Radeon 8500 OEM bummer

[OnDborder]

I found out that the oem version is 250/240(at newegg.com) compared to the retail box 275/275 core.

Dang I wished I would have known this before I ordered.

I think that is why I called newegg.com and asked the rep if there were any differences between the two. I was informed that the only difference was that the oem didn't come with a VGA adaptor.

Well should I cancel(30 bucks restocking fee gone) or not?
Cr*p, taken again.

[Violator]

'Should you cancel'

Well that's up to you m8. If you're happy with a company that stated there would be no difference between OEM and Retail cards fine, don't cancel.

If you're also happy with a company that releases a card that is clearly not functioning correctly (oh but wait, it will do later) fine.

To me, it's kinda like buying a car. Yeah sir, this is our latest model, a couple of features don't work (brakes, lights) but hey we'll fix them in a couple of months.

Oh and remember I said it was a 16valve, it's actually a 12valve, sorry about that. But I've got your money anyway.

Don't anyone get me on the car specs, I'm not a car mechanic but you get my point.

[funnyperson1]

You should cancel and get the retail version from them, newegg is a very reputable vendor and im sure the person didnt do it on purpose....also once the drivers come out the 8500 will be the card to get so 9i must disagree with Violator.....

[Kingslayer]

Originally posted by Violator


To me, it's kinda like buying a car. Yeah sir, this is our latest model, a couple of features don't work (brakes, lights) but hey we'll fix them in a couple of months.


Umm yoohoo....

Car manufacturers do this all the time.....they're called "recalls".

[OnDborder]

Ya I'll email them ..

I just thought I would post this up for someone else that didn't know about the difference of the oem and retail.(like me)

[Violator]

Originally posted by Kingslayer


Umm yoohoo....

Car manufacturers do this all the time.....they're called "recalls".

So what are you suggesting then? that ATi 'recall' all their cards :D (might be an idea).

Seriously tho' my point was that you shouldn't advertise a product with features that don't work/don't work properly. It isn't good practice.

[BigRed]

Seriously tho' my point was that you shouldn't advertise a product with features that don't work/don't work properly. It isn't good practice.

every single hardware company does this :p what counts is how well they can cover it up with other more flashy features that draw your attention away from the ones that dont work

ATI just hasnt had much luck drawing peoples attention away from the bad things, because i guess people expect them from ATI cuz they are the 'underdog'
Nvidia does it also, anyone rember the orginal GeForce? when you used the hardware T&L it actualy slowed the card a lot :p

intel tried to cover up the suckyness of the p4 with the high mhz to draw peoples attention away from the crapiness of the processor cuz they put half of it on the chopping block.

AMD does it too. trying to cover up their major heat probelm by showing how fast he processor is
and trying to cover up that the thermal diode on the new athlon that pratacally does nothing :p

anyway, lol ATI isnt the only company that claims things that dont work/arent there about their product.

[Kingslayer]

Originally posted by Violator


So what are you suggesting then? that ATi 'recall' all their cards :D (might be an idea).

Seriously tho' my point was that you shouldn't advertise a product with features that don't work/don't work properly. It isn't good practice.

But it seems perfectly acceptable for nVidia to find all these hidden performance gains with nothing but driver updates? Please, nvidia does it too, their just better at covering it up.

Or rather, not advertising it.

Which tells me that nVidia is intentionally covering up their initial shortcomings.

[Zuck Gou :)]

Originally posted by Kingslayer


But it seems perfectly acceptable for nVidia to find all these hidden performance gains with nothing but driver updates? Please, nvidia does it too, their just better at covering it up.

Or rather, not advertising it.

Which tells me that nVidia is intentionally covering up their initial shortcomings.

nVidia is so big that they know they can get away with this.

Thats why EVERYONE should be rooting the 8500 on even if they think a Ti500 is a way better card.

If the 8500 fails, then nVidia will continue having ridiculously over-priced cards because they CAN.

