ASUS Rampage IV Formula LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Pros: -Looks great (red lights especially)
-Worked right away out of box
-Ton of features (that I'm yet to learn how to use, I'm a novice to OC)
-Fast (loading games is much faster)
-ASUS Customer Service is great
-ASUS RMA process was silky smooth and delivered far more than I expected (can you argue against a brand new mobo as a replacement, free of charge?)
-ASUS Rebate Center let me submit the rebate without the UPC code (I sent my mobo for RMA in the original box with UPC code and was going to miss the rebate deadline but ASUS let me submit it w/o the UPC code as a one-time courtesy)

Cons: -Can't use it as a workout mat

Other Thoughts: I left a negative review a month ago since my mobo didn't work (bent CPU sockets, caused by me during the CPU installation) and Newegg refused to RMA since it was a customer induced damage, so I had to RMA it to ASUS. I read a whole bunch of negative reviews and experiences people had with ASUS customer service and especially RMA process, so I was expecting the RMA to take a long time and receive a refurbished mobo with thermal paste smeared all over it that may not even work. Guess what! I received a brand spanking new mobo with stickers on it as I've just received it from Newegg! ASUS told me initially when I asked for RMA that it would cost around $120 to fix the bent CPU socket pins and I was willing to pay it just to put the whole thing behind me, but they sent me a new mobo for free!

I also read that other people waited a long time to receive the replacement mobo, but my RMA turnaround time was exactly what ASUS told me, 10 business days plus shipping time. Very fast, if you ask me! Lesson learned, do not trust everything you read on the internet.

It cleary says in the RMA instructions not to send any accessories or original box to a servicing center for RMA cause they will not be sent back (unless requested and paid for shipping back). I didn't read the instructions carefully enough and packaged my mobo into the original box that still had the UPC code on it. I realized I made this mistake once I started filling out the rebate form. I contacted ASUS and they let me submit the rebate without the UPC code as a one-time courtesy! I was 100% sure that I was going to lose $30 rebate, but ASUS came through for me. And they shipped me back my original box free of charge too!

I took the replacement mobo out of box and couldn't believe my eyes, the mobo was brand spanking new with factory stickers on it. Everything installed the first time, CPU, memory and video card were all working fine with the mobo. I will have to go to ASUS website and download updates, but that will be a fun thing to do.

I'm overwhelmed with all the OC options, but that is part of the fan with this mobo. Read the mobo specs before you buy memory or other parts, this is very important cause this is a high end mobo that requires quality parts! Don’t expect the old memory or heatsink to work with this mobo, do your research before you buy it.

Thanks you ASUS!

Pros: Looks great has lots of features if it worked.

Cons: I bench tested everything seemed to work when I put my computer set up the water cooling it would not post. I checked all my system RMA my video cards test of memory and replace the memory test of the CPU and then replace the CPU. Then I RMA the board and bench tested it. Had the same problem retested everything then took it to the shop. The shop tested everything and determined it was the motherboard again shop told me that they had several problems with this particular board.

Other Thoughts: Asus makes good boards I have never had a problem until this one I would not recommend this board for anyone I've talked to many others and found there's been lots of problems with this board if you get this board I hope you're one of the few that doesn't have any problems with it. I've gone with the Intel box DX 79 SR. Which has some of the best reviews I've found on the net.

Manufacturer Response:

Dear Valued Customer,

Sorry to hear that your unit would not post as soon as you puth your watter cooling on. Please make sure the heat sink on the CPU is not too tight as that somtimes causes no post. I hope you have received a replacement board and everything is working fine.

If you have any questions or comments you can email me again at cl-jeffrey@asus.com which I reside in the U.S

ASUS strives to meet and exceeds our customer expectations within our warranty policy.

Regards,

Jeffrey

Pros: 1) Laser (at 8200 dpi)
2) smooth movement, especially while gaming (BF3, Borderlands 2, etc.)
3) Asus Republic of Gamers (my build is ROG-themed
4)Red LED's look great!

Cons: Not really a con, but this product includes a mat/mousepad. Most people already have a very nice gaming surface, but I guess it is included for those people that don't have one or simply to complete the elegance of this mouse.

Other Thoughts: Eggcellent mouse for gaming. Just buy it already!

Pros: Works real nice and smooth. Many many options. You really need to know your stuff with the board!

Cons: Couldn't get everything running good at all until I updated my bios! Everything works flawless now!

Other Thoughts: Word if advice! First thing, update bios!

Pros: My first PC build and everything has been perfect. All the negative reviews on this MB freaked me out but I pulled the trigger and I'm glad I did!

Cons: None at all!!!!!!!!!!!

Other Thoughts: If you have some common sense and really research what you want to build this MB will work for you.

Pros: It looks good

Cons: I never got it to work. Spent hours researching online and ASUS website for all possible errors, update bios, etc. On top of that ASUS phone help is a joke, they ask you leave a message and they never call back. Sent back to Newegg for RMA and they are sending it back to me because of bent cpu socket pins.

