So, not such a big fan of XFX right now.

[Mags]

So just got a replacement MB from XFX that took about a month to RMA. Spend all day swapping everything in. And it refuses to post if I put any memory in DIMM slot 0. >< . Sent them a nasty message already. Any suggestions on things I could try in the mean time?

[Melbosa]

I remember you had this with a ABIT or ASUS board at one time... no luck with you on that damn DIMM0.

But to be more help, what cpu and memory speed do you have?  There is a known issue with 1333 CPUs and 800 memory.  Have to run memory at 667 or 1333 to have it work with that CPU's FSB.  This is just a shot in the dark btw, without knowing much more about your computer.

[Mags]

Yeah that was an Asus. At least it was the third slot on that thing, so I could just not upgrade at the time, it still ran.

It's a intel core2 6420, on a 680i LT board, with 6400 Crucial Balistic memory. Worked (kinda) for almost a year before all this crap started happening, so I'm thinking it has to be a bad slot again.... sigh way to send you customers defective parts as replacements.

Oh and just in case you were thinking it, I did reduce the wattage on the ram as well just to see if that was the problem.

[Melbosa]

Well if you have swapped the ram all around the slots, and did the voltage thing, then yeah I'd say faulty motherboard as well.  Sorry man, @%&#ty luck!

[Mr. Analog]

Mags and computer hardware are just not good friends.

Good luck man...

[Mags]

Mags and computer hardware are just not good friends.

Good luck man...

I just wish I knew who I pissed off, I might even apologize.

[Mags]

So this issue is still not resolved, just thougth I would post the e-mail I just sent to the watchdog at MaximumPC, just because... well I guess mostly to vent:

Dear Sir,

Well my story begins in the middle of August. My XFX 680i LT board just one day decided to up and stop posting on me after I had swapped a defective power supply. I tried everything I could think of to get it back up but no avail. So the next day at work I googled the board online and found this is not an unusual thing for the LT boards to do and there was nothing you could do but send it in for repairs.. Great.

So. On the 27th of August I phoned XFX support and that's when it all began. After almost a half hour wait, I finally got a person on the phone. Said person asked me my ticket number. I said parden? Again the tech asked what my ticket number was. I said I don't have a ticket number I just called you. "Oh", said the tech, "well you have to go online and create a ticket or I can't help you." and hung up on me. So, I'm thinking, my computer is down and to get support I need to fill out a ticket online?!?!?!?!?

Now we proceed to the next day. From work I go to the XFX website, already not too pleased, and begin creating a ticket. Which involve the usual create an account. Wait 3 hours for an e-mail, which will actually let me start a ticket. I then fill out all the information, but there is a single field that I found confusing, great. So after another 30 minute wait on the phone, I get a tech. I explain that I am creating a ticket for my motherboard but there was one field that I didn't quite understand, but that was all I needed, and would like to start the RMA process as quickly as possible after we fill it out. So, the tech proceeds to explain what they are expecting in that box and immediately hangs up. Wow.

Well fine. Against my better judgement I'll try doing this online. I fill out the single box (thanks for waiting .05 seconds tech) and wait. Surprisingly I receive a reply within half an hour and the tech does indeed start the RMA process. I am sent an e-mail with documents to sign and instructions on how to proceed. Well, I think, now we're getting somewhere. I read through the process, and according to the documents they want me to send the motherboard with the CPU still attached. Well that seems odd to me so, I log in and ask if this is really the case. Fourteen hours latter I finally receive a reply: "Do not send anything but the motherboard. We do not want your CPU. Curtis". Which seems to imply, at least to me, that I'm an idiot for asking, despite that being exactly what it said in the instructions I was sent.

Well off I go the next day and PAY to send the motherboard to XFX (at internation rates since I'm in Canada) so I can get a replacement. Ten days latter I receive a message on my ticket that they have received my board, tested it and it was indeed faulty. They will contact me shortly so they can send me a replacement. Ok I think I've been without a computer for two weeks now, but soon I'll be back in business. So, I wait and I wait and I wait and six days pass and still no contact... So I post on my ticket that I still have not been contacted. An hour later I receive a reply that the motherboard is on its way. OK....

