• Competitor rules

    Please remember that any mention of competitors, hinting at competitors or offering to provide details of competitors will result in an account suspension. The full rules can be found under the 'Terms and Rules' link in the bottom right corner of your screen. Just don't mention competitors in any way, shape or form and you'll be OK.

B-Grade 580GTX issues

jambus

jambus

jambus

Associate
Joined
15 Jan 2008
Posts
420
Location
Petersfield, UK
Hi there.

Based primarily on advice I received here and upon user testimony, I decided to buy the B-Grade GTX580 that was on sale for £204. It turned up today and here is a list of what happened.

1. The metal support on the side where you screw the graphics card in to the PCI-slot on the case (where the video outputs are located) is bent downward, so that it's near impossible to place the card in the case and securely mount it. After MUCH fighting, I managed to get the card in, but I can't be 100% certain it was fully in. Due to the issue it's perhaps possible that the card wasn't in fully in the PCI slot at the end nearest to the rear of the case.

2. Once I finally fitted it, I powered it up only to see the fan not spin up

3. Opened up EVGA precision to see that the program said the fan still wasn't running, altering the fan speed in EVGA did nothing to change this.

4. I also noticed the card was idling at zero GPU load at 85 degrees... (bear in mind at this time the PC had only been on for a matter of minutes and I hadn't stressed the card at-all.

So, I suppose my question is, is it possible that due to faulty mounting, the fan wasn't spinning up and this caused the card to idle at such a high temperature?

I'm personally not convinced it caused the fan issue and even if it was the reason the fan didn't spin, just because that didn't work surely the card shouldn't idle that high after only a few minutes? I've already put in a query with OcUK but won't hear back till tomorrow. I expect a B-Grade to come in faulty packaging but surely this isn't right and it'll be replaced or refunded if it's the card?

Many thanks for your time :)
 
I've never trusted the B grade components... just the sheer mention of it on the product name is enough to deter me from them.

Do yourself a favour, send it back and get an ASUS, MSI, whatever... just not B Grade.
 
Wouldn't have thought the bracket would have caused that problem if it was showing in windows and displaying. Take the bracket off and bent correctly with a couple of pairs of pliers. It should only be a case of removing a couple of screws and the standoffs for the dvi connector. Also check the little white plug for the fan is correctly connected to the pcb. Have you got the 2 pcie power cables connected? Other than that send them a webnote.
 
I bought B-Grade for the simple reason that I don't mind my item turning up in a damaged box, or missing some redundant accessory. If the product works as many people have reported with their B-Grade purchases, why not?
 
If the fan isn't spinning that idle temp seems about right. Even if you aren't stressing it the heatsink wasn't designed to be passive.
 
jambus said:
I bought B-Grade for the simple reason that I don't mind my item turning up in a damaged box, or missing some redundant accessory. If the product works as many people have reported with their B-Grade purchases, why not?
Click to expand...

Is that literally the only difference with most? If so, I guess I overreacted. But still, I would rather pay that bit extra knowing I'm getting the full works with next to no risk of it turning up faulty.
 
jambus said:
I bought B-Grade for the simple reason that I don't mind my item turning up in a damaged box, or missing some redundant accessory. If the product works as many people have reported with their B-Grade purchases, why not?
Click to expand...

Completely agree- B-grade's are (should be) fully working but maybe a bit scuffed or with few accessories / boxes missing. Although you seem unlucky there are also plenty of people who get unlucky with brand new stuff! Going b-grade wasn't a stupid idea, just an unlucky outcome
 
Skyline said:
Wouldn't have thought the bracket would have caused that problem if it was showing in windows and displaying. Take the bracket off and bent correctly with a couple of pairs of pliers. It should only be a case of removing a couple of screws and the standoffs for the dvi connector. Also check the little white plug for the fan is correctly connected to the pcb. Have you got the 2 pcie power cables connected? Other than that send them a webnote.
Click to expand...

Do not do this^, any marks from pliers and it will most likely get refused, just explain through web note what is wrong and request a refund, only sensible thing to do with £200.
 
hyperst said:
Do not do this^, any marks from pliers and it will most likely get refused, just explain through web note what is wrong and request a refund, only sensible thing to do with £200.
Click to expand...

LOL I am not talking about getting a pair of pliers and gorilla bending the bracket... Just a couple of bits of card around the areas where they will grip and gently bending back into the correct position.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom