A frustrated PC builder has sparked fresh debate about customer support and warranty handling after claiming his MSI motherboard came back from an RMA with an unexpected—and damaging—surprise: an ASUS-branded CPU socket cover fitted to the board.
According to a Reddit post from user u/debbiruman, the issue started with an MSI B650M Gaming Plus WiFi motherboard that was experiencing system freezing. Hoping to resolve the problem, he sent the board to an authorized MSI service center in Turkey. What he says he received back was worse than what he shipped out.
The Redditor reports that the motherboard returned missing its BIOS battery and, more alarmingly, with CPU socket pins “completely crushed.” When inspecting the socket area, he noticed the protective socket cover had been swapped for an ASUS cover. While socket covers from different brands can sometimes fit as long as the socket type matches, the key problem here is how it was handled. The claim is that the cover wasn’t secured properly, creating the perfect conditions for the delicate pins to get bent or crushed during transit.
After contacting MSI about the condition of the board, the user says the company refused to refund or take responsibility for the damage. Instead, he was reportedly told to pay for the repair—about 1250 Turkish Lira (roughly US$28) plus VAT—to fix the socket.
Adding to the frustration, the user claims this wasn’t a one-off attempt to get help. He says the motherboard had been sent in for RMA three separate times, yet no fault was ever found. That raises an uncomfortable possibility: the freezes may not have been caused by the motherboard at all, and another component—such as the CPU, RAM, or power delivery—could have been the real culprit. Still, even if the original freezing issue wasn’t caused by the board, the allegation here centers on what happened while it was in the service center’s hands and how it was returned.
With the motherboard now physically damaged and without unboxing footage to document its condition immediately upon arrival, the user says proving the service center caused the damage would be difficult. Ultimately, he reports that he purchased a new motherboard rather than continuing to fight the claim.
The story is drawing attention because it touches on a common fear among PC builders: sending hardware in for warranty service and getting it back in worse shape—or being blamed for damage that may have happened during handling or shipping. For anyone considering an RMA, situations like this are also a reminder to document everything, including photos and video of packaging and unboxing, so there’s a clear timeline if disputes arise.
