/replaced... it's outside ebuyer's (measly) warranty period (I have a business account so I believe it's shorter) and ASRock want 25 euro to cover the cost of getting the board back to me. I once had to return a DFI motherboard that was under warranty and DFI never asked me to cover the same cost so I'm a little suprised.

I'm just wondering, has anyone else had a similar fault? Or what are others' motherboard RMA experiences?

The last time I had this type of failure it was again a blue-coloured (UV-reactive?) 12V 4-pin plug which seem to be softer plastic that the common white or black, so it seems to me these are not so good at withstanding a bit of heat, or maybe the contacts aren't as good so some sparking occurs. Or it's just coincidence.

Ideally I would have used an 8-pin plug in the socket which could have prevented this fault by spreading the load across more pins, but my PSU didn't have this and the ASRock manual just said either could be used - there was no recommendation.

 

I doubt this is actually a fault with the motherboard, more the fact that all of the power to the CPU was passed down 4 connectors not 8. Probably was just drawing too much power through the pins given that you had it overclocked and folding.

And even though the manual says either connector can be used, the 4 pin ATX12V should only be used when at stock. Even then I would much prefer using the EPS12V, even if it meant sourcing a new power supply.

As for the RMA, I've never had to send anything back ASRock, nor have I ever had to pay for getting it sent back to me if it is deemed faulty.

 

if your psu didnt have a 8 pin 12v line chances are it really shouldn't be powering a 2600 rig tbh.

 

Probably would have been OK at stock settings I would have thought. Overclocking the CPU has just pushed it too far.

 

ouch. Seen this a few times but it's mainly where people manage to lodge the pci-e headers in there.

 

if you only bought it a month ago how is this not covered by warranty with ebuyer.

DO NOT let them fob you off ebuyer provide 12 months waranty and they cannot make you go to the manufacturer instead.

The contract was between you and ebuyer not you an ASrock.

 

In my defense, my build was only at the testing stage and I was only using this PSU for testing - it provides enough power... I just think there was either poor contact or too much power drawn through the four pins (the motherboard is what is drawing the power so in that respect the board is at fault in my opinion), but yes, in hind-sight I would have used a PSU with 8-pin plug... but in my defense the manual says: "Though this motherboard provides 8-pin ATX 12V power connector, it can still work if you adopt a traditional 4-pin ATX 12V power supply." No caution was given about overclocking.

As for Ebuyer's return policy, I have run into this issue a few times now and had to go directly through manufacturers. I believe it is because my account is labled as a Business one, rather than an Personal one... I don't know what benefits I gain from this, if any... ebuyer's terms state: "If any of your purchases develop a fault, and it's more than 28 calendar days since receipt, then provided your item is within its warranty period, you are entitled to a warranty repair. In some cases, manufacturers provide a specialist full on-site service and/or telephone help facilities for your convenience which we recommend you use in order to correct the fault quickly. For business customers all warranty repairs after 28 days of receipt are referred directly to the manufacturer (unless otherwise stated)" If only I had discovered the fault a fault a few days earlier!...

 

oh if you purchased under a business account then your screwed as pretty much whatever they state in their T&Cs goes and you are NOT protected by consumer law.

is there a reason its business account ?

 

I'd say this is down to your PSU! Out of curiosity, what PSU were you using?

 

This is what I would have said, rather than blame it on any over clocking or anything else. Then again the mobo might just be a dud.