Several days later (October 21st if your keeping score) I receive my board, but have to go away for work so I don't get a chance to install the board till the 28th. So I install the board and turn it on and nothing... sigh... well perhaps I didn't plug something in correctly. Go through all the connections, but no, everything seems right. After a full day of unplugging this, switching that, I find out that the board will refuse to post with a memory stick in slot 0. I try 4 different sticks in every configuration possible, but simply it will not post if there is a dimm in slot 0. OMG I'm loosing my mind.

So off to the website I go and post just how pleased I am that I have not had a computer now for 2 months and receive a replacement that is a dud right out of the box. 2 WEEKS later they finally reply. The tech then informs me that they will send me another board immediately if I send them copies of my credit card, drivers licence, first born child, etc, would I like to do that? I agree just out of desperation. Well it's been 10 days (November 21th) and I still have not received a reply.

And finally just to kick me in the balls for good messure, I receive a bill from Fedex for shipping charges pertaining to my first motherboard shipment. That is weird, I have never had to pay for warrenty shipping in the past. So, I phone Fedex and am told by a Fedex representative that first of all, part of the charge is simply because XFX forgot to inform them that it was a warrenty replacement, and there would be no charge on that portion if they had. And second that It was unusual for the company not to pick up any brokerage fees in cases such as these, but they didn't so they had to charge me.

I have been building systems since '87 and I have never experienced anything remotely as bad as this. So, I for no other reason I thought I would pass on my exprence so you can warn others of how XFX does business. Perhaps you could help, perhaps not, but please warn others if you can.

- Michael Dalmer

* I realize this is a bit long to print in your section, so if you feel so inclinded, feel free to edit as you see fit.
** I'm including the messages as they appear on my ticket to validate my experience:

