Well the Mobo Stinks as of yet.

[Mavrick813]

Ok, I followed the suggestions here for my gaming build to a T, and Now I am regretting the Mobo choice. After the fact of purchasing everything I went over to the EVGA forums and noticed their is nothing but problems with the 680i Mobo. I crossed my fingers and hoped for the Best. Well I got the worst. I continuosly get a Code 25 Error on the Board. It means it can't find the vid card. I called EVGA last night and after an hour of trying both f my GTX in every possible config you can think of they decided to tell me to RMA it. I responded by taking te Board out of my system and starting that process. Only to find out that I have to pay shipping on an RMA for a Board I just paid shipping on to get in the first place. Ok, I am done venting.

Problem: I get a code 25 when I try to post, It stops me from getting anywhere, I haven't seen the Bios screen once. I have cleared the Cmos several times. But after the fact I got on google and found out that it may be because I use a PS/2 Keyboard. So, today I am going to put the board back in and try with a USB keyboard. I also had the Cmos battery out over night.

I am going to need a suggestion for a replacement board Cause I don't feel very comfortable with this one anymore and I don't think an RMA is going to cut it. Here is what I have, Any suggestons for a Replacement Mobo, I been Looking at the DFI boards.

TT Armor W/ 25CM Side fan
Silverstone Zues 850W PSU
E6600CPU
Zalman 9700
EVGA 680i Mobo
2 EVGA 8800 GTX
Crucial Balistix 2G Kit 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000)
2 WD 150 GB Raptors
2 500 GB Seagate Barracudas
1 Plextor 760A
Mitsumi 8-1 Floppy / Media Reader

Thanks
Mike

[Khalil]

This is why you are always better off going with an Asus motherboard. eVGA makes good video cards but they are new to making mobos I think.

[LeftyAce]

Agreed. ASUS P5B. I had the experience you're having with a DFI motherboard on my first build. Just rma'd it for an ASUS. And yes, they'll ding you for shipping :-(

[Mavrick813]

Will the Asus p5B be a direct replacement, allowing me to run all the hardware I have sitting here. Also, Will it fit well in this thermaltae Case with a Big Zalman 9700 hanging off it?

Ok, newegg has like four versions f the P5B, ca I get some clickies to the best Asus board for my Hardware config. $$$$ is not an issue.

Mike

[LeftyAce]

It should fit in the case just fine; that's an ATX case, right?

Was looking at the P5Bs on newegg; only 2 of them have dual PCIExpress slots, and as best I can tell, NEITHER supports SLI; both support ATI crossfire. I assume you've got 2 8800's with the intention of running sli?
Aside from that (major) problem, the only difference I see between this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131045
and this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131028
is that the second one has built in WiFi.

Can someone else suggest a reliable C2D Mobo with Sli support?

[Mavrick813]

Yeah definitely running twin 8800GTXs in SLI. Would really apreciate a Reliable Good OCing Mobo, I was told this EVGA board was the best but theirs 20+ pages of posts from people ready to start a class action against EVGA for this board I got.

I could use all the help I can get now...

What about this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131153

Mike

PS I forgot to mention this is a Vista 32 Bit build. I already have the OS as well. SOOOO

[arkiebuilder]

Originally Posted by Mavrick813 Yeah definitely running twin 8800GTXs in SLI. Would really apreciate a Reliable Good OCing Mobo, I was told this EVGA board was the best but theirs 20+ pages of posts from people ready to start a class action against EVGA for this board I got. I could use all the help I can get now... What about this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131153 Mike PS I forgot to mention this is a Vista 32 Bit build. I already have the OS as well. SOOOO

That is the mobo I built with but it has it's issues too! I'd do it again though. Good luck!

[Mr.Ferrari]

That eVGA mobo is made by Foxconn. As are all the other nvidia, bfg, motherboards. It does have some major issues...one of them being frying ram lol.

I think it might be a bios update issue, but if your getting a new board I would suggest the ASUS P5N32-E SLI.

The one with the 680i chipset, not 650i.

[chuck4456]

CODE 25 can also pop up as a result of a mismanaged overclock, or improper memory settings, on that particular board. I'm definitely not soap boxing an EVGA, but it would be a shame to see you go thru all of that RMAing, install another board, and have similar problems, simply because something wasn't dialed in correctly to begin with.

[Mr.Ferrari]

Also make sure you clear the cmos properly.

Meaning, unplug the 24pin and 4 pin connectors from your motherboard. Shut off the psu and take the power cord out.

Move the jumper/take the battery out.

And wait for atleast 30-45min.

[Mavrick813]

Hey,

Ok here is what i have tried thus far. last night I got the Error 25s for over an hour and EVGA couldn't help me they told me to RMA the board.

I too the board out last night and put it back in the box. I started googling the issue and found that their may be an issue from the ps/2 Keyboard that I was using causing the 25 error. I took the Mobo out of the box and took out the Cmos battery with the intention of trying it again today with a USB keyboard.

