Oops...I broke my new motherboard. Advice?

[SoopaStar]

Okay, it wasn't my motherboard...which makes it worse. Its the wonderfule ECS D6vaa dual PIII board. A friend bought some components so I could build him a computer. Well, I had him buy the 1ghz PIII retail model--so he would have a 3 year warranty.
Anyways, I was putting the Intel Heatsink and fan on there--following intel's directions cause this has some wierd ***** plastic clip.
Never having used thsi clip before, I was being careful. I remembered how hard it was for me to get the retail fan on my pIII800. As I was applying pressure to the rear part of the clip so I could get the front on...the tab SNAPPED OFF of the socket!!!
****.
I emailed ECS last night, and haven't heard back yet. I have never had this happen to me. Ever. I have built, upgraded, or worked on hundreds of PCs and this has never happened to me. I am thinking the plastic was weak or something. Any advice?
Should I file the tab down nice and clean with some fine grit paper, say the tab was never there and try to return in? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif hehe
Paul C.

PS: for those considering this board, and a dual processor setup, don't get the retail intel processor. The heatsink clip will not fit into the 2nd cpu slot because of somet motherboard hardware that is too close to the socket.


edited for language...


[This message has been edited by daveleau (edited 08-10-2001).]

[Yar1182]

Go to a local computer store that carries the exact motherboard. Triple check their return policy to insure they do exchanges. Buy the motherboard go out to your car and wait 20 minutes, Put you broken motherboard in the packaging and exchange it. Tell them you just bought it 20 minutes ago, opened up the packaging and noticed it was defective. ask for a new one.

Sorry if I offended anyones ethics. It was all I could come up with. This is known as the FRY's technique.

[This message has been edited by Yar1182 (edited 08-10-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Yar1182 (edited 08-10-2001).]

[SPEEDO]

Ok thats a good idea now you have two for the price of two.

Why not just return the original and tell them you don't think this is a new board because there is something broken on it!!

Looks like a design flaw!

Uncooth, Yes but they can afford to swallow it, Can you???

[Bovon]

Read my lips...

Fraud...

[Fingers]

Explore your options with ECS first, personally, I'd never even consider the first two suggestions.

Until you hear back from ECS, use the board with one CPU if it's supported.

I also have a 1GHz P3, and I thought the new clip that Intel uses for 1GHz and higher heatsinks is a big improvement over wrestling with that metal clip, but I did have some concerns about the massive amount of pressure the clip generates. I'm also somewhat leary about the long term effect of heat on that rather delicate looking PLASTIC clip?

Good luck with ECS.

[KAknight]

I think Yar1182 has a good idea. The store isn't out any money - they just send it back to the company that makes it for a brand new one.

[SPEEDO]

Besides if they made it right it would not have broken!!!

If you were filling your gas tank according to the manufacturers instructions and your car blew up would it be your fault?
I think not!!!

It's their fault

[ragtop]

There was apparently a defect in the socket - it shouldn't break during a normal installation procedure. I would think this is an obvious warrantee issue that should be taken care of by the reseller, or by the manufacturer. The only problem with that is it will take some time to get the product replaced.

[Fingers]

Perhaps part of my previous message, and all of this one belong in the Morals and Ethics forum http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif, but both of the first two suggestions involve lying and deceit on the part of the customer.

I agree that if a product fails under normal conditions, the manufacturer should make it right, and my experience is that in most cases, THEY WILL

Recently there was another thread about a member who had a buggy Athlon that seemed to be OK, except that it wouldn't display .jpgs properly. The store refused to take any responsibility, but when he contacted AMD... they sent him a new one, and he was also allowed to keep the other one.

At very least, make an effort to do it HONESTLY first. [/soapbox]

[SPEEDO]

Fingers

Does that mean that we can't play no more?

Of course you are right, And I for one am old enough to know better.
Us old dudes should be setting an example but not this kind!
I think I just got carried away with the thought of how many times I have bought something only to find it defective and had to bring it back, Sometimes twice!
Time is money and no store that I have been in has said to me, Oh sorry for the inconvenience we'll knock a couple of bucks off of the price for the time you have wasted!

I will definitely choose my words more wisely in the future!!!!!

SPEEDO

[greenlion]

It happened to me too. I bought a motherboard and processor combo at Fry's. When I was installing the fan, the hook snapped off when I let go of the clip with the screwdriver. I brought it to Fry's and asked for a replacement. They said they won't because I did some physical damage. I said what can one do if that thing breaks off when you are just doing the regular installation procedure? The chinese lady just keeps on replying that I did the physical damage so they won't replace it. I was so mad that I threw the motherboard in a corner and stormed out, even left my receipt. A mistake, that's what I get for telling the truth, lost 80 bucks.

I should have gotten back the motherboard and receipt, came back another day and returned it back saying that it's not what I need. Most of the time they don't even check the merchandize if that's the reason for returning it.

[Scorpio69]

Hey Speedo,

"Uncooth, Yes but they can afford to swallow it, Can you???"

Who exactly is THEY? Ethics notwithstanding, when anyone exploits the system in anyway, be it fraud, theft, embezzlement, whatever WE pay for it.

Do you really think Fry’s, Best Buy, Comp USA, etc. are paying the price for this? Absolutely not! Who is? You and I are paying inflated prices. Employees are earning substandard wages.

Maybe if fewer people behaved this way Fry’s could afford to hire a sales staff that is more knowledgeable about the products they sell than the average consumer…

[TechDude]

Go to a local computer store that carries the exact motherboard. Triple check their return policy to insure they do exchanges. Buy the motherboard go out to your car and wait 20 minutes, Put you broken motherboard in the packaging and exchange it. Tell them you just bought it 20 minutes ago, opened up the packaging and noticed it was defective. ask for a new one.
Sorry if I offended anyones


So what your saying is that he should buy another mobo, then exchange the damaged one for a new one?

So now he bought 2 mobos for the same price it would cost to buy 2..

[SPEEDO]

Hey Scorpio69

You are exactly right no matter what we are the ones who are going to pay, No matter what!
Do you really think Fry's would hire a better sales staff and pay them more to sell the same amount of goods, I think not.

What would you do would you just throw the one you broke into the trash and go buy another one?
I think that everybody has done this at one time or another, Whether they will admit it or not is another thing!!

SPEEDO

[jeffpapier]

Return the MB anyway you can. Defects that show up during assembly or normal use are the manufactures responsibility. Do you think a retailer won't return a broken part?

[SoopaStar]

I tried emailing ECS, and they haven't written me back. I emailed them on the 8th. I suppose I will wait until Tuesday before I try to call them.
I didn't use a screwdriver or any other product to get the clip down on the tab. Just my fingers. I think this new clip desing is horrible. Over time, plastic tends to become brittle with heat (I remember some older heatsink clips I had made of plastic).
Oh well, I will get it replaced one way or another.
Paul

[SoopaStar]

just noticed it was edited for language. what did I say that was not acceptable? I noticed it was changed to *****...IMHO, if its said on TV (standard, not cable), then I don't see a problem with it being said here.

Paul

[YMK]

You can't always pull off that trick. Usually anything over 10 bucks has a serial number. Most stores check the Serial number when the product is sold. the number is then printed on the receipt.