Question about card brands and Reference Cards..

[regularguy]

Are there any real differences in quality between Reference Nvidia Cards from different brands if all are reference cards?

for example a ref design 8800gt from PNY or EVGA? I assume that each company is supposed to manufacture said card itself...but from what I hear is that in reality most of these companies outsource to cheap smaller manufacturers in china and give to the lowest bidder. is this true?

I'm not interested in marketing crap like "double life insurance" and "90 day step up programs" btw, I'm interested in high quality manufacturing that will last..

I was about to get an eVga for example but the amount of stuff i saw on the internet (buyers reviews on shopping sites, etc) about unusually high numbers of DOA and Defective cards really worried me.. and look at this :

http://www.myblog.bloggybloggy...ul-or-myth-17-10-2007/

If so, what are companies that are confirmed to be the real manufacturers of their cards (specially ref design cards) and use good quality components?

 

[Lithan]

Pretty sure all the cards are exactly alike except for the occasional wierd pcb color or different mem chips.

 

[Twsmit]

Most boards out there today are reference design. There is no difference except for the sticker on the card and the bundle/packaging in the box. Biggest consideration should be the warranty and price when it comes down to comparing reference cards.