Beer + Computer = Bad Day , Is my Motherboard RMA'able?

[Huddo93]

Hi guys,

Something very unfortunate happened to me the other day. One of my mates spilt his beer into the top of my computer and has happened to fry to what I know to be my graphics card (completely) and might be giving some grief to my motherboard.

So I pulled apart the computer, and let it dry for a day for it to dry. Most of the beer hit the GPU and its dead for sure. So I've put in a older GPU (which I know works) and I can hear the computer booting up (Windows Loading Noises) but I cant get any video through any of the PCI lanes using a range of different older GPU's that I have lying around. On top of this the on board video works fine and my computer seems to be 100% functional as I'm using it to post this thread.

So I'm guessing all my PCI lanes have been screwed over in the accident. Is this sort of problem RMA'able or will I just be wasting my time? If this sort of problem isn't covered by RMA I guess ill just bite the bullet and buy another motherboard.

I'm unsure what else could be causing problems to just my graphics card, other than my PSU, which seems to be working for all other components in my system.

Any advice on the RMA / Problem solving for what could be causing my GPU issue would be much appreciated.

Thanks Guys!

[Laurijan]

If you RMA and tell them how it happens I am 100% sure they would refuse RMA. If the mobo looks normal and you tell them it simply quit working RMA is possible.

Do you or our beer spilling friend have home insurance?

[lilhasselhoffer]

1) Do not mention beer in the RMA!

But beyond that, I have two questions.
Do the other PCI-e slots still work?
Have you cleaned the motherboard fully, with something like isopropyl alcohol?

The first question determines if the chip bridging the PCI-e x16 slots has been fried. If this is the case, then an RMA is in order. Just make sure to clean!
The second part is to make sure no gunk is connecting leads in the connector. Bridged traces are a definite problem. From what I've heard (hmmh...vegemite...hmhmm) "good" Australian beer can be chewy, which may be leaving residue.

[Huddo93]

I've cleaned the motherboard with Methylated Spirits in the places where the beer had been spilt. Ill give the motherboard another good inspection to see if I missed anything.

And it seems non of the PCIe lanes, Not even the PCIe x1 which I use for a wireless card works.

So it seems a RMA will be in order. Has anyone had any experience with asRock and there RMA process?

[techtard]

Try to use some isorprpyl or other alcohol and a toothbrush and clean the contacts inside the pcie slots.
Good luck.

[Laurijan]

Before you RMA make sure no beer residue is visible. If you or your friend had home insurance you could get money for both mobo and gpu.

[lilhasselhoffer]

Originally Posted by Huddo93

I've cleaned the motherboard with Methylated Spirits in the places where the beer had been spilt. Ill give the motherboard another good inspection to see if I missed anything.

And it seems non of the PCIe lanes, Not even the PCIe x1 which I use for a wireless card works.

So it seems a RMA will be in order. Has anyone had any experience with asRock and there RMA process?

He he he.

In the US it was...interesting. I spoke with an AsRock representative, and got an RMA number in about 2 days. 3 days to ship to Asrock. 5 days for them to inspect it. Finally, 5 mores days to ship it. 2 weeks and a day from starting the process before I got my replacement. Mind you, my failure was a RAM slot, that wasn't my fault.

They might offer cross shipping, but they'll put a hold on your credit card for the value of the board, until they get their board back.

Despite all this, it was less painful than a Gigabyte RMA. Just sayin'...

[plywood99]

Here's a novel idea, why not have your "mate" pay for the damages he did and quit trying to stroke a Asrock?

[lilhasselhoffer]

Originally Posted by plywood99

Here's a novel idea, why not have your "mate" pay for the damages he did and quit trying to stroke a Asrock?

Here's a more novel idea. An RMA can be used for more than just "free" repair. If you read the RMA terms they suggest that non-manufacturing damages can be repaired should they be found. The consumer will be responsible for the cost of these repairs.

So you were obviously thinking that we want to abuse the system, but it isn't the case. Perhaps before you jump to conclusions you can adequately determine the situation?

[Yo_Wattup]

Accidents happen, plywood. If it were me Id make a working computer out of the motherboard (so onboard video) and some random crappy parts and sell it to some noob on eBay... keep everything else. You might make 400$ which is enough for a mobo, but it depends what spare parts you have.

[M.Beier]

Home insurance should handle it.

[Huddo93]

Originally Posted by lilhasselhoffer

Here's a more novel idea. An RMA can be used for more than just "free" repair. If you read the RMA terms they suggest that non-manufacturing damages can be repaired should they be found. The consumer will be responsible for the cost of these repairs.

So you were obviously thinking that we want to abuse the system, but it isn't the case. Perhaps before you jump to conclusions you can adequately determine the situation?

Correct, even if it was a repair and some cost was implied. It would still be less than having to fork out for a completely new motherboard.

Originally Posted by M.Beier

Home insurance should handle it.

unfortunately no

Originally Posted by plywood99

Here's a novel idea, why not have your "mate" pay for the damages he did and quit trying to stroke a Asrock?

