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Asrock FM2A75M-ITX Motherboard Fire

56K views 180 replies 37 participants last post by  T0mat3 
#1 ·
This is being discussed already in the FM2 motherboards thread (http://www.overclock.net/t/1301979/trinity-apu-amd-socket-fm2-motherboard-discussion-gallery/230), but I wanted to draw more attention to the issue, in case anyone else has had a similar issue, or indeed if any Asrock reps are having a look at the forum and want to help us in any way.

There are three of us on that thread who have experienced problems with MOSFET's setting on fire. Here's a picture of mine: http://www.overclock.net/t/1301979/trinity-apu-amd-socket-fm2-motherboard-discussion-gallery/220#post_18799453 and here's a picture of one of the other guys: http://www.overclock.net/t/1301979/trinity-apu-amd-socket-fm2-motherboard-discussion-gallery/200#post_18778199

Has anyone else experienced this or any other problems with this board?
 
#2 ·
ASRock have always used cheap, old MOSFETS (Or VRM's whichever word you want to use)

I'm not surprised at all that this has happened, this is the one reason I recommend the GA-Z77X-D3H motherboard over the ASRock boards.
 
#3 ·
I had no idea what a MOSFET was until this happened.

The Z77 boards would be great if I was planning on an intel gaming install, but this was supposed to be an FM2 HTPC install with some sofa gaming. It's in a mini itx case and at the moment, there are no other options out there for FM2 ITX. I see the MSI looks to be the next one to be released, but there are still no real reviews of it out, so rather than potentially get burned (no pun intended) twice, I'd rather wait to get a reliable board. Unless anyone has any suggestions for an FM2 ITX board?
 
#4 ·
Can you not use an AM3+ board, there are undoubtedly going to be more options for you

C
 
#6 ·
Well,

The VRM's are linked to the processor quite heavily, it honestly wouldn't surprise me if it damaged that as well..

Comps
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by compuman145 View Post

Well,
The VRM's are linked to the processor quite heavily, it honestly wouldn't surprise me if it damaged that as well..
Comps
That's what i am thinking too... but then again it should be ok, since the second the mosfet/s popped the voltage from the PSU would have stopped and the motherboard would have had no power to it. So the CPU may be ok.
 
#8 ·
I'm going to list this down as failure prone... quite a disappointment, the first ASRock I've seen like this. Mini ITX does limit VRM size and capacity, however.
 
#10 ·
Question here. What was your CPU running speed and voltage, and CPU heatsink?
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by xd_1771 View Post

I'm going to list this down as failure prone... quite a disappointment, the first ASRock I've seen like this. Mini ITX does limit VRM size and capacity, however.
It does seem like this one has some serious power management issues, or there's been a faulty batch or something. Three of us on this forum alone have had it blow in exactly the same spot.

It's a shame, I'd heard good things about Asrock.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by xd_1771 View Post

Question here. What was your CPU running speed and voltage, and CPU heatsink?
Stock, Stock and Stock.

Seriously.

The only 'overclock' that I did, was activate x-boost. I'd also adjusted the GPU ram to 2GB - there was an option in an updated Bios that allowed you to dedicate up to 2GB of system RAM to the GPU, rather than have it on auto.

I've said before that as far as voltages go, I don't know enough about it to mess about with it. I saw the options and it wasn't even clear what default voltage was, so I left it alone.
 
#13 ·
Ah. This was on the 5800k?
 
#15 ·
Yeah, it's the most power-intensive AMD Trinity APU at the moment, not that I'm surprised.
 
#17 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Artikbot View Post

Read up on the FM2 gallery thread xd, we've had several of these boards burn with A10-5700s on them (including mine).
Well then it could also relate to the temperature of the air inside the case not enough positive and hot air being caught on the VRMs thus overheating.
 
#21 ·
With several failures within a short period of time, take note! Try getting the voltage levels down for now. mITX FM2 Motherboards from other manufacturers are starting to become available.
 
#24 ·
The FM2A75M-ITX has been a disaster for me and the little hobby shop I run on the side. Every single customer who has used the FM2A75M-ITX / A6-5400K with my case has had their 12V120W DC powerboard fail. Everyone is running stock. I've had no problems with these powerboards with countless other mini-ITX boards, AMD and Intel and now this has happened.

