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Can unlocking a 6800nu be detected if RMA'ed?

S

Staz

Senior member
I just got a BFG 6800OC. I would love to unlock it, but since BFG gives a lifetime warranty, I don't want to void that just to get a bit more speed out of my card. So my question is could BFG detect a soft-mod unlock if the card did go bad at some point and had to be RMA'ed?
 
First off, if your chip died because of you unlocking pipes, you would still RMA it...? Secondly yes they will be able to detect you unlocked or attempted to unlock the pipes. Anytime you flash a bios, there is a way to tell it was flashed.
 
Originally posted by: OnEMoReTrY
First off, if your chip died because of you unlocking pipes, you would still RMA it...? Secondly yes they will be able to detect you unlocked or attempted to unlock the pipes. Anytime you flash a bios, there is a way to tell it was flashed.
Click to expand...

I agree with you on returning things that have been run out of spec;however, is using Rivatuner technically "flashing the bios"? If the bios were flashed, wouldn't it stay on 16 pipes once Rivatuner were uninstalled? I don't think thats the case, I think Rivatuner somehow overrides the bios while you're using it.
 
He don't have to flash the bios to unlocked the pipes, thats why everyone is using Rivatuner and you can undo it if you get artifacts. I don't believe they can tell if you softmod your card using Rivatuner and then undo it if you have to send it in for RMA.

Second, if your ATI X800 dies because you are over clocking it, you would still RMA it?
 
depending on how much u can oc, usually about half way between stock nu and a gt... sometimes a couple thou in 3dmark...

and there's another 'flame the folks who rma an oc'd board' somewhere else...
 
Originally posted by: cubeless
depending on how much u can oc, usually about half way between stock nu and a gt... sometimes a couple thou in 3dmark...

and there's another 'flame the folks who rma an oc'd board' somewhere else...
Click to expand...

People who RMA OCd parts should be flamed Clueless, with real fire. Most of us don't like scummy little thieves who buy cheap parts, burn them up trying to make them into expensive parts, and then steal another when it doesn't work.

If you do, I feel sorry for you and your Dad. (if you know him)

Anyway, the IMPORTANT part of this is that you get a HUGE gain by unlocking the pipelines/vp, and a teeny tiny gain that's not worth the risk by OCing. (and yes, I own a 6800NU I have OCd and unlocked)

So there's no real point in risking the hardware or having to become a thief- woot!

BTW- this should in no way be construed as a attack on OCing, I do it myself when beneficial. Only on RMAing after OCing.
 
Originally posted by: stnicralisk
Theres another 'theives are us' board somewhere else. Why dont you mosey on over there like a good little goblin.
Click to expand...

I think he means Sharky Extreme. If you burn out and steal enough cards, they might make you a "Knight of the Ultimate Crusading SE OCing Team" and give you a place on the "SE I"ve stolen more sh*t then Enron" brotherhood.

 
I am in full agreement with Rollo. So is BFG.


BFG Tech Lifetime Warranty


BFG Technologies is proud to warrant the original purchaser of the graphics card included in this package ("Product") that the Product will be free from defects in material or workmanship for as long as the original purchaser owns the product, when given normal wear and proper usage. This warranty is valid if the product:
>> Was not damaged while being installed.
>> Was not damaged by software or hardware from a company or individual other than BFG Technologies or by motherboard incompatibility.
>> Was operated in accordance with BFG Technologies specifications, instructions and any technical support directions.
>> Was not modified or damaged by overclocking, tampering, user error, accident, disaster, abuse, misuse, power supply, power application, alteration, repair, modification, a fix or replacement by someone other than BFG Technologies.

BFG Technologies' liability under this warranty, or in connection with any other claim relating to the Products, is limited to the repair or at BFG Technologies option, the replacement of the portion of the Products which were defective in material or workmanship.

You assume the risk of loss in transit and the returned Products shall be the sole property of BFG Technologies. BFG Technologies warrants the repaired or replaced Products will be free from defects in material or workmanship.

EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY STATED ABOVE, BFG Technologies MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WHETHER OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE, OR OTHERWISE ON THE PRODUCTS, OR ANY PARTS OR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR OTHER LABOR FURNISHED.

