Would you buy a GTX 980 Ti Production OEM sample for $500 or not a good idea?

LGabrielPhoto

LGabrielPhoto

2[H]4U
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
3,240
I was offered a so called Production OEM sample for $500 which is very tempting with stock speed 1000Mhz and boost 1200Mhz.
Do you think its worth it or better wait for possible offers during Black Friday and used prices?

ASIC 70.6%
 
Sounds suspicious. Production samples are not supposed to be in the hands of those outside the company, and those that do leak out usually go for a pretty penny. I'd ask for detailed, high resolution pictures of the thing if I were serious, including the bare GPU with the HSF assembly removed.

If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
 
Do these high end cards ever go on sale on Black Friday? Iv'e never seen a top tier card like the 980ti go on sale unless Nvidia announces a price drop.
 
husker4life said:
Do these high end cards ever go on sale on Black Friday? Iv'e never seen a top tier card like the 980ti go on sale unless Nvidia announces a price drop.
Click to expand...

No idea...was just wondering if that ever happens to figure out which way to go on this.
 
Okay, it looks like you used confusing language to some of us. "Production sample" is a specific term that refers to the final product that was the result of testing manufacturing processes and tolerances. What this person is selling on eBay is a "reference" video card, meaning it follows the reference design from the OEM and which AIB partners reproduce and sell. NVIDIA themselves can make these cards, but they are only sold through the NVIDIA store or Best Buy.

In general you won't know who actually made the card unless you see the product warranty sticker affixed to the product (usually on the back of the PCB). This card being sold is described as a reference card on eBay and looks like it in the picture on the listing you linked to. I would say it's okay. He's probably starting relatively low for a fire sale or hoping bidding will bring the price up.
 
So this person bought it from someone else who told him it was and OEM production sample..thats is exactly how he put it when we got in contact via PM at reddit.
I was just afraid of it being some pre release version or something like that. I mean $500 is still a good chunk of money :)
 
bloodypulp said:
it magically fell off the production line, or maybe it's a Best Buy Nvidia board
Click to expand...


The "Magically" part is what bothers me a bit...kind of an unclear origin for this card based on the reddit thread about the original seller there... :eek:
The seller selling now is legit to my eyes but the original seller and origin is what intrigues me.
 
A 'production oem' sample might be an engineering sample, I don't know if nvidia is like intel with engineering samples

Intel engineering samples show up on ebay quite often even though they aren't supposed to be sold / are property of Intel.

I'd be a little wary, could be hit or miss.
 
I think I'd go for a retail card + game bundle + warranty for 20% more...
 
dragonageinquisition said:
Certainly not for $500. There have been retail 980 Tis sold from reputable [H] sellers for less than that lmao.
Click to expand...
Really? A 980ti for less than 500 here? :eek:
It seems everyone I see posted lately people is asking $600 or more aside from one that was asking for $575 so I must be very unlucky with my timing :/
 
Last edited:
dragonageinquisition said:
Certainly not for $500. There have been retail 980 Tis sold from reputable [H] sellers for less than that lmao.
Click to expand...

shaolin95 said:
Really? A 980ti for less than 500 here? :eek:
It seems everyone I see posted lately people is asking $600 or more aside from one that was asking for $575 so I must be very unlucky with my timing :/
Click to expand...

Yeah, please point to these sub $500 980TIs for sale..I will happily buy them all and resell them locally for $550 :D..


OP, buy the item through eBay..That way you are protected and you can get a SquareTrade warranty if you want..If you buy through PP you are protected as well, just make sure you do NOT gift the payment to the seller in question.
 
ccityinstaller said:
Yeah, please point to these sub $500 980TIs for sale..I will happily buy them all and resell them locally for $550 :D..


OP, buy the item through eBay..That way you are protected and you can get a SquareTrade warranty if you want..If you buy through PP you are protected as well, just make sure you do NOT gift the payment to the seller in question.
Click to expand...

I ended up buying one for $550 here EVGA SC+ with warranty and all accessories so well worth the extra $50 for resell value alone imo.
Thanks! :)
 
As an eBay Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
harmattan said:
Have had a bunch of cards with no branding on them. This is normally the case for early-release cards. I wouldn't let that stop you.
Click to expand...

In this case was the origin of the card that stopped me.
The original seller was banned from another thread because of him not wanting to explain where his "supplier" as he calls it was getting cards from.
 
ccityinstaller said:
Yeah, please point to these sub $500 980TIs for sale..I will happily buy them all and resell them locally for $550 :D..


OP, buy the item through eBay..That way you are protected and you can get a SquareTrade warranty if you want..If you buy through PP you are protected as well, just make sure you do NOT gift the payment to the seller in question.
Click to expand...

One sold for $420 a while back also a 980 ti HoF went for $520. Plus I got one on Craigslist a while back for $350. He'll locally there's one coin for $450 on Craigslist and the ad is still up lol. You guys pay too much. Even on eBay you see one go for $500 shipped like once a week. Just gotta be proactive.
 
dragonageinquisition said:
One sold for $420 a while back also a 980 ti HoF went for $520. Plus I got one on Craigslist a while back for $350. He'll locally there's one coin for $450 on Craigslist and the ad is still up lol. You guys pay too much. Even on eBay you see one go for $500 shipped like once a week. Just gotta be proactive.
Click to expand...

Good for you that you are that lucky...moving on...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top