Bad video card... RMA's the only choice it looks like

[teramesher]

As some of you may know, I ordered new parts. When I put them together holding my breath, video card doesn't work. As soon as the machine's powered up, it shows small colored checkers covering the whole screen even before Windows OS loads. I wish I had some webspace where I can upload the pic I took...

Here is what I got from zzf:
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum nForce3 Ultra Athlon 64(FX) Skt939 DDR ATX Motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Processor Socket 939 Retail
2 X Corsair VS512MB400 512MB DDR400 PC3200 CAS2.5 Value Select Memory
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST3160827AS 160GB Serial ATA 7200RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer
Zalman CNPS7000B-ALCU Pure Copper CPU Cooler Retail
Antec SLK3700AMB
XFX nVidia 6600GT AGP


I have isolated the problem to video card by trying my old AGP card. My old AGP video card works fine. I flashed the bios to 1.37mod hoping it would help. The weird thing is that it shows garbled video signal in dos mode where the default VGA is used. This leads me to believe the card is defective.

When I called XFX tech support, they said it's caused by either bad pins contact or bad memory on the gfx card. I made sure it's not the bad contact.

My choice is pretty thin except RMA'ing it back to zipzoomfly.com

I've never RMA'ed anything before. How does it work? I've requested the RMA number. haven't heard back yet though.

Do I pack the stuff and ship it back to them at my cost even though the card is defective?
Should I insure the shipment in case it gets lost or get broken on the way?

Your help is appreciated.

 

[AristoV300]

Once you get the RMA# and the address they want you to send it to, just pack it back in the original box. Usually you will pay the cost to them and they will return it to you at no cost. I would suggest that you get some type of tracking with signature reciept just for piece of mind.

 

[Regs]

Just mail it to the address given for RMA's on their site. Write Attention:RMA# on top of the address. You can just drop by your local post office and have it shipped in a box. Just stop by their mailing counter and they'll weigh it and postage it.

Then zipzoomfly will mail you back the new parts with the forwarding address.

 

[fuzzynavel]

what I don't like is why should u, the consumer pay to return a defective product....seems immoral to me....looks like a deterrent to stop people RMA'ing for no reason!

 

[teramesher]

no comment on how to troubleshooting the video card? I take your silence as the card being dead? 🙁

Any how. How much do you think returning the card at the post office will cost? There isn't any need for insurance?

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: fuzzynavel
what I don't like is why should u, the consumer pay to return a defective product....seems immoral to me....looks like a deterrent to stop people RMA'ing for no reason!

Yes, it may seem that way. But some sites have answered this exact question. They said if you drive to store and buy something, if it laters turns out defective you have to drive back to the store for a replacement. They don't send a taxi or something over to your house to retreive the faulty product. So, in a "bricks & mortor" store, you bear the costs too.

I'm not saying this is right, just pointing out some sites address this question specifically.

Fern

 

[imported_lamer]

dude I've had the same fvcking problem with my xfx 6600gt! It crashes when I try to play a game!! This sucks

 

[teramesher]

Originally posted by: lamer
dude I've had the same fvcking problem with my xfx 6600gt! It crashes when I try to play a game!! This sucks

believe me, your video card is working a lot better than mine. The garbled checkers shows as soon as the machine's powered and supposedly going through the post. I wouldn't know because I can't see jack.