Hate

[Furiously]

I'd just llke to add I love my i680 mb. Has so many fan connectors, with temp controllers. There were some initial issues with the BIOS, but I think they've worked them all out. I've never had any issues.

[Strazos]

BFG. Lifetime warranties and stuff.

[Trippy]

And the end of the story draws near. Got a refund from newegg because they took these cards off the 'shelf'. It was out-of-stock, now it's removed from the website. My bets are the RAM simply couldn't handle the overclock in large enough quantities to make them reliably.

Going to shop for a vanilla 8800gtx. I'd like to go evga, but now I'm wary. Maybe asus?

With ASUS you tend to pay more for crap you don't need like all sorts of ancient games, "spycam" software, and crap like that. Some people here like BFG. They have a lifetime warrenty similar to eVGA's.

[Sky]

Problem with both evga and bfg non-overclocked cards on newegg is refunds. Given I just got a refund from this debacle, I want that option in the future but most non-overclocked cards are a limited non-refundable warranty (and overclocked cards are what started this whole thing)! Which translates to 30-day replacements only. Lifetime warranty from the manufacturer sounds great, but when you pay top dollar for a card and get a refurb as a replacement, I don't call that acceptable.

Right now I'm looking at a PNY card. 30 day/1 year standard newegg warranty + 5 year manufacturer. I've never used a video card for more than 4 years, so it sounds like the way to go for me, assuming performance holds up. I think it's just a reference card so I'm going to look into it.

I wish newegg wasn't being so stingy on their warranty of these cards, but I imagine they've been burned to hell with this last round (seeing that they took the evga ko down entirely), but I find it odd they still warranty the overclocked cards but not the stock cards that seem to perform more reliably? I would still, despite the recent events, like to go with evga for the 'step-up' program, in case nvidia poops out a new design in the interim.

The lesson once again is the importance of good customer service, no matter what industry you work in.

[Strazos]

You could always shell out for a warranty. And I'm not sure what "warranty situation" you're talking about, as I've never had a problem returning a card. My 9800Pro was almost a year old, and they took it back without a problem. Same with the AIW card that died a month later.

[Sky]

The difference between this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130072

Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

        * Return for refund within: non-refundable
        * Return for replacement within: 30 days

    This is our Detailed Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy. Products that state "This item is covered by Newegg.com's Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy", or items labeled as “Non-refundable” (or similar labeling) must be returned to Newegg.com within 30 days of the invoice date for this policy to apply. Products covered by this return policy may only be returned for a replacement of the same item.

and this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133194

Standard Return Policy

        * Return for refund within: 30 days
        * Return for replacement within: 1 year

    This is our Detailed Standard Return Policy. Unless another return policy is indicated, products sold by Newegg.com are covered by this Standard Return Policy. Merchandise under this Standard Return Policy may be returned a) within 30 days of the original invoice date for a refund, or b) within one year of the original invoice date for a replacement of the same item. All returns require an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) number. All items returned for a refund are subject to a 15% restocking fee.
    Many manufacturers offer additional factory coverage. With regard to such, you should contact the manufacturer of your item directly for information regarding eligibility and specific Terms and Conditions.

Basically, you're stuck with whatever you buy for a lot of their video cards. I don't buy things with the limited return policy that removes the option of a refund. I RMA'd my creative card for a refund and they didn't invoke a restocking fee. With the gpu, it was removed from stock so they refunded, but that was a special case - and it was covered by the standard return policy, or with all evga's dicking around, it'd have been past newegg's replacement period under the limited policy.

Basically, getting burned by the slow CS is making me put the priority on service contracts. Another option would be to get the superclocked evga and just keep returning it until I get a good one, though the possibility of going for a couple more months without a functioning gaming pc that I built in early February isn't something I find enticing.

[stray]

That's the biggest downside with NewEgg in general (return/refund policies). I'd never buy, say, a Display from them at least.

[Strazos]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143046


Boom. Great card. Lifetime Warranty. Standard return policy, which is fine if you want another of the same card, which I'm usually fine with.

[stray]

That's AGP.

Or are you just picking one for yourself?


[EDIT] The standard return policy sucks too though. That restocking fee is a bitch.

Also, you have to pay for shipping something back, no matter how borked the product is (not sure if they tell you that upfront).


Basically, NewEgg sucks in general. It should be a last resort for just about anything imho..

[Strazos]

What, do you have a better option to find just about anything you need that is PC-related, and even some stuff that is not?


Also, I just looked through a bunch of video cards; They all had standard return policies. And yes, while shipping can suck, I've never been hit with a restocking fee.

[stray]

What, do you have a better option to find just about anything you need that is PC-related, and even some stuff that is not?

Pretty much. Local/privately owned computer supplier near where I live --- though if something isn't in stock (which is rare, the place is like a warehouse), it'd take a little longer to get than ordering online. The only thing I can't find from them are some memory brands, but that's one of the things I have no qualms about ordering (at Newegg even).

As far as major/popular components go, even CompuUSA is servicable. I've bought a fair share of ATI and different Nvidia brands from them.

...

Then again, I guess it's all moot. I've moved back to Macs. So just the Apple Stores are good enough for me, I guess.

[Strazos]

If there is a good PC store in my area, I don't know about it.

And that's doubtful.

[Trippy]

That's AGP.

Or are you just picking one for yourself?


[EDIT] The standard return policy sucks too though. That restocking fee is a bitch.

Also, you have to pay for shipping something back, no matter how borked the product is (not sure if they tell you that upfront).


Basically, NewEgg sucks in general. It should be a last resort for just about anything imho..

I disagree that Newegg sucks in general but I do agree that if you want to buy something that you think you might return you should think about buying locally at a place with a good return policy. E.g. I would never buy a monitor mail order unless it was the absolutely last resort cause I tend to return monitors multiple times until I get one I like. This was true even back in the CRT days and is especially true now with LCDs and their dead/stuck pixels, leaking/uneven backlighting, power supply whining, "squished panels" (panels that are screwed in too tightly), and so on and so forth.

[Sky]

AGP? Huh?

Ok, so it's only 4 of 18 cards with limited returns, no refund. But they're the pick of the vanilla 8800 crop, and today the evga vanilla went out of stock. Restock isn't bad, they've never invoked that on me. Worst I've had to do is pay return shipping, once. Newegg has generally been great.

I ended up going with the evga superclock, I'll just keep returning it until I get a good one.

[Sky]

Evga superclock gpu came in yesterday. Installed it last night and played FEAR for 15 minutes straight, then ran 3dmark06 trial version (10500, iirc). Either would've crashed the original card I had, and the 3dmark score was slightly better than the other card even before I've tweaked the system.

Before I went to bed, I loaded up EQ2 and ran around Kelethin for a while, which is pretty crushing on the gpu, lots of lights and shadows plus many load in/outs of max res textures as players ran around me. Gpu stayed rock solid for about an hour or so, temps hit 74C. I had also turned my case fans back to low (from medium), so all this was whisper quiet.

Looks like the saga of Hate may be closed.

 :-D