dodgy video cards

[s4087046]

I was wondering wether video card vendors such as sapphire release their factory screwed up cards into the market to allow people to rip off consumers? I see some awful cheap brand new high end cards being sold around the place and I don't wether to buy them or not, anyone know much about what to trust and what to not, in the video cards department?

[stroyal]

The only thing I have seen is they use slower memory sometimes.

[Sweeper]

Sapphire is far from being dodgy.... and or screwed up. I'd do some research before posting about vendors.

[electric]

i for one will not buy another Sapphire video card;a card should last
more than 10 months but the problem is if you buy a [you think] a
better card and there are problems with it,you mostly put the
problem down to bad drivers instead of believing the hardware is
the problem until to late to return it

of course this is my opinion ,you may differ


cheers

[phecky]

Just do what the rest of do- read as many reviews and ratings as you can and trust your instinct. I've used let me think,-
XFX
Aopen
Asus
Jaton
Inno3D
PNY
Diamond (Voodoo)
At present I'm using a Crucial/Micron but I doubt they actually make their cards (could be wrong). Sometimes it feels like a crap shoot but for me I've had no hardware related problems with any vendors mentioned above.

[s4087046]

I know Sapphire's an excellent vendor, however, If its in stock, I could buy a Sapphire X800 XT PE for only $650 AU brand new from a shop in Hong Kong, does anyone think its too cheap and most likely a rip off?

[nwo75200]

I know Sapphire's an excellent vendor, however, If its in stock, I could buy a Sapphire X800 XT PE for only $650 AU brand new from a shop in Hong Kong, does anyone think its too cheap and most likely a rip off?

ASFAIK, that's about $500 USD, but I really have no idea how much 1 AUD is USD, just estimating. IMO that's not way too cheap, that's just about right considering that the x850PE is gonna be $550

[s4087046]

good estimate its $493 A, Jese thats pretty cheap for a card that going to be the best ATI has to offer. Should I be expecting video card prices to fall?

[GroundZero3]

is it OEM or retail?

If its OEM and the card dies, you will have to send it back to where you bought it from. Ie if you do go ahead with that Hong Kong purchase and its OEM, you will have to send it back to Hong Kong. If its retail Sapphire will take care of the RMA

[s4087046]

I don't exactly know, I assume its OEM if its that cheap, therefore I'm risking a long time with no computer games if it stuffs up.

[nwo75200]

I don't exactly know, I assume its OEM if its that cheap, therefore I'm risking a long time with no computer games if it stuffs up.

it's not worth taking that risk...

you should be expecting the prices to fall once ATI's new cards hit the streets