[jonnylaris]

Hi folks,

I purchased a brand new EK Supreme HF from Specialtech and I just opened it now and saw this:





The base seems to be badly scratched and if you look closely you can see a fingerprint of some sort. I can not seem to remove it by rubbing either, it seems to be well and truly embedded into the copper. The unit was sealed properly when I opened it.

I thought the Supreme HF was meant to have a mirror finish, like in this pic from a review:



Should I request a replacement for this?

 

[Big Elf]

Is it like that when you remove the protective film?

I notice that reviewers tend to get highly polished blocks compared to what you buy yourself, Aquacomputer Kryos being a good example.

 

[R4MP4G3]

Technically, they should come with that mirror shine as they advertise. When I bought mine, it was nickel but with a mirror shine. It should come with that on the copper. That finger print has me worried though because that might suggest that the block is used. I mean, when you receive the block, it should come with a sticker placed on the surface to prevent scratching, etc but the fact that you stated that you took it out and saw that, well that would worry me too. If your not in a hurry, I would replace it.

 

[Shogon]

It's not supposed to be like that. It's supposed to be like in your 2nd pic.

Get a hold of the people you purchased it from, looks like they messed up on the block itself (in the manufacturing process) or someone used it, and repackaged it as a new product.

 

[scubadiver59]

Good luck with this...I had the same problem with them when I ordered my Maximus IV Extreme-Z full chipset cooler--it has the crappiest finish on the Southbridge part of the block. I will have to lap it myself before I use it.

Anyway, I paid to have it shipped back to them and they inspected it...but then they sent it back telling me that the finish was acceptable. B.S. was/is my response.

Anyway, I will not ever buy anything else from them, nor would I recommend anyone buy anything from them...their quality control is that shoddy.

Sorry to hear about your dilemma...good luck. But if all else fails, just lap it yourself with some very fine grit sandpaper and then polish.

 

[Axis24]

I ordered mine straight from EK and it came with the mirrored finish copper with a sticker covering it.

 

[jonnylaris]

Update: you can see the scratches better in this pic with better light:



If they will definatley replace it for a mirror finish one I would wait.

 

[R4MP4G3]

That looks pretty scratched up. Its not supposed to be like that. I would call up the company and have them replace it. That looks like someone took a screw driver and started scratching it.

If the company says its normal, then its not.

 

[Big Elf]

It looks like it's been used. After saying that small scratches like that are unlikely to affect performance but it's annoying if it's been sold as new rather than used.

I'm pretty certain you could return it and ask for a refund under the Distance Selling Regulations as long as it's within 7 days.

 

[scubadiver59]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Elf

It looks like it's been used. After saying that small scratches like that are unlikely to affect performance but it's annoying if it's been sold as new rather than used.
I'm pretty certain you could return it and ask for a refund under the Distance Selling Regulations as long as it's within 7 days.

Hopefully he bought it from a US VAR and not direct...EKWB is in Slovenia.

 

[Big Elf]

He bought it from Specialtech, a UK company.

 

[R4MP4G3]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scubadiver59

Hopefully he bought it from a US VAR and not direct...EKWB is in Slovenia.

I've purchased directly from EK and I live in the US. My video card block was not sold anywhere else. Took like 4 days to get to my house.

 

[jonnylaris]

I purchased it 10 days ago, had to wait a while on other parts arriving so only opened it today

 

[R4MP4G3]

I would still give them a call and tell them that you were waiting and you only opened it now. Sometimes, support can understand. Hopefully, they will.

 

[Shogon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by R4MP4G3

I've purchased directly from EK and I live in the US. My video card block was not sold anywhere else. Took like 4 days to get to my house.

Same, DHL is a wonderful shipper to the US. Only 4-5 days to get from Slovenia to California. Takes FrozenCPU that long to ship it from the East Coast.

 

[R4MP4G3]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shogon

Same, DHL is a wonderful shipper to the US. Only 4-5 days to get from Slovenia to California. Takes FrozenCPU that long to ship it from the East Coast.

I noticed it takes the same amount of time for any carrier to ship your package nationally whereas it takes the same amount for DHL to ship it globally. That's pretty sweet. I've never shipped with DHL globally but I'll have to check out their shipping rates.