ATI 5850 replacement

[hodgenutts]

Hello, I have a XFX 5850 that died on me. It will not send a signal at all to the monitor. I've tested in several systems. I contacted XFX as the card had a double lifetime warranty. XFX did not want to honor their warranty. They sent me an email telling me the card was fine and shipped it back to me. I once again tested the card in several systems and the card would not post. As a result I contacted XFX furious threatning to go to the better business bureau and showing them the card was deffective. The representitive I talked to apologized and told me they would issue a new RMA and he would notate to replace the card with a comparable product as the 5850 is no longer made. MY question is what would be an accapetable replacement. I have read the 6850 is a cheaper card than the 5850, both in terms of price and performance. I am worried since XFX ducked out on originally honoring their warranty, that they will try to give me the shaft and give me a less powerful card. Any suggestions are highly appreciated.

 

[Zorander]

I believe the 6850 is indeed (slightly) slower than the 5850. See if you can get either the 6950 or, better, the 7850, as a replacement.

 

[Ventanni]

The Radeon 5850 is right in between a 6850 and a 6870 in terms of performance, but even a 6850 would be an acceptable replacement. It's slightly slower (up to 10% slower, but not always), but given that the 5850 is no longer made, you may not have a choice. I would at least shoot for a 6870 though.

 

[MrWizzard]

I believe the 6850 is indeed (slightly) slower than the 5850. See if you can get either the 6950 or, better, the 7850, as a replacement.

I really doubt he can argue to get a 6950.....that is a serious upgrade to what he has. I would questions how that fits "comparable replacement".

Better chance of getting a 7850 than a 6950. 6950 is arguably faster than the 7850.

Really the 6870 is pretty close. The 6850 while slower is like 2-3 FPS slower in a lot of cases. 6850 is a tiny downgrade. 6870 is a small upgrade.

Check out these benches OP.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3987/...enewing-competition-in-the-midrange-market/17

Really if you are able to get a 6870 it's a upgrade, if it was me I would be happy with that.

Good luck!

 

[hodgenutts]

Thank you very much for the information. Considering the company initially tried to duck out of honoring their warranty all to gether until I threatened the better business bureau, I doubt they will try to give me much. I just hope they also give me a card with a decent cooler and not some cheap single slot design. My 5850 had a full size cooler that kept the card nice and cool and it was also quiet. It caused the card to take up 2 slots. However, I do not know if they consider the cooler when they consider a "comparable" card.

 

[Rvenger]

I would send it in and see what happens. They give you a 6850 then go to the BBB saying they gave you a downgrade.

 

[Smoblikat]

No less than a 6850, but dont expect more than a 6870. 5850 is awkwardly positioned between the two.

 

[SolMiester]

I thought the 5xxx series went 5970>5870>5850, therefore to replace in warranty he should get the 3rd card of the series they still produce, therefore 6990>6970>6950..

I could be wrong, but that would be my argument. Got to be worth a try!

 

[Ventanni]

I thought the 5xxx series went 5970>5870>5850, therefore to replace in warranty he should get the 3rd card of the series they still produce, therefore 6990>6970>6950..

I could be wrong, but that would be my argument. Got to be worth a try!

Lol, that's pushing it a bit, but I see the argument. They will probably give him a 6850, which is slightly slower, but not so much that I'd be calling the BBB about. Fact is, the 5850 simply isn't made anymore, but as a 5850 owner even I'd be happy with a 6850 replacement.

 

[shaka999]

I'm anxious to hear how this turns out. I just received an email that my 8800GT that has the double lifetime warranty is ..... out of warranty. They are trying to say it had a 2 year window. I'm the original owner and quoted them the original warranty text. We'll see what they come back with.

I'm not happy even having to argue for the warranty. I have 3 different XFX cards and if this turns south I won't have another unless they are dirt cheap compared to competitors.

 

[Sunny129]

I just hope they also give me a card with a decent cooler and not some cheap single slot design.

XFX would have to really go out of its way to source you a single-slot replacement card...i don't even think there is a single-slot 6xxx series GPU that's comparable to your 5850. in other words, whether they replace it w/ a 6850, a 6870, or a 6950, they're all going to be dual-slot cards w/ either a blower, single fan, or dual fan cooler (something similar to the cooling on your 5850).

 

[guskline]

Realistically, the 6870. E-mail them the AnandTech benchmarks of the 6850 vs the 5850 to show it as a downgrade.

 

[Rvenger]

A replacement 6850 is better than: -Nothing -Your current broken 5850

 

[guskline]

A replacement 6850 is better than: -Nothing -Your current broken 5850

Good point. If the warranty specifies an equal or "equivalent" replacement you "might" have an argument that though the 6850 is newer it is slightly slower, thus the argument for a 6870.

 

[KingFatty]

Do you have the terms of the warranty, so you can see what the mean by "acceptable"? Maybe that means something that had an original manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) within $50 of of the original MSRP of the card being replaced? Maybe they don't base it off of dollar value at all, but something like how they classify the cards in tiers?