I put everything back together and tried again, this time I got - -. I called EVGA and the guy told me to clear the Cmos, I told him that i had just put the battery in about 5 minutes ago and that it had been out for 7 hours. He told me to do it again. So i did and low and behold I get another set of - -. At which point he tells me the board bricked itself and is Dead. It needs to be RMA.

I think took the board out of the box and tried an out of the box post with the bare minimum, HDD, 1 ram, Optical, 1 Vid card, CPU, and CPU cooler. Still got the - -. Worst thing is I can't RMA it cause I don't have the receipt for it.

Mike

[Mr.Ferrari]

According to the manual, code 25 has to do with your video cards bios. As a last ditch effort, if you have an extra PCI or PCIE card laying around..you could give it a try.

[andper10]

I would just try using one 8800GTX and see if you can get it running that way, and then add the second after you get Windows installed. Also make sure that you have the basic stuff done: heatsink on tight with a rice grain size of artic silver 5, extra 4 pin power connector plugged into the motherboard, and all power connectors plugged into the back of the video cards.

[Mr.Ferrari]

Originally Posted by Mavrick813 I think took the board out of the box and tried an out of the box post with the bare minimum, HDD, 1 ram, Optical, 1 Vid card, CPU, and CPU cooler.

Originally Posted by andper10 I would just try using one 8800GTX and see if you can get it running that way

[Mavrick813]

Yeah, I have exhausted all troubleshooting ideas. Only thing irritating me now is that i can't RMA it cause I don't have a Proof of Purchase. Oh well. Now I have to spend more money on a new board.

[glc]

Who did you buy the board from, and how long ago?

[Mavrick813]

I bought it from a little computer shop at a local flea market. About a week ago. It was all sealed and brand new, so I figured all was good. It even had the little stickers on the edge of the box that you have to rip off or cut in order to open it, and they were fine too. I didn't spend too much on it. but all in all I wish someone at EVGA would inform me of how to RMA a board that you didn't buy form an Online retailer.

Mike

[Khalil]

Did you try calling eVGA on the phone? I don't like handling any problems over emails. I like to call and talk to a human and have them get it handled. It works much better than emailing them.
If that dont work or if you dont feel like calling them, go up to that shop you bought it from and tell them what is going on. At least they can test it and make sure it is working or they may RMA it for you. If you paid with a credit card then you are in good shape, the credit card company can help you as well.
If you paid cash and have no reciept then you are probably at the mercy of the local shop owner. From my experience local shop owners are cool and for the most part alot more helpful than online shops.
eVGA toll free number 888.881.EVGA (3842)
Good luck

[Mavrick813]

Paid cash, No receipt and the Local shop guy says that I have to RMA it through EVGA. EVGA says I need a Proof of purchase. Local guy says he doesn't have the ability to print me another receipt. I lost the receipt, or misplaced it or something so i don't know what to do. It's not that big of a deal. I should have known something was going to be wrong with it when i got it. I didn't pay much for it, but since it was all sealed up i took a gamble. Learned a lesson the hard way. But I do know that I won't be gambling on another one of these boards if EVGA can't even help me out with figuring out how to RMA this board. I mean I have all the packaging all the wring everything is here. All their books. it's definitely theirs. But it seems I get no help from them. And when i call about an issue i'm having with it they tell me to RMA it, When I ask how do i RMA it when i don't have a reciept, they say i have to talk to the MA dept that opens tomorrow, but they doubt their is anything that they can do about it... Only reason I picked it up from the store i did was because I figured if anything was wrong with it I would be able to RMA it. Guess i thought wrong.

Mike

[Khalil]

Originally Posted by Mavrick813 Paid cash, No receipt and the Local shop guy says that I have to RMA it through EVGA. EVGA says I need a Proof of purchase. Local guy says he doesn't have the ability to print me another receipt. I lost the receipt, or misplaced it or something so i don't know what to do. It's not that big of a deal. I should have known something was going to be wrong with it when i got it. I didn't pay much for it, but since it was all sealed up i took a gamble. Learned a lesson the hard way. But I do know that I won't be gambling on another one of these boards if EVGA can't even help me out with figuring out how to RMA this board. I mean I have all the packaging all the wring everything is here. All their books. it's definitely theirs. But it seems I get no help from them. And when i call about an issue i'm having with it they tell me to RMA it, When I ask how do i RMA it when i don't have a reciept, they say i have to talk to the MA dept that opens tomorrow, but they doubt their is anything that they can do about it... Only reason I picked it up from the store i did was because I figured if anything was wrong with it I would be able to RMA it. Guess i thought wrong. Mike

Hey Mike, the local shop owner is required by law to keep sales reciepts for 7 years.
Go back to the shop and ask to speak to the owner.
If the owner won't comply, conatct the department of revenue in your state, make sure and let the owner know that you intend to do so if he does not give you a reciept or refund you.
You would need to report him because if he wont help you then he is a dirtbag and deserves to get the heat.

