[rma]8800 Gtx Xxx 768mb

[minux]

Hi!

Here is the deal:

Ever since I have got the XFX 8800 GTX XXX 768MB I experienced random freezes with most games. The newer the faster.
I installed a fresh OS, I used the newest nvidia drivers, connected every possible power connector with my board and my card.
I followed the instructions by the XFX technician but in the end the problem was only fixed by reducing the memory and core clocks to 575/900 which equals "normal" gtx values.
The technician diagnose was a possibly faulty VRAM and I agree with that because that is adding up to my normal temperature levels as well.
Now I would like to know how to request RMA with XFX and where to send my graphics card?
I am a German customer and I still have warranty on my product.
Thank you very much in advance!

[masterchief3k]

What power supply do you have?

[minux]

Be quiet straight power 450W

[xfxsupport]

Are you able to return it to your retailer? If not then I would start a support ticket at www.xfxforce.com and then PM me the ticket number. I can forward it to the necessary team to get you taken care of.

[minux]

Thank you for your offer.
Much appreciated but luckily I could talk to German customer support and they told me I have to send it to my retailer. There I opened a RMA request and processed it already.
They even will pick it up at my door which is great. So I think I am being taken care of.
Thx again!

[minux]

Strange. I am playing now for over 1h and still no crash with CoD4. Usually it crashed within 40mins.
Is there any way to certainly determine if the VRAM is faulty ?

[PP Mguire]

The only way you can really tell is if you send it back.

Another thing, that PSU is pretty small for that beast of a card.

[minux]

I have thought about that already and run a couple of online power consumption calculators. With everything taken into account I barely end up with 300W that are used by my rig in total. Whats a good sign of a insufficient power supply? What do you reckon then to be a good PSU choice ?
I just cant understand why now everything is working. Sounds a lot like Murphy's law.
But you think I should send it back in any case just to be sure ?

I have just made a run with ATITools artifact scanner and after about 5 mins and 92°C I get artifacts.
Is this a good indicator of a faulty VRAM ?

[Goliath182]

I would get a bigger one. I assume Quiet Straight Power is the maker? They sound like a off brand maker to me. Your going to want a PSU from a higher quality company, as lower quality PSU's sometimes dont put out how much there rated for.

[minux]

In fact be quiet is not an off brand. I payed over 50€ (~$75) and that PSU in particular was top ranked in a couple of reviews. It although supplies enough current on the needed rails (12V:28A).
And as I have wrote my PC crashed again after about 8 hours of testing and gave artifacts after that. So I really dont think this is related to my PSU in any way.
I put in my old 8800GTS 320 and the new one is going RMA.
Though you still havent answered my question in what way a failing/insufficient PSU would display? Would my PC freeze or would it just turn off ?

[XFX Tech]

Be Quiet is a fairly popular brand in Europe. I am not sure whether they are big enough to make their own PSUs or if they contract the work out but I have seen plenty of their PSUs around. I would agree it is a little shy for an 88GTX though.

[minux]

What would be an appropriate choice with a card like that then ?
But I looked into it once more and my total powser consumption is at ~300W. Which is 2/3 or 66.6% of my total available Wattage. And the degree of efficiency provided by a common PSU has its peak at 80% starting to going up at 50%. That would mean getting a bigger PSU might decrease effectiveness.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/4797/6ad929516b3ae9c2ad3b07ffj5.jpg

Wirkungsgrad = degree of efficiency

[XFX Tech]

Components only pull what they need so a larger power is never a bad thing. There are lots of 1KW PSUs that are still over 80% efficiency. The 8800GTX pulls close to 200W of 12V power by itself when under a large load. That power supply has a total of 30A 12V so 360W at 80% efficiency is 288W. Other 12V devices on your motherboard as well as any HDDs or ODDs in your system, PCI cards. I am just saying it is cutting it very close depending on your system set up. The 30A is split up on two rails. If the 88GTX is on the 18A rail than you are very thin. 172W at 80%. That is why we are concerned with it.

[minux]

Fair enough.
What would be a good PSU choice then? How much watts do I need then?
I was thinking about getting a HD4870 as soon as it is available.
Any information how much power that card sucks ?

Oh and something else. My card is going for RMA monday and I was wondering if you guys will be able to definitely determine if the card itself is faulty or not.
I am just a bin concerned and want to make sure my baby is in good hands :).

[XFX Tech]

I think the recommended on a 4870 is recommended around 600-650W 40A 12V. I would go 750W or higher just to have more than enough power going around. Any major power supply manufacturer will be fine. I am sure Be Quiet! has a 750W if you would like to stay with them.