Screwed By XFX RMA????

[Stormrider2000]

Hey Guys,
Bought 2 Radeon HD 5870's and 1 was DOA, got it RMA'd thru XFX and they sent me what appears to be a used cheaper card that isnt even the same model i sent to them. Is this typical or did i get the Big Screw job??? Look @ the back of that card, missing something??

http://img826.imageshack.us/i/img00009201010051936.jpg
http://img408.imageshack.us/i/img00008201010051935.jpg
http://img339.imageshack.us/i/img00006201010051934.jpg
http://img508.imageshack.us/i/img00007201010051934.jpg
http://img843.imageshack.us/i/img00005201010051934.jpg
http://img32.imageshack.us/i/img00010201010051937.jpg

Storm

 

[Lord_Exodia]

Damn dude, sorry to see that.

How does the replacement card run? Temps/ clock speed same?

Sorry to say this but if its a 5870 then it's bound to be used. I believe AMD halted production on those GPU's months ago. What's floating around in RMA deparmtents now on a year old card like that are probably all refurbs. If the quality is poor call them back and request a better quality RMA and at least demand it's the exact same model with the same clocks etc...

 

[Jshay]

The one you bought is made by ATI. It's the reference cards that were handed out to different manufacturers. Those were the highest quality ones.

XFX then started making their own 5870s when the supply of reference ones ran dry. What you got was a non reference 5870. Has the same spec's as your other one but has a major difference under the hood.

1) Cheaper PCB = No voltage controls = Lower overclocking results.

 

[Stormrider2000]

Looks like the thing had been either water cooled or the heat spreader removed @ some point. Just really disappointing to get something like this after sending them a brand new DOA..Yeah, now it runs but for how long? I'll put it thru its paces this weekend and see if it runs stable and if not then it goes in the HTPC and i deal with the single good card which runs great. Just wanted some feedback from you guys as this was my 1st RMA. Cheers

Storm

 

[Cbshahji]

ha ha been there i bought the 7950x2 for $600 and after two year it went bad. Yes the replacement was suppose to be upgread as 8800 alphadog edition. many forum user told me it's a good upgread with DX10 support, but only i knew how the card it. all greecy and sticky with dust and stuff sticked to it. the freaking fan was 5 times louder than the 7950 and the card run so hot i litarally didn't needed heater during winter with window open i might add. fortunataly i was able to upgread to gigabyte 9600GT and the old card i put it at work where the noice/extra heat won't affect me much.

 

[Stormrider2000]

Mine was NIB and the replacement is a hasbeen refurb thats not even the same model and clock, yeah not feeling all that jazzed about XFX products going forward. The best part, the power plugs are stuck inside 1 of the air intacts, that makes alot of sense.

Storm

 

[covertash]

I've gone through an RMA with them before and yeah the service is pretty mediocre compared other companies. However, if you really are adamant and call them on the phone, they are more receptive and can give you a quicker response as opposed to going through their ticketing service. Plus, if you are polite but firm on your position, you can always ask to speak to a supervisor, which has more often than not led to the decision going in favor of the consumer.

Personally, I think since you payed a good amount of money towards a reference design card, the least they could do is offer the option to repair your original reference one instead of just defaulting to these non-reference cards. Had you originally purchased a non-reference card to begin with, it would be a different story, but this is not the case.

Again, I say give them a call if you are not happy with this outcome. Unless you feel it may be a waste of time, you've got absolutely nothing to lose.

 

[magoo]

Your replacement was/is generation 2 of the 5870.

You will notice it has no backplate and the fan is larger and moved to the center.
Your RMA card has the same chip but the PCB design is different, that is all.

It may or may not have been used or refurbished, the only thing that any AIB partner tells you is they will replace a defective product with equivalent or better part, in working condition.

 

[SeaFoam]

Your replacement was/is generation 2 of the 5870.

You will notice it has no backplate and the fan is larger and moved to the center.
Your RMA card has the same chip but the PCB design is different, that is all.

It may or may not have been used or refurbished, the only thing that any AIB partner tells you is they will replace a defective product with equivalent or better part, in working condition.

You can't voltmod that card though - it may be ok for him, but I would be fuckin pissed.

 

[piscian18]

Yeah thats non-reference I had for a while. Good card though I had no complaints I would demand they give you the same run or a better model.

 

[KILLER_K]

I would call them back and tell them you was running crossfire. And you need a matching card again. As most will ask if it was a single card or sli/crossfire configuration. Good luck and ope it turns out well for you the next go around.

