How to RMA a Thunderbird

[dgk]

Well, I killed my 900. Tried to put on a new heatsink and somehow managed to chip it. Appears to be dead. I replaced it with a 1.2(200). Fried that one but the nice vendor (MSL Computers in Flushing NY) replaced it even though it was my fault. Well, sort of.

Anyway, I can't find anywhere on the AMD website to do an RMA. It is a boxed one. Anyone know how to proceed?

And do I get some sort of negative award for killing two TBs in one weekend?

Where is that guy with the Duron that won't die...

And I guess that I'll have to change my signature.

[donnie]

I have a boxed T-Bird with a three year warranty on it and I got a book in the box with it. Reading the warranty from the way I read it and understand it is they don't cover damage due to improper installation. I would still try to get it RMAed. the phone # is (408)749-2639. You have to have(1) your name,address,and telephone number;(2) proof of purchase;(3)a discription of the computer system including the brand and model; and(4)an explanation of the problem. The customer Service Representative may need additional information from you depending on the problem.
That is from the book I got in my boxed 1333/266 cpu. I hope this helps and they give you another one.

[Aman99]

dgk (Apr 11, 2001 01:27 p.m.):
Well, I killed my 900. Tried to put on a new heatsink and somehow managed to chip it. Appears to be dead. I replaced it with a 1.2(200). Fried that one but the nice vendor (MSL Computers in Flushing NY) replaced it even though it was my fault. Well, sort of.

Anyway, I can't find anywhere on the AMD website to do an RMA. It is a boxed one. Anyone know how to proceed?

And do I get some sort of negative award for killing two TBs in one weekend?

Where is that guy with the Duron that won't die...

And I guess that I'll have to change my signature.

Its not hard to kill thunderbirds and durons, I killed 2 thunderbird 1 ghz CPU's because of a bad fan that wasn't touching the CPU, and I also killed a Duron when installing a peltier.

The key is, if you don't really know how to install a fan, or don't have a fan that is recommended by AMD, then you might should get one.

What fan have you been using?

Aaron

[dgk]

Let's see. I used the stock fan for a few weeks, then switched to a SuperOrb. I know, it isn't the best. That worked until I got a PEP66 at the PC fair last weekend. Removing the Orb or installing the PEP killed the TB900. Or maybe it was spreading AS2 a bit too widely. Who knows, but it is chipped now and won't boot.

After installing the 1.2, the PEP66 wasn't doing a great job cooling. I tried a few things but probably wasn't using enough AS2. Finally gave the old SuperOrb a chance. Watched in the bios as the temperature slowly climbed from 35 to 55. Then stopped there. I thought it was working out ok.

Then I tried to get out of the BIOS and realized that it had stopped climbing because the machine was frozen. Hmm. Perhaps frozen is the wrong term. Yes, FRIED is the right term. The one place where the artic silver actually did touch the CPU, the AS burned to yellow. I probably had it on backwards.

Went back to the PC Fair (it was a 2 dayer). MSL took it right back. I really love those guys. Most of the vendors at the fairs are good, but MSL seems to be a shake above. Not the cheapest, but it pays to get from someone reliable.

That's my sad story. I did call the RMA guys and have arranged to send back the 900. Did you know that the serial number that they ask for is the one on the FAN? Good think I hung on to it.

[SharkyTM]

dude, read about the number of people who have destroyed socket A's wit the orbs.... THEY LOOK GREAT< BUT SUCK>>>>>>>> no real cooling power, and a problematic installation...................................... .............

GET AN ALPHA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SharkyTM

[Da Whip]

Get an Alpha and what, chip another chip!! The clip on the alphas suck donkey D|(K.

[asmodean]

Da Whip (Apr 11, 2001 10:13 p.m.):
Get an Alpha and what, chip another chip!! The clip on the alphas suck donkey D|(K.

Hey! Don't mock my Alpha! Admittedly, the clip DOES suck more than that, but after taking it off a couple of times, it get's easier and easier. I haven't chipped my tbird (yet), because I'm using a shimm.

Concerning that ArcticSilver2, I think you can dip the processor in it and the chip still works. I'd advice against it, though.

[dgk]

No, the Alpha clip does suck. Actually the TBird (oops, later correction, Superorb) isn't too bad because you can easily slip a thin screwdriver behind it so you can push out while you press down.

The problem is the lip of plastic. It is sufficient just to have it go straight out. The extra hanging lip that forces you to press it down hard is bull****.

I know this because I managed to chip off a piece of it while getting the Alpha off. The HSF is still anchored fine and comes off much easier because the F**ING lip isn't there anymore.

But I think I will just get a SwifTech that uses the 4 holes. It is tax return time after all. Whole thing together with rheostat is $100! Hey, so I don't eat for a week. I can stand to lose a few pounds. Or kg or whatever.

[Kev]

I just got my A7M266 And Tbird 1.33 Today... Sad to say, it didn't work out... Using Crucial 256DDR Ram... I used a Alpha PEP66 HSF. And AS2. The voltages were at Default from the ram and CPU. Turned it on with only 1 HDD connected, and Video card. Posted, Beeped. Got into Bios. Locked up. Shut it down, turned it on agian. No Post, Beep, Anything. Smelled something burning, Electrical. The computer was only on the first time for 5-10 seconds. Took off the HSF. Nothing was chipped, damaged. But had Black Spots underneith. What did I do wrong? Could I have used too much AS2? I thought this stuff was non-conductive. A little did spill over off of the Metal Piece in the middle, I believe the Die. I then tried cleaning it up with some alcohol, and tried agian. Still no go. Can a 250W Power Supply Fry Chips?

[dgk]

Kev (Apr 12, 2001 07:05 p.m.):
I just got my A7M266 And Tbird 1.33 Today... Sad to say, it didn't work out... Using Crucial 256DDR Ram... I used a Alpha PEP66 HSF. And AS2. The voltages were at Default from the ram and CPU. Turned it on with only 1 HDD connected, and Video card. Posted, Beeped. Got into Bios. Locked up. Shut it down, turned it on agian. No Post, Beep, Anything. Smelled something burning, Electrical. The computer was only on the first time for 5-10 seconds. Took off the HSF. Nothing was chipped, damaged. But had Black Spots underneith. What did I do wrong? Could I have used too much AS2? I thought this stuff was non-conductive. A little did spill over off of the Metal Piece in the middle, I believe the Die. I then tried cleaning it up with some alcohol, and tried agian. Still no go. Can a 250W Power Supply Fry Chips?

That is just the right amount of time to fry a tbird. I got into the bios and watched temps climb and it took maybe 10 seconds. It rockets up once you pass 55C.

At work we have Flux Remover (radio shack I'm sure) and that cleans a chip beautifully. AS website recommends dish washing liquid for the ceramic part followed by alcohol or nail polish remover. (double check that at articsilver.com but I think I have that right).

100 watts is plenty to fry a CPU, 250 is more than enough.

Did the artic silver from the die leave a rectangle on the heatsink? If it didn't, it wasn't touching. Also, you did line up the small and large step correctly? The big one has to be over the raised end of the socket and the small one over the lever, otherwise it won't sit on the die.

Hee hee, I kill two cpus in one weekend and I'm giving advice.