Worried about getting a new GTX 280

[Mango1970]

So I did it... I sold my trust 2 8800GTX cards. I am still crying about it as those were simply the BEST video cards I ever owned. I honestly think it was the ONE and BEST video cards nVidia ever made... period.

Anyhow my goal was to get a 9800 GX2. I can get one locally for just under $300 CAD and that would mean still money in my pocket after selling the 2 8800 GTX cards. However after some research I decided to not get that card. I also found locally lots of GTX 260 cards for as low as $329 CAD. I was ready to pull the trigger when on NCIX I see consistently a 280 GTX from BFG for about $369. I mean what the hell right? So then I read so many reviews and I am worried about having to RMA that card due to heat issues. If that is not the case then will my PC P&C 750 be able to power that beast with 3 HD and a Q9550?

Are there issues specifically with BFG? why is it that I keep seeing the BFG GTX 280's for less than $400 where everyone else's is like $500+?? I really want to go to a one card solution but I honestly want to have a card that was as quiet and cool as my eVGA 8800 GTX cards as well as having more than 512 video memory. I can't seem to find anything else unless I go for a 1GB 4780 but I can't seem to find any of those around. The 4870X2's are just stupid expensive so forget that.

Am I looking at a whole bunch of trouble going for a BFG GTX 280? should I spend the extra and say wait for a newer revision or go for an eVGA?

PS I game at 1920X1200 with 4 GB or DDR2 on XP

 

[HOOfan 1]

2 8800GTX would have been faster than a 9800GX2....in games that support SLi they would be faster than a single GTX 280 also. But since 9800GX2 is SLi in a single card, it would have the same issues 8800GTX Sli would have had.

Why would you assume that RMA issues are exclusive to BFG, just because you see them for cheaper? In my experience, the BFG cards have been more expensive than eVGA, and I certainly haven't seem more claims of defective GTX 280s from BFG, than other companies. Nor have I seen more problems with heat on the GTX 280 than I have for the HD4870.

 

[Mango1970]

Good to hear. I just read a few posts where folks had some issues with BFG and especially their GTX 280. I have always been a eVGA boy... and all the deals I can find locally or through NCIX (Canada) seem to revolve around BFG for the 280 so I just "assumed" they were either inferior or companies trying to get rid fo them. Consider it me being suspicious. Also consider that absolutely none of the games I play take advantage of SLI (Sigh)... I play EQ mainly... Civ (yes folks still play that)... Age of Empires(love it) and the StarCraft (I can't wait for the new one.. OMG is it out yet??). Also play Wow. Anyhow I guess I want a video card that running on its own will be faster than the 2 8800GTX I had... I could not let the deal go that I got for selling them... someone wanted them bad... and I mean they could have gotten a newer card but they insisted on the 8800 GTX's so who am I to stop them. Anyhow my issues were leaning more towards the "few" reviews I read about how hot they get and how load or what insane PSU you need to run them.

 

[HOOfan 1]

with the games you just listed, you would have been fine with a single 8800GTX....You would have been fine with a single 8800GT.

 

[Mango1970]

Well said... heck my older ATI X1950 XTX I just dropped in in the meantime seems to be doing just well on those games as I write this. Damn.. so much for looking forward to something new

 

[Mr Burns]

I had problems with a bgf 280 oc i got for 330 after the rebate if i ever get it and about $55 live cashback. Anyway, it was going up to 113 celsius and crashing the computer everytime i started anything 3d. I would just be in a menu and it would heat up like that, didn't get to start anything for more than 2 minutes or so.

Sent it back, waiting for the replacement. They won't pay for your shipping unless you bitch about it for some days and then the next card might do the same (from what I've heard). So yes, the possiblity is there, but most cards should hopefully be fine.

 

[Apocalypse23]

from my own experience, and this is from about 3 years back when I had to send a fx5900 AGP rma to BFG, they sent me one which was still defective. BFG is garbage I think. EVGA and XFX are the way to go with regards to lifetime warranties. Productwise, I'd say evga, xfx, PNY, and a few more are the way to go.