7900 serie's issues

[chotto69]

I've read in many manufacturer's forums, customer's posts about 7900 cards having lockup issues (apparently due to defective chips) and having to RMA their card (people sent back their cards 2-3 times!). This happened with all brands: ASUS, BFG, XFX, EVGA, LEADTEK, etc. I was going to get a 7900GTX but now i have to think twice: i don't want to just "hope" i get the right card.
Anybody can confirm this or has different information?

 

[Gstanfor]

The issue is long since resolved.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
The issue is long since resolved.

The solution was to buy another brand .

Kidding! . More details would be nice -- sounds like an early silicon problem or something.

 

[Gstanfor]

The "other brand" solution was quite effective - gainward/expertvision/palit never suffered this issue along with a few other brands.

It was a problem primarily related to the volgate regulators for the memory chips, there was also rumored to be a batch of bad samsung memory in addition to this that affected some cards.

 

[chotto69]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
The issue is long since resolved.

I'm glad to hear that: can you provide more details? On Asus forum, for example, i can still posts of people cursing their 7900 bought in september.
I am going to place an order for a new card in the next few days...

 

[TheRyuu]

My 7900GT's freeze in Star Trek: Bridge Commander but I have yet to find out why (probably because it's an older game). I know my cards arn't defective but it's just never happened before.

Probably some driver issue

 

[Gstanfor]

Most companies should have updated their cards. by now. Be careful to only buy new stock, not older stock or refurbs and stick to quality brands such as leadtek/gainward/palit/expertvision. I'd avoid the main offenders (which were XFX/BFG/E-VGA) myself. Leadtek did have a few faulty cards, but sorted it quickly, not sure with asus.

 

[Ulfhednar]

The problem is not resolved, and Overclockers UK still have a block on XFX 7900s because of it.

 

[Gstanfor]

If your are a business owner blocking XFX is simply a wise business decision 7900 problems or not...

 

[luigionlsd]

I bought a 7900 GT from ZZF at the very end of June, the eVGA KO model. I have to say, I'm very impressed with how it's holding up... have had it since early July (ordered like the last day of June), and I've been using it since, have had my computer on almost all the time. Games run great (HL2 E1, Sin E1, BF2, CSS, WoW, Oblivion, etc.), no overheat issues yet. Just bought a VF700 Cu that I'm gonna be putting on soon. Have had great luck with eVGA so far, I would recommend them if you're buying (step up program ftw!).

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

eVGA is prefectly fine if you purchase one of the new fixed model numbers. N584 for a 7900GT and I think N572 for a 7900GTX.