XFX RMA Experience?

[Oakenfold]

To sum it up my 5870 is experiencing artifacting of sorts (i.e., it starts flickering on the desktop when the GPU starts building temps about 45 minutes into a gaming session. I'm currently running eyefinity with only one monitor used to display in game content. The other two are used to keep other apps and web browsers available for viewing). Both panels are off my Cosmos case so not much else can be done to disperse heat unless I modify the card with an aftermarket cooler or look at exotic cooling solutions (i.e., which are un-necessary, we're talking about normal use here no overclocking).

I was able to reproduce the symptoms on a similar build (i.e., my wife's computer with the same model PSU) and confirmed this information for XFX.

XFX received my beloved card on Friday and have responded that a tech will take a look the card. Currently I'm gaming on a 9600 GSO...yeah this isn't great but i'm thankful that I have a backup videocard that can run the majority of games I throw at it (everything turned down of course!).

Has anyone had an XFX brand video card RMA experience recently? What was it like? Did they replace your card? How long did it take? Just curious how long I will be without an awesome piece of hardware like my 5870. I miss eyefinity!

I do have to say they have been great at communication, hopefully this will continue through the experience. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read and provide feedback!

Update 7/18/12
Well they responded today saying that my 5870 is defective and are shipping a replacement out today! I have to say I'm impressed at the fast response. Will update this post with how the replacement works out (and what they sent- no idea they didn't say so I'm assuming it's another 5870. I just hope it works!).

Update 7/25/12
I received my RMA back today for my defective 5870. They sent me a 6950 (haven't tested it yet). Kudos to XFX for the great service!

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Ask me again in a week or two. (Bought an XFX 7750 and the fan has a shot bearing or something. Noisy as hell.)

 

[thescreensavers]

If its not a simple fix, they will end up replacing it. If its an older card they will give you a newer card that's comparable.

Long ago, I sent in my 6800gt, and got back a 7600gt. the 7600gt used less power ran cooler and gave slightly better performance.

 

[balane]

Out of curiosity, what is the generally accepted 5870 comparable card out of the current AMD GPU line up?

 

[3DVagabond]

Out of curiosity, what is the generally accepted 5870 comparable card out of the current AMD GPU line up?

They probably have 5870 replacement cards. If not then they would likely use a 6870. A 7850, would be a bonus for the OP, IMO, but also a likely replacement.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Ask me again in a week or two. (Bought an XFX 7750 and the fan has a shot bearing or something. Noisy as hell.)

Did you check to make sure that it wasn't just a budget card with a 2-pin fan connector? (Fan runs at 100% all the time.)

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Did you check to make sure that it wasn't just a budget card with a 2-pin fan connector? (Fan runs at 100% all the time.)

Yes.

The fans are temp controlled, and I can limit/set the speed in CCC.

(Although it may be a moot point. I dropped my phone behind the computer, and when it landed on the DVI plug, the sound changed. So I fiddled with them until it went away completely... not sure how that works, but I'll take it.)

 

[Arglebargle]

XFX got back to me about my failing old 4870 about three business days after they recieved it. It couldn't handle any heavy graphics without crashing. The testing crew didn't email me again until after the replacement shipped, about 4 days later. They upgraded me to a 6790. I was hoping for at least a 6770, so that was fairly reasonable. Customer service itself was actually pretty good about sending me info throughout the process. I have certainly had many worse CS experiances.

 

[Rifter]

I got screwed by XFX and will never use them again. I returned a 4890OC(xxx double black version or some crap like that, the most expensive 4890 XFX sold) edition card(beefy cooler/pcb, higher stock clocks, etc) for coil whine that got progressivly worse over time, finally retuned it after changing PSU's and figuiring out that for sure it was the graphics card causing the whine.

I returned it 2 years after i bought it, and i bought it when the 4890's were about to start being phased out, so they didnt have stock to replace it with. They sent me a bone stock 4870(reference cooler/pcb, stock clocks) and it didnt OC worth crap, my 4890 would do a solid 1Ghz no problem, the 4870 literally could not take a 10Mhz OC thats how bad it was. So my performance took a substantial hit going from a 1GHz 4890 to a stock 4870. I then upgraded to SLI 460's. Apparantly XFX's lifetime warranty means very little.

