7970 Problems

Alright I'm getting a bit annoyed with Althon, the RMA company that Sapphire uses. I have explicity stated several times that I'm not the original owner and that I bought the card on Ebay. When they sent me the form for the RMA they also sent the terms of the Warranty, the second of which states that items that are purchased second hand or from an auction site violate the warranty. I then followed up by asking them, is my RMA going to be denied since it's second hand and they just ignore the question and responded by telling me their canned response of where to send the card and how to package it. What's the deal? Are they just trying to screw me over or are they just implying that it's fine without actually saying it so as to not violate some rules they may have.

What gives Althon?
 
Got artifacts on newest drivers today and just said screw it. Sent in for RMA. Hopefully all goes well. Overall this RMA is costing me around 45 dollars. 14 to ship, 20 for the fee, and 10 dollars in anti static bubble wrap (damn you OfficeMax).

They never did answer me but due to them sending me the RMA form and saying where to ship it when I've explicitly stated that I'm not the original owner I figured I'd go for it. I kind of feel like they're not "allowed" to tell me it's okay that I'm not the original owner, but are just implying it. My dad speculated that they're paid by Sapphire based on how many RMA's they process so they probably don't care one way or the other.
 
I think your Dad is probably right. Did the seller ever mention anything about the artefacting? Did you ever ask the seller about it once you got the card - because you started having problems quite soon after you received it didn't you?
 
The seller used it for mining so artifacting wouldn't have really been noticed by him. Yeah I was having problems with the card out of the box but I'm tired of dealing with it and just want a replacement.

I wonder how long the turn around is. ETA for my card to them is Thursday. It'd be nice to have it back before I go home to Wichita on Tuesday but I consider that unlikely. I'm also really hoping they don't deny it for some reason, like not being able to generate the issue themselves.
 
Okedokey said:
Yes he wouldve. Thats probably why he sold it.
Click to expand...

How would you notice artifacting if you only used the card for mining? Also he sold dozens of these at the same time and said some of them never even actually got used. Card is faulty, not his fault, and he probably had no clue. It happens and I hold him at no fault for that. He did say a few people contacted him about fans going out too but didn't mention anyone else having artifacting. Probably just got the bad one of the bunch.

Assuming he knew the card was faulty is totally unfair.

Been reading horror stories of Althon Micro and their RMA process and turn around time. Some people have even said it took them over a month get a functioning replacement.

I wouldn't be surprised if they offer me a 280X since they don't make 7970's anymore. Hopefully I don't get a refurb card.
 
ASIC errors.

Mining absolutely rapes the cards. This is a known outcome and why most people avoide mined cards.
 
I'm not saying you're wrong but do you have any evidence because most of what I've seen is that mining doesn't really cause problems except the fans possibly going out from being on so high all the time.
 
An understanding of what damages electronics. The fact that the fans are always running high means the temperatures is high also. Higher temperature for longer, consistent times destroys interconnects, causes electronimigration etc.
 
Okedokey said:
An understanding of what damages electronics. The fact that the fans are always running high means the temperatures is high also. Higher temperature for longer, consistent times destroys interconnects, causes electronimigration etc.
Click to expand...

Even running within normal operating temperatures for an extended period of time can be a problem?
 
You're assuming that it was. Secondly it has been damage. Consistent with many many cases.... Was never designed to run 100% 24/7
 
Video card arrived at Althon on Thursday 11/20/14 and I received an email today on Monday 11/24/14 saying my replacement will be out for shipment tomorrow. Not a bad turn around time at all. I won't be at my dorm over the holiday week so won't have my card until I get back.
 
Received the card today. Judging by the serial numbers on the back it is indeed a new card. Looked brand new out of the box, no signs of use anywhere on the card. I'm hoping it's brand new, but have no way to really tell. Time will tell if this one is better.
 
Thanks. I have noticed it idles and runs about 5 degrees cooler than the previous card. However that probably has as much to do with dust build up as anything else.
 
Well I've had it for a couple days now and so far it's been perfect. No issues at all.

I am getting my second monitor getting black horizontal lines that shift the whole screen around a bit when I first boot up the computer but they go away within a minute or so and aren't too bad anyway. However I did notice this on the last 7970 I had when running on the 14.9 drivers for a couple days. So I'm almost positive it's just a driver issue because way back in the day I had a similar issue with my 5770.
 
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