GeForce256 SDR or DDR?

[GmanNY]

I recently bought an Elsa Erazor X2 GeForce256 DDR board that was extracted from a Dell Computer at a local computer show. It was marked as a DDR board. However, I recently looked at the new FAQ at geforcefaq.com which explained how to tell the difference between a DDR and SDR board. It stated that a DDR board's memory should be attached at all four sides since they are usually SGRAM and an SDR board's memory should be attached at only 2 sides since they are usually SDRAM. Well, lo and behold, my board's memory is connected at only 2 sides. All pictures I have seen of the Elsa DDR board show the memory with 4 side connections. Does anyone know if Elsa made any boards with DDR SDRAM or did I just get shafted with a SDR board? Are there any other ways to tell if it is a DDR board? As for benchmarks, all I have is 3DMark 2000 - which was around 4200 on an AMD Duron 600@800Mhz with 128MB PC133 memory.

 

[Killrose]

I think Infineon is the only current Mfg. of DDR video memory. What does it say on the chips? Does it say "DDR" on the video card I.D. on boot up splash screen? If you can overclock the card what is the current ram speed you now have, if its over 300mhz you can bet it's DDR. Both my Leadtek DDR and my Asus DDR do have four sided contacts.
Sorry I can't offer a definite answer for you

 

[GmanNY]

The memory is Samsung and the memory speed is 172Mhz. I guess that makes it an SDR board, eh?

 

[Varborta]

what kind of question is this...
if you got alittle extra money or want much better performer more bang for the buck then go for DDR. Otherwise, sdr. They are eseentially based on the same core. But different memory where the MAJOR bottleneck are.

 

[GmanNY]

Ugh!!! I just looked at Powerstrip's graphics card information - and it's there - this is and SDR board. I got shafted big time. It's been about 2 months now with this card - I really doubt they'll take it back.

 

[Syn]

Varborta he's saying that it was marked and sold to him as a DDR card but it turned out to be a SDR card.


GmanNY even if it's been a while I would still contact them (if possible) and tell them how PO'ed you are about it.

 

[Packet]

Yeah,

If I am not mistaken, what they did was quite illegal.
Would be the same as selling an overclocked CPU as its higher speed. (ie. selling an OCed 500 at 600 cost). While it may be a pain to actually go through with a lawsuit and such, you can always scare them into giving you a real DDR.

CompUSA wouldn't give my friend a Raincheck on a CDRW deal they had in a magazine, and in the state of michigan it is illegal to do so if your add does not state "While supplies last". He registered a complaint to sue, and they gave him one for free.

 

[GmanNY]

I contacted them and spoke to the owner of the operation. He said he was told by the people he got them from that they were in fact DDR cards. He states that he looked at photos of real Elsa x2 cards and said they didn't look the same but his supplier said since they were packaged specifically for Dell that they would look different. He offered to refund my money ($119) but I didn't think it was worth the hassle. For about the same money I could get a GeForce2MX which has just about the same performance and I'm not willing to fork over more money for a GeForce2. He said that he would give me a good deal on another item when I see him at the next local computer show. He doesn't have any GeForce256 DDR cards. He sold about another 9 or 10 of these. The company is CD Roms Plus out of New Hampshire. People should check if they bought one of these babies.

 

[Killrose]

Get your money back. You can get used DDR boards from good traders on the for sale trade boards for $85-$105 , and they perform quite a bit better than an MX or SDR. Look at the 32bit bench marks.

 

[ChipNOW]

The Erazor X2 is a DDR board - you've been ripped if they've told you it's that. The SDR version is the Erazor X.

 

[Taz4158]

Get the cash back and buy from the FS forum here. You'll definitely do better.

 

[GmanNY]

I spoke to the guy again today with my brother-in-law who also bought one of these cards at the same time. The guy was a complete a**hole. He kept saying "what do I want?" I asked for either my money back or for a Geforce256 DDR card. He said he would work with me. His idea of working with me was to give me a DDR card for forking over another $80 which comes to $200 which was the going rate at the time. I told him what he did was illegal and he said to sue him. He also stated that 20 other cards were sold so there are 20 other people out there that think they have a DDR card but don't. The problem is my receipt only says Elsa 32MB AGP - no mention of DDR vs SDR and I no longer have the box that had the card identified as a DDR card. The man does not dispute the fact that he sold it as a DDR card, but I'm sure he would when a lawyer talks to him. Is it even worth suing the guy? Anyway, so everyone knows who NOT to buy from - CD Roms Plus, Inc. from Salem, NH www.mmplay.com. Please let everyone you know that this is a poor company to do business with. Also if you know anyone who may have bought one please have them respond to this message.

 

[acroig]

Call your state's better business bureau. That may get to them sooner or later.

 

[GmanNY]

I just sent an email to Connecticut's Attorney General (I bought the card at a Conn. computer show). We'll see where it goes from here.

 

[GmanNY]

I contacted the vendor again and this time he was more receptive than the last time we spoke. He admits that he would probably feel the same as I did but he needs to contact his supplier first before any refund will be given. Still haven't heard anything from the attorney general.

 

[acroig]

Keep at them. If the vendor knew that it was not a DDR card yet sold it as such it fraud. However, you have to prove that he knew it was not a DDR. Don't forget about the beter business bureau. That, with your complaint to the attorney general, may get this guy to change his attitude.

 

[GmanNY]

His stance is that he did not know it was not DDR and that it was his supplier who told him it was. But I have our telephone conversation on tape showing that he is not disputing the fact that the card is not DDR, he is just disputing what he should do about it. What is the BBB going to do? They have no real authority, they'll just log the complaint and maybe arbitrate. But if he is unwilling to refund my money, they really can't do anything, can they?

 

[GmanNY]

Also, if I do get my money back, is it worth it to fork over another $45 to get a GeForce2 GTS 32MB card - I found an Inno3D card for $165, or should I get a GeForce256 DDR card for $100-120, or a GeForce2MX and pocket some cash?

 

[GmanNY]

I just got an email from the owner. He is taking the board back and refunding my money. I guess the lawsuit idea worked. And I went ahead and purchased a Visiontek Geforce2 GTS 32MB card from Googlegear.com for $153. Spent a little extra money, but am getting a much better card. Should get it in a couple of days. Thanks everyone for all the help.