680i LT back from RMA, no post?

[koosh]

I just got a new motherboard (680i LT v1.1) back from RMA and I can't get it to boot. All 3 LEDs light up, fans spin, no beeps, just no video.

Out of probably 50 attempts, I got video once, and this was when I had a single memory module in slot 2, and my video card in the lower PCI-e slot. I got an error that it was in the wrong slot, but when I moved it to the first slot, no video, and when I moved it back to the lower slot, no video either.

I have been testing in a "breadbox" configuration. I have tried 2 processors, 5 different DIMMs in various slots and combos (including one low voltage PC3200 module), and 2 different video cards, but that one random time was the only time I was able to get any display. I have also tried resetting the CMOS several times before trying various configurations

The hardware I have been using is:

XFX 680i LT v1.1 (BIOS version unknown)
OCZ Modstream 620W PSU (has 4-pin 12v CPU connector, not 8-pin)
2x GeForce 8800GT 512mb
4x1GB 2.1v OCZ Platinum PC6400 4-4-4-15
Core2Duo e6320 1.87GHz

I have also tried Kingston 1.8v 512mb PC3200 DIMM
Pentium 4 630j HT 3.0GHz

I am thinking my PSU may be at fault, it doesn't seem to be a faulty board since it did manage to post and display once and will give the proper error beeps, but is there anything else I should try before buying a new PSU?

[CDsDontBurn]

If the XFX 680i LT is anything like the EVGA 680i LT (i'm familiar more with EVGA products than XFX products for a very specific reason, and i'm not saying why because it backfired on me on another forum, and i'll probably get flamed on this forum for it, lol :p), then the motherboard does not have any kind of POST code diagnostic lights nor a POST speaker telling you what the likely cause of your problem is. on the EVGA board, the empty solder points for it are below the bottom PCI slot, is that true here?

also, what do you mean by "breadbox" configuration? is it out of the case sitting on an anti-static surface like a cardboard box or something you mean? Did you check for any bent pins in the CPU socket? also, just to try...it's kinda crazy but worth a shot....press down on the BIOS chip itself for about 5 seconds. another thing you can do, is attempt to POST the board without the KB and mouse regardless if they are, ps/2, USB, or wireless, attached to the system.

i don't think it would be your PSU if all three lights (blue, amber, green right) lit up on your board. those lights mean that your board is properly receiving and distributing power throughout the system.

this is just some things you can try ;)

[Irsh]

If this is only your second board you're just getting started.
Someone will post shortly that it must be your fault bacause XFX products rock...:hide:

[CDsDontBurn]

If this is only your second board you're just getting started.
Someone will post shortly that it must be your fault bacause XFX products rock...:hide:

haha. people from all over the net say that the 680i boards are problematic (not just XFX, but also BFG, EVGA, etc.) for so many different reasons.

honestly though, i don't think so. only people who have problems will post in a forum or make a complaint and most people that don't have any problems will not make any kind of comment on their hardware. and, that ratio is higher for people with problems than those that don't.

[zeusology]

lmao.. dude i've had one that worked for 4 months.. rma worked for an hour.. second didn't post and third posts but doesn't work well w/ vista.. save urself the money to ship and go buy urself another board.. or u''ll end up like me w/ an expensive paperweight..

[Irsh]

Received my 4th board today. It's a refurb this time. I think they hope I won't bother to spend the money to send it back again. They're right. I'm not throwing any more money in this hole. I've got a new Asus board that runs perfect in the same box with the same parts so I'm cutting my losses.

I would cuss now but they are just looking for a reason to ban me so I can't get the word out.:devildance:

[koosh]

yeah, this being my third board i am also giving up on xfx and the 680i LT boards. after I got 2 bad motherboards from XFX i decided to go with a different company for the two graphics cards i recently bought. interesting that you should mention that you suspect your board was refurbished, because when I got this one I couldn't help but notice that it looked used. there was discolouration on the back of the PCB, and sure enough, when I popped the sinks off the chipsets, i was not greeted with stock thermal pads, but arctic silver. also, the first time I RMA'd, they sent me a full retail box with accessories. this time all I received was a board in a box (which is fine, just strange they would change their system).

customer support has gone downhill too. the first time I RMA'd my motherboard last July, the ticket responses were within 24 hours, and I received a replacement within 2 weeks. This time, it was 3-4 days before a technician would respond to my tickets, with a lot of back-and-forth "are you sure it's not working", "have you tried X" b.s. and it took 5 weeks from the time i sent my original ticket in til I received a replacement product.

I purchased a 750i board from a different vendor, and took out the instant product replacement warranty at the store I bought it from. I will post with the results from the build, hopefully all goes well and i can send the "working" RMA replacement to the 'Bay.

[Irsh]

Mine was definitely refurbished. There are fingerprints on everything. It was shipped in just the anti-static bag (not taped shut) and no bubble-wrap envelope. I packed the dead board better.
I'm not holding out much hope of it working because I don't think they really care at this point. I told them I was never buying another XFX product.

[zeusology]

lol.. yo irsh i just went out and got an evga board.. as soon as i get it running i'll post back and tell u what's up.. as for being fed up, i'm not even bothering buying another product from xfx.. i already told my cal im team to never purchase their products and they agreed w/ me.. how can u release a product that has so many defects and yet not address the problem to build customer loyalty.. statistically, 10- 20% of customers generate about 80 % of a companies business.. u throw that away and u're left w/ nothing.. keep up the good work xfx..

[CDsDontBurn]

so, what i know about EVGA and XFX...EVGA has 24/7 tech support available (except national holidays of course), but if you're local, XFX does allow for will-call service to pickup/drop off your product.

both companies are relatively close to me (XFX is like a mile from my house and EVGA is about a 30min. drive :p), but EVGA does not offer will-call service to their local customers because "it's not available." But, EVGA does offer an Advanced RMA service (cross-ship RMA basically) for a small fee if you wish to take advantage of that program. Not sure if XFX has that program. I only have one of their products and it's working just fine.

[koosh]

tossed all the same components onto the MSI P7N platinum (750i) and everything worked on first power-up. great overclocking too.

[Irsh]

The XFX board may make a good Frisbee?

[CDsDontBurn]

RMA it, and put it up on eBay. XFX has double-lifetime warranty right? ;)

[3991vhtes]

Double lifetime only applies to their video cards, sadly. :(

[CDsDontBurn]

lame!

that warranty should apply to all of their products!

[srpeters18]

Nobody offers lifetime on motherboards.

[CDsDontBurn]

Nobody offers lifetime on motherboards.

not true, there's at least one manufacturer that does, and it's EVGA. EVGA offers lifetime warranty, only if you register the product (this applies to both gfx cards and MoBos) within 30 days of purchase, on ALL products ending with any of the part numbers on their warranty page listed below. However, if the product is not registered within those first 30 days, then the product will then default to a 1yr. warranty. Any one part number that's not on that page only has a 2yr. warranty from the date of purchase.

check it out on their warranty (www.evga.com/support/lifetime/) page.