XFX Bilking the masses - replacing GDDR5 memory with DDR3

[TheDarkKnight]

I just purchased this videocard:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150542

assuming it had a total memory bandwidth of 64GB/second according to this chart:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Islands_(GPU_family)

As you can see from the chart on Wikipedia it shows that "ANY" 6670 videocard sold should be outfitted with GDDR5 memory yielding a total memory bandwidth of 64GB/second.

The piece of **** I just ordered yields a total memory bandwidth of 28.8GB/second when outfitted with DDR3 memory(if I am reading the chart correctly). I already get a total memory bandwidth of 57.6GB/second on my 3 year old 8800GT so this is very upsetting to me. Hopefully, I can cancel this order from newegg before it gets out today but even if I can't this piece of trash is going back. I wanted to upgrade my videocard, not downgrade.

I researched all this for hours before making my purchase and I still got screwed. Thankfully, I caught the shennaigans in time. The same videocard from XFX outfitted with GDDR5 memory is only $5 more after a mail-in rebate. Nothing like selling a product completely out of spec to bilk a few thousand innocent people. Congratulations XFX.

Do not purchase this videocard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150542

It is a complete marketing fraud. For $5 more after rebate you can double your total memory bandwidth by purchasing this videocard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150545

 

[toyota]

yeah I hate when companies do that crap. gddr5 is part of what makes the 6670 a 6670 so they have no business calling it that if they are only using gddr3.

 

[dajeepster]

there are several companies selling this card.. it's not just XFX.. it's standard practice.. gigabyte, powercolor, HIS... doesn't seem like a fair gripe...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=1&PageSize=20

if it was a 6850,6870, 6950, 6970.. then i'd be upset.

 

[busydude]

It is clearly listed on the title and in the "detailed specification section" as 128-bit DDR3. I think you have not researched it well enough.

 

[Red Storm]

It specifically says DDR3 in the title, I don't see any scamming going on.

 

[toyota]

just because its a mid range card does no excuse it. a 6670 is supposed to have 4.0 Gbps GDDR5 and that's the bottom line. there is no official gddr3 model so if a company equips it with that then it technically is no longer a 6670 since it will be quite a bit slower.

yes it does at least say in the description but really they should not be calling it a 6670 in the first place. plus all a consumer will have to go by is 6670 gddr5 benchmarks.

 

[happy medium]

For a measly 5 min of research , you could have just asked here and recieved a link to the real 6770.

Lesson learned.

Oh and Wikipedia sucks.

 

[TheDarkKnight]

I see most of you are missing my point. Yes, it clearly says DDR3 in the title. Only 1 person gets its. Its a 6670 videocard. 6670 is supposed to adhere to certain specifications as outlined by AMD.

XFX is completely disregarding these recommended specifications. I think its okay for companies to add their own little touches to the videocards to set them apart from the rest but using DDR3 memory, which effectively slices the total memory bandwidth in half is ****ng ridiculous. Case closed.

I shouldn't have to worry about reading all the fine print when purchasing a videocard. If its a ****ng 6670 it should be outfitted with GDDR5, PERIOD!!!!

ANYBODY in this forum would be upset if they bought a card they thought had a total memory bandwidth of 64GB/second and it ended up being less than half of that.

Edit: If a reseller like XFX can outfit a 6670 with anything wants what does a model number like 6670 end up telling us in the end? Nothing. Thats whati t tells us. Nothing.

 

[happy medium]

I see most of you are missing my point. Yes, it clearly says DDR3 in the title. Only 1 person gets its. Its a 6670 videocard. 6670 is supposed to adhere to certain specifications as outlined by AMD.

XFX is completely disregarding these recommended specifications. I think its okay for companies to add their own little touches to the videocards to set them apart from the rest but using DDR3 memory, which effectively slices the total memory bandwidth in half is ****ng ridiculous. Case closed.

I shouldn't have to worry about reading all the fine print when purchasing a videocard. If its a ****ng 6670 it should be outfitted with GDDR5, PERIOD!!!!

ANYBODY in this forum would be upset if they bought a card they thought had a total memory bandwidth of 64GB/second and it ended up being less than half of that.

All joking aside, I totally agree with you, its bad business.
Send it back!!

 

[3DVagabond]

It's very clearly marked that it's DDR3. I'm not seeing the problem. Especially since final price after rebates and shipping the DDR5 model is a bit cheaper.

 

[dajeepster]

it's not just one company... HIS, gigabyte and powercolor are doing the exact same thing. why are you attacking just XFX?

 

[toyota]

It's very clearly marked that it's DDR3. I'm not seeing the problem. Especially since final price after rebates and shipping the DDR5 model is a bit cheaper.

you are missing the point. it has no business being called a 6670 since its NOT really a 6670. a 6670 is supposed to operate at a minimum of 800mhz and come with a minimum of 4000mhz memory. making a card below the official specifications and still calling it that same card is wrong.

 

[TheDarkKnight]

it's not just one company... HIS, gigabyte and powercolor are doing the exact same thing. why are you attacking just XFX?

The only reason Im attacking XFX is because their card is the one I purchased on newegg. All the companies should be ashamed of themselves. Anyway, Im getting an RMA number from newegg before this piece of worthless crap even hits my doorstep. I guess I should be happy I caught this so soon, even before I received the package. My incessant research pays off sometimes. I research my purchases before, during, and after purchasing. Still pissed that I have to go through the hassle of an RMA but thats what it is I guess.

 

[MentalIlness]

I see most of you are missing my point. Yes, it clearly says DDR3 in the title. Only 1 person gets its. Its a 6670 videocard. 6670 is supposed to adhere to certain specifications as outlined by AMD.

