Antec RMA

[ArchAngel777]

I have a Antec TPQ 850 WATT that works incredable well with one issue - the fan. It sounds like there is sand or something in the ball bearings of the fan. With 6 Antec Tri-Cool fans set on 'low' this provides a near silence PC, with the exception of the Antec PSU fan. Obviously, this is not acceptable and incredably annoying. I am a DIY kinda of guy and I would love to replace the fan, but 1) I am not experienced to work on PSUs and value my life and, 2) I will void the warranty. But still, what a pain to have to RMA for a 5 buck fan.

Does anyone have any pointers in dealing with Antec? Are they pretty friendly easy to work with? Is this RMA going to be a nice monthly long ordeal? I plan on starting the process today.

Thanks to anyone who can assist with knowledge of Antec RMA policy.

 

[Zap]

Did the fan get louder over time, or always that loud for you? I had a Quattro 850W that was always loud, so I think that's just the way they are. My fix for it was to get rid of it.

 

[Lunyone]

I have had 2 pleasant RMA's on 2 different PSU's with Antec. Yes it was about 1 month to send back the PSU and have them check it out and send me a new one back. I even talked with the support staff to confirm my problems, before I sent it back to them. I'd give them a call/email them and see where it leads you.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: Zap
Did the fan get louder over time, or always that loud for you? I had a Quattro 850W that was always loud, so I think that's just the way they are. My fix for it was to get rid of it.

Good question - The truth is, I don't know for certain. I know this though: The fan is not making a 'normal' sound that loud fans do. I have several 80mm fans and while they are louder on full spin, they never had the 'tick tick tick tick tick' type sound. It is like like a wire is 'slightly' hitting the fan blades. Or some sand or something lodged in between the ball bearings. That is the best way I can describe it. The unit is in mint condition otherwise. But, again, I am not certain if it has always been like that. I did notice it about 1 year ago (it was 9 months old by that time), but I was able to ignore it because I had my fans up a bit louder. The tri-cools were set to medium speed (kinda noisy, honestly) and so it drowned out the sound for the most part. Once I set all 6 120mm fans to low settings, it was clear as a bell one of the fans was making the noise. I carefully stuck a plastic pen to stop the fan from spinning and the noise discontinued.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: Lunyone
I have had 2 pleasant RMA's on 2 different PSU's with Antec. Yes it was about 1 month to send back the PSU and have them check it out and send me a new one back. I even talked with the support staff to confirm my problems, before I sent it back to them. I'd give them a call/email them and see where it leads you.

Thanks. I created a ticked during lunch today. I heard it takes them a few days to respond to a ticket, so I'll give it to Friday or so.

What I don't understand is why they went with a 80mm fan honestly. With the PSUs today using 120mm or even 135mm fans, I am very surprised that Antec went with a 80mm. Seems kinda strange, honestly. Never really thought much about it until I start to notice just how damn noisy my machine was.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777
What I don't understand is why they went with a 80mm fan honestly.

Because people still buy them. You bought one, right? So did I.

Oh yeah, and PC Power & Cooling spread some FUD about how bigger fans sucked for cooling PSUs.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Well, their Signature 850 PSU uses an 80mm fan, and according to the review on jonnyguru.com, it was extremely quiet and kept the PSU cool. Whether they use an 80mm or a 120mm+ fan probably depends on if they get better results sucking the hot air out, or blowing cooler air in.

I haven't RMA'd with Antec before, but I did contact them once when I bought my P182 SE (the mirror finish one). One of the retainer clips in the front, which holds the door for a dust cover, was broken; the dust cover wouldn't shut all the way, but it didn't exactly ruin the functionality of the case either. I explained the situation and they mailed me a new retainer clip (probably a 5-10 cent part). However, the way the front panel is designed, I couldn't get the new retainer clip to fit into the slot. I contacted them again and explained the problem (and mentioned that I noticed a small ding in one of the side panels), and they sent an entire new front panel and one side panel, no questions asked. While the clip certainly wasn't expensive, I can't imagine the entire front panel (including the door, hinges, front panel ports, dust filters, etc.) and the side panel are cheap. A+ for their support, IMO, right up there with Logitech and EVGA.

 

[nyker96]

i haven rma any antec before although I got one pretty much for every machine. I usually threw them away when I upgrade even though they still working fine. got rid of my true power 430, tp 380 etc. i think I'm lucky enough that they did't break on me.

 

[ectx]

thet are pretty good. Although I rather not deal with rma at all. Have had 3 antec psu's - need to rma one out of three, but the replacement works fine.