Best warranty on video card brands

[HexiumVII]

I've had lots of video cards die out on me, i used to stick with leadtek because of their nice heatsinks, but their warranty department seems to be run from a basement or something, sending me non working stuff all the time.

I'm trying to find what your experiences are with the rma departments. It seems that XFX has the best warranty and paper with BFG next.

 

[Therk]

I thought EVGA had a pretty decent warranty

 

[Spook]

Yeah, my personal experience with EVGA has been top notch, and they don't mind of you put on an after-market heatsync either.

 

[hans007]

oddly i think the best experience i ever had was with "jaton" brand. they dont ask for reciepts and they are a pretty small outfit so they are really quick with email.

i am not sure they make video cards anymore.

from other experiences, i'd say evga is probably the best brand that is common now.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Therk
I thought EVGA had a pretty decent warranty

It might be, as long as you jump through all the hoops. Remember you HAVE to register the card with EVGA within the first 30 days or you don't get the lifetime warranty. Also, always keep your invoice. Finally, warranty is NOT transferrable.

I find the best warranty within the first year to be from Newegg. That is, when the item is not listed with "manufacturer's warranty only."

 

[Munky]

I never had a video card die on me so far, but I'd say BFG has the best warranty because it's lifetime warranty without having to register the card.

 

[Avalon]

On the ATI side of things, I like Visiontek's lifetime warranty, although I've never had to use it. Come to think of it, I've never had any video card die on me.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Originally posted by: HexiumVII
I've had lots of video cards die out on me, i used to stick with leadtek because of their nice heatsinks, but their warranty department seems to be run from a basement or something, sending me non working stuff all the time.

I'm trying to find what your experiences are with the rma departments. It seems that XFX has the best warranty and paper with BFG next.

Tough question you're asking becuase as of late I've seen threads trashing all the major companies that offer Lifetime Warranties including EVGA, XFX, and BFG. What it comes down to is personal experience. I have had great experiences with both EVGA and XFX, yet someone else could have experienced the absolute polar opposite of what I have. I think your best bet is to go with any of the top 3 companies providing lifetime warranty service and hope you get the kind of service most of us have received from them.

As Zap mentioned, you need to register within 30 days for EVGA's lifetime warranty and need to hold on to the invoice for your card. The best thing to do is upload a copy of your invoice to EVGA for safe keeping. They also have the Step-up Program and a pretty decent support Forum.

XFX has a great double-lifetime warranty providing you live in the US and you register your card within 30 days. Should you sell the card, the new owner must register the card within 30 days as well. XFX also has a very good Support Forum and always have a Rep on hand that can help in resolving issues.

BFG I don't know much about, but I "thought" they just recently moved to requiring 30 day registration as well.

If you're looking for an ATI card, I know Visiontek offers lifetime warranty service, but can't comment on quality of service other than I don't see many posts from users who have had bad experiences with them.

Personally I've had only one video card die out on me and it was a X800XT-PE built by ATI card and that was ages ago. Does that mean Built-By ATI cards suck, of course not.

 

[secretanchitman]

evga has always been good to me.

 

[SlowSpyder]

The only card I have ever had to RMA was a BFG. Let's just say I won't ever buy another BFG after that experience.

 

[Modelworks]

EVGA , they do require the registration in the first 30 days though.
They also offer an advanced replacement option, but oddly you have to pay for that when you register the card. Its about 11.00, but I don't like paying for something I may never use.
I did pay it anyway though.

 

[HexiumVII]

Has anyone dealt with Galaxy? They have an extremely cheap 8800gt right now for under $215.

 

[CP5670]

I have done RMAs with EVGA and BFG in the past. BFG's phone support was pretty good and EVGA gave the RMA number automatically using an online form. In both cases, I paid for shipping one way and got the new card about two weeks after I sent the bad one, which seems to be more or less average in the hardware industry. BFG actually didn't ask for any proof of purchase back then, but it was over three years ago and they might be asking for it now.

As far as the warranty conditions go, XFX is probably the best given how it's transferrable. I always sell my old cards on ebay and it's good to be able to advertise that. I've already had to deal with one case where the guy said the card I sent him was defective, but he couldn't get it replaced by EVGA himself so I had to give him a refund on it (it was working fine when I last used it but I hadn't tested it recently).

 

[Sunrise089]

e.v.g.a.

 

[zeroburrito]

have yet to have any piece of computer equip go bad. not even a hd. i guess thats good because i never get anything with a lifetime warranty. i hear nothing but good things from evga though.

 

[HexiumVII]

I'm looking to get a new 8800GT, MSI has the cheapest one on the egg with nice heatpipe cooler, but only 2 year warranty, so i'll prob just get the EVGA one since everyone recommended them and with the 9xxx series looming, step up might be nice. I'm really hopping that the 9xxx will use much less power in 2D.

I recently sent in a PNY 8800GTS because it would sporatically not post, i'd have to unplug the power connector in a few times to reset it. (tried Antec Earthwatts 500 and Forton Bluestorm. They received it on Feb 4th, still awaiting for replacement.

 

[vanvock]

I got mine from MicroCenter for $226 shipped.