Vid Card Kablooey!

[=JHF= JimmyT (CDN)]

This morning I woke to symptoms of a vid card meltdown.  My screensaver wouldnt' engage because I didn't have a 3D video card, all the windows 7 Aero fanciness went away, my computer no longer had the option to sleep (incompatible device) and any reference to the vid card suggested there wasn't a vid card.  I couldn't reinstall the drivers because NVIDIA says I need an NVIDIA GPU for that (I have an NVIDIA card).

So... the 9800 GX2 is borked,  and I am making due with a borowed  GTS 250 (which apparently is only slightly behind in specs).

QUESTION - Has anyone ever dealt with EVGA and their "limited" lifetime warranty?  I am curious as to whatever experiences you've had RMA-ing a vid card.

-- JT

[=JHF= HaveSocks]

Smoke has.  His eVGA card recently died too.  He got a "new" refurbished card that kept causing the BSOD last night.  He put a borrowed card in and no crashes or stability issues.

[=JHF= JimmyT (CDN)]

The secret appears to be sticking with the borrowed cards!   

[=JHF= Smoke]

the process with evga went just fine.  just have to call a rep to get the process started.  they will give you an rma #.  then you will finish the rest on their website.  Did you register within 30 days of purchase?   The whole, lifetime warranty thing is cool, but if they are gonna just send a piece of crap replacement, well, it just might not be worth the shipping cost.

[=JHF= JimmyT (CDN)]

I started the process with a required tech support question - I guess they don't want people RMAing cards needlessly.  Had to report the 12v power value but at 12.04 I doubt thats out of tolerance range.

[Hoffa]

My card melted for the 3rd time (its an annual event), so I replaced it with a new one.  They seem to have shrunk since 3 years ago 

[=JHF= JimmyT (CDN)]

My card melted for the 3rd time (its an annual event), so I replaced it with a new one.  They seem to have shrunk since 3 years ago 

Yeah the one I took out was super heavy and huge compared to the replacement which also consumed less power with similar specs.  Almost hope they send me a newer model so the air will flow through my case better without an encyclopedia in the middle of it.

[=JHF= JimmyT (CDN)]

Received my replacement card today - at GTX 280 which appears to have better specs than the 9800 GX2 that it replaces, but I am not totally sure.  Anyone have any experience with one of these?  At the very least it is newer than the one it replaces.

-- JT

[=JHF= OBMer]

I have the GTX 260 and a 9800GT in my system.  I have the 9800 set as my physics engine and run everything else off the 260.  Knocking on wood now, I have not had any problems and like the configuration.

OB