My new build, thanks to Anandtech forum help

[tynopik]

you haven't included a HSF

 

[TheJian]

All Intel boxed procs have one. He's just taking the cheap way out

The boxed ones work really good if you're not overclocking and are quiet. You can even get some decent overclocks on them. But in that case I'd rather upgrade to a tuniq tower (if on a budget) or Thermalright if I had the money. Then again I went with Koolance water since I DID have the money...LOL.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: TheJian
Check the EVGA, if memory serves it's a 2yr warranty. XFX is lifetime transferable to whoever you sell it to later. You just have to register within 30 days of purchase on their site. To transfer later the buyer has to do the same (or something like that...I only sell them to the first buyer so I never read that far...rofl).

Also with regards to the free Vista: While I'm not a fan of Vista, I like XP, speedy/reliable/secure with a ZA firewall/router and it just got about 10% faster with SP3, but I dual boot my main PC w/vista/xp...SCORE dude. FREE is the best way to get vista. Especially since you'll probably downgrade to XP...LOL No I'm not a total vista hater, just a lot of customers ask how to get rid of it. But when it's free who cares I guess.

EVGA has a lifetime warranty, although theirs isn't transferable the way XFX's is. To be eligible for the warranty you have to register the product on their website within 30 days of purchase, so make sure you do that.

 

[TheJian]

DSF,

You're right. They changed in Nov06. Guess it's been that long since I looked...LOL. It was 3yr before (I think the 2yr must have been ECS...Hard to keep them all straight). My bad. I at least told him to check Usually they inform resellers so we pass that info on. Maybe I missed it.

BTW, just for future ref, BFG just changed also. All cards from Feb 21 2008 must be registered in 30 days (not needed before that) to get lifetime/10 years. So safe cards are now BFG/EVGA/XFX.

It does say on EVGA that parts ending in K1 only have 3yr. Don't know what parts those are though. Must be some cheapy stuff they sell. I've noticed a lot of card makers going all solid caps etc on cards so maybe they feel they'll last forever now (well, until us overclockers get a hold of them...LOL). At this point I'd avoid a card that has regular caps.

My cheapo MSI has the solid caps and is silent because of the Zalman made heatpipe/heatsink. I just got shafted on the warranty (2/2yr parts labor, on purpose I checked and new before buying). IT was $30 less than everything else for an 8800GT though at the time so I didn't care. I was after cheap, silent and overclocked from the get go. Still can't beat if in my mind. I wish everyone would go to the larger fans. What's up with those puny 40mm noise makers? Mine looks like a 60mm and covers the height of the card (I think most 8800GT's have a 60, but I'm talking all cards that require a fan). Very nice, makes no noise even being OC out of the box. Pity they shaft the warranty. I'm not too worried though, my case has no dust (filters) and runs cool with 120's (Antec super lanboy aluminum). Water takes the cpu heat out so she's cold all day. The card should last for years and as a constant upgrader I won't own it for more than 1 anyway...ROFL

It seems motherboard makers have been left behind in warranty. MSI does say 3yr for parts, 2 yr labor. But I call it 2yr/2yr because of this little tidbit:
"3rd Year Warranty Shipping and Handling fees:
For Motherboard: $35.00 per unit
For VGA: $45.00 per unit " Don't forget they are charging LABOR for that 3rd year too!

$45 to ship my video card BACK TO ME? WTF? A $200 8800GT won't be worth that in the 3rd year brand new probably! Still though - READ THE FINE PRINT PEOPLE! I just shipped a Gigabyte motherboard back for $8.16 FEDEX ground. Why $35 then? Why $45 for a card that weighs half of the motherboard? For reference my box weighed 3.9lbs for $8.16 (screw kinko's/postal annex etc) go to a REAL FEDEX for the REAL RATES. Enough of my rant