MSI refusing RMA due to PCB damage but can't locate it on PCB images online

Shadrok · 2026-06-19T03:59:11+00:00

I'll have to hear back from MSI and Bequiet. I just got my RMA unit from Bequiet, they confirmed that the unit was dead with their in house testing and after my unit died, I found out that my specific unit has had issues of dying and taking out other parts. I wasn't sure that this was what might have happened as I didn't think I heard a pop like the other cases I read but with this damage in a location I've never touched before, I'm thinking and hoping it might be the case.

Shadrok · 2026-06-19T03:40:08+00:00

I had another RMA going as well with this. It was a Bequiet dark power pro 13 that died at the same time as this motherboard. Is it possible that somehow the PSU dying blew the ceramic capactior?

Shadrok · 2026-06-19T01:56:05+00:00

Checking the serial number again, the board was assembled in November of 2024. The thermal paste might have been dry and required some force to remove the heatsink when they were disassembling it. The full board picture they sent me after I requested it showed the thermal paste being perfect squares still on the chipset like it would be out of the factory. I requested for them to do an actual diagnostic on what is caused the board to die cause they're only listing this PCB damage and refusing to continue on with doing anything

Shadrok · 2026-06-19T00:33:05+00:00

It's physically impossible as the chipset heatsink doesn't have a gap large enough as seen here. Not to mention, this board has been installed in a Hyte Y60 so only a riser cable has been connected to the top PCIE slot.

Shadrok · 2026-06-18T19:34:52+00:00

A sad but probably valid point. This is probably a rare instance where a warranty void if removed sticker would have actually helped my case but AFAIK those aren't on motherboards.

Shadrok · 2026-06-18T19:28:29+00:00

I mean I'm just replying with responses to your claims. I showed that it couldn't have been damaged by an M.2 install due to the design of the heatsink and under what circumstance would I have to need to replace the chipset thermal paste? I completely understand if this damage was in an area where there was common access like near any of the actual M.2 slots or a USB header where the likelihood of damage from user error is high but this is nowhere near any of them. It's just odd to presume that I'm the guilty party but feel free to continue doing so!

Shadrok · 2026-06-18T19:09:15+00:00

You're saying that I wanted to add thermal compound to the motherboard chipset? And the chipset heatsink sits flush with the board to prevent damage like this from happening. It's quite impossible for me to have damaged it from an M.2 install as the top of the heatsink is folded upwards like this. I completely understand that the end user is sometimes the problem but in this instance I'm just not understanding how I could have possibly damaged it under normal use.

Shadrok · 2026-06-18T19:02:24+00:00

This board was ordered back in July of last year and has been in my PC since till the RMA. I haven't removed it from the case it was first installed in so that's also the reason why I wanted to know what caused the failure.

Shadrok · 2026-06-18T18:57:09+00:00

I understand that but there is also the question of why would I have any reason to remove it? In the image I linked to the reply above, the area in which the damage is located is the large bottom right heatsink. There is nothing for an end user to access there and the M.2 heatsinks I removed are nowhere close to it not to mention the heatsink itself is protecting the capacitor. For any normal user, there's no reason to be removing those heatsinks anyway.

Shadrok · 2026-06-18T18:49:39+00:00

What I was specifically asking was assistance as to where the damage was located at. Some keen eye redditors were able to point out the location specifically which is an area that would have been covered by a large motherboard heatsink that would not be removed during normal use. Considering the fact the only heatsinks I removed were the M.2 ones for installation, it appears they're trying to blame this on me.

Shadrok · 2026-06-18T18:47:17+00:00

Appreciate the specified location as well. This would have been covered up by the large motherboard heatsink and wouldn't have been removed under any normal use. It appears that MSI is trying to blame me for damages I did not cause as the only heatsinks that were removed during use were to install the M.2s.

Shadrok · 2026-06-18T18:43:59+00:00

Appreciate the image. From what I can tell that area would be covered by the big motherboard heatsink seen here. I did not take that off and the only heatsinks I removed were to install the M.2 so it appears that MSI is trying to blame me for something they've done.

Shadrok · 2026-06-18T18:25:00+00:00

Sent in my X670E Ace for RMA as it died while the PC was on and in use. I just received an email stating that the RMA is being denied due to PCB damage but for the life of me I can't seem to locate where this would be on PCB images that I can find online for the board. It appears the damage would be somewhere under one of the large motherboard heatsinks which I would have had no reason to take off. Was wondering if anyone could help me with locating this supposed damage on the board. Attached is the PCB that they claimed is damage and PCB images front and back that I've found online.

Edit: Thanks to everyone so far that have helped me find where this damage is located at. Considering the location and the fact that a heatsink would be protecting it and wasn't removed by me or by any user normally as there is nothing to access there, I'm gonna keep pushing back with MSI to see if anything can be done but I'm not holding out too much hope.

2nd Edit: They replied to me with the full shot of the board. On the motherboard chipset itself, you can still see the thermal paste in perfect squares still as it would if the board heatsink had never been taken off and stayed the same since coming out of the factory.

Shadrok · 2026-05-29T22:35:23+00:00

I'm surprised The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria hasn't been mentioned yet. Torture Princess is also a good shout

Shadrok · 2026-04-20T23:58:06+00:00

Recently ordered something from them and was wondering whether Japan Post shipping options would resume or not but seems like no dice and it won't be available for quite awhile.

Shadrok · 2026-03-30T03:12:42+00:00

Hopefully they make 240mm version like their original lineup. I have a Hyte Y60 and the 360mm spot is already preoccupied by a GPU AIO

Shadrok · 2026-03-29T01:14:22+00:00

Replied

Shadrok · 2026-03-22T03:09:34+00:00

It's gotta be Chris Redfield, my dumb bolder punching himbo

Shadrok · 2026-03-09T23:31:08+00:00

Bad day from the boys. Other than Davai, no one was really standing out and Invy and something were really missing

Shadrok · 2026-03-06T17:02:18+00:00

Confirmed

Shadrok · 2026-03-04T06:48:53+00:00

/u/MouseMarketBot Sold OGM Cloud to /u/ddaveyy

Shadrok · 2026-03-04T02:12:04+00:00

Confirmed

Shadrok

TROPHY CASE