XFX 8800 ULTRA XXX Problem

[slickric21]

Well this card has been tested again by Scan, and No fault found.
This is from my RMA ticket:

"I guess I can leave it overnigh. TBH - this is two different tests - two different boards - different O/S - different games - DX10 and 9c - the card is fine. Whatever is causing it is isn't the card. And I doubt it is incompatible. An open bench is worse than a case. The heat can't go anywhere, it kinda sits in a pocket and they get hotter and hotter. At least in a case there are fans shifting and circulating the air.
Scan diagnosis Ran Colin McRae Dirt as requested - did a few laps then left the recorded demo looping all day. It has been on for at least 5 hours now without a break. Tried all the different camera angles. All Gfx settings are the max possible and 1280*1024. AirCon is off - it is roasting in the room today - no need to put it in a case. That isn't feasable anyway. The card is blowing some serious heat out of the fan so I know it is well and truly loaded."

They weren't prepared to do anymore - which is fair enough, they've got other customers aswell.

Shame higher resolutions weren't tested - I never had a problem at 1280x1024 on any app, also the bit about the cooling is just plain wrong. An open case will be cooler for this card - as its got an active cooling system (so will suck air in). The stagnant air thing is only an issue with passive cooling systems. And to say heat isn't an issue as its "blowing some serious heat out so I know its fully loaded" errr this card idles in the 60'cs so its always hot you can always feel heat out of the back.

I'm just gonna cut my losses with this one and take it back, better the devil you know they say. Adjusting the fan speed with rivatuner is no big hardship I suppose. At least the card has never produced artifacts or such like poor Paradox's did.
http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=113237
Scan have offered to send it back to XFX but the whole time frame of that is anybodies guess, plus what if they find no fault ?

This whole charade with this card is begining to effect me and its just not worth it for a poxy graphics card. Some people out there have REAL problems, and i'm getting up in the morining/going to work thinking about that POS graphics card. Its just not normal.

I've learn some lessons and will know next time to avoid XFX like the plague, and any single big purchases like a £500 card will be done at a local store only, so any problems I can physically take it back myself.

To conclude with A big salute to all the Scan returns staff who have worked hard for me on this longwinded issue and in particular Phillipp who has truely gone out of his way to help me.

Now Roll on the 9800's.............

[GoNz0]

not being funny but if you tell them the fault is at a higher res and they cant test to that, its not actually your problem, but scans to recreate the fault, if they cant i suggest you ask them to send it onto the makers with a note explaining they do not have the equipment to test with and can they run the full test on the card.

1280's not working that card, face it the 8800's dont come into there own until you hit over 1600x1200


dont feel you have to make do with it, it needs testing at the res it crapped out on for you..

[slickric21]

Its just been so draining m8 this whole issue.
I know this is going to sound lame but I work as A Firefighter, I was at work today and whilst cutting people out of mangled cars and putting out kitchen fires - i'm thinking of getting back to the station so I can ring Scan to find out about my card Its just not healthy and I can be a***ed with it anymore.

If it goes back to XFX who knows how long it will take. Some people have waited months for replacements.

you guys have all been great though on the forum and I hope I can offer the same help and advice to others in future.

[markbrown83]

Its just been so draining m8 this whole issue.
I know this is going to sound lame but I work as A Firefighter, I was at work today and whilst cutting people out of mangled cars and putting out kitchen fires - i'm thinking of getting back to the station so I can ring Scan to find out about my card Its just not healthy and I can be a***ed with it anymore.

If it goes back to XFX who knows how long it will take. Some people have waited months for replacements.

you guys have all been great though on the forum and I hope I can offer the same help and advice to others in future.

If you are still withing your 7 day period etc as this is a replacement. I would just go for an 8800GTX stock card.

Myself, I have the Scan 8800GTX and would recommend that highly. Move away from the overclocked super dooper card and hopefully the hastles too

See what Scan say in the morning.

If you get a stock card and it does the same thing - which it probably won't then you know it isn't the graphics card.

Hope it all works out.

[slickric21]

Cheers Mark,

Well I first raised the issue of this card 2 days after purchasing, on this forum here.

However I made the mistake of investigating and researching and trying to solve the problem first, rather than send it straight back, thinking it was either; drivers, my system, PSU etc etc.

