Just received my M4... A little underwhelmed.

So, as the title states... I've just received my m4-ATX with the case and fan...

The actual m4 board is warped... Not bad enough that I'm worried it won't work, but enough that you can definitely tell... Could be due to the way it was packaged. The m4 housing was crammed in the box, while the m4 was just wrapped in bubble wrap. It wouldn't have been hard for the case (which was in it's own box) to have deformed the board.

Secondly, the housing itself. It came with an 80mm fan. I assume you're supposed to hook it up to the m4 board, but it just has bare wires to hook it up with. At the very least, they could have put a connector on the end so that I could just plug it in... Now I have to fabricate my own, or solder it on.

It seems like they threw in the bare minimum, and that's it. As far as the actual board, aside from being warped, it looks very well put together. It seems well thought out, and professionally made. It's really too bad they skimp on everything else. Last example... Most power supplies include the screws to actually attach the power supply to the case... This included JUST enough to get it to hold together, but notably misses screws to mount the terminal to the housing. It will work without them, but it would have had a much better fit and finish with them. I guess I'll have to dig some up.

Hopefully it works.

Where did you purchase it from? mp3car? I know their kit comes with a 60mm fan, and explicitly states in the product description that you have to soldier it, it does not come with a connector, so I assume you did not get it from mp3car. I'd take it up with whoever you purchased it from, and see if they can help you. I wouldn't run a warped board, since you have no idea if any traces are damaged, or there are unseen cracks in components or soldier joints that will fail down the road outside of warranty. Definitely get it replaced before you use it. Circuit boards don't bend and work reliably.

I guess I missed where it said it would come without a connector... In all honesty, it doesn't so much bother me that the fan doesn't have this connector... I can get one off of another computer case I have laying around... It's just that it seems like it was all thrown in there to be "just enough" to get someone out the door.

As far as the actual M4... It looks like it's just a little warped. I have definitely seen worse, so I'm going to give it a go once my case arrives. It's slight, but again, it all goes to the end feeling. "Just enough." I'll give it try before I send it back. I just got it today, and who knows, maybe it was the cold making the board contract in a strange way. It mounted fine in the housing, so it wasn't too bad. Just enough to notice when you look it over.

Again, I have to say. It looks well engineered, and if they would have just taken the extra steps like throwing in just a couple screws, and things of the sort, it really would go a long way. In the future, if it ever comes to the point where I need a bigger PSU (and mini-box came out with a larger one) I'd definitely look around before I bought from them again. As I understand it, Opus seems to go just that little bit further. I guess it keeps the costs down, but for the extra $.50 it would probably cost, it really should have been thrown in.

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Originally Posted by X219c

I guess I missed where it said it would come without a connector... In all honesty, it doesn't so much bother me that the fan doesn't have this connector... I can get one off of another computer case I have laying around... It's just that it seems like it was all thrown in there to be "just enough" to get someone out the door.

As far as the actual M4... It looks like it's just a little warped. I have definitely seen worse, so I'm going to give it a go once my case arrives. It's slight, but again, it all goes to the end feeling. "Just enough." I'll give it try before I send it back. I just got it today, and who knows, maybe it was the cold making the board contract in a strange way. It mounted fine in the housing, so it wasn't too bad. Just enough to notice when you look it over.

Again, I have to say. It looks well engineered, and if they would have just taken the extra steps like throwing in just a couple screws, and things of the sort, it really would go a long way. In the future, if it ever comes to the point where I need a bigger PSU (and mini-box came out with a larger one) I'd definitely look around before I bought from them again. As I understand it, Opus seems to go just that little bit further. I guess it keeps the costs down, but for the extra $.50 it would probably cost, it really should have been thrown in.

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I think you're nuts for not getting a replacement. When it dies just out of warranty, you'll be kicking yourself for not having it replaced, I know I've gone down that road a few times myself :/

I will probably be sending it back, I'm just not getting ahead of myself yet. I don't have the rest of my setup yet anyway, so there's no huge rush. I'll probably be sending it next week. I'll put in for an RMA tomorrow. I'll take a picture tomorrow, and if it's straight tomorrow, they'll probably reject it after receiving it (taking more S&H).

Besides... this looks scary. I guess I have to pay shipping there and back, looking at the policy... Then "Should the product returned to mp3Car be deemed as in perfect working order, return shipping and a $15 service charge is the responsibility of the customer."

I guess I just don't want to throw away the money.

If it was a warranty repair, sure I could see that (Though most other companies pay for shipping), but defective on arrival? They should pay shipping and handling both ways. I'd say try to contact them and get them to pay both ways, since they shipped you a defective product. Their fault, rather than the manufacturers, so they should pay.
Definitely talk to someone from mp3car before sending it back, make sure that they'll replace it even if it works since there could be unnoticeable internal damage to the board.

If you are in any way unhappy with your product you ordered from mp3car just use the customer service contact info on the store sight and they will take care of it. Or you can PM the store manager direct, his name is Stephen and his screenname is Jensen2000