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AMD RMA

teppic

teppic

teppic

Soldato
Joined
25 Jun 2013
Posts
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Location
Warks
I've got to return a new processor to AMD, since the retailer (not ocuk) refuses to accept there's a problem and has returned it to me at a £24 charge.

AMD's given me an address in the Netherlands. Does anybody know if there's a UK alternative, or what's the cheapest way to get it sent out? Thankfully as it's just a CPU, it'll fit in a jiffy bag.
 
I couldn't get it to work with 2133MHz RAM trying two different branded boards and several different RAM sticks. I sent it back, and they got it working on one board with one set of RAM and said it proved it wasn't faulty, and it was my responsibility to make sure the components were compatible. AMD on the other hand said it should work fine, and so I should return it to them.
 
Nope, but the PSU ran all the boards and memory fine at 1866MHz (and all the memory worked fine at 2133MHz on another system). I told the retailer this, but they said I was using incompatible components.

AMD said that the processor (A10-6800K) fully supports 2133MHz, so if the RAM's fine and the boards are fine, to return the APU.
 
ASRock A85X and Asus F2A85-M. The RAM compatibility list is always really short, but ASRock told me they'd previously tested the Patriot Viper 2133MHz I used and it was fine -- they said there could be a problem with the memory controller in the APU. People have used loads of RAM types up to 2400MHz with the APUs without any issue.

The worst that'll happen is AMD will return it to me tested as not faulty, they said there's no charge to return it to me. I don't want the APU if it's got a faulty memory controller though.
 
Martini1991 said:
Supporting and running 2133MHZ are two different things.

It wasn't until Thuban that AMD could run 1600MHZ RAM stable without any issues.
Could just have a trash IMC.
Click to expand...

In this instance AMD sounds confident it'll work at 2133MHz, as they recommend it for best performance in their official product info. Most of the reviews show benchmarks with 2400MHz too, even though it's an overclock. None of the ones I've seen mention any problems above 1600MHz.
 
d_brennen said:
If you can run at 1866MHz with slightly tighter timings, you'll likely see better performance than at 2133mhz anyway.
Click to expand...

Normally, yeah. But with the IGP the higher memory speed increases GPU performance quite a bit. 2133MHz memory and an overclock seems to give about +30% gaming performance over 1600MHz/stock.

I did try running the 2133MHz with looser timings, but still couldn't post at all.
 
That's going on review benchmarks. I don't have them to hand and I'm just heading out - but you get about +15-20% with a reasonable overclock and on top about +10-15% with 2133MHz memory.
 
The Asus is a pretty high end FM2 board. The APU itself would overclock easily - up to 4.8GHz without even trying, and the IGP would do something like 800MHz to 1000MHz, that seems in line with the Richland 6800Ks in general.

Thing is I could have returned my Patriot 2133MHz C11 for Patriot 2400MHz C10 if it'd worked - I just didn't want to be returning boards and memory left right and centre. There's obviously not much chance this one will run at 2400MHz, given it won't post at 2133MHz.

(Just found one benchmark for the 6800K - Left 4 Dead 2: at stock clock and 1600MHz RAM, 61fps. At stock clock and 2133MHz RAM, 72fps. At a 4.7GHz overclock and 1600MHz RAM, 70fps. Annoyingly it doesn't have both combined, but I'd guess 80fps+ as there's no reason they wouldn't combine)
 
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Yeah, I tried three sets, different types. They all ran on my other systems at 2133MHz with no problem. The Patriot Viper will run at 2400MHz even with extra voltage.
 
Martini1991 said:
Try throwing some more volts at the IMC/CPU Northbridge.
Click to expand...

The problem is I've no longer got a board :) I thought I'd get a refund on the APU and wasn't expecting it back. They refused even to restock it at a charge, despite it being in immaculate condition and with the cooler never used.

I've spent so much time trying to get it working - two boards, three sets of RAM, loads of different settings, that I think I'll send it off to AMD, as that's what their tech support said to do. If they find a fault, I'm going to insist on the charges the retailer made be refunded, then I will either get another FM2 board or sell the APU.
 
I raised the RMA about 2 days after the DSR period, as I was initially using 1600MHz RAM and thought it was fine. They flatly refused to refund or restock it (even at a fee), and wouldn't send it back to me until I paid them £20 + VAT.

If AMD finds a fault, then the retailer will be breaking the law by charging me those fees and not refunding them, and given how they've been I wouldn't back down on principle.
 
humbug said:
The A10-6800K is indeed rated to 2400Mhz RAM, no reason why it should not run the memory at that speed.

Sounds like they are fobbing you off with the proverbial "incompatible story"
Did you ask them what RAM they used to test at 2133 Mhz?
Click to expand...

It may be that the memory controller is under performing or something. I exchanged a few emails with AMD tech support on it before raising the warranty RMA. The APU is only guaranteed to 2133MHz, but loads of people run it at 2400MHz fine.

MrMarvelous said:
Thought this would be under DRS with no quibbles?
Click to expand...

I was about two days past the DSR - and I told the company this was because I was testing with a second board, which I'd had to order. They didn't care though, the answer was 'what do you expect us to do with a used part returned to us after the DSR?'.
 
MrMarvelous said:
Understandable on their part i'm sorry to say. Saves them getting messed about by potentially unscrupulous buyers.

All I can say is try and contact AMD directly and tell them the situation. If that fails get rid on here or eBay and get another one?
Click to expand...

Well, many companies would offer to take it back within a month if the customer reports a fault. Not sure two days makes a huge difference ultimately.

As I've said, I've already contacted AMD.
 
-VK- said:
@ Teppic - Feel free to message me through TRUST if you have any troubles, I'll see what I can do.
Click to expand...

Cheers. I posted it off to the Netherlands address a couple of days ago so I'll wait to see what happens next with the RMA.
 
Normally you'd just deal with the retailer rather than AMD directly though.

They said I'd get an email to say if it passes visual inspection (basically that the pins are straight) and then another email a couple of days later to say if it's found faulty or not, and if faulty they'll send out a new boxed replacement.

I'll post what happens - hopefully I'll know this coming week.
 
It looks like AMD has lost my CPU - sent it 20 days ago and today got a message saying I still need to send it.
 
I sent it by Royal Mail tracked, but that only tracks it until it arrives in the other country - it's confirmed it arrived in the Netherlands.
 
No, that's only for the UK. I sent it by airmail signed for, but I don't know if the Dutch mail service has lost it or AMD, as the tracking doesn't say it's been signed for or not.
 
The CPU cost me £115, the cowboy Bolton company charged me £24 to return it, and I paid £9 to post it to the Netherlands.

I dunno if AMD will send a replacement in the case of it getting lost. I know some companies like Logitech would. £50 insurance would leave me £100 down with nothing to show for it.
 
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