 

[magoo]

I would call them back and tell them you was running crossfire. And you need a matching card again. As most will ask if it was a single card or sli/crossfire configuration. Good luck and ope it turns out well for you the next go around.

You can Crossfire those two models, so that argument will hold no water at all.

You can't voltmod that card though - it may be ok for him, but I would be fuckin pissed.

The only AIB that honestly advertises VCore adjustment actively is ASUS.
The card was never advertized as such, pissed or not, XFX isn't bound to replace the card identically.
Yes, it's too bad; but there may not be any of those cards to be had.

 

[covertash]

Yes, it's too bad; but there may not be any of those cards to be had.

He did send in his reference board that was DOA. He may be able to ask if they could do a repair job on it. Yes, they can say no, but he's got nothing to lose just to ask.

 

[Lord_Exodia]

Mine was NIB and the replacement is a hasbeen refurb thats not even the same model and clock, yeah not feeling all that jazzed about XFX products going forward. The best part, the power plugs are stuck inside 1 of the air intacts, that makes alot of sense.

Storm

If your last card was an overclock XFX model and this one is a stock model then they did do you a dis service. I had a feeling that is what happened. They need to correct that issue and get you another card that has the same out of box clocks as the card you originally sent in. You should call. Only thing is expect the next card to be an non reference card like the one you have. Also the overclocked model may come with a slightly higher voltage so that it can support that out of box overclock which should allow you to overclock just a little better. Not as good as if you could volt mod the card and as always YMMV but they sent you an inferior product if the clocks are not the same as you say above.

 

[SeaFoam]

On top of all that if OP is anything like me when I had CFed cards I made sure they looked the same. I think it looks messy having two different looking cards.

 

[Spare-Flair]

Reference cards have not been manufactured for months. That's the 2nd revision model that has been for sale for a long time. It does lack voltage control but that has never been an advertised feature unless you buy one of the specific overclocking feature cards from ASUS or MSI.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...4150476&cm_re=XfX_5870-_-14-150-476-_-Product

This is standard practice in the industry. They only have an obligation to give you something of equivalent or better factory performance.

Looks like the card is a refurb from someone who was doing watercooling or something else odd with that card. Maybe it's been repaired and reflowed or has had some kind of insulating substance put on the back during the refurb process or for cooling insulation. They only have an obligation to send you something that works.

Register the new card you got and you still have a lifetime warranty with it (compared to other companies who won't give you that) and if it breaks down, send it in again in a year or two and you might get something better.

I got upgraded by XFX from an 8800GT to a 9800GTX.

I don't understand how this is a screw job. The card may not be pretty but it works doesn't it? If you want matching cards, sell one of them (as the lifetime warranty is a selling feature) and buy a new one?

If it's still a big deal, complain to XFX and you might get an exchange. Tell them the card is dirty and has gunk all over it. You could also try the local XFX rep:
http://hardforum.com/member.php?u=143946

 

[Lord_Exodia]

Reference cards have not been manufactured for months. That's the 2nd revision model that has been for sale for a long time. It does lack voltage control but that has never been an advertised feature unless you buy one of the specific overclocking feature cards from ASUS or MSI.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...4150476&cm_re=XfX_5870-_-14-150-476-_-Product

This is standard practice in the industry. They only have an obligation to give you something of equivalent or better factory performance.

Looks like the card is a refurb from someone who was doing watercooling or something else odd with that card. Maybe it's been repaired and reflowed or has had some kind of insulating substance put on the back (liquid nitrogen?) They only have an obligation to send you something that works.

Register the new card you got and you still have a lifetime warranty with it (compared to other companies who won't give you that) and if it breaks down, send it in again in a year or two and you might get something better.

I got upgraded by XFX from an 8800GT to a 9800GTX.

I don't understand how this is a screw job. The card may not be pretty but it works doesn't it? If you want matching cards, sell one of them (as the lifetime warranty is a selling feature) and buy a new one?

If it's still a big deal, complain to XFX and you might get an exchange. Tell them the card is dirty and has gunk all over it. You could also try the local XFX rep:
http://hardforum.com/member.php?u=143946

Read post # 6, the card they sent him does not have the same clocks. So he bought and sent in a overclocked card and they sent him a stock clocked card. He should be able to send it in for the correct card to be sent. Granted it wont be a reference model, it should have a slightly higher voltage and the same clocks he had paid for originally.

 

[Cschill1290]

There's another thread in this section about XFX RMA. The XFX rep that's assigned to our forums posted in there and said he would review the RMA case for the person and see what he could do for them. May want to give him a PM and see if he can help you out here.

