8800GT Questions/RMA questions

[rainless]

So I've been offered a step-up from my 8800GTS 640 to an 8800GT 512MB.

I know the 8800GT is "faster" but I'm kind of reluctant because I'm losing 128MB, I'm getting an inferior cooler, and my 8800GTS is retails for $400 and the 8800GT retails for $250.

I've told them an G92 8800GTS would be more reasonable... but just in case that doesn't pan out:

1. How loud/quiet is the 8800GT fan?
2. What are the temps on the 8800GT like?
3. Any advice from previous owners of an 8800GTS 640?

There's absolutely nothing wrong with my 8800GTS (other than the fact that it won't capture right in Premiere Pro)... and now I have two of them because of a previous RMA.

The other thing... since I'm still having the same problem... Do I send them back my old 8800GTS... or send in the new one they just sent me?

Eventually they'll both have to go back, but until then?

[redrumy3]

i went from 8800gts 640 to 8800gt 512 and i love it, but the fan is annoying (aka loud) when set above 65% temps are higher as well but not bad, i just couldnt take the noise so i bought the cooler in sig for 18 bucks 23 shipped from svc, and i load @ 36c and 34/35c on memory.

[thisisapen]

I don't understand slow cards having tons of video memory.
From what I understand, to use all that 640MB video memory you'd need to be gaming at like 1920x, and at that res your card won't be able to handle it, well, not with the high quality textures you'd be using.

Maybe I've got the wrong end of the stick though.

Regardless I can say that the 8800GT is loud. If you've got the spare bucks get an aftermarket heatsink+fan, and additional RAM sinks. HOWEVER if you can't get the new GTS 512MB, make sure the 8800GT is the latest revision, with the new reference heatsink+fan which is larger and I believe runs at 1700RPM max compared to the 7000 or whatever of the reference heatsink+fan design.

As for temps, at the clock speed in my sig and the fan speed at 70% I was hitting about 70C full load. It's okay but the sound was too much for my quiet system so I bought an Accelero S1 with 2x 80mm fan attachment and I hit 40c full load now.

[rainless]

I don't understand slow cards having tons of video memory.
From what I understand, to use all that 640MB video memory you'd need to be gaming at like 1920x, and at that res your card won't be able to handle it, well, not with the high quality textures you'd be using.

Maybe I've got the wrong end of the stick though.

Regardless I can say that the 8800GT is loud. If you've got the spare bucks get an aftermarket heatsink+fan, and additional RAM sinks. HOWEVER if you can't get the new GTS 512MB, make sure the 8800GT is the latest revision, with the new reference heatsink+fan which is larger and I believe runs at 1700RPM max compared to the 7000 or whatever of the reference heatsink+fan design.

As for temps, at the clock speed in my sig and the fan speed at 70% I was hitting about 70C full load. It's okay but the sound was too much for my quiet system so I bought an Accelero S1 with 2x 80mm fan attachment and I hit 40c full load now.

Yeah... I definately don't think it's a fair trade now that you guys mention the cooler. I mean I had an extended replacement plan on my Xbox 360 and they just happened to upgrade the CPU and cooling system within a year. But that's got nothing to do with me... so I just got a newer resvision Xbox. The same should apply with my video card. I already paid for the cooling system and everything. I shouldn't have to bother about buying and installing another aftermarket cooler.

That's more time and money lost.

[chrispycrunch]

I'm trying to find out which GTs have the latest fan revision. I read that NV isn't making that standard...that only XFX and Visiontek include a bigger fan (and hence quieter card).

You can see from the fan size if you have the latest revision. There are fewer fins on the bigger cooler.

[rainless]

I'm trying to find out which GTs have the latest fan revision. I read that NV isn't making that standard...that only XFX and Visiontek include a bigger fan (and hence quieter card).

You can see from the fan size if you have the latest revision. There are fewer fins on the bigger cooler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1-4n2mJurA

I think the 8800GT would annoy the hell out of me. I'm going to pressure them into getting me an 8800GTS G92.

[chrispycrunch]

Good luck with the GTS - I think that is a fair trade-up. I've had many bad experiences with noisy fans. It drives me nuts. First was a TT cooling fan for AMD T-Bird back in 2001. Then a Sapphire 9600pro. The fan was cheap and whined like anything. Silence is gold, and so should video cards that cost over $250!

[jason4207]

Does eVGA just not have the GTS-512 on their step-up program?