In my own testing, my 2nd attempt to boot this motherboard with an A10-5700 fried the powerboard. Testing the board afterwords would not even turn on the tester. Just on boot into the BIOS, the A6-5400K will jump to 101W power draw and the A10-5700 will exceed 125W. In an open case with the stock cooler, temperatures exceed 70C quickly. ASRock told me to update the BIOS and the power draw actually got worse. With the A6-5400K I was able to get Windows installed but power draw never dropped below 70W and temperatures could not be kept under control, even disabling Turbo and underclocking.

There is something seriously wrong with this motherboard.

The MSI mini-ITX board on the other hand with a stock A10-5700 has the best idle temps and power consumption I've seen in the mini-ITX case I sell for these builds.

This isn't the first ASRock I've had issues with. The H67M-ITX would not een boot with a different brand of DC powerboard. I also have one customer with an H77M-ITX that can't get any mini-ITX power supply to provide a stable system. Only attaching his ATX power supply keeps the system stable. I've sent him three different kinds of 120W DC power supplies and two different brand 120W AC adapters.
 
#25 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougieFresh View Post

The FM2A75M-ITX has been a disaster for me and the little hobby shop I run on the side. Every single customer who has used the FM2A75M-ITX / A6-5400K with my case has had their 12V120W DC powerboard fail. Everyone is running stock. I've had no problems with these powerboards with countless other mini-ITX boards, AMD and Intel and now this has happened.
In my own testing, my 2nd attempt to boot this motherboard with an A10-5700 fried the powerboard. Testing the board afterwords would not even turn on the tester. Just on boot into the BIOS, the A6-5400K will jump to 101W power draw and the A10-5700 will exceed 125W. In an open case with the stock cooler, temperatures exceed 70C quickly. ASRock told me to update the BIOS and the power draw actually got worse. With the A6-5400K I was able to get Windows installed but power draw never dropped below 70W and temperatures could not be kept under control, even disabling Turbo and underclocking.
There is something seriously wrong with this motherboard.
The MSI mini-ITX board on the other hand with a stock A10-5700 has the best idle temps and power consumption I've seen in the mini-ITX case I sell for these builds.
This isn't the first ASRock I've had issues with. The H67M-ITX would not een boot with a different brand of DC powerboard. I also have one customer with an H77M-ITX that can't get any mini-ITX power supply to provide a stable system. Only attaching his ATX power supply keeps the system stable. I've sent him three different kinds of 120W DC power supplies and two different brand 120W AC adapters.
Are you the guy on the XBMC boards?

I bought my MB on the basis of some of the guides on there. I'd initially intended to build an FM1 HTPC, but went with an FM2 ITX build for the sake of "future proofing" and having an up to date socket. At that point, the only FM2 ITX board was the Asrock one (and it was a nightmare trying to find one in Spain), but I managed and built the machine. It worked like a dream, extremely fast, good gaming performance. Then suddenly, it crashed and burned (literally).

The retailer I bought the motherboard from has dealt with things fairly well, initially explaining that these things weren't usually covered by warranty, however when I showed them the threads from here with people with similar problems, they raised it with Asrock and they're in the process of sending my board back to them. Whether or not the RMA is accepted and I get a new board is still to be confirmed.

I just hope that the rest of my components are alright. I have no way of testing them until I get a new board. I have to admit, the experience has put me off AMD. If I have to shell out more money, then it'll end up costing the same as an intel build would have.
 
#26 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by audiorealis View Post

The retailer I bought the motherboard from has dealt with things fairly well, initially explaining that these things weren't usually covered by warranty, however when I showed them the threads from here with people with similar problems, they raised it with Asrock and they're in the process of sending my board back to them. Whether or not the RMA is accepted and I get a new board is still to be confirmed.
It's so hard to get a RMA with a burnt (literally) motherboard here in Spain.

I've had to send a card three times to get it RMAd (Sapphire HD5870) because they'd decline it constantly (as if they were trying to push the card outside its warranty period)
 
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