OT ASUS experience

[Steven Vollom]

Over the years, I have used ASUS Technologies products with never a failure.  
I have remained exclusive in use of their products because of that fact.  
Nonetheless, 3 months ago, I finished the purchase of the components for a new 
computer.  It took me a year+, because I bid on the items until I got very low 
prices on the best of equipment.  In any event, when the last needed component 
arrived about 3 + months ago, I installed the components and couldn't get a 
BIOS screen.  

I noticed that the heat sink fan for the processor was not running, so I took 
it off and tested it on another set of fan posts on the motherboard.  The heat 
sink fan worked.  The light that indicated power to the motherboard worked, 
and the case fans were running.  I could hear the silent spinning of the HDD, 
and the DVRW door opened and closed when I pressed the button. The power light 
for the computer was on, so it looked to me like a part of the motherboard was 
defective.

I contacted ASUS regarding my new defective motherboard.  They sent a list of 
things to check.  The list included testing every other electronic piece of 
equipment.  I am an old shut-in and it is difficult for me to get to a computer 
store.  I told them, but they insisted I have the other components checked.  

The church provided transportation for one outing, however they took me to 
their repair shop, and they did not have a test board that worked for an AM+ 
slot required for my processor, so they couldn't test the processor.  Also, 
ASUS did not ask for the power supply to be tested at that time, so I did not 
think to ask.  In any event after it became a requirement, the power supply 
ended up working fine, however, to test it I had to purchase a power supply 
tester.

All the memory sticks turned out to work perfectly, leaving only the Processor 
and the Motherboard as the possible problem.  I continued to have problems 
with getting to a repair shop to test the processor and the extra costs were 
piling up.  Additionally everyone I talked with including several from this 
list told me that the problem was in the motherboard, so finally I told ASUS 
that if they weren't willing to RMA the board, I would write the editors of 
some major newspapers about my plight.  Anyway they then gave me an RMA 
number.  

By now 3 months had passed and I still did not have the defect replaced.  
Also, throughout this process, many promises were made, but the only ones that 
were kept were the ones I made, with the exception of the checking of the 
Processor, a brand new licensed AMD 9600 Quad.  I called around and those 
places close enough for me to get to had a minimum bench charge of just under 
$100; it was something I could not afford right now.  I was told my processor 
was very hard to damage because of the new technology.  They simply shut down 
before being affected by any problem less maybe a major power surge.  

Heating bills are running higher than my house payment and food prices have 
increased 30 to 40% in my area.  My low fixed income retirement has not 
increased.  So what was I to do?  
 
After all the broken promises and delays, I was required to pay return 
shipping for the defective unit.  Additionally, I had to arrange for someone 
to take me to the UPS store, which was and always is difficult.  In any event 
ASUS's last promise was that they would get me the return within 9 days.  
Today is the tenth day, and no motherboard.  Be assured that the motherboard 
was an unopened new motherboard that ASUS acknowledged as sold by one of their 
suppliers, so it isn't a question of trying to get improper care.

If I only knew that by purchasing a defective motherboard I would have to lose 
over 3 months of my life's use of the motherboard and spend money to test 
other manufacturer's components, have additional transportation and shipping 
charges, I think I would have requested a working motherboard.  It is easy to 
see that a satisfied customer would like ASUS, they make a good product, but if 
you are lucky enough to buy one of their defects, be forewarned.

I just hope I live long enough to see my new computer working.

Steven Vollom, fine-artist retired