[Violator]

Originally posted by Kingslayer


But it seems perfectly acceptable for nVidia to find all these hidden performance gains with nothing but driver updates? Please, nvidia does it too, their just better at covering it up.

Or rather, not advertising it.

Which tells me that nVidia is intentionally covering up their initial shortcomings.

Well I think you summed it up there, they didn't advertise it.

Also with regards to 'hidden performance gains' I take it you are suggesting Nvidia intentionally crippled their drivers in the first place? I've seen this argument before, it's usually started by fanATics (I'm not suggesting you're one btw). I've seen no proof of this at all.

I do know however that Nvidia can write good drivers. If said drivers can make performance gains, that's good optimisation. ATi can't write good drivers, it's well known.

[Clemson Physics Geek]

Couldn't we all just get OEM cards (for less money) then clock them up to Retail specs w/ something like PowerStrip? I bet there's no difference in the construction....at worst, you spend $10-$15 on a new heatsink/fan for it.

[funnyperson1]

Originally posted by Clemson Physics Geek
Couldn't we all just get OEM cards (for less money) then clock them up to Retail specs w/ something like PowerStrip? I bet there's no difference in the construction....at worst, you spend $10-$15 on a new heatsink/fan for it.
yes we could and at the prices oems are goign at that would be no problem at all the only thing is, how does ati determine what cards are OEM and which are retail, they probably choose the higher yield cards for retail.....

[OnDborder]

Originally posted by funnyperson1

yes we could and at the prices oems are goign at that would be no problem at all the only thing is, how does ati determine what cards are OEM and which are retail, they probably choose the higher yield cards for retail.....

Very good point.
That is what makes me apprehensive of the OEM card that I ordered from Newegg.
I don't want this to be a hindrance in OC'ing my computer.

[funnyperson1]

Originally posted by OnDborder


Very good point.
That is what makes me apprehensive of the OEM card that I ordered from Newegg.
I don't want this to be a hindrance in OC'ing my computer.
i will say though it isnt worth the 30$ to cancel, even if it was a low yield chip you could probably overclock enough that you wouldnt see a performance difference especially if you upgraded the cooling (costs ither 15dollars or free if you have some old socket 7 coolers laying around).....

[OnDborder]

Well, I've actually entertained the idea of selling it locally for the amount or less than I bought it for. I'm not going to pay 30 bucks(restocking fee) for nothing.

IMHO they weren't truthful when I asked about the differences. I bought from them with the confidence that the versions were the same, just without the fancy software in the OEM as stated by the Newegg sales rep on the phone.

When I call them back tomorrow, without a doubt, they are going to say it's ATI's problem not theirs. Which it might be but I think they should have been aware of the differences of the versions.

[LiquidConfusion]

MY OEM has 4ns ram and from what I can tell a lot of the other OEM versions do to where as the retails tend to have 3.6ns ram trust me this sux mine is @ 275/254 and I cant get another smidgen out of the memory

[sailor420]

OK, heres the scoop. I was in the same boat you are (only my card came at 230/230). If the ram on it is 3.6ns (which you can tell by looking at the last two numbers on the memory chips on the card), then it was built to run the full 275/275. If they are 4ns, it wasnt, and you will have more trouble overclocking it.

IF it is the 3.6ns ram, then the only difference b/t that OEM card and the retail is the BIOS on it. You can flash the retail BIOS to it, and it will run at the full 275/275. This is not really overclocking-- the card was built to run 275/275, they just crippled it for marketing reasons. If you want more on this, say so. I will post links to the flasher, ROMs, etc. Also, check www.rage3d.com, especially their forums. This is where I learned of this.

The problem with this solution is that if the BIOS flash quits halfway through for some reason, you may have just ruined your card. The flasher makes a backup of the original bios (keep it in a safe place!), but you may or may not be able to fix it if the flash dies. Weigh your options carefully. If you can get it exchanged, do it. Ask around on the Rage3d forums, and read about it all you can before you do it. Dont just jump in uneducated!

If you want more info, let me know. I will be glad to give it.