BFG Technologies reserves the right to inspect and verify the defectiveness of any product returned. Please allow 48 hrs processing time once item has been received by BFG, and 3-5 days for shipping of the replacement product (shipped ground). This warranty does not apply to any software component.
 
damn rollo, u r an a$$hole...

nowhere did i even allude to the my position on rma'ing so where do u get off branding me?

and since even a broken clock is right twice a day, your keen intellect zeroed in on the kind of person to pick on in the form of my father... i didn't know him, because he was the same type of sh1t for brains that you are and thought he was superior to everyone. only he crossed the wrong folks and ended up removed from my life many, many years ago... so thanks for the thought, but i certainly don't need a d1ckhead like u feeling sorry for me...
 
Back to technical issues:

I can't imagine that unlocking the pipes causes that much more heat. I'd say it's an order of maginitude less extra heat than overclocking.

Did anybody actually measure how much warmer a 6800 gets when you a) overclock b) unlock and c) both?
 
i would guess that heat is generally the issue that limits casual overclocking... i can't run with the other 4 pipes enabled on my bfg 6800oc, but i run about 4c hotter at extended full tilt oc'd to 380/815 - 61c - than at stock... but i have good airflow, etc... and the card says that it is too hot at 135c!!!
 
Originally posted by: cubeless
damn rollo, u r an a$$hole...

nowhere did i even allude to the my position on rma'ing so where do u get off branding me?

and since even a broken clock is right twice a day, your keen intellect zeroed in on the kind of person to pick on in the form of my father... i didn't know him, because he was the same type of sh1t for brains that you are and thought he was superior to everyone. only he crossed the wrong folks and ended up removed from my life many, many years ago... so thanks for the thought, but i certainly don't need a d1ckhead like u feeling sorry for me...
Click to expand...

You DID.. you alluded that you felt he shouldnt be flamed and Rollo disagreed. So anyways I would like to take a moment to agree with what Rollo posted in response to you. I am sorry that it seems you felt he shouldnt be flamed for coming into this forum and asking "HEY can I steal this!?!"
 
Originally posted by: cubeless
damn rollo, u r an a$$hole...

nowhere did i even allude to the my position on rma'ing so where do u get off branding me?

and since even a broken clock is right twice a day, your keen intellect zeroed in on the kind of person to pick on in the form of my father... i didn't know him, because he was the same type of sh1t for brains that you are and thought he was superior to everyone. only he crossed the wrong folks and ended up removed from my life many, many years ago... so thanks for the thought, but i certainly don't need a d1ckhead like u feeling sorry for me...
Click to expand...

1. I apologize for addressing you as "Clueless", I actually just made a mistake there.
2. My position is as stated on OCing/RMAing, and it looked to me like you were supporting it.
3. My thought on this have always been it's the parents fault for not teaching their kids things like this are wrong.
4. I'm very sorry my theory on this intersected with your life in this way. I will try to choose my words more carefully in the future, the point I made wasn't worth the pain my remark must have caused you.
 
Originally posted by: Staz
I just got a BFG 6800OC. I would love to unlock it, but since BFG gives a lifetime warranty, I don't want to void that just to get a bit more speed out of my card. So my question is could BFG detect a soft-mod unlock if the card did go bad at some point and had to be RMA'ed?
Click to expand...
You'll know when they kick down your door.

Seriously though, if your card dies due to OC, are you going to take it back?? And even if you do, I really doubt anyone's going to do an autopsy on it.

But just in case, keep an eye out for black helicoptors hovering around your house!
 
Originally posted by: halfadder
Originally posted by: Staz
I just got a BFG 6800OC. I would love to unlock it, but since BFG gives a lifetime warranty, I don't want to void that just to get a bit more speed out of my card. So my question is could BFG detect a soft-mod unlock if the card did go bad at some point and had to be RMA'ed?
Click to expand...
You'll know when they kick down your door.

Seriously though, if your card dies due to OC, are you going to take it back?? And even if you do, I really doubt anyone's going to do an autopsy on it.

But just in case, keep an eye out for black helicoptors hovering around your house!
Click to expand...

Wouldn't this be regarded as advocating fraud?!?!
 
To clarify: I don't advocate fraud or any sort of illegal activity. RMA abusers keep jacking up the costs for the rest of us, and it's only getting worse.

