Replacing a dodgy 5870.

gupott · 29 May 2011 at 15:51

Hi there,

I bought a 5870 from overclockers last August and it developed a fault 2 months ago, I RMA'd it and after waiting a month or so for them to test it I received an email yesterday to say they will be able to offer me a replacement when I talk to them on Tuesday.

So, I originally spent around £300 on the card last year but I expect they will only offer me around £160 in credit or possible another 5870. What do people think I should do? Take the card, take the money and perhaps add a little extra to get a card that is a bit better? If so, which one?

My current set-up up is

Q9300 o/c to 3.4ghz
Asus P5K Premium mobo
Win 7 64bit
4Gig ram.

Thinking I might be playing Skyrim and Deus Ex on it later on this year, so want something decent. I have a 24" monitor, a HP2474w with a native resolution of 1900x1200.

Cheers guys
Rossco

mraerosmith1981 · 29 May 2011 at 15:57

if they offer another 5870 I would take it, or at very least a 6870

bells · 29 May 2011 at 17:18

rosscouk said:
Hi there,

I bought a 5870 from overclockers last August and it developed a fault 2 months ago, I RMA'd it and after waiting a month or so for them to test it I received an email yesterday to say they will be able to offer me a replacement when I talk to them on Tuesday.

So, I originally spent around £300 on the card last year but I expect they will only offer me around £160 in credit or possible another 5870. What do people think I should do? Take the card, take the money and perhaps add a little extra to get a card that is a bit better? If so, which one?

My current set-up up is

Q9300 o/c to 3.4ghz
Asus P5K Premium mobo
Win 7 64bit
4Gig ram.

Thinking I might be playing Skyrim and Deus Ex on it later on this year, so want something decent. I have a 24" monitor, a HP2474w with a native resolution of 1900x1200.

Cheers guys
Rossco

I would take the money and put a bit extra to it and get a 6950

Surveyor · 29 May 2011 at 17:21

They may not give you a choice.

They have 5870's in stock so they may just give you one of those.

gupott · 29 May 2011 at 17:52

I wonder if I can tempt them to give me credit as I will then spend more!

I was wondering about a 6950, and then I could unlock it to run as a 6970. Does that sound like the best option? Is there any difference in 6950's?

opethdisciple · 29 May 2011 at 17:55

6950 would be the best option. (flashable if possible)

But technically they could just give you a 1Gb 6950 as its like for like.

Too be honest even if they gave you 1Gb 6950, is still a very slight step up so you cant really complain.

Surveyor · 29 May 2011 at 18:08

rosscouk said:
I wonder if I can tempt them to give me credit as I will then spend more!

I was wondering about a 6950, and then I could unlock it to run as a 6970. Does that sound like the best option? Is there any difference in 6950's?

They may have stopped 6950's unlocking.

This was supposed to be an unlockable card:

Blind flashing bricked 6950

churchhawk · 29 May 2011 at 18:10

A month to test it? Wow, hope mine holds up

What make was it by the way?

Jay85 · 29 May 2011 at 22:28

Apparently the 5870's that ocuk stock at the moment (XFX ones) are abit dodgy. A guy on my thread said they had a 10% failure rate which is ridiculous tbh.

Cleeecooo · 29 May 2011 at 23:22

rosscouk said:
I wonder if I can tempt them to give me credit as I will then spend more!

I was wondering about a 6950, and then I could unlock it to run as a 6970. Does that sound like the best option? Is there any difference in 6950's?

They won't give u credit. I have tried. Many times

gupott · 30 May 2011 at 09:42

mmmm, bit confused now. I like the idea of a 6950, especially if I can unlock the shaders, any thought to which one?

I don't like the idea of another 5870 that is a bit dodgy, would I have a choice, or could they just say "you are having the XFX".

Finally, I like the thought of a 570, possibly the MSI Twin Frozr III.

When I say 'credit' I mean, just take the value of my old card (debatable) and I add the difference to get the card I want. In terms of the value of my old card, is that £160 as thats how much the only remaining 5870 on the site it going for or is it up for debate, I paid £320 for it last August.

gupott · 30 May 2011 at 10:00

I also just checked the XFX 5870 spec and compared it to my broken Powercolor pc+ and the XFX is not as powerful.

The Powecolor has an engine clock of 875MHz and memory clock of 4900 mhz where as the XFX has an engine clock of 850MHz and a memory clock of 4800MHz. I know this is 'small beer' but it is not as powerful, would I have to accept it?

Cheers

pooley · 30 May 2011 at 10:07

Jay85 said:
Apparently the 5870's that ocuk stock at the moment (XFX ones) are abit dodgy. A guy on my thread said they had a 10% failure rate which is ridiculous tbh.

I'm in the process of an rma with one, just my luck :rolleyes:

Jonnygrunge · 30 May 2011 at 10:20

rosscouk said:
I wonder if I can tempt them to give me credit as I will then spend more!

I was wondering about a 6950, and then I could unlock it to run as a 6970. Does that sound like the best option? Is there any difference in 6950's?

They did it with me! I had a dodgy 5870. I sent it back and they gave me a refund on the card after I gave them my new order number for my new 6950's! I then put my other 5870 up for auction!
If you do I'd go for a 6950, the ASUS OC ones are brilliant!
Get the modded ASUS BIOS, or mod it yourself as I did with RBE, unlock the shaders and set the core to 1.125V leave everything else alone.
Install SmartDoctor unlock CCC limits, uninstall, then use CCC to create a profile for 900/1375 and away you go!

gupott · 30 May 2011 at 14:21

Did they give you a full refund Johnnygrunge?

I am liking the idea of a 570 at the moment.

V F · 30 May 2011 at 15:20

Jay85 said:
Apparently the 5870's that ocuk stock at the moment (XFX ones) are abit dodgy. A guy on my thread said they had a 10% failure rate which is ridiculous tbh.

Where's his links to back it up?

Reading back to 2009:

From grey screens to busted pixels to simply being DOA, the 5800s are the most failure-prone Radeons I can remember.

Then:

As with anything....most people go to forums when they have problems. Both of my 5870's have been perfect since day 1. They have waterblocks on them now and they are both overclocked. No issues here.

My 5870s are fine.
Both launch products.
Both XFX.

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1480997

Jonnygrunge · 30 May 2011 at 15:42

rosscouk said:
Did they give you a full refund Johnnygrunge?

I am liking the idea of a 570 at the moment.

Yeah the £157 it cost me it was only a month old though!

If you do I'd go for a 6950, the ASUS OC ones are brilliant! Link below:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-248-AS&tool=3

Get the modded ASUS BIOS, or mod it yourself as I did with RBE, unlock the shaders and set the core to 1.125V leave everything else alone.
Install SmartDoctor unlock CCC limits, uninstall, then use CCC to create a profile for 900/1375 and away you go!

Jonnygrunge · 30 May 2011 at 15:45

Jay85 said:
Apparently the 5870's that ocuk stock at the moment (XFX ones) are abit dodgy. A guy on my thread said they had a 10% failure rate which is ridiculous tbh.

Yeah I got one that had green artifacts over any image, and the screen flickered on Windows 7, replacement card was the same! That's when I asked for a refund!
My original XFX HD5870 (rev1) has been fine from day one though!

Randomface74 · 30 May 2011 at 15:48

If possible, I would take the money and get a 560 Ti.

gupott · 30 May 2011 at 18:21

Yeah I got one that had green artifacts over any image

. That was the issue I had, didnt notice they were green though.

I'll have a look at the 560's.

I wonder how much they could give me credit for, as I say, I paid £320 and my card is a higher spec than the xfx, how would they work it out?