XFX Support is RIDICULOUS - Noone will help. X58i Problems.

[lucafett]

Hey guys:

I am having a TERRIBLE time with XFX support. I purchased an X58i Motherboard which will not boot with more than 2gb of ram installed on it... I have posted on every forum I've found that offers some sort of technical support, and so far noone has come up with an answer. I am very frustrated with the fact that XFX, the company that made the darn thing, is not even answering me after a week of me posting a ticket on their website. Additionally, their 800 number does not appear to work, I call, they hang up, I call, they hang up... its as if they're running and hiding from the fact that their product is defective... I have found many other posts from people experiencing the same problems, but in their case after a day or two of frustration and not getting answers they just RMA the products back to them. In my case this is not an option, since I bought the card while I was in Miami and took it back with me to Venezuela.

I have read MANY reports from people talking about how bad their support is, (wish I'd read about it when I was picking between xfx and asus in newegg when I bought the thing), and still those people never get a solution. Now my question is, is anyone in this forum associated with XFX, and if so, can you help, please?

I am posting my support ticket just to give you a sense of the timing on this thing, and im afraid, from what I've read, that it could take months without even a word from them...

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[ 2/26/2009 2:16:01 AM] I purchased the motherboard, installed the 6gb of ram, the video card, the processor, everything... It booted on once with the 6gb of ram (3 dimms)... then, after resetting, it wouldnt post anymore with 6gb of ram installed, I tried it with 4gb and it worked, (2 dimms), but when installing windows XP it somehow disabled mouse and keyboard input, so I had to reset the PC, then it would not boot again, with either 4 or 6 gb of ram installed... it just gets stuck at d4 on the boot led on the board... I have not found a solution... but im desperate.


[ 2/26/2009 6:04:10 PM] Hello guys: Since the day I booted my XFX X58i Mobo I have had problems making it post with more than 1 (2gb) dimm of tripple channel PC1333 (10600) Corsair XMS Memory. Here is what I`ve done in chronological order, just to try and see if any of you are kind enough to help some of the people with this same problem who have posted here: System: Proc : Intel Core I7 920 2.66ghz. Memory : 3 x 2gb dimms (PC 1333) Corsair XMS. HD : Seagate Barracuda. Video Card : Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 (896 mb) PCI-E. PSU : Agiler 750W ATX Power Supply. _______________________________________ Log: 1 - Assembled PC, Installed all components, installed 3 x 2gb dimms on GREEN slots, as stated in mobo documentation. Result: Would not boot, stuck at code 88 on onboard LED. 2- Removed 3 x 2gb dimms and installed 3 x 2gb dimms on BLACK slots. Result: Computer booted, posted, went into BIOS to set date / time; exited BIOS, reset, computer would not post again, stuck at step D4 on onboard LED. 3- Reset CMOS, reset BIOS, attempted boot. Result: No post or boot. 4- Checked cables, connections, etc. Result: No post or boot. 5- Removed 1 x 2gb dimm, set the other two on black slots, in dimm slots 2 and 4. Result: Computer posted and booted, went into BIOS to set date / time; exited BIOS, reset, computer would not post again, stuck at step D4 on onboard LED. 6- Reset CMOS, reset BIOS, attempted boot. Result: No post or boot. 7- Removed another 2gb dimm, leaving the system with 1 x 2gb dimm on the #2 slot. Result: Computer posted and booted, went into BIOS, set date / time, reset, installed Windows XP Pro SP3 (I hate Vista), installed drivers, antivirus, software for video card, etc. 8 - Tried looking for an upgrade to BIOS but could not find one on the official XFX site, read mentions of an upgrade on OC forums. 9 - Read guide to OC Intel Core I7 920, and attempted a slight increase on QPI speed through BIOS, took it from 133 to 140. Result: Computer would not post or boot. 10- Read about setting manual memory voltage, looked up the corsair memory voltage needs, set it like so in BIOS (1.5v) and attempted to boot with 3 and 2 dimms installed. Result: Computer would not post or boot. 11 - Reset CMOS, BIOS, reset date / time. Result: Computer Working with 2gb of ram and very stable. _________________________________________ Now the problem seems to be that any measure of memory beyond 2gb hangs the post sequence at D4, which is a check of the 540kb of memory or something like that. I have not been able to boot with more than 1 dimm installed. The OC attempt was to see how much of a slight change the mobo would stably allow, which is NONE. What really vexes me is the fact that the board booted with 6gb installed once, and then with 4gb too, so the randomness leads me to believe im facing a SOFTWARE problem on the BIOS end. Also, finding any sort of information online is a grat hassle, and the documents available at XFX are mediocre at best. The Support Tickets posted at their site take long to be addressed. To be honest, I dont see how much of a problem it can be to address this issue, but if XFX does not address it soon I see a lot of Returns going their way, and possibly a future Class Action Suit because of misleading specifications regarding this product, which is stated to support up to 12gb of RAM. Its sad that those of us who went out on a limb to purchase this cutting edge technology will not get to fully enjoy it but by the time the prices for it have gone down. I bed anyone out there who has found a solution to this to post it here, it is killing my office designer to be without a computer, and business is losing money to it. (I live in Venezuela, purchased the card in Miami and took it back with me, so returning it, for me, is a great hassle). Thank you and hope this helps anyone who is experiencing this problem too. E.


