8800GT- Question

[lloydxd]

We'll I'm currently waiting for the 8800gt and the new radeon but eVGA's warranty and policy, which accepts even overclocked cards, is awesome. Even if I get the radeon and overclock it and let's say it burns out or something, I'm out of options; if i get the 8800gt with lifetime warranty and all the jumbo, even if it under-performs the new radeons, I think its a better deal to get the 8800gt. What do you guys think?

 

[QuixoticOne]

I'd agree about getting something with a very good warranty
and good customer support in case there is a problem requiring service.
Too often expensive electronics breaks due to bad design not reasonably
long after purchase.

EVGA, XFX, BFG *may* have warranties / support systems you'd benefit from;
just be sure to read the fine print on their warranty policy on their web site
and verify that the warranty applies to the card model sold by the specific
'authorized' retailer you get it from. Don't forget to register the card if necessary
and to keep the receipt handy.

Check out the actual shipping / processing costs, RMA responsiveness, and
delay turn-around time until you get a new card back from service for each of
the companies. Some are probably slower and cost you more money / time
(shipping & waiting) than others.

I wouldn't spend the cash on one of these without a good lifetime warranty.

 

[Midnight Rambler]

While a good warranty is always appealing, esp. with the outrageous cost of vid cards these days, the warranty is only as good as the future of the company, ie. if the company goes under ... And the vid card biz is a notoriously vicious industry.

Also consider, in the future if you have to utilize your warranty, your exact card (GPU) may no longer be available and you will receive an "equivalent" card at their discretion. While this normally works out to your benefit, sometimes it doesn't ... ex. you RMA a 7900-series and get an 8600 in place.

Finally, most major credit cards offer some sort of warranty "protection" service as one of their cardmember benefits. My VISA Platinum cards, for example, offer extension of any warranty for up to a maximum of 3 years. I've used this service more than once, and normally come out even or ahead on my money. And for some purchases, they even offer extensions to their initial extension, though at a cost. But it can be a good deal still, I was able to get a 5 year warranty (total) for my Sony XBR for $97 !

 

[PingSpike]

Thats one of my main beefs with ati...their board partners are mostly pretty lame. On the nvidia side you have evga, xfx and BFG which all offer pretty solid warrenties. On ATI...powercolor offers some kind of lifetime, but it usually costs more. Lots of them were 1 year with a few 3 years in there. They you've got the sapphire (which everyone buys) where they charge you $15 for an rma :/

nvidia has its lame board partners as well, but they're enough good options that they can easily be avoided.

 

[TroubleM]

"EVGA provides lifetime warranty and accepts overclocked gpu so why not"

1. Lifetime warranty - doesn't exist in EU (maximum 3 years warranty for EVGA cards in my country).
2. Upgrade - not here.
3. That "after rebate" - I don't even understand what that is.
4. Considering 1+2+3 and the fact that EVGA doesn't produce its own cards, why care for EVGA?

 

[wrangler]

XFX has the best warranty.

OC'd and aftermarket cooling OK.
Warranty transfers to next owner.

eVGA does not transfer but OK with the OC/aftermarket cooling.
BFG transfers warranty but not OK with OC/aftermarket cooling.

 

[spittledip]

Yeah, a good warranty suggests that the manufacturer believes in its products. I sent an email to HIS about this as they only have 1 year warranty, and they sent back telling me that my input has been noted. lol. The crappy warranties are kinda scary.

 

[tuteja1986]

Nvidia partners have awesome warranty planes but for only for the people in states :! rest of world get the 1 to 3 year warranty ;(

Anyways Powercolor offers good ATI warranty.

 

[jmmtn4aj]

Originally posted by: TroubleM
"EVGA provides lifetime warranty and accepts overclocked gpu so why not"

1. Lifetime warranty - doesn't exist in EU (maximum 3 years warranty for EVGA cards in my country).
2. Upgrade - not here.
3. That "after rebate" - I don't even understand what that is.
4. Considering 1+2+3 and the fact that EVGA doesn't produce its own cards, why care for EVGA?

Ay, same here. Pretty much the only difference between the big names and smaller ones, like my Leadtek, is the looks. My Leadtek came with 2 games, so it was a pretty good deal. Actually, all warranties are around 2 years here. Meh.

 

[lloydxd]

"XFX has the best warranty.

OC'd and aftermarket cooling OK.
Warranty transfers to next owner.

eVGA does not transfer but OK with the OC/aftermarket cooling.
BFG transfers warranty but not OK with OC/aftermarket cooling. "

Do any of the Ati partners offer this? I'm just really grateful about the OC warranties. I'm pretty sure im going to overclock mine. I guess since Evga and XFX accepts OC cards, 8800GT is a great buy.

 

[WhiteZero]

Originally posted by: lloydxd
"XFX has the best warranty.

OC'd and aftermarket cooling OK.
Warranty transfers to next owner.

eVGA does not transfer but OK with the OC/aftermarket cooling.
BFG transfers warranty but not OK with OC/aftermarket cooling. "

Do any of the Ati partners offer this? I'm just really grateful about the OC warranties. I'm pretty sure im going to overclock mine. I guess since Evga and XFX accepts OC cards, 8800GT is a great buy.

And don't forget EVGA's perk of their Step-Up program.

 

[vhx]

If you live in Europe, from what I have heard there is some law preventing lifetime warranties there. Or warranties past 3 years, something to that effect.

/shrugs