[KillrBuckeye]

I am also worried about the noisy fan on the 8800GT (that I hope to get for Xmas). I almost went with an ATI 3870 instead because of its dual-slot cooling solution and much lower noise output.

redrumy3: are you running that S1 passively, or did you attach a fan? I may consider getting that cooler, but I'm apprehensive about supergluing the RAM sinks like many people have done. I mean, what if I have to RMA the card at some point?

[Thund3rball]

I think you should get either the G92 GTS 512 or the G80 640 with 112SPs. Either would be a step up. The GT does give you better performance than your GTS but I wouldn't accept it as a step up for all reasons already stated. And as you pointed out there's a significant price difference between GT and GTS. And the simple fact that the model numbers go Ultra > GTX > GTS > GT. EVGA shouldn't try to be convincing you that GT > GTS.

[mangyrat]

So I've been offered a step-up from my 8800GTS 640 to an 8800GT 512MB.

I know the 8800GT is "faster" but I'm kind of reluctant because I'm losing 128MB, I'm getting an inferior cooler, and my 8800GTS is retails for $400 and the 8800GT retails for $250.

I've told them an G92 8800GTS would be more reasonable... but just in case that doesn't pan out:

1. How loud/quiet is the 8800GT fan?
2. What are the temps on the 8800GT like?
3. Any advice from previous owners of an 8800GTS 640?

There's absolutely nothing wrong with my 8800GTS (other than the fact that it won't capture right in Premiere Pro)... and now I have two of them because of a previous RMA.

The other thing... since I'm still having the same problem... Do I send them back my old 8800GTS... or send in the new one they just sent me?

Eventually they'll both have to go back, but until then?

the fan can be adjusted to a sound level you can live with but then you'll have to go with a slightly lower OC, just balance sound and heat to your liking and it will be fine.

"temp" they are not that bad. im running a XFX8800gt 600 / 900 @ 670 / 1003 idle temp of 43c and gaming load of 59c fan set at 84% its at the same sound level or less as my 5 80mm fans so I cant hear it over top of them.

my sys is bottled necked with he cpu so the oc really don't do much to help out, I just wanted to see how it will hold up under stress. XFX card so I can oc the crap out off it and still be under warrantee.

if they will not step you up to a g92 then go for the 8800gt its a improvement over your old card not much but its still worth it.

send the card that you registered for the stepup program.

[ChinStrap]

I think you should get either the G92 GTS 512 or the G80 640 with 112SPs. Either would be a step up. The GT does give you better performance than your GTS but I wouldn't accept it as a step up for all reasons already stated. And as you pointed out there's a significant price difference between GT and GTS. And the simple fact that the model numbers go Ultra > GTX > GTS > GT. EVGA shouldn't try to be convincing you that GT > GTS.

it's not a setup though. it's an RMA.

[Immortal_Hero]

Well they couldn't downgrade you so the least card they could give you is an 8800 GT. If it isn't costin you anything I would think an 8800 GT 512 would be a good bet. If you can get them to go with an 8800 GTS 512 then that would be even better.

[ratbuddy]

I haven't seen any benches where the GTS 640 beats the GT 512 in any category.. Sounds like a fair trade to me, even though the price is lower on the 512.. Wouldn't hurt to try for the GTS, or even offer a little extra cash if they say no, but there's nothing to be upset about over that substitute.

[jason4207]

I forgot this was an RMA as well. Send the old GTS-640 back, and then either replace the new GTS-640 w/ a GT through eVGA or if you think you can sell the GTS-640 for more than the price of the GT then do that and pocket the money or put it towards the cost of a new GTS-512. You may have an extra hassle if you do the sell-buy thing, but you'll also get a brand new step-up opportunity down the road.

[rainless]

I forgot this was an RMA as well. Send the old GTS-640 back, and then either replace the new GTS-640 w/ a GT through eVGA or if you think you can sell the GTS-640 for more than the price of the GT then do that and pocket the money or put it towards the cost of a new GTS-512. You may have an extra hassle if you do the sell-buy thing, but you'll also get a brand new step-up opportunity down the road.

That sounds like the wisest thing really. Maybe I can register the new card they sent me through the RMA (should be worth their full Manufacturer's price) and just use THAT to step-up to the G92?

I mean it is a brand-new serial number that I haven't registered yet. So I should have thirty days to step-up. I have the box and all the accessories.

The bottom line is... if they gave me an 8800GT... Then they would owe me money. There's no getting around that. It's simple math. They're still selling the 8800GTS 640s that they have left. And they're still asking the same price for them.

