RMA Replacement question.

[Bad Omen]

Hi, I have been lurking around on the forums for quite a while, but a matter that popped up recently has made me register to ask a question in regards to an RMA I just went through.

A few weeks back I RMA'd a XFX 7900GS 600M 256MB PCI-E. Upon the completion and them sending a replacement to me I kinda question the choice of card. I was sent a 8600GTS XXX 256MB ***128 BIT*** PCI-E. Now, after being a member of several forums (Hard|OCP, Anandtech, Toms Hardware), and reading numerous reviews for this card, I wasn't too thrilled to open that box.

Onto last night when I got home. I promptly ran Driver Cleaner Pro to clean out all the old remnants of drivers. Next I installed the card, booted up, and installed the newest Nvidia drivers (169.21). After updating all my computers drivers and regular updates, I then loaded World of Warcraft. Now with the old card I was getting 35+ FPS in highly populated areas (Shattrath) with all my settings maxxed out. Now with this card I am lucky to get 10-15FPS. Now being that it is a online game and latency (average ping time is 75-125ms) does play a role, I also checked on another low pop. server and got the same results. Also, my old card never "stuttered" when moving around yet this one does.

After playing for a few minutes I decided to try some of my older drivers to see if that made a difference. Which I came to find out did not. My question is simply this...Is this card the proper replacement for mine? Also note, I do not run any DX10 games nor do I run Vista, which seems to be where this card excels.


System Spec's:
MB - Asus Crosshair AM2
RAM - Corsair XMS2 PC6400 (4-4-4-12) 3GB (tried running just 2GB, same result)
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000 Brisbane
GPU - XFX 8600GTS XXX 256MB PCI-E
PSU - Antec NeoHE 500W Modular (Tried a Corsair 600W, same results)
OS - Windows XP Pro SP2

Any help is greatly appreciated. Also, I am not looking for a handout, I just simply want the same performance I paid for when I bought my card (which only lasted all of 8 months since new) :frown: .

[Bad Omen]

Forgot to add that I run a Samsung 205BW DVI monitor running native res. at 1680 x 1050.

[Scott]

I have forwarded this thread to my XFX tech and he should be looking into it latter today or in the morning.

Scott

[Bad Omen]

Thank you very much for your reply, Scott. I noticed that you guys have some top notch customer service by browsing your forums. Also, as far as the 8600's go, I have been holding off on an upgrade personally (prior to my card failing) until the 8800GT's came down in price due to the lackluster performance by the mid-grade cards. I appreciate any information you can provide.

Thanks again,
Bill :thanks:

[mivanx77]

Sry for you inconvenience. Hopefully some XFX support team can fix this dilemma for you. Just a little side note, the 8600GTS isnt that great. I would buy either an 8800GT or w8 for the nice mid range budget card, the 9600GT.

[xfxsupport]

PM me your ticket or RMA number and I can look into it. The 7900GS will do better at the older games, but the newer ones should go to the 8600GTS.

[Miker]

8600GT XXX is a good match for a 7900, about the same performance + DX10.

[Bad Omen]

Ticket number is: 134230 . RMA on the card was a XCR8803. As stated before, Mike, I realize the 8600GTS is better with newer games (IE Direct X 10) , however I do not run those nor do I run Vista :frown: . And there is a noticeable decrease in the games I do play as far as FPS go because of the resolution I play at. I have done my homework on the 8600's enough to know that they do still get stomp at higher resolutions in comparison to the 7900 Series ;-) .

[Miker]

Yaa, I have a 7950GT I know how good they are. I would try to get a 8800GT for pain and suffering.

[werty316]

Having the luxury of a DX10 video card won't be of any benefit when the frames in a DX10 rendered game using a 8600GTS/GT card would be unbearable.

Also the 8600GTS is just a bit slower than the 7900GT. Same thing goes for the 8600GT and 7900GS where the 7900GS would prevail.

[Miker]

His being a XXX makes up for some difference though.

[Bad Omen]

:frown:As I do agree with you that the XXX edition should make up some of the difference, I also have to note that one of the reviews I read up on was my card (the 7900GS that is) was matched against the XFX 8600GTS XXX. The 8600, as I said, did very well until you upped the resolution past 1280x1024 I think it was? Then the 7900GS pulled ahead :grin: . And as one person said about the 8800GT...I would've been thrilled just to get my original card back. Not sure if they can still make that happen though :frown: . I am not posting here in hopes that they do send me a 8800GT, but I would be absolutely thrilled if they did, dont get me wrong. I am merely waiting on the supports opinion of the matter. It's up to them is what it comes down to.

[Miker]

7900 is going to be hard to get, 8600 XXX was a easier one to get. I would just stick with the 8600, it will be really good for COD4 and such. If you like source era games try to get 7900.

[Bad Omen]

Well, considering the 7900's are hard to get, then I suppose the next option up would be the 8800's. All I simply want is the performance back in the games I play, I dont want to be forced to run a OS simply for the sake of taking advantage of the cards features. And keeping the 8600 doesnt seem like a logical choice in my eyes. Too many people realize this card is crippled, and now from first hand experience I see it too. Sorry, but going from all settings maxxed in the games I enjoy and still maintaining playable FPS to a mere 10-15 FPS? I'll pass. I already have waited almost a month without my computer due to not having a spare PCI-E card. I will not swallow a downgrade man :frown: .

[Miker]

A good trade would be for a 8800GS/GT. This should be cheap/free.

[Bad Omen]

If given the option, and they do not mind, I would say the 8800GT. Reason for that choice? First performance, second I will be getting my tax return back shortly and I am planning a decent sized upgrade to my computer. One of which was already planned to be a 8800GT. My eyes have been glued to the prices on Newegg since the news dropped about the new line of GPU's and they are looking more and more tempting as the days go by. Maybe the possibility of running SLI perhaps? I loved my XFX card and will surely be doing business with them again. Does that answer suffice to you?

[Bad Omen]

Any news from the support end of this? Have yet to hear anything. Please let me know.

[Miker]

Shannon went partying late last night, I am sure once the Alka-Seltzer Morning Relief kicks in he will be here.