[Mavrick813]

Oh he's got heat coming I got a hold of him. Hhere's what he tells me. He ordered 3 of them from Tiger Direct, They were left on his porch so he called tiger and claimed he never got them, He got 3 more sent to him so he was selling the first 3 for $180 each. He told me to bring the board back and he'll exchange it for one of the other ones. But he didn't want to give me the invoice cause he dont' want anyone to be able to trail it back to him if I register it. I was like No way what is the point in having the board for $180 if I can't register it? I want my $$ back.. He said to bring the board back with everything and he'll give me my $.

Well lesson learned. when the price is too good to be true, then it must not be.

Mike

[Khalil]

Originally Posted by Mavrick813 Oh he's got heat coming I got a hold of him. Hhere's what he tells me. He ordered 3 of them from Tiger Direct, They were left on his porch so he called tiger and claimed he never got them, He got 3 more sent to him so he was selling the first 3 for $180 each. He told me to bring the board back and he'll exchange it for one of the other ones. But he didn't want to give me the invoice cause he dont' want anyone to be able to trail it back to him if I register it. I was like No way what is the point in having the board for $180 if I can't register it? I want my $$ back.. He said to bring the board back with everything and he'll give me my $. Well lesson learned. when the price is too good to be true, then it must not be. Mike

This guy is a true scumbag, if you send me his name in a PM I know one of the top execs at Tigerdirect I will make sure he can never buy from them again.

[Caddywompus81]

Mavrick:

Another question for you. Did you update the BIOS on the MB before doing anything else? I recently built a new machine with the exact motherboard and used a Flash drive to update the BIOS before I did ANYTHING else. Everything installed and posted without a hitch. I also found that checking memory compatability off their website was a large help in selecting the components. Sorry to hear about your troubles!

[LeftyAce]

But he didn't want to give me the invoice cause he dont' want anyone to be able to trail it back to him if I register it. I was like No way what is the point in having the board for $180 if I can't register it? I want my $$ back.. He said to bring the board back with everything and he'll give me my $.

Get your money back, then contact Tiger Direct and burn him. That's absolutely ridiculous.

[Mavrick813]

Caddy, I never even got to the bios with this board.

I sent Khalil everything I know about the guy in a PM, and am going to be getting in touch with people at Tiger as well as the office at the flea market. I went and got my $ back so that part is settled, all in all at leastIi learned the board is too buggy for my liking and I am giong to wait for the gigabyte 680i board to be available for purchase.

Thanks for all your help guys
Mike

[xbkzfineztx]

lol...i love the "burn em" response...yea thats not cool at all. His business sounds shady...Thats why I would only go with actualy established businesses or pc internet companies...AND ALWAYS GET A RECEIPT AND KEEP IT, thats the number one rule when shopping for pc parts...Hope all goes well...

[Mavrick813]

Well, I contacted EVGA to give them the S/N of the board I had and the guy i talked to said that I should call the RMA dept back in 3 1/2 hours and they may have something they can do about it. I called the Flea market place and they said as long as he pays his rent theirs nothign they can do about something like this. He doesn't need to prove anything to them. The Local PD said that if the claim that he put in to get the free stuff doesn't get investigated and resolved by the company, oh well. They had better things to do.

Mike

[glc]

Moral of the story - why the heck are you buying stuff at a flea market? That's worse than Ebay! I'd trust Tiger Direct before I'd trust those scumbags - and that's saying a lot.

If you want a 680i board, get the Asus.

[Mavrick813]

GLC, it wasn't so much the fleamarket. the guy runs his Computer shop out of a store front. The fleamarket is behind it. It's more like a strip mall with a Flea market run behind it.

Regardless: Good News.

I ended up getting another EVGA 680i board. Here's why.

I called Asus, (Pretending I had a Board and guess what? Couldn't get anyone on the phone to even attmpt to help me get it to POST)

Looked into Gigabyte and again same thing where's the tech support?

Ordered a New EVGA Board and upon install I was getting a wierd clicking sound from the PSU every time I turned on the power. (Now we know the PSU is good cause it's new, and it was fine with the first EVGA faulty Board.

Called EVGA talked to a tech told him my whole ordeal with my first board. and that I had ordered a New Board. Put it in and got some wierd clicking coming from the PSU when I tried to POST. The Guy told me I have a grounding fault somwhere. To take the Board out of the case and do an out of the case post, and if it works then their is something on the case screwing the grounding. With him on the phone talking to me about different issues I started taking the board out. I noticed their were a couple of things I wasn't sure on. IE: my Cases front panel Firewire connections, Intruder connection, and USB front panel connection. One by one the tech talked me through the wiring of these few things the Book isn't very clear on them. And Guess what??!?!? I posted, with both 8800 GTX's all 4 of my Hard drives, and opticals, floppy, Both ram chips! Cause of the Clicking and no power ? I had my USB front panels plugged in upside down! Woot to EVGA Tech Support. When theirs something they can do to get your board to post I will give them credit; They'll get you their. BUT if you get the - - Code. Don't even bother calling tech support call the RMA dept.

I'll be doing all my installs this evening, and what not. All I did last night once I posted was shut it off and hit the sack.

Mike

[glc]

This is why we have sticky threads............

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409