I need to say that this computer project is in the trash. For a month and a half I have been dealing with ASUS Tech support, there is got to be a way to get this computer working. I for one need to say that ASUS needs to have a satisfaction quality standard.
My first problem with ASUS started as a BIOS Issue. They suggested that I send it in because it could be a physical voltage issue. When I said that I know its a BIOS issue, they argued with me. After loosing this argument, because the woman said that she would only allow an RMA, I sent it in. Load and behold, my argument was correct, because the cause for error was a faulty BIOS. It turned out that the BIOS that was issued on the chip was removed from their download list and the reason that it was a very unstable BIOS.
My second problem with ASUS was their system of communication. In using my computer and then turning it off to go to work, it decided to not turn back on. If you must go specific, I would not go to a status screen or post a screen at all. After trying to troubleshoot this motherboard, it came down to a possible issue with parts. I again thought of BIOS. There was no way in know if a new bios chip would work, I asked anyways. I asked them if they could get me a new BIOS chip. After some inspection on the board and reading the chip was in fact removable. I called up ASUS and asked to send me a BIOS. Well the answer was no, they said that the chip was not removable and that it needs to come in. Well I knew better, I spoke with another representative. She listened and said it sound like it was a removable chip. She put me in touch with the right people. It turned out that tech support was not up to date on specifics on the board. In a few days I got my chip.
But getting that chip led to my road to madness. Because the BIOS chip did not work. So I need to test part and there was no way for me to test out part with my friends, because they don’t have the required sockets for the processor and don’t have the same memory as me. My only option was to send all core system parts to their respective manufacture. To make a long story short, I never found out what is wrong with the board. They did however replaced it and I discovered before I sent it, that the board did have a defect. It had a slight bend in the board, this is quite uncommon. I am surprised that the board itself would even turn on. My theory is that the heat from the capacitors, warped the copper insert in the board that was created for cooling. I will never know.
My third problem is that the new board that they sent was dead on arrival (DOA). This proposed a problem, which was that I need a platform to do my side job, which is web design. I now ensured that I will have a working system, I bought a motherboard from Amazon.com, MSI K9A2 Platinum. ASUS should send me out a motherboard ASP and I hope the ASUS board works because that save me a 400 in total cost on a motherboard. If it does work, I do plan on returning the MSI board back.
For my next purchase, its might be a Apple notebook, I need to insure that I always have a working machine. I am for sure getting tired of windows based systems and like the simple nature of Mac OSX.