When I did eventually raise the RMA I did it on the 7th day after purchase - but because Scan didn't reply with an RMA number till the 8th day I was out of luck. It was tested then NFF and sent back to me.

I then pursued XFX for 3 weeks resulting in them telling me to send it back to supplier as they couldn't solve my problem. In which time i'd bulit a completely new system (the only thing kept from the first was the x2 "raptor" hd's) and the freezing problem stiil continued, albeit Intermittently.

So sent it back to Scan again, with instructions to test more thoroughly than the first time, which to be fair they did (only not at the same resolutions). Again they found no fault and aren't prepared to test it further now (see 4 posts up)

I've already set the ball rolling to get this card sent back to me, i'll manually set up a speed profile in rivatuner http://home.comcast.net/~boogieman19...ed%20guide.htm
and sit it out with this card

You win some and lose some.

[markbrown83]

Cheers Mark,

Well I first raised the issue of this card 2 days after purchasing, on this forum here.

However I made the mistake of investigating and researching and trying to solve the problem first, rather than send it straight back, thinking it was either; drivers, my system, PSU etc etc.

When I did eventually raise the RMA I did it on the 7th day after purchase - but because Scan didn't reply with an RMA number till the 8th day I was out of luck. It was tested then NFF and sent back to me.

I then pursued XFX for 3 weeks resulting in them telling me to send it back to supplier as they couldn't solve my problem. In which time i'd bulit a completely new system (the only thing kept from the first was the x2 "raptor" hd's) and the freezing problem stiil continued, albeit Intermittently.

So sent it back to Scan again, with instructions to test more thoroughly than the first time, which to be fair they did (only not at the same resolutions). Again they found no fault and aren't prepared to test it further now (see 4 posts up)

I've already set the ball rolling to get this card sent back to me, i'll manually set up a speed profile in rivatuner http://home.comcast.net/~boogieman19...ed%20guide.htm
and sit it out with this card

You win some and lose some.

Maybe still worth speaking to them. If it is within the first month of purchase still you could maybe swap it over?

Speak to philipp in the morning. You never know.

Have you tried it in a mates computer?

[ukengineer]

Whichever way you look at this, the goods dont work.

Contact XFX. and have them authorise its return to Scan for a full no quibble refund, theres a problem with 8800 Ultras OC cards, not just XFX ones.

My mates done this with his today, and will see a refund at the latest by friday, the wholesaler (name witheld) fully understand, hes had his about 3-4 weeks too.

[markbrown83]

Whichever way you look at this, the goods dont work.

Contact XFX. and have them authorise its return to Scan for a full no quibble refund, theres a problem with 8800 Ultras OC cards, not just XFX ones.

My mates done this with his today, and will see a refund at the latest by friday, the wholesaler (name witheld) fully understand, hes had his about 3-4 weeks too.

I agree.

[ukengineer]

Amazing if you can plumb it in to exisiting water cooling system.

EVGA e-GeForce 8800 Ultra Black Pearl WaterCooled 768MB PCI-E, Dual DVI Video Graphics Card

Only £478.50 + vat ONLY!

[cognoscenti]

Sorry to hear about the problems you lot have had.

Mine have been brilliant so far..touch wood!

[slickric21]

I've just read the thread paradox has about his card and Phillipp has stated that they are testing my card at 1680x1050 resolutions.

Well thanks for the effort -much appreciated, but I don't think its going to freeze on DX10 and vista as I never used either.
Also 3dmark has never frozen, at any res.

If Scan want to test this further then I really thank you for your persistence in tryin gto sort it out for me. If DiRT could be played on xp32 bit at 1680x1050 multisampling @ 4, rest on medium, go to "rallyworld" > "single race" > "rally " > then spain or japan as level = that is when it always freezes. Other than that its hit and miss.

If that test is not possible then I see no point continuing the tests and i'd just like the card back,
thanks all the same.
Phillip has gone out of his way and deserves high praise in trying to help out myself and indeed paradox with our ongoing issues.

[parad0x]

Yeah, it's very good of him, though I'm starting to lose hope. I am trying to get in touch with EVGA in the hope that they can authorize the refund on the grounds that Scan doesn't have the time/resources to adequately test the card until failure. I think this might be my only option now...