Other Thoughts: I spent 3 times more than I should have paid for a decent mobo only to go trough a lot of trouble and still don't have a working mobo. Newegg claims that the socket pins were damaged by me and I can't prove otherwise since I didn't insepct the socket pins before the installation. I went to ASUS website and they listed the 2011 socket available for sale for $29.99 plus $9 for shipping, which I happily paid for thinking that could be the end of my misery, but I was wrong. ASUS sent me an email stating that the socket is not available for sale and they don't know why it was listed to begin with? I researched online and couldn't find the 2011 socket for sale anywhere. Desperate enough I called ASUS to see if they know how may be selling the socket that they install in mobos. The person on the phone told me to use Google to find the socket? Thanks ASUS!

Manufacturer Response:

Dear Valued Cusotmer,

We're sorry to hear about your experience with the motherboard. Our motherboards go through rigorous inspection before leaving the factory, and all come with a protective CPU socket cover to prevent accidental damage to the socket pins. We recommend sending the board in for RMA-repair. Unfortunately, this type of damage is not covered under warranty and a standard repair cost will apply. To proceed, please contact us again at 1-812-282-2787 or use the online RMA submittal form at: http://vip.asus.com/eservice/usa_rmaserv.aspx.

If you have any questions or comments you can email me again at cl-jeffrey@asus.com which I reside in the U.S

ASUS strives to meet and exceeds our customer expectations within our warranty policy.

Regards,

Jeffrey

Pros: Looks amazing... easy to setup, has everything I wanted in a gaming board. Connections for all the devices & options I wanted to install. LOVE IT!

Cons: Original out of the box was DOA due to bent pins where the processor installs. Long story short, Newegg took care of the issue and sent me a new board. I am 100% satisfied with the replacement. Also, be aware of how bright/shiny it is -- put this in a case with a clear window and had to turn off many of the lights so I could sleep, hah!

Other Thoughts: Updated post -- my original review (12Feb13 @ 17:41) I was not happy due to still coordinating the RMA process. Bit of a pain, but Newegg did the right thing and came through. The replacement-board's performance surpassed my expectations--even with the delay from the RMA process, I would make the purchase again. Also, the software ASUS provides is amazing when it comes to managing the board's performance.... this was by far the easiest board I ever used to build a system. BELIEVE THE HYPE

Pros: Worked great right out of the box. I was white-knuckling the initial startup, but everything worked great. First off, updated bios with USB from another machine - with no issues. Also spent considerable time with the bios setup before even considering installing an OS. There are a ridiculous amount of settings available, and many are things that should be done first, not later. Read the manual! This is not your father's mobo!

Cons: None.

Other Thoughts: I had read so many DOA reviews, but now wonder how many of those boards were installed or set up correctly. This thing works great!

Pros: It was nice... except the fact it wasnt in a non static bag and no disc, which doesnt matter because of the rog port on the back for the bios. The first 2-3 days i had it, amazing, didnt get close to over heating amazing oc ability, and great starting oc profiles.

Cons: where do i begin, well the first 2 days after i built my computer i had a no post, so i was like cool, bought the wrong ram, got new ram. 3 days later, restart loop, reset the bios and and everything then started to work for 15 minutes... then 5 minutes, now im down to 30 seconds or a failure to boot led... checked all the other possible suspects, 750w psu, test and works fine, 680 gtx, test and now my friend is sli until i can get a new mother board. Sata ports and processor and harddrives all tested and fine.

Other Thoughts: All in all, great motherboard i just think i got shafted on the one i got being faulty as all get out. Cant return my motherboard because i didnt have the, "original" stuff that was suppose to come with it. so now i have a expensive piece of junk :-(

Manufacturer Response:

Dear Valued Customer,

We're sorry to hear about the experience with the motherboard. Please RMA it to us as soon as possible by calling 1-812-282-2787 or using the online submittal form at: http://vip.asus.com/eservice/usa_rmaserv.aspx. If you have any questions or need additional support, please feel free to contact me below. Thank you.

For support information, please visit http://support.asus.com. For service, visit http://service.asus.com. For motherboard warranty, visit http://www.service.asus.com/warranty.aspx#!Motherboard%20Warranty/c1c20; Refurbished products/accessories: http://www.service.asus.com/warranty.aspx#!refurbished-warranty/c16us. For RMA status, visit: http://am.eservice.asus.com/rmaweb/search/rmCustomerQueryAction.do?.

Regards,
Benson
ASUS Customer Loyalty
cl-benson@asus.com

Pros: Excellent MOBO!! Asus Lives up to high standards

Cons: The first board I picked up from Newegg will call had a bad dimm slot. The MOBO told me that. RMA'd the board with no bent pins...Newegg sent it back with a whole roll of bent pins and told me they cannot take back defective parts by consumers...I have been building computers for over twenty years and never had a bad motherboard. This was the first...not happy with newegg on this order. customer support was very short and told me to call Asus which is a total pain. No luck so far.So I purchased another board from newegg before I sent in the bad board. Now I have spen 806.58 on two motherboards and I only wanted one that works. The first motherboard I received was not sealed.The second one was not sealed also. Will call employee said they ship all their motherboards unsealed. A bad pratice if you ask me. Asus and Newegg customer support can you help fix the problem. I would hate to switch companies that I purchase from.

Other Thoughts: How does newegg know that they are not shipping defective boards to consumers. I give Asus A 5 and newegg a 2 until this issue is solved!