 

[mtnd3vil]

I've used XFX for the last few cards I've had and so has my brother.
He had two fan failures and was reasonably happy with both RMA processes. For the fan issue they just sent him a full replacement heatsink with new fan attached. Did not need the broken one returned.

I had an XFX 9800GT that stopped working and they returned me an HD5670 which they decided was non-negotiable.

I will still continue to buy XFX because I like the design of their cards and their product line. I would however be raging pissed if I had SLI nvidia cards and one broke and they sent back a dissimilar card refusing to correct the situation.

 

[thilanliyan]

I had to RMA my 6950 and they were relatively quick. I sent them in a reference 6950, and although I got a non-reference card back, the process was relatively pain-free. My card was less than a year old though so people with older cards I'm sure would have a different experience.

 

[ensign_lee]

I RMAed a 5870 that was starting to show fuzzy green artifacts on the screen. Took about 2 weeks, got another card that was EVEN WORSE.

This card locks up in my games. I was very disappointed.

 

[Oakenfold]

Update 7/18/12
Well they responded today saying that my 5870 is defective and are shipping a replacement out today! I have to say I'm impressed at the fast response. Will update this post with how the replacement works out (and what they sent- no idea they didn't say so I'm assuming it's another 5870. I just hope it works!).

 

[Darkrage]

Funny to see this thread, I just sent my card ref 6950 (fan broke..wont ramp up) in last week, and just got my response that they got it today so we shall see how it goes...glad yours worked out ok......

 

[poohbear]

They probably have 5870 replacement cards. If not then they would likely use a 6870. A 7850, would be a bonus for the OP, IMO, but also a likely replacement.

a 6950 is the performance equivalent of a 5870. So hopefully they send him one of those. If i got back a 6870 i'd be pissed as it does NOT perform on par with a 5870!

OP please update this thread to share what u got back!

 

[soccerballtux]

treated me well a while ago

 

[Oakenfold]

Update 7/25/12
I received my RMA back today for my defective 5870. They sent me a 6950 (haven't tested it yet). Kudos to XFX for the great service!

 

[Shmee]

awesome! Congrats. Is it a reference card/unlockable? that would be even sweeter, though I doubt they make the ref 6950 much anymore.

 

[Phynaz]

Decent little upgrade, and quick turn-around!

 

[Oakenfold]

awesome! Congrats. Is it a reference card/unlockable? that would be even sweeter, though I doubt they make the ref 6950 much anymore.

Negative to both, no reference card and it's a 1gb 6950 (not aware of any mods but I'm sure everyone will tell me otherwise if there are any, I haven't kept up with modding).

The only downside is I found out that the 6950 1gb does not come with a Displayport out, only Mini Displayport. Gonna have to order another cable from Monoprice before I can get eyefinity up and going again.

 

[smulla]

My card just failed a few days ago this is my second RMA for a XFX 5450 1gb card frankly I'm debating about buying another card from another manufacturer or RMAing the card with XFX instead.

I don't do a lot of gaming anymore and I prefer a card instead of the motherboard display.

Usually the turn around time is two weeks and they do a good job of shipping the product. My PSU is a Thermaltake 500 W and is decent.

 

[thilanliyan]

My RMA experience was very positive with XFX. Sent out a reference 6950 and got back a non-reference model that was cheaper...but I was okay with it.

 

[tweakboy]

That is sweet service. I didn't know XFX was like that. EVGA wouldn't do that. or ATI top brands wouldn't do that. Very neat, you got a nice big upgrade.. gl

 

[onething]

I didn't necessarily RMA, but the fan on my video card was clicking so I asked them about it. I was cool with replacing my own heatsink on the video card, so they just sent me another heatsink, no charge. Pretty cool.

 

[smulla]

That is sweet service. I didn't know XFX was like that. EVGA wouldn't do that. or ATI top brands wouldn't do that. Very neat, you got a nice big upgrade.. gl

Actually they discontinued that policy since it was no longer sustainable on their new radeon products.

You can read it here:http://www.techpowerup.com/159346/X...-Warranty-with-New-Radeon-Graphics-Cards.html

I recently filed a support ticket with Adata for a memory module and they were quicker to respond they have a lifetime guarantee as well. I am not sure if they will honor me again but I do like their product support.

Sometimes you get lucky and a manufacturer will play ball and sometimes you don't and then you have to think long and hard to buy from them again.

I think what XFX did was commendable though when they had that policy!