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I don't buy the f*ck eVGA due to their eGay (and releated) retailers policy. Bottom line is that they CAN'T track nor verify purchases through 3rd party retailers (middle men). Not to mention, they require you to provide a receipt upon step-up/RMA, if it's not from an 'approved' retailer/e-tailer, how are they to verify? Check every single source of sales everywhere across the globe? There's no way they have that kind of manpower in the RMA/CS departments. And you'd better hope they have as best a handle in case of a system wide call back (such a wide recall to eVGA happened w/ Newegg last year), like when there's issues like the 7900s had (and no eVGA wasn't the only one just seemingly the worst due to volume of sales maybe?).
If these eGay, and other non-'approved' sellers are reputable, and want to provide their customers with the best support possible, why can they not go to eVGA and say something like... "We sell our cards @ XXX, buy our cards from XXX (approved distributor)" and so forth. Sure they may not be willing to include them in coverage, and obviously the goal is for them to buy directly from eVGA, but it's worth a try. Why they wouldn't buy from them in the first place I don't know; unless buying from a distributor in low quantities is less expensive (ie: larger discounts from large customers like newegg) than eVGA direct. And on the flip side there, isn't it then a reasonable arguement, if the difference is that high, and the retailer is pushing a couple bucks more profit over proper channels of purchase, that there may be a bad result (losing support) then?
Anyway, more on subject... You pretty much on a level playing field from brand to brand performance wise. As has been said they all come from the same factory, save maybe Gainward (I think), but that only matters for people in Europe really (since they don't sell in the States).
It all comes down to ancillary issues then: warranty & support, price, bundle, cooler choice (same across all G80s is it not?), and other random crap. Personally, I think BFG is overpriced too, at least when viewed in the retail sector (ie: worst buy). And last I checked their warranty policy (in writing not practice [is where it counts..]) doesn't cover multiple owners. Nor do they cover you (explicity) in warranty terms (right? unless they've changed their policies) for overclocking and cooler swaps..In fact if you call for an RMA, you're likely to have them tell you you're SOL, unless you get a cool RMA rep.
I prefer eVGA for their step-up (only useful late in a product cycle and if you intend to use it of course), and their policy of cooler swaps/over clocking being covered..Good forum support from multiple levels of eVGA employees too (not perfect, who is), and they've always been prompt in replies to e-mails (once within 10-15mins @ AFTER 5pm PST).
XFX is a fine choice too - cards priced right, only get a bit expensive in the top level o/c model(s)..Double warranty valuable esp if you intend on selling your 'old' card.. And they seem to like to use BLACK PCB's a lot - something I wish eVGA would do more of. I think they dropped the ball however in ditching their online/customer support forums (in the heat of the 7900 problems) - I don't want to be REQUIRED to call (even if 1-800) just to get an RMA going.
Oh, and lastly - have to agree hating a brand because they're sold @ a big box retailer is plain dumb...What about eVGA and Circuit Sh*tty? Granted, they only seem to carry low end cards (at least in LA area stores), but they're there.
If these eGay, and other non-'approved' sellers are reputable, and want to provide their customers with the best support possible, why can they not go to eVGA and say something like... "We sell our cards @ XXX, buy our cards from XXX (approved distributor)" and so forth. Sure they may not be willing to include them in coverage, and obviously the goal is for them to buy directly from eVGA, but it's worth a try. Why they wouldn't buy from them in the first place I don't know; unless buying from a distributor in low quantities is less expensive (ie: larger discounts from large customers like newegg) than eVGA direct. And on the flip side there, isn't it then a reasonable arguement, if the difference is that high, and the retailer is pushing a couple bucks more profit over proper channels of purchase, that there may be a bad result (losing support) then?
Anyway, more on subject... You pretty much on a level playing field from brand to brand performance wise. As has been said they all come from the same factory, save maybe Gainward (I think), but that only matters for people in Europe really (since they don't sell in the States).
It all comes down to ancillary issues then: warranty & support, price, bundle, cooler choice (same across all G80s is it not?), and other random crap. Personally, I think BFG is overpriced too, at least when viewed in the retail sector (ie: worst buy). And last I checked their warranty policy (in writing not practice [is where it counts..]) doesn't cover multiple owners. Nor do they cover you (explicity) in warranty terms (right? unless they've changed their policies) for overclocking and cooler swaps..In fact if you call for an RMA, you're likely to have them tell you you're SOL, unless you get a cool RMA rep.
I prefer eVGA for their step-up (only useful late in a product cycle and if you intend to use it of course), and their policy of cooler swaps/over clocking being covered..Good forum support from multiple levels of eVGA employees too (not perfect, who is), and they've always been prompt in replies to e-mails (once within 10-15mins @ AFTER 5pm PST).
XFX is a fine choice too - cards priced right, only get a bit expensive in the top level o/c model(s)..Double warranty valuable esp if you intend on selling your 'old' card.. And they seem to like to use BLACK PCB's a lot - something I wish eVGA would do more of. I think they dropped the ball however in ditching their online/customer support forums (in the heat of the 7900 problems) - I don't want to be REQUIRED to call (even if 1-800) just to get an RMA going.
Oh, and lastly - have to agree hating a brand because they're sold @ a big box retailer is plain dumb...What about eVGA and Circuit Sh*tty? Granted, they only seem to carry low end cards (at least in LA area stores), but they're there.
