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View Full Version : XFX 7900 GT RMA Problems--they're trying to send me an 8600GTS!


dantzig
10-19-2007, 09:31 PM
Ticket 9807

[KEVIN - 10/12/2007] Your recent returns ref: XCR5218 has recently completed the testing process with the following status: {H5H031544 = FAULTY}. A technician will be in contact shortly to discuss completion of this returns. If you have any queries regarding this test result - please send a message to the support team. Thank You. XFX Support Team

[Me - 10/16/2007] What does the status {H5H031544 = FAULTY} mean?

[BRIAN - 10/16/2007] Hi XXX, that means that we are going to be replacing your card. My RMA department will update your ticket when all of the paperwork is finished and your replacement card is ready to ship. Thanks Brian.

[CURTIS - 10/18/2007] We no longer have your video card in stock and in an effort to provide the best possible customer service we are letting you decide on your replacement. You have the option to have it replaced with an 8600GTS 256MB at no charge. Your other option is a paid upgrade, for $150.00 you can upgrade to the 8800GTS 320MB version. You can let us know in your email or if you wish to pay for the upgrade then include the best phone number and time to contact you. Curtis

[Me - 10/19/2007] Frankly, I find both of those options very disappointing. The 8600 GTS is hardly an equivalent card to the 7900 GT. The 8600 line was created by nVidia as a replacement for the 7600 line. According to every resource that I have read, the 8600 GTS performs at 50-70% of the level of the 7900 GT, depending on the game (reference Tom's Hardware VGA charts--link removed ) While I would be more than happy with an 8800 series card as the 8800 line is the replacement for the 7900 line, a $150 upgrade fee is outrageous. Although XFX may not have any in inventory, many retailer are still selling 7900 series cards. The lowest price that I could find for an XFX 7900 GT was $214.92 while the lowest price that I could find for the higher performing XFX 7950 GT was $203.34. (Reference Froogle search for XFX 7900 GT--link removed and Froogle search for XFX 7950 GT--link removed ) Contrast this with the fact that an XFX 8600 GTS sells for $150 ( Froogle search for XFX 8600 GTS--link removed ) and the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB sells for $279.99 less a $20 rebate ( Froogle search for XFX 8800 GTs 320MB--link removed ) Given that the 8800 GTS 320MB retails for more than what I orginally paid for my 7900 GT, I would be willing to pay an upgrade fee, just not $150. I propose $75 as a reasonable fee based on the lowest current retail price of the 7950 GT and the 8800 GTS 320MB. If you would like to contact me via phone, my number is XXXXXXXXXX and I am available any time. Regards.

[DANIEL_E - 10/19/2007] Hi, the 8600gts is a comparable card to the 7900gt. The benchmarks on tomshardware is with drivers nearly 9 months old for the 8600gts and the drivers the 7900gt were using were mature since the card had been out for a while. With the new drivers that have been optimized for the 8600gts the performance is the same and even better in some games, and you get dx10, video encoding support, and hdcp with the 8600gts; the 7900gt had none of those features. Also the 8800gts upgrade price is from our sales department and is non negotiable. I`ve forward this informaton along to have someone give you a call regarding this. In the meantime try to see if you can find some differant benchmarks to compare the 8600gts to the 7900gt as the tomshardware ones are awful and not a correct representation of the cards performance with current drivers. We appologize for the inconvienience. Daniel

xfxsupport
10-19-2007, 09:46 PM
Testing has shown that the 8600GTS XXX is very comparable if not better to some of the 7900GT cards. Yours is the 470MHz 7900GT and you would see the same if not better performance with and 8600GTS (especially in the newer games). Now for instance if you had the 560MHz 7900GT video card in my opinion the 8600GTS would not be the best replacement in that case. As for letting customer pay to upgrade their video card, this is a program we are testing out (not available in all RMA cases) but I can only imagine how many customers would jump at the opportunity to trade in their 7900GT and pay $150 to get an 8800GTS 320 video card.

Jersey
10-19-2007, 11:08 PM
Going through the same thing with my 7900GT

The upgrade price is acceptable... the 800GTS is definitely not comparable. Where does XFX get its statistics?

Really I don't get how they can't have any 7900 in stock, every place still sells it. XFX seems to be forcing us into a corner. Either take a downgrade or pay a price for an upgrade (A hefty one at that, it is a reasonable price to pay.. just that not everyone wants to and has 150 lying around to give away). I think there should also be a cash equivalent option. The way they're doing it now, it seems like a marketing ploy... thats just my opinion.

werty316
10-19-2007, 11:18 PM
7900GT is EOL meaning they aren't made anymore so if XFX runs out of stock or can't get more then they substitute another card. Its either a 8600GTS or 8600GT and I would take a 8600GTS instead.

Store may have them in stock because they are "stores"; XFX isn't a store.

Why is this a bad thing? I see it as a good thing since you get DX10 even though performance is a bit slower than a 7900GT but not by much.

Jersey
10-19-2007, 11:22 PM
I'd rather take the DX9 card, DX10 is still new first of all and it is still a better performing card.

werty316
10-19-2007, 11:27 PM
The 7900GT maybe a bit faster but its like you'll notice.

Sadasius
10-19-2007, 11:43 PM
I was actually thinking about the HD aspect and that is a positive for sure. Nothing like HD on a computer! You will be getting extra features on a card that I am pretty sure you would not even notice any frame drops and will probably score better in benchmarks. But that is just my opinion.