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1551065 - Link to the other thread.

 

[Spare-Flair]

Read post # 6, the card they sent him does not have the same clocks. So he bought and sent in a overclocked card and they sent him a stock clocked card. He should be able to send it in for the correct card to be sent. Granted it wont be a reference model, it should have a slightly higher voltage and the same clocks he had paid for originally.

If that's the case and he sent in something like an XFX 5870 XXX in the first place and was sent a stock clock 5870 then XFX definitely needs to make this right.

A friend sent in an 8800 GT XXX back a year ago and got an 8800 GT back which is definitely lower performance and he managed to get it exchanged a second time. Get them to pay for the extra shipping and cross shipping as well to expedite you getting a replacement card.

 

[gmkmay]

On top of all that if OP is anything like me when I had CFed cards I made sure they looked the same. I think it looks messy having two different looking cards.

I completely agree with this, I don't think it's unfair to ask for an identical looking card when the purchase date was so recent. They can come back and say they are unable to do it due to no stock but that's the only acceptable response in my opinion. Legally of course they are not obligated to do so but that is poor CS.

 

[TWolf79]

I got to wonder why you sent the card back to xfx and not where you bought it originally. Especially if you were able to find someone selling reference cards.

 

[Little_4nic8er]

I'm in the exact same boat. I have a new non-reference card and just RMA'd my reference model and I'll be getting a second non-reference back.

The reference card OC'd to 1000/1300 with a voltage bump, but at this point I don't care. I just want to get my crossfire system up once and for all. I've owned 2 5870's for over a month now and have gotten about 4 days use out of them.

Excluding the OCing issues the plus is I do prefer the look of 2 matching cards and the power connectors being on the back vs the side.

Now I just have to wait on them to verify my issue and send the new card.

 

[AdvanSuper]

I got to wonder why you sent the card back to xfx and not where you bought it originally. Especially if you were able to find someone selling reference cards.

This. If it was dead and you sent it back to them he would have gotten the same new one. If it was bought new and died within a few days or was DOA I'd be sending it back to the place I bought it.

 

[KILLER_K]

You can Crossfire those two models, so that argument will hold no water at all.

There is plenty of argument. One you buy two of the same cards for looks in a system. That is why higher end manufactures ask that when you do a rma to keep them the same. That would be saying let me put two different brand tires on my car/truck. Yes they are the same size but look how it then makes your car/truck look.

But yes if it doesn't bother you then it is no big deal. But to people that build pc's on a scheme they like it hurts the overall look of the rig.

 

[magoo]

But yes if it doesn't bother you then it is no big deal. But to people that build pc's on a scheme they like it hurts the overall look of the rig.

That is really stretching it. I could care less how the thing looks, it's function that counts, I didn't realize this was a beauty school.

This. If it was dead and you sent it back to them he would have gotten the same new one. If it was bought new and died within a few days or was DOA I'd be sending it back to the place I bought it.

Most etailers will accept a DOA or malfunction up to 30 days, agreed. But there is no guarantee they will send back the exact same thing.

If the particular "look" is what you are after, call XFX and discuss it with them, they may be able to help you.

That said, belly-aching about a company doing exactly what they say they will do in case of RMA is cheap.

I've had one RMA with XFX and they were more than accomidating.

 

[Stormrider2000]

Thx everyone, since this was my 1st RMA i was looking to those who have been thru it, not so much belly aching. I do agree that i really do want my system to look uniform, thats why i bought 2 cards @ once from XFX. I reached out to XFX and they will "try" to keep me in mind if another card comes in but i'll be suprised if i hear anything else. Cards were bought thru Amazon(Tigerdirect) and it explicitely said to contact manufacturer if there were issues, this is what i did. Card works fine so X-Fire is on, just not what i bought 2 of the same cards for, to look completely different. Thx for all of the input.

 

[TechBoy]

Thx everyone, since this was my 1st RMA i was looking to those who have been thru it, not so much belly aching. I do agree that i really do want my system to look uniform, thats why i bought 2 cards @ once from XFX. I reached out to XFX and they will "try" to keep me in mind if another card comes in but i'll be suprised if i hear anything else. Cards were bought thru Amazon(Tigerdirect) and it explicitely said to contact manufacturer if there were issues, this is what i did. Card works fine so X-Fire is on, just not what i bought 2 of the same cards for, to look completely different. Thx for all of the input.

They all say that but you have your right to use the retailer's 30day return policy. Its always easier that way too.

 

[undertheradar]

if uniformity is what is most imoportant, just send the other one in (or both just to be sure) and have them send you a matching pair.