Gtx 670 RMA - repair or replace?

Gregster · 13 Dec 2012 at 18:21

No advice, I think you have done admirably

Keep us posted.

wunkley · 13 Dec 2012 at 21:36

Cheers Greg, will do...

wunkley · 11 Jan 2013 at 09:33

Well, it took a while but finally won out over my gigabyte gtx 670 windforce. After lots of emails, registered letter and cool negotiating the original vendor of my card has issued me a credit note today to spend with them for the current value of the windforce on their store. I'm really pleased with this result, but it was a battle. Ended up communicating with the CEO of the outfit, and it was all good in the end. Thank god for that.

So, which gtx 670 to buy now??? I'm pairing it with an evga FTW 670 for SLI, so any suggestions? I'm a bit wary of trying another gigabyte windforce now. Silly I know, but I just feel I should get another brand...

Edit- actually, think I might start a new thread for this question.

wunkley · 17 Jan 2013 at 15:03

In case anyone is interested - got my replacement MSI PE edition today. Just installed and ran 3 loops in Heaven on extreme max settings and.....*touch wood* it works and runs like a dream. No artifacts in the tests that the gigabyte flaked out in.

I need to run some more tests in some games to be 100% satisfied, but I think I can safely conclude that my windforce was definitely faulty! It took 2 months, a very long and detailed written letter, threats of court action and numerous emails and negotiation, but it shows you can win over a stubborn vendor (not ocuk by the way) with some persistence!

weehamish · 17 Jan 2013 at 16:10

Wow, well least you sorted it but over the xmas that is a nightmare!

Hope it works out

Gregster · 17 Jan 2013 at 16:16

wunkley said:
In case anyone is interested - got my replacement MSI PE edition today. Just installed and ran 3 loops in Heaven on extreme max settings and.....*touch wood* it works and runs like a dream. No artifacts in the tests that the gigabyte flaked out in.

I need to run some more tests in some games to be 100% satisfied, but I think I can safely conclude that my windforce was definitely faulty! It took 2 months, a very long and detailed written letter, threats of court action and numerous emails and negotiation, but it shows you can win over a stubborn vendor (not ocuk by the way) with some persistence!

Sweet. Glad you got it sorted and so glad you chose a decent replacement. Any of the top 3 IMO would have been good to go with (EVGA/Gigabyte/MSI) and that PE is getting good reviews. I wouldn't mind seeing how you score in 3DMark11 if you get chance at some stage please

Stock and overclocked would be great as well.

setter · 17 Jan 2013 at 16:21

Nice result wunkley, id also be interested in your sli findings.

wunkley · 17 Jan 2013 at 16:35

Cheers fellas

I feel quite relieved. Been playing on my mind for the last few months, so glad to have it finally sorted and my system back to how I wanted. Never had a graphics card problem before really, bloody nightmare.

Here's a 3d mark score for you Greg. SLI, no overclocking. Both my cards (EVGA FTW and MSI PE) boost to 1176 out of the box. How weird is that!? Quite happy with that for now, and call me paranoid but I'm overclocking nothing yet...

http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/5598040 - does that look right? Out of the loop with 3d mark scores.

I now need to think about possibly upgrading my PSU. I've mentioned before on these boards - it's an old Antec TP trio 650W. It's solid as a rock and has no problems running my system with SLI, but I think it's pushing it as the PSU fan cranks up high with both cards running max, and is quite loud, spoiling my quiet 670's.

setter · 17 Jan 2013 at 16:40

Nice score. I reckon that youd only need to oc for benchmarks/epeen. Cant see much need for oc'ing for games. But off course the option is always there.

What sort of temps are both hitting under load?

Gregster · 17 Jan 2013 at 16:41

Good scores Wunkley. Shows how close to the 680's these 670's are and that is at stock :eek:

I can't say I blame ya and if you ever feel like over clocking your cards and joing the 3DMark11 thread, go for it. If you do, just disable the onboard gfx via the BIOS and I will happily add you

wunkley · 17 Jan 2013 at 16:43

setter said:
Nice score. I reckon that youd only need to oc for benchmarks/epeen. Cant see much need for oc'ing for games. But off course the option is always there. What sort of temps are both hitting under load?

