Generic vs Brand name hardware....

RabeaticSquirrel

Senior member
Apr 11, 2000
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I keep hearing people talk about picking up a GeForce2 for around $150. And of course, when I hit pricewatch I see the card their talking about and it turns out to be a generic card. Are these actually OEM cards, or perhaps cheaper manfacturing process? I assume the Nvidia chips are along the same quality, unless Nvidia is offering OEM chips. Perhaps the PCB is of a lower manfacturing process? Are these cards along the same quality when compared to the same card but of a brand name. Like a Creative or WinFast?
 

odog

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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i think visiontek(the second cheapest according to PW) actually makes ELSA's cards... one of the larger brand names...
 

Whitedog

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 1999
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No, the Cheap cards are NOT the same quality of the name brands, like ASUS..etc..

You get what you pay for.

I don't think those cheap cards are "bad", I just think they are a "gamble"
 

edblor

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2000
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Nvidia bins their chips and the good ones go to the highest bidder (Asus, Hercules, Abit, CL...).

I've heard of the cheaper Geforce 2s actually breaking. The chip actually leaves the PCB! I don't know if I would take a chance with them!

And although Visiontek make Elsa's, they use a different PCB for Elsa's then their lower end cards!!

Edblor