Just got a brand new 970, artifact opinion.

[Crescendo]

So I just got a brand new 970GTX MSI for $250 (MSRP is $350) from a friend. After about a day or two of playing it randomly artifacted on the desktop, it was black and white squares all over the screen. I had a r9 270 prior and the driver sweeper program said I still had the r9 200 series installed. So I did a format installed Window 8 clean and new drivers. It hasnt done it since, max temps are 72c and its not overclocked.

Should I RMA to be safe or should I just stick with the card? I got until Monday to decide. If it doesnt do it again should I run with it? The thing is if it does it again and breaks I'm stuck with this card after that point since I bought if off a friend and not through newegg myself.Hes willing to RMA it for me but if I dont do it by next week I wont be able to do it at all.

So what do you guys think? I really dont wanna rma if i have to but if it keeps doing this after Monday I'm stuck with the card and wasted $250. I ran OCCT stresstests, Aida64 couldnt get temps above 72. Gaming doesnt go above 72. Fans are only @ 60%

 

[Crescendo]

what would you guys do? run it or rma it.

 

[DSF]

Why aren't you able to do it after this week if the card is brand new?

 

[riversend]

So your friend bought the card for $350 off of Newegg, and then turned around and sold it to you for $250 and a "no return after one week" caveat? How long did your friend run the card? What issues did he have with it? How long is the period of time defined by "has not done it since"?

I have to say I am a bit confused.

If you can trust your friend, and the driver reload seems to have solved any issues, then keep running it.

If this is not really a "friend", but more of an "acquaintance", and you don't know what condition the card was in before you got this deal, and you are not confident in your troubleshooting, then probably RMA it, or return to him and ask for your money back.

 

[Crescendo]

Why aren't you able to do it after this week if the card is brand new?

RMA is only 90 days hes had it this long I probably have longer than that but i dont wanna wait too long.

 

[Crescendo]

So your friend bought the card for $350 off of Newegg, and then turned around and sold it to you for $250 and a "no return after one week" caveat? How long did your friend run the card? What issues did he have with it? How long is the period of time defined by "has not done it since"?

I have to say I am a bit confused.

If you can trust your friend, and the driver reload seems to have solved any issues, then keep running it.

If this is not really a "friend", but more of an "acquaintance", and you don't know what condition the card was in before you got this deal, and you are not confident in your troubleshooting, then probably RMA it, or return to him and ask for your money back.

He sold it to me for $250 because he needed the money hes selling all his parts 30% off. HE didnt run it he didnt even take it out of the package. I trust him but I dont wanna be SOL. When I got it it looked brand new and his PC wasnt even assembled. I troubleshot it every possible way so idk. It hasnt done it since so idk if it might have been drivers or not. Just wanna know what u guys would do.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://us.msi.com/page/warranty/#w-vga

3 Year warranty.

 

[Crescendo]

http://us.msi.com/page/warranty/#w-vga

3 Year warranty.

So if something happens to it can I bypass Newegg and go straight through MSI I have an invoice screenshot my friend sent me of the date/time and card bought. I also have the original packaging.

 

[riversend]

Never used, and you have the invoice - then you should be good to go. I'd keep using it based on unopened box and some driver re-installation.

Can always use the warranty if required.

 

[Crescendo]

Never used, and you have the invoice - then you should be good to go. I'd keep using it based on unopened box and some driver re-installation.

Can always use the warranty if required.

I mean the box was open but card had no dust in it showing that it was ran like the fans and the vents on the rear were 100% clean of anything every part of the board was new and it still had the caps for the PCI connector and whatnot, and his PC that it was going into didnt even have the right RAM at the time to boot he accidently ordered DDR4 so I doubt he used the card so yeah the box was OPENED he said he just opened it to look at it and basically put it back in the box. I also see no signs of wear and tear. On the invoice he bought it like 15 days ago but hes moving soon thats why he needed the money so I cant send it back once he moves or itll be a bigger PITA. I just dont see how he could have damaged it with the PC not even assembled he still had his liquid cooling tubes hanging around not even ran yet.

The artifact hasnt happened since last time since I formatted and installed new drivers. So I'm assuming it was the old drivers conflicting? I've put about 50 hours on this card since and it hasnt had 1 sign of issues. But yeah I have a SS of the invoice and the original box and contents so if something happens I canjust go through MSI?

 

[riversend]

I can only tell you what I would do based on my understanding of what you have told me.

As apprehensive as you are, you just need to figure out what is going to give you peace of mind. There is no perfect, right choice here other than the one that leaves you with the least amount of worry.

 

[Crescendo]

I can only tell you what I would do based on my understanding of what you have told me.

As apprehensive as you are, you just need to figure out what is going to give you peace of mind. There is no perfect, right choice here other than the one that leaves you with the least amount of worry.

But you would just keep it and if it has a problem contact MSI? I can do that event hough im not the original buyer? If thats the case ill just keep it because i dont really have anything to lose, I highly doubt he did anything to mess it up.