Quote Originally Posted by Coolbreeze View Post
I posted the original message in this thread. Since I posted the message I've been through 3 further Rampage III Extreme boards for a total of 4 boards and all of them have malfunctioned!. The first 3 boards were connected to a PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 1KW-SR 1000 watt PSU. I came to the conclusion that the PSU is defective and that's what is frying the boards. So I sent the PSU back to the manufacturer RMA and they sent me a refurbished one. The PC Power & Cooling technician that I talked to on the phone told me that they would test the unit that I returned to them and when I called a few days later to find out if the unit had tested defective they told me that the unit tested OK, There was nothing wrong with it. I still had suspicions about that PSU, Perhaps there was a incompatibility between this PSU and the motherboard because the Turbo-Cool 1KW-SR PSU is a 4 year old design . So I decided to buy a brand new Corsair HX1000 PSU which is on the Asus Qualified Vendors List (QVL) for 500 watt power supply and above that have been tested by Asus to work with this board, which is in the reference section in the back of the motherboard manual, Page A5.
I Paid $250 for it, but if it solves my problem I'll just keep going and not look back. When I got the 4th RMA RIIIE it tested ok outside and inside the case so I thought "At last, I've found the problem . So I just went ahead and started completing my build however I decided to power up just before I finished to make sure that everything installed so far was working properly and when I did NOTHING happened. The board wouldn't POST. i got the red light on the power on button on the board and the reset button light and in the back of the board in the I/O panel, the reset button light back there came on and on the bottom of the board the LED for the 1st BIOS came on after about 10 seconds. but no power to the CPU or fans so I'm sitting there scratching my heard trying to figure out what is wrong now. I decided that it must be the CPU although I really doubted that, I decided to RMA the CPU, an Intel I7 930 and try another one and when I got the replacement and tried it still nothing. I can't think of what else to try next.
I've tried 3 different PSU's two different CPU's. I only bench test with 1 memory module installed in the red socket closet to the CPU socket and both EPS12V power CPU Power lead connected and both EZ Molex plugs connected. I decided to send the board back to Asus in Fremont CA and let them figure out what is wrong with this motherboard. I didn't want another replacement, I just told them figure out what's wrong with the motherboard and send it back to me when it's fixed or send me a check for $429.00. The price I paid for it from Newegg.com. I have built many computers over the 15 years that I've been doing this but I have never had so many problems with a motherboard than I've had with this one. I'm a CompTIA A+ certified IT Technician but I'm stumped with this one. I'm about ready to pull the trigger on a EVGA Classified 3 way. I wish I didn't have to spend the extra money but I've already spent an extra $300 on top of what I paid for it just trying to get the Rampage III Extreme to work to no avail. Anybody got any ideas PLEASE let me know.
I have the board working fine in the Corsair case with both the PC Power & Cooling unit and the HX1000. Based on your description and that of your post at the ASUS forum talking about smoke or sparks I would venture to say that board is shorting out against something in the case. PM me your RMA case number and I will have someone contact you shortly about it.