My mate (who happens to be a good a very good friend thank you very much) will take any charges that are implied in the accident, but just because he will pay doesn't mean I want to have it cost anymore than it should.

Originally Posted by Yo_Wattup

Accidents happen, plywood. If it were me Id make a working computer out of the motherboard (so onboard video) and some random crappy parts and sell it to some noob on eBay... keep everything else. You might make 400$ which is enough for a mobo, but it depends what spare parts you have.

Unfortunately I dont have enough spare parts for a make shift sandy bridge build

Also,

I did look into asRock's RMA process, it seems the only way is via America. Considering I live in Australia that is quiet a burden.

Considering just replacing the motherboard with a Z77 Extreme 6 $200 or Possibly a ASUS Z77 Deluxe $300

Going to send a few emails to asRock to find out more before I decide to make any purchases though.

Thanks for all the feedback so far! has been very helpful

[lilhasselhoffer]

Originally Posted by Huddo93

I did look into asRock's RMA process, it seems the only way is via America. Considering I live in Australia that is quiet a burden.

Considering just replacing the motherboard with a Z77 Extreme 6 $200 or Possibly a ASUS Z77 Deluxe $300

Going to send a few emails to asRock to find out more before I decide to make any purchases though.

Thanks for all the feedback so far! has been very helpful

stephanie@asrockamerica.com

This is the person who I talked to. While speed isn't exactly her thing, she always sends a decent response. Expect about 2~4 hours, on average, before you get a response.

Best of luck. I've still got the second extreme 3 gen 3 board (my RMA) from them, and it performs very well.

[Huddo93]

Originally Posted by lilhasselhoffer

stephanie@asrockamerica.com

This is the person who I talked to. While speed isn't exactly her thing, she always sends a decent response. Expect about 2~4 hours, on average, before you get a response.

Best of luck. I've still got the second extreme 3 gen 3 board (my RMA) from them, and it performs very well.

Thanks, ill let you know how it goes once I get a response.

[white phantom]

Originally Posted by Huddo93

Has anyone had any experience with asRock and there RMA process?

i have had a brief encounter, basically i had to gmail some dude who took ages to reply, then eventually when i told him im from scotland gave me another european dude to gmail.after trying to explain the problem numerous times they agreed to allow rma, HOWEVER, i had to pay the postage and packaging to and from their facility not knowing if they even would repair the board. This was around £60-£70 for me both ways shipping

[jpierce55]

Sugar is the big enemy in this case.

[Sasqui]

Older motherboards, ISA like 386 and 486 could be put through a dishwasher quite reliably. They must not make them like they used to with ROHS and shit. I'm sure the BIOS is probably more touchy as well.

[newtekie1]

You can still do that with modern boards. But the beer spilling while the computer was on could have fried the PCI-e switches on the board.

[Easy Rhino]

i dont think it is honest to try and rma the parts that were ruined by your friend. either your friend should help you buy replacement parts or you should replace them on your own. rma isnt for accidents like that and if everyone did it then rmaing would not exist.

[jsfitz54]

You could try this: http://www.polywater.com/typefd.html

Any brand electrical contact cleaner would help. You can find at auto parts or hardware stores as well as electrical supply houses.

http://www.ohmcheck.com/clean_connector.htm

[fullinfusion]

Pull the battery off the mobo and get the board to the sink. Run warm water over the entire board and use a small fine brush and clean the board. Make sure you have a few gallons of distilled water to rinse the board down and let it dry.

I've done it myself a number of times with out a problem

[jsfitz54]

Originally Posted by fullinfusion

pull the battery off the mobo

+1

[theonedub]

Originally Posted by lilhasselhoffer

Here's a more novel idea. An RMA can be used for more than just "free" repair. If you read the RMA terms they suggest that non-manufacturing damages can be repaired should they be found. The consumer will be responsible for the cost of these repairs.

So you were obviously thinking that we want to abuse the system, but it isn't the case. Perhaps before you jump to conclusions you can adequately determine the situation?

Originally Posted by lilhasselhoffer

1) Do not mention beer in the RMA!

If the two of you were really suggesting paying for non-manufacturing damages then there would be no reason to not tell them about the beer. By refusing to tell them that and suggesting to clean the board of any physical evidence it sure looks as if you are trying to pull one over on Asrock. It would be one hell of a coincidence that the board's failure was independent of the beer being poured in it.

[Laurijan]

Originally Posted by fullinfusion

Pull the battery off the mobo and get the board to the sink. Run warm water over the entire board and use a small fine brush and clean the board. Make sure you have a few gallons of distilled water to rinse the board down and let it dry.

I've done it myself a number of times with out a problem

Destilled water can be gotten from a gas station - battery water..

[fullinfusion]

Originally Posted by Laurijan

Destilled water can be gotten from a gas station - battery water..

Grocery store ect... as long as its distilled water