XFX is completely disregarding these recommended specifications. I think its okay for companies to add their own little touches to the videocards to set them apart from the rest but using DDR3 memory, which effectively slices the total memory bandwidth in half is ****ng ridiculous. Case closed.

I shouldn't have to worry about reading all the fine print when purchasing a videocard. If its a ****ng 6670 it should be outfitted with GDDR5, PERIOD!!!!

ANYBODY in this forum would be upset if they bought a card they thought had a total memory bandwidth of 64GB/second and it ended up being less than half of that.

Edit: If a reseller like XFX can outfit a 6670 with anything wants what does a model number like 6670 end up telling us in the end? Nothing. Thats whati t tells us. Nothing.

The only person here at fault is you. You should have bought the right card to begin with. And products listing titles, is not fine print.

XFX 6670 GDDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150542

XFX 6670 GDDR5 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150545

There are *4* GDDR3 models. And there are *8* GDDR5 models.

 

[Daemas]

I pretty sure that calling something a 6670, 5870, GTX 460, etc is purely based on the chip used for the card. The GDDR5/amount of memory or whatever else is on the reference is merely the recommended configuration.

I don't see you poo-pooing cards from manufacturers that use different outputs than reference on the back.

 

[nonameo]

it IS clearly marketed as having DDR3

but... joesumer doesn't know DDR3 from a bag of lays, and all the benchmarks for 6670's out there will be showcasing GDDR5 variants.

Crap like this makes it hard to shop.

 

[AnandThenMan]

It's a lower cost version of the card, GDDR3 used to save money, I really don't see the big deal. We see lower clocked versions of the same GPU that cost less, have cheaper coolers, less output options, maybe comes with fewer accessories.

Just return it and gets something else.

 

[happy medium]

it IS clearly marketed as having DDR3

but... joesumer doesn't know DDR3 from a bag of lays, and all the benchmarks for 6670's out there will be showcasing GDDR5 variants.

Crap like this makes it hard to shop.

this^^^^^We foget we are the minority, most people don't know this stuff.

 

[toyota]

I pretty sure that calling something a 6670, 5870, GTX 460, etc is purely based on the chip used for the card. The GDDR5/amount of memory or whatever else is on the reference is merely the recommended configuration.

I don't see you poo-pooing cards from manufacturers that use different outputs than reference on the back.

sorry but you are wrong. every card has a official specifications to be called whatever it is. if a 5850 has gddr3 or just 512mb then it is NOT a 5850 based on the official specifications. the gpu itself is only part of the equation. now plenty of cards can have varying specs but you will see those listed if they are offcial. for instance the 4670 officially had either 1800mhz ddr3 or 2000mhz gddr3. if some company stuck ddr2 on there then it is not really a 4670 anymore. same goes for the 6670 as the official specs call for 4000mhz gddr5. its performance in all current reviews will be that model because there is NO official gddr3 model according to AMD.

 

[busydude]

sorry but you are wrong. every card has a official specifications to be called whatever it is. if a 5850 has gddr3 or just 512mb then it is NOT a 5850 based on the official specifications. the gpu itself is only part of the equation. now plenty of cards can have varying specs but you will see those listed if they are offcial. for instance the 4670 officially had either 1800mhz ddr3 or 2000mhz gddr3. if some company stuck ddr2 on there then it is not really a 4670 anymore. same goes for the 6670 as the official specs call for 4000mhz gddr5. its performance in all current reviews will be that model because there is NO official gddr3 model according to AMD.

Lower end cards from either manufacturers has DDR3 and GDDR5 versions.

Nvidia GT 240 and AMD 5550 come to my mind.

EDIT: I am not saying that is the right thing to do, but this has been going on for some time now.

 

[AnandThenMan]

...there is NO official gddr3 model according to AMD.

That's true, but are there not other model variations that are not officially listed on AMD or Nvidia's site? You raise an interesting point for sure. If it was my card, I would email AMD about it, or maybe post about it on Rage3d.com, there are a few members there that have communications with AMD on a regular basis.

The thing is, the card is quite a bit cheaper, so that should be a clue that something about is cut down.

 

[toyota]

Lower end cards from either manufacturers has DDR3 and GDDR5 versions.

Nvidia GT 240 and AMD 5550 come to my mind.

again NO. those cards had other optional memories listed right in their official specs and you can see them right there on the AMD or Nvidia website. the 6670 does NOT have official gddr3 option. does anybody pay attention to any details around here?

 

[AnandThenMan]

So let's say AMD decides to change/update the official specs to include GDDR3 memory as an option. That would be shafting people that already bought the card, potentially they could have made their purchase decision based on what they read on AMD's site

Hmmmm.

 

[Daemas]

sorry but you are wrong. every card has a official specifications to be called whatever it is. if a 5850 has gddr3 or just 512mb then it is NOT a 5850 based on the official specifications. the gpu itself is only part of the equation. now plenty of cards can have varying specs but you will see those listed if they are offcial. for instance the 4670 officially had either 1800mhz ddr3 or 2000mhz gddr3. if some company stuck ddr2 on there then it is not really a 4670 anymore. same goes for the 6670 as the official specs call for 4000mhz gddr5. its performance in all current reviews will be that model because there is NO official gddr3 model according to AMD.

After taking a look, you are indeed correct.

EDIT: However, it does mean that ANY non-reference card made is not what it says it is. Details are details are details. Core clock is just as important as length or weight. Any OCed cards are mislabeled and misadvertised. Newegg and the manufacturers would then be committing interstate wire fraud, etc.

 

[busydude]

nvm..