I recently built my new rig (see sig) and wanted to share some annoyances with OCN perhaps to keep anyone else from going through the same grief.
For my new build I opted to go with a Koolance SR-2 Full coverage block since it was the only true single piece block currently available. Well I got the block and the highlights are:
1) Seemingly a nice solid block, looked great.
2) Several hex-screws so loose atop the block (those that secure top plate to bottom plate) that they wiggled loose as I rotated the block.
3) One hex-screw missing all-together.
4) Two (2) different length screws to attach to mobo and three washers. Really? 3 washers what about the other 7 screws , no washers for them? Which do get washers? Where do the longer vs shorter screws go? Well you wont know because their instructions are a generic install guide for a single socket Rampage? mobo and don't say anything very specific whatsoever. They basically say some blocks re-use stock screws, others have screws. Nothing about placement of screws, so trial and error of hand threading has to take place to see which are tapped longer.
5) Clearance Issues: This mobo block will not fit any CPU cooler aside from their recently released CPU-360 Block. Which wasn't published on their site until today AFTER and email exchange with customer service about it several time between Saturday and lunch time today.... *now* they "recommend" their blocks to avoid clearance issues.
In the process I called FrozenCPU to see if they could cross-ship an EK block of lesser value to me so I wouldn't have to go another week with a build in mid-progress. Long story short. No. They told me to contact Koolance ......... Koolance told me to return to the place I bought it from. Then FrozenCPU told me to RMA with Koolance. And round and round we go.
Just a word to the wise or better yet a word of caution when dealing with either of these two companies.
I have spent quite a bit of money with FrozenCPU in the past 2 years , when I say quite a bit , I mean 3 completely w/c rigs with mobo, multiple gpu , cpu blocks , rads , pumps, fans, tubing etc etc etc ... well over $2K on cooling equipment alone ... I would have hoped they extended some courtesy to me and cross-shipped the block as I offered to pay for the shipping to get me a new one quickly...... No dice.
I was told in so many words:
"..sorry we dont cross ship hardware. If you want a new block then you would have to plunk down your credit card and buy one and return the old ...... Nobody cross ships. NewEgg certaintly does not......."
I buy a good bit of hardware per year and I have never had an issue with cross shipping gear (even if my card needed to be on file if they didnt get the gear back in a fixed time span) with Asus, EVGA, Dell, Newegg or PCConnection let alone smaller shops where I had been a regular customer for more then a few months.
Well I will chalk this up to Frozen loosing one loyal customer that spends a good chunk of change on basically luxury accessories during a downturn economy. Rather then ship the block and let me pay the shipping both ways to save time and keep me rolling on along with my build, they took a hard line.
My .02 for anyone so your in the know. Double and triple check the contents of boxes with UPS or FedEX right there if possible and if something looks amiss .... dont accept it or flat out return to sender on the spot. It will save you a lot of hassle.
I ended up loosing my mind and hacking up and old 8800GT Block I had for the missing hex screw (luckily same length and threading) and then taking a dremel to my brand new Swiftech Apogee XT's so I could finish my install without waiting yet another week from what correctly turned out to be a sad fiasco.
See posts: Here, Here and throughout the next page or two from there on out.
For my new build I opted to go with a Koolance SR-2 Full coverage block since it was the only true single piece block currently available. Well I got the block and the highlights are:
1) Seemingly a nice solid block, looked great.
2) Several hex-screws so loose atop the block (those that secure top plate to bottom plate) that they wiggled loose as I rotated the block.
3) One hex-screw missing all-together.
4) Two (2) different length screws to attach to mobo and three washers. Really? 3 washers what about the other 7 screws , no washers for them? Which do get washers? Where do the longer vs shorter screws go? Well you wont know because their instructions are a generic install guide for a single socket Rampage? mobo and don't say anything very specific whatsoever. They basically say some blocks re-use stock screws, others have screws. Nothing about placement of screws, so trial and error of hand threading has to take place to see which are tapped longer.
5) Clearance Issues: This mobo block will not fit any CPU cooler aside from their recently released CPU-360 Block. Which wasn't published on their site until today AFTER and email exchange with customer service about it several time between Saturday and lunch time today.... *now* they "recommend" their blocks to avoid clearance issues.
In the process I called FrozenCPU to see if they could cross-ship an EK block of lesser value to me so I wouldn't have to go another week with a build in mid-progress. Long story short. No. They told me to contact Koolance ......... Koolance told me to return to the place I bought it from. Then FrozenCPU told me to RMA with Koolance. And round and round we go.
Just a word to the wise or better yet a word of caution when dealing with either of these two companies.
I have spent quite a bit of money with FrozenCPU in the past 2 years , when I say quite a bit , I mean 3 completely w/c rigs with mobo, multiple gpu , cpu blocks , rads , pumps, fans, tubing etc etc etc ... well over $2K on cooling equipment alone ... I would have hoped they extended some courtesy to me and cross-shipped the block as I offered to pay for the shipping to get me a new one quickly...... No dice.
I was told in so many words:
"..sorry we dont cross ship hardware. If you want a new block then you would have to plunk down your credit card and buy one and return the old ...... Nobody cross ships. NewEgg certaintly does not......."
I buy a good bit of hardware per year and I have never had an issue with cross shipping gear (even if my card needed to be on file if they didnt get the gear back in a fixed time span) with Asus, EVGA, Dell, Newegg or PCConnection let alone smaller shops where I had been a regular customer for more then a few months.
Well I will chalk this up to Frozen loosing one loyal customer that spends a good chunk of change on basically luxury accessories during a downturn economy. Rather then ship the block and let me pay the shipping both ways to save time and keep me rolling on along with my build, they took a hard line.
My .02 for anyone so your in the know. Double and triple check the contents of boxes with UPS or FedEX right there if possible and if something looks amiss .... dont accept it or flat out return to sender on the spot. It will save you a lot of hassle.
I ended up loosing my mind and hacking up and old 8800GT Block I had for the missing hex screw (luckily same length and threading) and then taking a dremel to my brand new Swiftech Apogee XT's so I could finish my install without waiting yet another week from what correctly turned out to be a sad fiasco.
See posts: Here, Here and throughout the next page or two from there on out.
I'm glad I didn't have trouble with them when I got some accessories.
