Graphics card 'brands'

[mehmeh]

Something puzzles me a bit.. How important is the name on their graphics card to people?

Take the likes of Palit, ECS, Club3D etc, often see these being sold almost like OEM at places like Novatech and overclockers. Scan and other places seem to sell em under the correct name, but still considerbly cheaper than brands like XFX, BFG, Asus, Sapphire. Often see people remark, for example, you can get a 9800GT for well under £100, but would you want too? Are these cheaper brands cheaper for a reason? Lower quality components? On paper stuff is pretty much identical barring cooling, but then again seems nothing uses refference design or cooling anymore so that just confuses matters further.

/discuss I think is the term

[Blitzen]

For some reason, BFG, EVGA and Gainward have all been great perfomrers for me with absolutely no issues.

On the other hand, i have had XFX and Powercolor and they have been awful. I certainly wouldnt buy either of those again. (Both companies, in my experience, have an RMA system that is pathetic at best).

[wazi]

ive had problems with powercolor gf card also
i just brought a force3d HD 4670 and seems very very cool to me even though i had not even heard of them before !!!

"you pays your monies and takes your chance"