Why am I being backed into a corner here?

[Jersey]

This RMA thing has become a real annoyance. It might be just me but I just can't seem to work this process out. As you might know I'm trying to get it to the Fatality 8800GTS. XFX is answering none of my questions about my desired upgrade card or about prices/stats on cards. All they tell me is I can get a 8600GTS.. they don't tell me which one and I can pay 150 US for 8800GTS. I had a 7900GT 520mhz 1.5 core clock I think?

Anyways.. yeah they're not answering any of my questions, don't even explain their options to me properly. Then I ask if they have Fatality 8800GTS as an upgrade option, totally ignore that.. maybe its just cause they have different people answering every time with the same generic answers.

Since they didn't answer, I took that as a no. Then I looked at the options they gave me, none of them looked good for me. I'm definitely not super savvy at computers, I just know enough to do the basic stuff but no matter how I look at it I'm going to end up in a bad situation. $150 seems to be such a hefty upgrade price for the lowest(I'm guessing) possible 8800GTS. While the 8600GTS I think is a downgrade which I don't really want. So I end up giving money to them through downgrade or fork out more money for a card I don't think is worth. Can someone clear this up for me? Is $150 worth it for my 7900GT 520mhz 1.5 core clock?

On a last note, XFX service started out great.. then it came sliding down. Hopefully you guys can help me out here. (Answer if 150 is worth and stuff like that) I've spent 3 weeks now on this RMA thing and it still hasn't been resolved.

Oh and sorry about the wrong section, can one of the mods move it over to where it belongs?

[werty316]

No to bash you in any way but paying $150 to upgrade for a 8800GTS Fatal1ty video card, let along a regular 8800GTS, ain't that bad since that card probably costs $350 or more since the "Fatal1ty" name is not cheap stuff. Here are some prices I found: http://xfxforce.pgpartner.com/search_getprod.php/vcode=XFX/partnum=PVT80GG1D4/

A 7900GT isn't worth that much on the street since it dated.

XFX will provide a substitute product that is within performance range of your RMA'd card should they not have any in stock. Do you really expect them to ship you a replacement card that has double the performance without a upgrade cost? You should be so lucky since I asked to upgrade to a 8800GTS for a fee when my XFX 7900GT had to be RMA'd but they said they can't since they had my RMA'd video card in stock.

How about this, I'll send you my 7900GT and I'll pay $150 and XFX can send the 8800GTS to me?

[Jersey]

I would take the 8800GTS Fatality for 150. But the regular 8800GTS is a little much for 150, don't you think?

[westy87]

Hmm well, i've been looking around and the people I've seen that received the 8600gts were more than pleased with the replacement and said it outperformed the 7900gt. The 8600gt doesnt though from what I read

[Jersey]

Really?
And werty I don't take any offence. I'm just really pissed off right now. I don't see why they can't give me 8800GTS Fatality as an upgrade option. I would be willing to pay for it, but not 150 for the regular 8800GTS. They never answer my questions.. every time they have someone else saying something different and not even attempting to answer my questions. How is that customer service when they give you generic answers?

[werty316]

If XFX agreed to give you a 8800GTS Fatal1ty, you'll probably get charged more than $150.

You do know the 8800GTS Fatal1ty video card is just a super-overclocked 8800GTS 320MB?

They never answer my questions.. every time they have someone else saying something different and not even attempting to answer my questions. How is that customer service when they give you generic answers?
Most likely the reasoning for this is they already gave you a solution so you'll have to take it or leave.

[Jersey]

Yes I understand that, I'm willing to pay more then 150. I also hear that it has similar performance to a standard 8800GTX.

[werty316]

Would you be willing to pay maybe $200 or more?

Based on price of both I might go with the 8800GTS Fatal1ty over a 8800GTX.

Key points I like about this card:
● The 8800 GTS Fatal1ty performs almost on par with the standard 8800 GTX and is only about 8-10% slower than the 8800 GTX XXX
● The 8800 GTS Fatal1ty is 10-11 degrees Celsius cooler at full load than the 8800 GTX XXX and draws around 50 Watts less power

http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1166&pageID=3951

[Jersey]

I am actually.. but they won't offer me it, well I did ask them but they chose not to respond to my question.

So I'll most likely be going with the 8600GTS... better be the XXX edition they're talking about.

[werty316]

You'll know when they tell you in your support ticket. Atleast they told me in my support ticket which model I was gonna receive.

