VisionTek Sold Defective nVidia VideoCards (!?)

[BlvdKing]

I have a VT GF3 Ti 200 that is running fine right now. The fan went out on the card a couple months after I bought it, so I RMA'd it and got one with a HS/Fan from the old GF2 Ultra. When I got that card back the bracket was bent and I had to use some pliers to bend it back in shape so I could screw it down to the case. The card has been running great since then though, and fairly abused as well. Despite the rocky start, I am happy with the card.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Prior to the Offering, Nvidia shipped to VisionTek $6-8 million worth of defective Component Parts

It doesn't say which "component parts" were defective . . . . just that VT used them after being paid not to.

Yah, I read the first post as well, but that doesn't change the fact that nVidia doesn't make or distribute anything but GPUs (prior to the 5800, which was contracted-out and distributed to AIB partners). Actually, they don't make anything at all.

The only other conceivable component would be RAM, but nVidia didn't consider brokering RAM package deals for their AIB partners until the FX line. They're not shipping $6-8 million worth of GPU fans that cost $.10 per fan made in China when its well-known that OEMs are free to choose their own cooling solutions.

Chiz

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: PrinceXizor
nonsense? hmm...oh well, I suppose you will view my posts the way you want. I'm not interested in starting a flamewar, so I won't.

P-X

I was simply responding to your allegations "in kind". And I certainly did NOT say I viewed everything you opine as nonsense.

And Chiz, I am NOT saying the defective parts were fans. SIMPLY that it could have been something SIMPLE - "like/as a fan".

Damn!... Sometimes i get the feeling I am being nitpicked just for "sport".

edit: From the article, we DO know that VT is ALLEGED to have used defective component PARTS in their cards that they were PAID to destroy. That's all folks . . . .

 

[oldfart]

My guess is still the GF2 GTS-V. Visiontek was the only company selling the downclocked card. Maybe the cores didn't pass standards, although anyone that had them were able to reach normal GTS speeds anyway.

 

[chizow]

The GF2 theory is actually very sound. I do remember the GTS-V going for dirt-cheap at Newegg, like $60 a pop OEM when retail was going for $120 or more. I also do recall not buying one b/c of numerous reports of the part being defective.

To add a bit more speculation to the mix, VT wasn't paid to destroy them, they received a credit for the defective parts shipped by nVidia under agreement the parts would be destroyed. For those not familiar with the manufacturing/retail industry, rather than having more money exchange hands, credit is issued to long-standing channel partners. To make it easier to visualize, say you buy something at a retail store like Best Buy; if you return that item as defective, rather than say Sony cutting a check to Best Buy for a few hundred bucks, they issue them a credit that will be put towards future orders/shipments. As the article states, VisionTek was strapped for cash, so basically they had paid for goods from nVidia but that didn't do them much good in the meantime (they had no cash, AND had no product to sell). The credit issued from nVidia would be put towards future GPU shipments, but instead VisionTek decided to "double-dip" and sell both the current defective product and as a bonus, get free GPUs in the future.

Part of that credit could have easily been the GF3 Ti200 GPU shipments, as VisionTek offered perpetual rebates for significantly less than the competition within a few months of the parts release (black Friday GF3 Ti200s). From VisionTek's standpoint, they could offer the significant rebates since they essentially got the GPUs for free. By offering a rebate, they were basically taking out a loan, stealing from Peter (you) to pay Paul (the rebate).

Chiz

 

[bluemax]

Makes you wonder about buying one of these... "bitchin" VisionTek Radeon cards....

 

[weeber]

Originally posted by: rbV5

Anybody have a "bad" nVidia VisionTek Card?

Isn't it Visiontek cards that are unable to play DVD's (copy protected DVD's) using the newer NVidia drivers due to Visiontek using the TV chip without the macrovision protection circuit? Something to do with GF3's VGA/TV-output implementation IIRC. Maybe I'm thinking of something else.

I have had a Visiontek 4200 since August, and have been running it overclocked since that time with out any issues.

Just to clear up the issue above, I got this problem when I tried to play DVDs with PowerDVD and the new drivers. However, Cyberlink has a patch out that will fix this issue. I think PowerDVD was the only program that exhibits this problem.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: chizow
The GF2 theory is actually very sound. I do remember the GTS-V going for dirt-cheap at Newegg, like $60 a pop OEM when retail was going for $120 or more. I also do recall not buying one b/c of numerous reports of the part being defective.

To add a bit more speculation to the mix, VT wasn't paid to destroy them, they received a credit for the defective parts shipped by nVidia under agreement the parts would be destroyed. For those not familiar with the manufacturing/retail industry, rather than having more money exchange hands, credit is issued to long-standing channel partners. To make it easier to visualize, say you buy something at a retail store like Best Buy; if you return that item as defective, rather than say Sony cutting a check to Best Buy for a few hundred bucks, they issue them a credit that will be put towards future orders/shipments. As the article states, VisionTek was strapped for cash, so basically they had paid for goods from nVidia but that didn't do them much good in the meantime (they had no cash, AND had no product to sell). The credit issued from nVidia would be put towards future GPU shipments, but instead VisionTek decided to "double-dip" and sell both the current defective product and as a bonus, get free GPUs in the future.

Part of that credit could have easily been the GF3 Ti200 GPU shipments, as VisionTek offered perpetual rebates for significantly less than the competition within a few months of the parts release (black Friday GF3 Ti200s). From VisionTek's standpoint, they could offer the significant rebates since they essentially got the GPUs for free. By offering a rebate, they were basically taking out a loan, stealing from Peter (you) to pay Paul (the rebate).

Chiz

A "likely" scenario.

And you are picking on me for my speculation?

HOWEVER - for those saying the current VT might have problems, the HardOCP article stated:

VisionTek is a much different company than it used to be. The "new" VisionTek is now a division of Hartford Computer Group. Few employees are shared between the old and new VisionTeks. VisionTek has moved on from even selling NVIDIA based graphics cards any more and have a new line of R350 and RV350 based ATI solutions that you will soon see for sale in the USA.

And We READ THIS:

One of the key defendants in the suit is Mark Polinsky, former VisionTek CEO. The current VisionTek cannot be included in the lawsuit due to its filing of Bankruptcy. VisionTek verified to me today on the phone that Mark Polinsky is not a current full-time employee of VisionTek. It was stated that Mr. Polinsky is contracted to VisionTek currently in a ?consultant? capacity.

EDIT: I "get it" now. The OLD VisionTek CEO is getting sued - "defendant".

The plaintiffs in the case are various individuals and associations, which are claiming that due to the defendants? fraudulent actions, lost millions of dollars invested in VisionTek.

EDITED. So the New VisionTek is getting "hurt" by the negative publicity EVEN THOUGH they are NOT A PARTY TO THE LAWSUIT in any form.




So DON'T worry about your new VisionTek Radeons.

 

[oldfart]

They sold a lot of the GTS-V cards. I put one in a friends PC and it was fine (still is). It overclocked to normal speed without a blink. It was a great deal at the time. Kind of like the original Radeon LE.

 

[bluemax]

Originally posted by: oldfart
They sold a lot of the GTS-V cards. I put one in a friends PC and it was fine (still is). It overclocked to normal speed without a blink. It was a great deal at the time. Kind of like the original Radeon LE.

Only no BIOS flashes and tweaking required.

 

[NFS4]

http://www.visiontek.com/response.html