Galaxy KFA2 8800GT OC failed, buy a new card?

[A_N_T_H_O_N_Y]

A few months ago, I purchased this Galaxy GeForce 8800GT Overclocked graphics card from NCIX, only to have it fail a while later. I believe the voltage regulators on the card burnt out. After A LOT of trouble, I got hold of the customer service department for KFA2 (Galaxy). I got an RMA number from them, and last tuesday, I mailed my dead card to them. The post office told me it would take 7-10 days (business days I believe) to get to it's destination. Personally, I do not at all trust Galaxy. I do not even think I am going to be getting my card back. Right now I have no other options, so I am forced to use a 1996 ATi 3D Rage II+ (2MB of video memory). If I do get my card back, I know it won't be for another 2 weeks at the least. My question is, instead of waiting, should I just buy a new graphics card, and then sell my Galaxy card if I ever get it back? It would save me the pain of using this peice of **** card even longer, but it would of course cost me even more money. Also, if you guys do think I should buy a new card, does anyone have any suggestions? my price limit would be $300, maximum.

[RamonGTP]

Well that's a question only you can answer really. Do you want to buy a new card? Were you itching for an upgrade before the card went bad? If the answer is no, then don't buy a new card. Just rough it for the next week or two until you get your replacement. If the answer is yes however, then go for the new card. The good news is that with some stiff competition from AMD now, card prices have dropped to reasonable levels.

[A_N_T_H_O_N_Y]

Well, I'm sort of indifferent. On one hand, this Galaxy company is really pissing me off, and I don't think I want to wait another 2 weeks to start using my PC how it should be used again. On the other hand, I have been spending way too much money lately.

[ShyguyXPC]

if you have the money for it, why not? just grab one of the many sub $150, in some cases, almost $100 8800GT models (or grab one of the newer 9800GT's) on the market from eVGA, or XFX, or whatever... then if (another reason to grab one now anyways, JUST IN CASE the replacement doesn't come back... in which case you'll have to go out & buy one anyways), the new replacement comes back either sell it for almost new price or a few bucks less... & make up the difference... hopefully in the end all you will have spent is maybe the difference between what you originally paid months ago & the new cards price, plus shipping of old card back to manufacturer...

sort of, if that made any sense...

or, if you have an SLI capable system & grabbed a 8800GT model, run the 2 in SLI...

or whatever...

if your thinking you'd might want to sell the Galaxy card when it comes back, then might as well just grab a new card now. especially if your worried it might not come back. as I said, in which case you'll have to go & buy a new one anyways.

just for reference, a replacement 8800GT, if you bought a new one, could be as low as $120:
Newegg.com - 112, GeForce 8 series, PCI Express 2.0 x16, NVIDIA, Desktop Graphics / Video Cards, Video Cards & Video Devices, Computer Hardware

or the newer 9800GT that replaces it, more or less same GPU, but renamed... maybe some slight differences, but more or less the same GPU (like the G92 8800GTS & 9800GTX)...

lowest is $130 for those: Newegg.com - 112, GeForce 9800 GT, GeForce 9 series, PCI Express 2.0 x16, NVIDIA, Desktop Graphics / Video Cards, Video Cards & Video Devices, Comput...

but I'd stick with the more dependable usual's, eVGA, XFX, BFG, Gigabyte, MSI, PNY, etc.

[A_N_T_H_O_N_Y]

Yesterday, I had the chance to get a 8800GT on NCIX for $50, but by the time I got the e-mail for the sale, they were all sold out at the sale price.

What about ATi cards? My mobo supports crossfire, so I was thinking of getting a 4850 (I have heard good things), and then, if I ever want an upgrade, I can get another 4850 (by then they will probably sub $100), and run them in crossfire. it would save me money down the road.


FYI: my PSU is the Corsair 450W, would I be able to run the 4850 on it?

[ShyguyXPC]

4850 could be an option. as to PSU, depends on the rest of your system & the amperage on 12V rail.

[A_N_T_H_O_N_Y]

CPU Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0
Motherboard ASUS P5K-E WiFi-AP Edition
Memory G.SKILL DDR2-1000 PC2-8000 4GB (2X2GB)
Graphics CardGalaxy GeForce 8800GT 512MB Overclocked
Hard DriveHitachi Deskstar P7K500 500GB SATA2 7200RPM 16MB
Sound Card SoundMAX HD Audio
Power Supply Corsair CMPSU-450VX 450W
Case Nikao Ogre
CPU cooling Xigmatek HDT-S1283
OS Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Monitor Hanns-G HN199D

My system ^ Sorry about the useless stuff but i just copied and pasted

[RamonGTP]

Your power supply is fine

[ShyguyXPC]

The PSU, looked it up on google, looks like it should be enough, if its good enough for the whole system as is now, should be enough for the 4850...

however, if you do go Crossfire down the road, I'd upgrade the PSU, those 4850's do use a fair amount of power, & just to be on safe side, would be good idea anyways.

but for now, looks like it should be fine, just make sure to either have adequate cooling/airflow or grab a dual slot model that blows out back... as the 4850's create a LOT of heat, even at Idle temps compared to something like an 8800GT.


Personally myself am waiting for the HD4850x2 thats supposed to come out. though should be twice the price, as the 4870x2 is about twice what a single 4870 should cost, so pricing for the 4850x2 guessing should be around $300 mark, or just above it.

but not sure what kind of amps will be needed for that. I know My PSU will be enough, but not sure if the 33A on 12V that yours has, would be?

will also have my Q6600 in it by then too.

nice thing about the new ATI x2 GPU's is from what I read, they don't require a Crossfire Mobo to run BOTH GPU's which is nice, since I'm stuck with an SLI board LOL.

[A_N_T_H_O_N_Y]

I think I am going to wait till next week so I can see if Galaxy send me an e-mail about my card and I also want to see what NCIX has on sale next Wednesday. Hopefully a 4850.