Monarch/MSI RMA process

[SnoMunke]

My MSI K8N Neo4 Ultra has recently been dying due to a known design flaw where the CMOS battery constantly goes dead and must be replaced...so far I have gone through 2 batteries in 3 weeks. I bought this mb through Monarch about 7 months ago.

And the questions are...

Am I going to be able to RMA it through Monarch, or will I end up having to RMA it directly with MSI? How is MSI about RMAs? I really don't want to get stuck with a re-furbished, known design flaw mb...

Anybody have know the best way to RMA this board? Thanks...

 

[John]

1) You have a used mainboard and will most likely receive a 'working' used mainboard in return. This is how 99% of the RMA's work.

2) Monarch RMA form

 

[Ike0069]

Unless you purchased an extended warranty thru Monarch, you will have to RMA it thru MSI directly.

I RMA'd my Neo2 thru MSI and it was slightly better than average. I believe from the time they received it until they shipped out a new board was 8 business days. 10-14 business days is what MSI says to expect.

I would definitely get the RMA goin now, because I remember reading that over last years Christmas/New Years holiday, the RMA process slowed down considerably. Some were complaining of MSI having their board for a month or more before shipping a replacement.

 

[chieftang]

You'd probably have trouble with Monarch if it were 7 days old, let alone 7 months. So, go directly to MSI.

 

[SnoMunke]

Thanks for the comments...

I wonder if I can upgrade the mb to an MSI SLI board (pay differencein cost of course) going through MSI directly... The K8N Ultra has a design flaw and I don't want to get the same board with the same flaw...

 

[cubby1223]

When I had an RMA through MSI, took a full month from the time I sent it to the time I received it back.

 

[chieftang]

Originally posted by: SnoMunke
Thanks for the comments...

I wonder if I can upgrade the mb to an MSI SLI board (pay differencein cost of course) going through MSI directly... The K8N Ultra has a design flaw and I don't want to get the same board with the same flaw...

Is this an expensive board? You may want to just avoid the hassle and get an Epox SLI Ultra.

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: SnoMunke
Thanks for the comments...

I wonder if I can upgrade the mb to an MSI SLI board (pay differencein cost of course) going through MSI directly... The K8N Ultra has a design flaw and I don't want to get the same board with the same flaw...

Call them up and ask. I'm sure they will at least tell you they have fixed the battery issue, but they might be willing to upgrade your MB.
MSI support, while maybe a little slow, usually tries to take care of the customer.

 

[SnoMunke]

I paid about $140 (new) for the board (it's 7 months old)...the money is not THAT big of a deal...it just pissed me off there is design flaw of the board, and I have read many posts where people have RMA'd a board and got back a piece o' shiot (that's a French word by the way). I appreciate everyone's comments...will call up ol' MSI and see what they will do for me.

 

[Ricemarine]

MSI's RMA support is the sux0rs...

My board had all kinds of issues, and instead of replacing, they fixed it ... Course it still has a few kinks, but they fixed most of it... in 4 weeks.