Can someone tell me how this step up program works?

[ctark]

I was thinking about buying a GTX right now (EVGA) I read on their site about the step up program but i dont totally understand. When you send in your card do you get an upgrade for free? Or do you have to pay the difference of what you paid? If i can buy a GTX now and step up to the 512 isnt that what i wanna do? Or is it cheaper to wait?

 

[ctark]

Or better yet.. can i buy that 7800 GT deal (mobo and cod2) on Newegg and step up to the 512? I'm sure you'd have to pay a difference in there somewhere.

 

[drifter106]

You subtract the amount that you paid for your card from the price of a higher performing card from THEIR site. Their site goes by the MSRP, not what we are paying for them. Try this... on their website the 7800 gt = $450. The 7800gtx = $550. Lets say you buy a 7800 gt for $325. You have 3 months to upgrade to the 7800gtx (using the price from their site $550). $550 - $325 = $225. Sound like a winner? In 3 months the price may go down but don't think it will be significant unless the new card (512 memory) makes a huge impact. For that amount of money its almost better to be thinking about going sli (dread that thought) instead. If you have the right board you can mod it to accept 2.

 

[ctark]

Can i upgrade a GT to a GTX 512? or do i have to get the 256 meg card? Basically is it just a "step up" or a step up to the latest and greatest.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: ctark
Or better yet.. can i buy that 7800 GT deal (mobo and cod2) on Newegg and step up to the 512? I'm sure you'd have to pay a difference in there somewhere.

You might want to look into that on eVGA's site. I think that the step-up program may have a "not combinable with other offers" disclaimer, so you might not be able to do the free mobo deal and still be able to step up.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: ctark
Can i upgrade a GT to a GTX 512? or do i have to get the 256 meg card? Basically is it just a "step up" or a step up to the latest and greatest.

You can get any card they sell that is better than what you already have.

eVGA has an excellent FAQ on how the Step-Up program works...

The one thing they won't tell you about though is that the step-up stock is different than their retail stock (same cards, different inventory), and they only have so many cards available for step-up at any given time. So you might have to wait a while for the card you want to be available even if they are listed as in stock on the retail website. However, even if they don't have the card in stock within the first 90 days, as long as you submit your step up request in the 90 window you are eligible.