[ 2/26/2009 6:15:39 PM] Also, failed to mention this, I tried booting the computer with each of the memory sticks individually, and they all worked on their own.


[ 2/27/2009 4:13:44 AM] Ok... I tried upping the voltage to the memory to 1.570v, but that did nothing... also, the memory registers as runnig at 1066, which is stupid because it should run at 1333, AND your support is taking awful long to answer my questions... you should put "buy at your own risk" on all your motherboards...


[ 2/27/2009 3:07:50 PM] This is sad... really, your response time is just NOT normal... do you guys have a new BIOS for this thing? if so, where the heck can I find it... I feel like a blind dude whose dog left him in the middle of a busy metrostation... come on, HELP!


[ 2/27/2009 5:20:17 PM] Ok, this is ridiculous, I called your North America 800 number and the wait time is 15 minutes... I am calling from Venezuela... please, will someone PLEASE help me out here...

[ 3/2/2009 5:32:55 PM] Does it usually take more than a week to get support for one of your boards? I mean, seriously, how hard can it be to get in contact with me and help me resolve this isuue?
[ 3/2/2009 10:52:34 PM] Ok, really, I keep calling your 800 number and it keeps disconnecting me... this is really epic on BAD SUPPORT... really... I guess im going to start posting reviews on this product wherever I can... this is just unacceptable.


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Since I cannot get a replacement and im sure this is fixable cause the board works with 2gb of ram just fine... I will make it my sole mission to post on every forum I can on how much their support sucks if I dont get an answer, and I mean QUICK.

I know its none of you guys' fault, but I am just so frustrated...

Thanks for the help... hope to hear from someone.

Enrique L Fuentes

[Goliath182]

Weird not too many complaints here. Last RMA turned a 8600 GTS into a 9600 GT. I feel they have great support, take in mind they dont work on weekends so that would be a slow down. Just take a deep breath and PM a XFX tech with your support ticket number and itll be fine.

P.S. Chances are that if you increase the NB or QPI voltages your board will become stable. Also make sure that your RAM is running at the right voltage.

[lucafett]

Hey, thanks for the reply.. well, I got through to them on the phone (30 minute international call, my bill will have a burnt hole in it), they were very kind and sent me a BIOS, and said that in the cases they had that resembled mine, it was actually the memory controllers on the CPU that were screwing things up... im reluctant about this, and I know better than to trust ball-swapping on the part of manufacturers... my problem now is I've read about a bunch of people that actually killed their boards with this new BIOS, and im not inclined to screw mine up on the update. If anyone has successfully updated their bios on an X58i mobo, please post it here... if it works I will host the BIOS file (its weirdly not on their site) on my ftp server for all of u out there with this problem. And yes, I set my voltage to the max allowable on memory and it didnt work... as to NB voltage... ehm, I though I7 eliminated the NB...

[lucafett]

Got the new BIOS from their site today, updated, but still no go... problem keeps popping up... no more than 2gb of ram will work... tested the ram, did everything doable... no go... any help will be appreciated.

[specter9mm]

I know you may have already tried this, but I had a very similar problem and it was a voltage issue. I manually set the voltage from the manufacturers website specs and everything smoothed out. Now I'm trying to get some sort of overclocking working on the thing, and it is impossible.