[PP Mguire]

I dont see what the real problem is here really. No offense but if they are willing to give you an 8800GTS for your 7900GT and 150 bucks id take it. Thats WELL worth it for that brand new generic 8800GTS. And not only that, like was mentioned the Fatal1ty is just a super overclocked regular 8800GTS. With some upped volts and higher clocks you could do the same. Not only that, the 8600GTS Fatal1ty thats being talked about is still better than your 7900GT by far. I dont see a problem with getting either a generic 8800GTS or an 8600GTS. They are still both better than your 7900GT and is worth the 150 bucks. But if your willing to pay more for an 8800GTS Fatal1ty wellll i thikn they should get you one.

[kiwiplayer]

it seems the problem may be how people think about this.
the buyer pays $350 for a 7900GT and 9 months later (time line is an example) the card dies.
since there are no replacement 7900GT in stock, the replacement should be same or better quality than the 7900GT. i think the 8600GTS is better than a stock 7900GT but I'm unsure about the 520M version of the 7900GT. It could be this that has made Jersey alittle uneasy. then when the buy is told they can receive a 8800GTS for an extra $150, that can cause a few things to go through the buyers mind.
they are claiming an RMA so why should they pay more moneythey are not trying to upgrade, they are being forced to upgradethey have already paid $350 for the 7900GT 9 months ago and now they are being asked for a further $150 for a card which is guaranteed to be better than their faulty card but they are still unsure about the 8600GTX performance compared to their factory overclocked 7900GTwhich 8600gts, the plain version or the overclocked version, like the buyers old 7900GT. or which 8800GTS, the 320mb or 640mb. for $150, there is a difference.

now for a outsiders point of view.
technology changes, prices drop, it's a way of lifeconsidering #1, the 7900GT is now worth alot less than it use to be, the 8600GTS has DX10 support and is worth about the same as a 7900GT is now (if you can find one). plus a stock 8600GTS is about the same performance as a stock 7900GT.(of course opinions will differ)considering the price of the 7900GT now, $150 to upgrade from a 7900GT to a 8800GTS is a good deal

for those that cant see the difference, the buyer tends to look at what they have already paid, they are not choosing to upgrade, this has come about because their card is faulty. add on top of this, the fact the faulty card is a overclocked version, now there is no clear information as to whether the free replacement is actually the same or better performance. that is the start of the problem. no idea if the replacement is stock or also a overclocked model. the next problem is not knowing exactly what the $150 is going towards. asking for a fatality card is probably Jersey trying to take away all confusion as to what the actual replacement is going to be. if he were told the exact model numbers and a link to specs, then the question about the fatality may never have risen.

the outsiders prospective is the future, they tend to treat this as someone asking what they should choose as an upgrade, forgetting this is due to a RMA, it's forced.
for example, if XFX had a upgrade policy where customer should return their working but old XFX product so they could receive a XFX credit based on the old product they returned. then all the replies here would make complete sense to jersey and no one would be upset.
But jersey has not returned a working 7900GT for a XFX credit which is to go towards a upgrade, this is an RMA and jersey just needs to be fully informed with exactly what models he has to choose from, exactly. would also help if XFX were to also to say they are aware the faulty 7900GT was an overclocked model and that they guarantee the 8600GTS offering is the same or better performance to the 7900GT 520M.

just alittle psych evaluation. go easy on jersey, the 7900GT may be cheap these days but he hasn't chosen to upgrade, his 7900GT died and now hes forced into making a choice but he hasn't been given enough info so as to make the right choice. i.e if he were told he could buy a fatality for $200, he cant say yes or no without knowing if its a 8600GTS or 8800GTS fatality (just an example)

good luck and i hope this helps you to get the answers you need from XFX.

Edit: a few links from people might help you
link 1 (http://magicboxlive.blogspot.com/2007/10/8600gts-vs-8600gt-vs-7600gt-full-review.html) is a stock 8600GTS vs stock 7900GT
link 2 (http://www.legitreviews.com/article/486/7/) is a comparision of many different cards including the 7900GT compared to a 8600GTS XXX
link 3 (http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=224414) is some peoples opinions about the 7900GT XXX version compared to the 8600GTS.
link 4 (http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/p2878854.html) more peoples opinions on the 7900GT o/c and the 8600GTS.

my thoughts are the 8600GTS averages the factory 7900GT. some game the 7900GT races ahead, some games it falls behind. if the replacement is a factory overclocked 8600GTS then it should be almost as fast. of course all this depends on what games you play and what settings you choose. the 8600GTS MAY be lower FPS but the quality MAY be better.
if the $150 is for the 8800GTS 640, get it. if it's for the 320 version then it's upto you whether the extra $150 is worth it.
just remember, that XFX are giving you the opportunity to go for a paid upgrade instead of later selling the free card.