[ 8/28/2008 8:34:12 PM] After replacing the power supply in this computer I can no longer post. All lights and fans come on but no video/beeps/audio. Tried the following: - Replacing old power supply - replacing and reconfiguring ram - using a different known good video card - clearing the cmos - trying different monitor - plugging in only essential parts - resetting all cards - assuring all plugs are connected properly (8-pin, 24 pin, video plug, etc) - changing power from apc ups to directly in wall - unplugging peripherals (i.e. keyboard, usb devices, etc)
[CURTIS 8/28/2008 8:57:56 PM] I`ve gone ahead and authorized your RMA (Returns Merchandise Authorization) so you can send your XFX product in to get it serviced. Your RMA number is (*******). Also please copy and paste the following link into your browser, ftp://xfxsupport.com/public/other/PCA_RMA_TC.pdf, this PDF is the RMA agreement and paperwork. It contains all the RMA terms and conditions; please fill it out, sign it, and include it with your RMA. If you wish to waive the signature on return shipments from XFX please obtain the waiver form here: ftp://xfxsupport.com/public/other/signaturewaiver.pdf. Be sure to inspect the CPU pins for damage, and to use the CPU socket cover that came with the motherboard. This will protect those pins from being damaged in shipping. Damaged CPU pins, and not using the CPU socket cover could result in voiding your motherboards warranty. Thanks, Curtis Please note: Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the PDF documents listed above. Please download and install the latest version of Acrobat Reader from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html before attempting to open the forms. PLEASE NOTE: Because you are located outside the U.S.A., additional taxes may be imposed on the return shipment by your government. We provide proper documentation and label the package to the best of our ability but these fees are completely at the discretion of the local government. You will be liable for these fees if they occur.
[ 8/28/2008 9:05:07 PM] Question: Just to make sure I understand this correctly, you want me to remove the CPU, but still send it with the motherboard?
[CURTIS 8/29/2008 2:17:00 PM] Do not send anything but the motherboard. We do not want your CPU. Curtis
[JOSH 10/9/2008 12:45:48 AM] We have received your recent returns ref: *******. Your returns will be passed to the RMA department for testing and diagnosis. We will notify you on completion. Thank You. XFX Support Team
[JOSH 10/9/2008 10:44:09 PM] Your recent returns ref: ******* has recently completed the testing process with the following status: {I3F000393 = FAULTY}. A technician will be in contact shortly to discuss completion of this returns. If you have any queries regarding this test result - please send a message to the support team. Thank You. XFX Support Team
[ 10/15/2008 9:11:05 PM] Still not been contacted!
[KENNY 10/15/2008 10:14:32 PM] We have despatched your recent returns ref: ******* via www.fedex.com with tracking reference: *******. If you have any queries regarding this action - please send a message to the support team. Thank You. XFX Support Team
[JOSH 10/17/2008 4:51:56 PM] We have now completed your recent returns ref: *******. If you have any queries regarding this action - please send a message to the support team. Thank You. XFX Support Team
[ 10/29/2008 11:03:51 PM] Thank you for the replacement motherboard, which does NOT WORK!!!!! THE MOTHERBOARD WILL NOT POST WITH ANY MEMORY IN DIMM SLOT 0!!! I HAVE TRIED SWITCHING THE MEMORY IN SEVERAL CONFIGURATIONS WITH DIFFERENT STICKS OF MEMORY, AND IT WILL NOT POST WITH ANY MEMORY IN DIMM 0. I WOULD LIKE A RESOLUTION TO THIS AND I MEAN FAST CONSIDERING I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A COMPUTER FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW.
[ 10/29/2008 11:15:25 PM] Thank you for the replacement motherboard, which does NOT WORK!!!!! THE MOTHERBOARD WILL NOT POST WITH ANY MEMORY IN DIMM SLOT 0!!! I HAVE TRIED SWITCHING THE MEMORY IN SEVERAL CONFIGURATIONS WITH DIFFERENT STICKS OF MEMORY, AND IT WILL NOT POST WITH ANY MEMORY IN DIMM 0. I WOULD LIKE A RESOLUTION TO THIS AND I MEAN FAST CONSIDERING I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A COMPUTER FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW.
[ 10/29/2008 11:20:35 PM] Thank you for the replacement motherboard, which does NOT WORK!!!!! THE MOTHERBOARD WILL NOT POST WITH ANY MEMORY IN DIMM SLOT 0!!! I HAVE TRIED SWITCHING THE MEMORY IN SEVERAL CONFIGURATIONS WITH DIFFERENT STICKS OF MEMORY, AND IT WILL NOT POST WITH ANY MEMORY IN DIMM 0. I WOULD LIKE A RESOLUTION TO THIS AND I MEAN FAST CONSIDERING I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A COMPUTER FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW.

(*note: opps ^, don't hit refresh apparently)

[ 11/6/2008 5:04:05 PM] Earth to XFX!!!!!!?!???!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
[DANIEL_E 11/11/2008 7:30:00 PM] Hi, will the system bootup and work fine if you use any dimm slot but 0, i.e. can load into windows run a 3d application and etc? Will the 2nd white slot function fine? If so that is odd since dimm slot 0 and 1 (the two white slots) are going to the same memory controller on the board. Is there something about the locking mechanism on the dimm slot 0 that may prevent the stick of ram from fully seating or anything that you can see? The board is working perfect except for that one slot correct? If so that`ll verify the rest of your components check out. If the replacement board is giving you issues we can probably do a x ship which will allow us to send a replacement first. This will however require me to email some forms to you and we`ll need copies of front/back of a credit card and a front of a id card or driver license. Let us know if that`s something you`d like to do. Daniel
[ 11/11/2008 8:55:58 PM] The system will boot with only a stick in dimm 1, it will also boot (but very slowly) if I use 2 and 3. I have checked and it seems to lock securely in place with an audible click and looks well seated (when using dimm 0). Indeed I would do that, as I would be even more disgruntled having to pay to send back a defective replacement.

Still no reply as of today.