Got the new BIOS from their site today, updated, but still no go... problem keeps popping up... no more than 2gb of ram will work... tested the ram, did everything doable... no go... any help will be appreciated.

[vanBoogle]

I assembled my rig 2 wks ago, and have had the exact same issues. Here are my specs
SPECS.

MOBO: XFX X58i
CPU: Intel i7 920 processor, LGA1366 (bought in bundle with mobo)
CPU fan: stock fan that came with CPU
GPU: XFX nVidia GeForce 9800GTX 512Mb
Memory: 6 Gigs OCZ gold Tri channel DDR3 1333 MHz (however, rig only works w/ 1 stick in black slot)
Power Supply: Ultra X3 1000 Watt PSU
HD: Wester Digital Caviar 500Gb SATA
OS: Windows XP home
Optical Drive: Sony 20x DVDR/W SATA
For me, running only 1 2-gig stick worked so I've been doing that with no problems until today. Several times I've lost video, and all my USB devices (keyboard,mouse, headset). When this happens, my LED goes from 61 (or is it b1, I can't tell) to 88.

When I restart, sometimes the PC starts up normally, and sometimes it just hangs on 88.

Just today I noticed that the XFX website has a version 1.1 driver for the MOBO. I downloaded it, but am too scared to install it. Have you had any luck?


-vanBoogle


ps sorry for the crazy fonts, my copy-and-paste of the specs made the post go crazy.

[towerelect]

Got the new BIOS from their site today, updated, but still no go... problem keeps popping up... no more than 2gb of ram will work... tested the ram, did everything doable... no go... any help will be appreciated.

OK Gang Got the same, exact same problem with 3x2Gb DIMM3 boards PC3 12800 Gold Series. Can only get the BIOS to get past the p4 point by placing two in slot 1 & 2 (Black and Green pair). Hangs on 88 any other combo, though I did get it to boot once with the DIMM in the correct Green slots 2, 4 and 6 but only slots 2 and 4 (4Gb) were seen by Vista64.

Can ANYONE HELP US PLEASE, I don't want to go to all the bother of a return, or refund or the expense of purchasing a new board. Documentation with this board is truly BAD both in the box where only a quick install guide was given which had the Green and Black slots reversed by the way for the DIMM! and the on line cD and internet versions which are riddled with poor english and missing items.

[lucafett]

My problem persists... I have not been able to fix it, Overclock my motherboard, tweak memory settings or anything. The only successful step in this whole nightmare was the Bios update, which worked. A day after they sent me a corrupted file through e-mail, they posted Bios V1.1 on their website... I downloaded it and flashed it, it worked, and the Bios itself shows a lot of improvement, at least in aspect, because all the options are useless still - no way to get the board to boot if you tweak qpi, memory frequency, voltage, etc... its either load default settings or dont boot at all. XFX support has not answered my question, im begining to feel they're just a few young guys who have no idea about computers and are put there to delay the inevitable RMA, which in my case its sadly not an option (it would be prohibitively costly). So im left hanging, like so many other people who purchased this card, but in my case, theres also the sour taste of not even being addressed in a normal and timely manner by their tech support. Really, I dont know what else to do... To the -XFXSupport- guy that posts around here... is this normal? you havent even read any of the 15+ posts I've made during the last 3 weeks? I will spend whatever free time I have bashing XFX in reviews for this, its the only consolation I can have out of this episode in which I feel I have been robbed of US$300.00. Thanks for any thoughts...

[towerelect]

Well I will go to the XFX web site and upgrade my BIOS with the latest version. Went to the Intel Site and there version would not run. I unlocked the Flash protection in BIOS before I booted but still the Intel latest BIOS for the 58 series board would NOT run in Vista64. At least I guess I have 2 of my 3 OCZ boards working as a pair in slots 1 and 2, but in BIOS my Keyboard function keys do not all work. For example I can not use F10 to save BIOS and re-boot, have to use the cursor keys. Sometimes the BIOS hangs when I try enter for example the Board monitor section. All in all not at all impressed. I will see what AFX say but if nothing by this weekend I will be returning this board as not fit for the job.

[pappaknox]

no suppot an the support i got sucked so bad/ sent me a used mobo that didnt work o wait sent me 2 mobo`s that didnt work/ o look now i have (EvgA mobo an gfx cards) I`ve never looked back