[werty316]

$150 is probably for a 320MB version and since a 8800GTS has roughly twice the performance of one 7900GT, $150 is worth it.

Only real advantage the 640MB model has over the 320MB model is when you are running games at a high resolution with AF and AA enabled; so if your monitor is capable of resolution no higher than 1280x1024 having the 640MB model over the 320MB model wouldn't benefit.

[slugbug]

7900GT was discontinued and replaced by the 7950GT, which was also discontinued and replaced by the 8800GTS.

In fact I remember reading on another forum a few weeks ago where someone had bought a 7800GT a few yrs ago from a retailer along with an extended warranty. When the card failed it was replaced with an 8800GTS.

[Schwarz]

According to guru3d XFX has the best 8600 card.
8600GTS XXX

The problem here is not the fact that the 7900 is not worth what it is used to be but which card would perform equaly to his 7900GT

Now I have made a few research for you.
According to vr-zone the 8600GTS performs better then the 7900GT
Graphics Card
8600GTS 745/1145
7900GT 450/660
http://www.vr-zone.com/?i=4883&s=1

Now of course if you had an overclocked version of your 7900GT XFX HAS no choice to give you an overclocked version of the 8600GTS if you go that path.

Personnaly I would pay the extra for a 8800GTS (im not sure if its a 320 or 640) if its a 640 then dont hesitate at ALL and jump on the offer.
I would still go for it for a 320.
I have 2 of those monsters and I tell you you will see a HUGE difference between your 7900GT

I used to have an eVGA 7900GT KO (though it was the 256MB version) and concluded that the 8800GTS was a far better card.
http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13355

Here`s a small review from a user of nvnews showing that a 8800GTS alone (640MB) can easily take on 2 7900GT in SLI.
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=80271

We should really know what XFX is offering you.
a 640MB or a 320MB version of the 8800GTS.
Anyways in my personnal opinion I would probably go for the upgrade.
You;ll be future proofed for a while.
I got screwed over with evga trying to use their so called step up program which was total BS in my case and never got to step up.
XFX doesnt usualy offer step up but if you have the chance to do it then I would go for it.

[werty316]

Despite the memory differences the 8800GTS out performs a 7900GT big time..

[Schwarz]

You have to remember the 8800 right now are the BEST cards money can buy.
Of course you got the 8800GTX Ultra which is for rich people...
And the GTX which is the top of the 8800.
And then you got both the 320MB and 640MB version of the 8800GTS, which performs pretty much the same unless you go higher in resolution the memory difference starts to show but the 8800 right now is the king of the hill.

[werty316]

Plus the 8800GT is expected just around the corner.

[tomato]

jersey, read kiwi's post and all will be made clear. ;) Take the 8800 for $150 and be happy for it. You paid $X for your 7900 card many moons ago in the view of the technology world... tech prices fall so fast it's almost dizzying to try and keep up. At least XFX offered you the option of an 8600 or price upgrade to an 8800 series card.

[PP Mguire]

According to guru3d XFX has the best 8600 card.
8600GTS XXXI believe the 8600GTS Fatal1ty is clocked higher than the XXX.

[xfxsupport]

Usually the Fatalilty versions are hard to come by as they are only made in limited amounts. I am sure there are many customers that have working 7900GT cards that would love to pay $150.00 to upgrade to an 8800GTS 320, which performs so well that in my opinion can not be compared to a 7900GT. But we do understand that everyone is different so we try to work with customers to help resolve any issues. PM me your ticket number and I might be able to find another 7900GT (no promises) to send you as a replacement.

[kiwiplayer]

As you might know I'm trying to get it to the Fatality 8800GTS. XFX is answering none of my questions about my desired upgrade card or about prices/stats on cards. All they tell me is I can get a 8600GTS.. they don't tell me which one and I can pay 150 US for 8800GTS.pay $150.00 to upgrade to an 8800GTS 320]Usually the Fatalilty versions are hard to come by as they are only made in limited amounts.
Well jersey, you have your answer :D
I'd suggest NOT asking for another 7900GT. the 7900GT has many problems.

looking at newegg, a 7900GT would cost about $250 but those prices are most probably out dated and stock is probably unavailable. who would pay that much for a 7900GT?
so realistically, the 8600GTS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150228) is worth about $170 while the 8800GTS 320MB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150171) is $280.
now this is one site, keep in mind currency and postage too.

So, how much could you get if you were to sell the 8600GTS compared to a 7900GT? more than $120? if so then take the 8600GTS or 7900GT, then sell it and buy the video card of your choice.