Thanks for all your help guys, btw. :beer:

I've never had to deal with a video card RMA before, and this is my first time dealing with EVGA.

And if they gave me the 8800GT then I'd already be out money and I'd still have to use more money (and time) to buy (and install) better cooling for it.

[jason4207]

Maybe I can register the new card they sent me through the RMA (should be worth their full Manufacturer's price) and just use THAT to step-up to the G92?


I doubt that will work. eVGA requires that you upload your invoice (which you don't have) so they can give you credit for what you paid for it.

After I received my step-up card GTS-320-->GT-512 I went back to eVGA to register it and saw that it had a step-up button. The only problem is that it showed the value of my GT as $0, so a "step-up" would cost me full retail, and I'd end up giving my GT to them for nothing.

[KillrBuckeye]

The bottom line is... if they gave me an 8800GT... Then they would owe me money. There's no getting around that. It's simple math. They're still selling the 8800GTS 640s that they have left. And they're still asking the same price for them.You'd like to think that, but in my experience that's not how it works. eVGA has a great reputation for customer service, so hopefully they see it your way. I'm curious to know how this turns out for you.

I recently had to RMA a defective XFX 7900GT for my bro-in-law. The only replacement option they gave me was for an 8600GTS, even though it was selling for $120 less than what I paid for the 7900GT. I complained a bit, but it didn't get me anywhere. If RMAs were handled in terms of monetary value, they should have given us an 8800GTS 256MB.

[rainless]

I doubt that will work. eVGA requires that you upload your invoice (which you don't have) so they can give you credit for what you paid for it.

After I received my step-up card GTS-320-->GT-512 I went back to eVGA to register it and saw that it had a step-up button. The only problem is that it showed the value of my GT as $0, so a "step-up" would cost me full retail, and I'd end up giving my GT to them for nothing.

Gotcha. Well it's good to know you guys have experience with these things.

Anyway, an update: They've heard my prayers and concerns about the noise of the 8800GT. I don't know what they intend to do about it... but they're paying for all the shipping and the cards and whatnot... so I guess I'll just let them keep sending me cards until one of them works.

It's costing them money but all it's costing me is time.

[toddd240]

An aftermarket cooler is a huge plus. I bought the arctic Cooler s1 for both my 8800gt 512mb and I get 42c in Vista ambient and 52c load in Crysis at maxed settings. This is with cards clocked to 650 and 950 in ntune. You can't hear the fans on them and the coolers set me back $30 each for heatsink, fans and ram heatsinks. The 8800gt cards were doing over 70c in Crysis before the heatsinks and if I spun up the fans it got loud over 60%.

[Brolloks]

This is my 2 cents...

I owned a GTS 640 before the GT craze and sold it for $320 which was not bad considering it was outgoing technology, nowadays you will struggle to get more than $280 as you can buy a GT for that price. The GTS is rock solid and has a nice cooler, but the GT runs circles around it even though it has less memory, the new architecture is just too strong for the old GTS.

My advice is to take the GT if EVGA offers you one and slap on an aftermarket cooler, that is a must 'cause the stock cooler is for crap.

[ChinStrap]

clock for clock they are not *that* different. They are better, but not running circles…

[Rattle]

the cooler isnt bad, i run both my cards at 60% 24/7 and normally I reach mid 60's on both cards with overclocks, the fans are more whoosh than whine at 60 and I find it very sufficent.

[Brolloks]

clock for clock they are not *that* different. They are better, but not running circles…

My 3DMARK06 score went up 3k moving from GTS 640 to GT with same CPU, that is a significant increase (30%)

[UBB]

The fan on my BFG 8800GT is not loud at all, because the thing never ramps up even under heavy gameplay, it seems the sensor is not sensitive enough. People all over have been complaining about issues similar to this. Evga released a bios update so the fanspeed ramps up quicker and more gradually as the temperature increases on their 8800gt's. I hope BFG and others will follow suit, but I'm not holding my breath. I've been getting freezing/lockups in game and I believe temps are the culprit (im still doing process of elimination just to be certain). My work around, like everyone else, is to use rivatuner to up the fan speed. The fan is sorta loud at 50% and I've been setting mine at higher to keep it cooler while gaming. Other than that the card is tops. The gpu can supposedly can operate in excess of 105C. I wish this card had a better cooler so I wouldn't have to fool with this nonsense.

good luck on whatever you decide.