Evga step up... What's the point?

[lavaheadache]

With gpu releases becoming so far apart i feel like evga's 90 day step up window is nearly useless. Ofcourse it works out well for people who buy midrange first as it leaves room for step up. The only way it ever works out for people who buy top end is if you buy right near the end of the gpu cycle hoping to catch the new launch within your window.

One way they could make it better is they allowed you to step up to special editions like Hydrocoppers, classifieds, superclocks...

 

[3DVagabond]

I think it's intended as insurance for peace of mind that if your card is going to be superseded for at least 3 months you'll have recourse, albeit by paying even more money. I believe it also extends the warranty to 5 years, right? So, insurance to protect your investment.

 

[Big Roger]

TO be eligible you have to take out warranty+. 5 or 3 years.

I think it's a good idea. At least, if you feel the need to upgrade it saves the hassle of selling on ebay or something similar and taking a loss if you find yourself selling 2nd hand.

If there is a new card released and maybe even the prices go down of the original card bought, but I feel the need to upgrade, the step up to the new card's price is the same total amount I would have paid if I had waited those 3 months.

I'm considering it on my 770 with a view to a Ti as I have a multi monitor set up in mind soon.

 

[Hauk]

Good point Lava. Step-up is less relevant these days, especially not being able to step up to customs. Would be great if so though, grab a reference and step up to custom as they come out.

 

[MiRai]

TO be eligible you have to take out warranty+. 5 or 3 years.

You only need to register your product within the first 90 days of purchasing it, on EVGA's website, in order for it to be eligible for the Step-Up program. There are some exceptions, but every single part number on every current-gen GPU that they currently offer (on the U.S. site) ends with a -KR suffix, which automatically makes them eligible.

http://www.evga.com/support/stepup/

 

[blackened23]

Basically, step up is worthless because of the 90 day window. People automatically consider it a value add when they don't read the fine print....

Even worse is that you can only get reference PCB cards.

 

[MiRai]

Even worse is that you can only get reference PCB cards.

That's what I really dislike about it. Two years ago I asked them why non-reference cards weren't available in the Step-Up program and they said it's because of their limited quantities. I then suggested that they could take advantage of that by charging an extra premium to Step-Up to non-reference cards with limited quantities. They didn't sound like they were interested, but with the amount of money that people spend on their GPUs each refresh, I think they'd make a fortune with it.

 

[Big Roger]

You only need to register your product within the first 90 days of purchasing it, on EVGA's website, in order for it to be eligible for the Step-Up program. There are some exceptions, but every single part number on every current-gen GPU that they currently offer (on the U.S. site) ends with a -KR suffix, which automatically makes them eligible.

http://www.evga.com/support/stepup/

'If you should happen to miss your 14 day registration window on your 3 Year Warranty product then you may also purchase an extended warranty within 90 days of your original purchase date to enable the Step-Up option.'

Taken from their website.


So you have to reg in the first 14 days, if not...then you need the extra cover. That's how I read it anyway.

Also, it's not a value add. It's just an option, take it or leave it.
I think it's a good idea and reference cards are fine for me.

I think it's a good option to have and really doesn't deserve knocking. The different 'sideways' step ups would be an interesting addition to the possibilities but, I can understand why they don't bother.

 

[blastingcap]

Marketing is the point.

 

[NickelPlate]

It's a money maker for EVGA, otherwise they wouldn't offer it.

 

[Big Roger]

Of course it is. It isn't hard to work that out.

 

[Teizo]

Well, if you buy a mid to lower tier GPU...it makes getting a higher tier GPU better.

Granted they only allow reference designs, but thankfully Nvidia reference designs are really good. I mean, hard to complain about the cooler on the 780 and up. They may not overclock as well as non-reference cards, but the cards will still perform good.

I do agree though that they should allow you to step up to non-reference cards. Last I checked though they did have some ACX available for step up though.