The rest of my comments are my opinion and a weak attempt at humor.

If he (or anyone else) has already sent in their one card with some warranty-voiding or DMCA-violating modifications, I wouldn't lose much sleep over it. Now... if you do this on a regular basis, sent in a large batch of cards, or brag about it publiclly... then I would worry.
 
This thread went on a tangent from what I originally asked. I want to know that if I successfully unlock the card and it dies for ANOTHER reason, could my RMA be rejected?

Or if I try to unlock it and can't, and then return it to stock settings and it later fails, could that RMA be rejected?
 
Originally posted by: Staz
This thread went on a tangent from what I originally asked. I want to know that if I successfully unlock the card and it dies for ANOTHER reason, could my RMA be rejected?

Or if I try to unlock it and can't, and then return it to stock settings and it later fails, could that RMA be rejected?
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter what reason it dies for if you've unlocked it, you've run it out of spec and voided your warranty. That is what we take issue with.
Although you have very good networking credentials, it's unlikely you will be able to know why your card died. Were the disabled pipes faulty silicon disabled because of a lower life expectancy after QA testing? Did you have a power surge? You wouldn't really know, but the one sure thing is you would have voided your warranty.

I doubt anyone here can answer if they can tell you unlocked it, my guess would be no.
 
I don't know why you guys keep asking this. So here's the skinny:

You buy ANY card. Leave it stock and something goes wrong with it. RMA it.

You buy ANY card. Mod it in ANY way shape or form and something goes wrong with it even if it had nothing to do with what you did to the card (which is something like a capacitor falling off) your stuck with it. You have no right to return the card because there is absolutely no way of knowing whether what you did to the card effected it in any way.

Increasing voltage may have caused a capacitor to overheat and melt its solder and fall off. You have no clue.

So in short, do ANYTHING AT ALL to your card (even underclocking it) and your warranty is void. ANYTHING you do to make it run out of spec.

So by asking the question, "Do you think BFG could tell" indicates that you would indeed RMA the card if you screwed it up if you think BFG couldn't tell.

I have 2 6800GT's and a 6800nu. The GT's I will not touch, they will remain stock throughout their lives in my hands. The 6800nu, I have unlocked the 4 pipes and 6th vertex processor and o/c'd to 350/800. If anything goes wrong with the card, I EAT IT!!. If anything goes wrong with either of my 6800GT's, I have every right to a legitimately RMA them. The only reason I even touched the 6800nu is because I got it VERY cheaply and was willing to risk the card with experimentation. The 6800GT's were not so cheap and I am not willing to eat those costs.

There you have it.
 
The one and only time I have RMA'd a video card back was when the fan died after 3 years of service. BFG quickly replaced the card for me. So you are telling me if that card had been underclocked and the COOLING fan died I would be SOL???
 
Originally posted by: Ryland
The one and only time I have RMA'd a video card back was when the fan died after 3 years of service. BFG quickly replaced the card for me. So you are telling me if that card had been underclocked and the COOLING fan died I would be SOL???
Click to expand...

What part of ANYTHING out of spec don't you understand?

If the cooling fan dies, you should not use the card, am I right? You should RMA right away, not run the card even underclocked with a failed cooling fan. This is common sense folks. Stop trying to drum up scenarios that make it all ok.

 
Originally posted by: MartinCracauer
Back to technical issues:

I can't imagine that unlocking the pipes causes that much more heat. I'd say it's an order of maginitude less extra heat than overclocking.

Did anybody actually measure how much warmer a 6800 gets when you a) overclock b) unlock and c) both?
Click to expand...

I'd actually think it's the other way around. Unlocking the pipes means you're running 33% more transistors (assuming the majority of the heat generated is from the pixel/vertex pipelines, and not, for instance, the memory controller and RAMDACs). Heat output scales pretty much linearly with clockspeed at the same voltages, so I would expect a 10% overclock (for example) to produce about 10% more heat.

So, theoretically, I would think going from 12->16 pipelines would produce about as much heat as overclocking the core 20-30% (which would be, for a 6800NU, about 400-420Mhz on the core). It's impossible to know for sure without someone running tests on an actual card, though.

And RMAing after any kind of modification to your card is bad, if that hasn't been beaten to death enough times yet.
 
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