ASUS headache

[mikeford]

Dunno which is worse about ASUS, product or customer support.

I bought one of the MicroCenter bundles AMD 6300 and ASUS M5A97 r2.0 motherboard, get the system home and I/O shield is misaligned to the output ports. I try some non standard spacers to make it work, but then cards don't align to chassis.

Google the problem and its common, go back to MicroCenter and they have a stack of them returned same issue. MicroCenter tells me they are happy to take it back, but have no way to get the I/O shields that fit, which the pile of returns suggests as correct.

I contact ASUS, and four days later, just now get an email suggesting I read the manual or return the motherboard.

How do companies like this stay in business?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Dunno which is worse about ASUS, product or customer support.

I bought one of the MicroCenter bundles AMD 6300 and ASUS M5A97 r2.0 motherboard, get the system home and I/O shield is misaligned to the output ports. I try some non standard spacers to make it work, but then cards don't align to chassis.

Google the problem and its common, go back to MicroCenter and they have a stack of them returned same issue. MicroCenter tells me they are happy to take it back, but have no way to get the I/O shields that fit, which the pile of returns suggests as correct.

I contact ASUS, and four days later, just now get an email suggesting I read the manual or return the motherboard.

How do companies like this stay in business?

Probably due to a tiered offering of many motherboard models that don't have that problem.

My last non-ASUS board purchases were two: An EVGA LGA-775 780i board, and Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R board. I've never had the sort of problem you described with (lemme count . . ) about six ASUS boards so far. But all my boards use Intel chipsets and processors. That should have nothing to do with it, but I think there are just as many AMD/AM3+--etc. board models from ASUS.

Still -- it's not a major problem unless you resent extra tedium of either cutting your own I/O shield, or just living without it. And I won't pass judgment on your resentment or desire for out-of-the-box perfection, either.

 

[Charlie98]

How do companies like this stay in business?

Every company kicks out a lemon or two in it's lifetime... that's just a production/QC glitch. When you think of all the outside-sourced components that come together on, for this example, a motherboard... and as a finished package it works wonderfully, well, most of us take that for granted.

The big problem I see is ASUS' inability to rectify the solution... immediately shipping a correct replacement I/O shield yesterday to the consumer, and maybe even throwing them a bone (freebie) as a sign they are on the situation and value you as a customer. If that's the only reply ASUS came up with... well... D:

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

With a little work and a few common household tools, you can make your own. Go to the hobby store and get a few small sheets of foil and foam core. They usually have them in the scrap-booking area. Cut the foam core slightly smaller than the back plate opening. Cover both sides of the cutout foam core with foil cut ~ 1/16" larger than the foam core. Only put adhesive on the foam. This leaves a small margin of foil on both sides overlapping the core. Now draw on the I/O and punch out the needed port holes. You can use an exacto knife or, specialty punches if you know a scrap-booker. Press the shield into place and you're good to go. It looks good too!

 

[Charlie98]

With a little work and a few common household tools, you can make your own. Go to the hobby store and get a few small sheets of foil and foam core. They usually have them in the scrap-booking area. Cut the foam core slightly smaller than the back plate opening. Cover both sides of the cutout foam core with foil cut ~ 1/16" larger than the foam core. Only put adhesive on the foam. This leaves a small margin of foil on both sides overlapping the core. Now draw on the I/O and punch out the needed port holes. You can use an exacto knife or, specialty punches if you know a scrap-booker. Press the shield into place and you're good to go. It looks good too!

Depending on how far off the punchouts are... I don't see why you couldn't mod the supplied shield... with the understanding that it shouldn't be necessary in the first place, but I'm thinking 'make it work for you.'

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Depending on how far off the punchouts are... I don't see why you couldn't mod the supplied shield... with the understanding that it shouldn't be necessary in the first place, but I'm thinking 'make it work for you.'

I agree, I've just run across quite a few machines that were old, re purposed or, generally abused, that needed an I/O shield and they either weren't made anymore or, they wanted obscene amounts of money for them. $9 + shipping? Give me a break.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I agree, I've just run across quite a few machines that were old, re purposed or, generally abused, that needed an I/O shield and they either weren't made anymore or, they wanted obscene amounts of money for them. $9 + shipping? Give me a break.

Yeah! I paid the $9 and shipping!! I do enough of this . . . Xacto-knife-tedium . . . so, no loss to me if time is money or inconvenience is money.

You're going to find two- and three-year-old motherboards in pristine condition from corporate refurbishers for less than 40% of their original MSRP, and most of them don't have I/O shields. I got one -- otherwise perfect in every way -- with a broken RAM-slot lever. But the slot . . . is fine.

I guess if you pay full price, you want no problems like this. This business about a DIY I/O plate has another current thread running from someone named Anita. And the suggestion posted earlier in this thread is as good as any on that thread or anywhere else.

 

[mikeford]

I was stuck once before by ASUS, Toslink header with no port, like $27 with shipping and handling for the bracket, and it shipped slow, and had poor driver support.

Trouble is I only build systems every two or three years, then usually a small batch, so I forget which were a PITA.

For this system, needs to go together this week, so skipping the I/O shield entirely, plus any issues whatsoever beyond this and it goes back to MicroCenter. Easy returns, its one of the best parts of dealing with MicroCenter, that and the sales people actual know product.

 

[Charlie98]

For this system, needs to go together this week, so skipping the I/O shield entirely, plus any issues whatsoever beyond this and it goes back to MicroCenter. Easy returns, its one of the best parts of dealing with MicroCenter, that and the sales people actual know product.

That's one of the great things about being near an MC...

 

[PhIlLy ChEeSe]

AMD board are made as cheaply as possible. I don't assume the same board by a different company might have the I/O you seek? Sorry, it's late and I did not read the whole thread.

 

[Puffnstuff]

AMD boards by asus are of the same quality as the intel boards. I recently built my father a fm2+ system using an asus board and it is of the highest quality and works perfectly. The IO shield not being aligned correctly is something that I've never witnessed before from any manufacuturer. Asus has consistently provided me with the best motherboards that I've ever used. I would contact their support and explain the problem to them and show them a picture of the problem so they can see it for themselves.