Temps are same as before actually. EVGA FTW hits 75 degrees and the MSI stays around 60 degrees (windforce used to peak at around 60). This is in maxed out heaven bench for example, or enb modded skyrim running to the max.

setter · 17 Jan 2013 at 16:48

Thanks for that wunkley. Considering the FTW as a partner for my wf. Probably have to put it in the top slot. Current card is a great clocker, (1320/7586). Though the chances of getting another card that would run the same would be slim.

wunkley · 17 Jan 2013 at 17:26

setter said:
Thanks for that wunkley. Considering the FTW as a partner for my wf. Probably have to put it in the top slot. Current card is a great clocker, (1320/7586). Though the chances of getting another card that would run the same would be slim.

I've got my MSI PE in the top slot, FTW in the bottom. Someone around here said it was best to have your exhaust cooled card on the bottom and you blower card on top. A few months ago when I had the windforce I think I tried both ways, and there was no significant difference.

Anyone care to clarify or elaborate on which way is supposed to be best?

setter · 17 Jan 2013 at 17:46

Ill probably swap them about to test when the time comes. Wf cards in sli isnt an option as i had two 460's before and they were a nightmare to cool.

OvEr_KiLL · 17 Jan 2013 at 18:31

wunkley said:
This gets better and better. Before I sent my initial 'essay' stating my case just, the vendor sent me this. You have to read this!....

if you still does not want to keep it, we could also re-sell the product for you on our bargain corner for a slight price reduction to encourage new buyers. Items on our bargain corner are sent to Paid Advertising Networks to ensure a quick sale. Not only are the advertising costs entirely paid by Xxxxxxxxx, but also you get the full proceeds once the item is sold: Xxxxxxxx takes no commission. Please note this is a service we offer entirely at our discretion and is typically offered solely to our business customers in such situations. As soon as a order is placed against your product we would send you the forwarding address of the new buyer.

Best Regards
Xxxxxxxxx

So they are willing to take a card that has been diagnosed faulty by gigabyte, unsuccessfully repaired by gigabyte, and confirmed as still being faulty by the customer for a second time, and then sell it on??? What would they advertise it as? B grade stock? B for broken?

I think I've got the measure of them now, and this is actually good ammunition for a more official complaint do you not think?

ROFL and what happens if theres a fault when they try and use it?
edit. forget this...forgot theres was a page 2 on this thread, i havnt read it all yet

Gregster · 17 Jan 2013 at 19:08

wunkley said:
I've got my MSI PE in the top slot, FTW in the bottom. Someone around here said it was best to have your exhaust cooled card on the bottom and you blower card on top. A few months ago when I had the windforce I think I tried both ways, and there was no significant difference.

Anyone care to clarify or elaborate on which way is supposed to be best?

Ref on the bottom and non ref on the top (like you have it). It will be less heat rising onto the top card as the exhaust fan on the ref blows most of the heat out the back.

setter · 17 Jan 2013 at 19:13

Regarding clocking sli cards such as the 670's. Say you have one that will do 1300mhz core. When you add a second does it have to be clocked separately as it might not be as good a clocker. Last sli cards i had were gtx 470's. Ran both daily at 750mhz on stock volts. Benched them once in heaven at 820mhz on 1.087v. Passed without issue.

oldestgregg · 17 Jan 2013 at 19:28

I would like to know who the seller in question is! Lately I have paid more for stuff on OCUK simply because if anything goes wrong they are quick and fair and you just know its not "if" but "when" electronics wise. My 7970 I returned on monday has been refunded already and I must admit I did jump the gun a touch and questioned a few things about said faulty card but all my worries were soon quashed.

wunkley · 17 Jan 2013 at 19:51

gregster said:
Ref on the bottom and non ref on the top (like you have it). It will be less heat rising onto the top card as the exhaust fan on the ref blows most of the heat out the back.

Great stuff. Thanks Greg, that makes sense.

wunkley · 17 Jan 2013 at 19:53

setter said:
Regarding clocking sli cards such as the 670's. Say you have one that will do 1300mhz core. When you add a second does it have to be clocked separately as it might not be as good a clocker. Last sli cards i had were gtx 470's. Ran both daily at 750mhz on stock volts. Benched them once in heaven at 820mhz on 1.087v. Passed without issue.

You can independently overclock them if you like using afterburner (or precision I presume)