Do I have grounds for RMA?

[nirgis]

I recently bought a 9500np and tried to softmod it to no avail. Uninstalled modded drivers and put in the legit ones. Now the card is acting very strange. For example, games are locking up and/or quitting after ~30 minutes of play. More specifically, when I play Madden 2004, the crowd graphics and occasionally other textures become some sort of blur/nonsense graphic. It is locking up pretty quickly too. So here's the question:

* Can softmodding damage your card?-- It seems pretty clear that something is defective as I was able to play all of these properly and w/ no problems on my old Geforce

* Should I RMA? I don't know if I have grounds to do so after softmodding...

Please comment!

Thanks

----
Specs:
Athlon 1400
Shuttle AK32 Mobo
Geforce 2--> Radeon 9500

 

[Viper96720]

Usually if you overclock something you void the warranty. So no grounds for a RMA.

 

[Keysplayr]

You should know the answer to your question. I am surprised you even asked at all. You took it upon yourself to alter your card, albeit a software alteration. But keep in mind that software tells the hardware what to do. Are you going to tell them that you tried to softmod the card when you RMA it? Didn't think so.

 

[nirgis]

Well, all the literature I have read says that softmodding does not damage the video card. I guess the topic is not RMA per se, as to whether the card sounds to be broken or whether it is incompatible/I have installed drivers incorrectly

 

[Corporate Thug]

should u rma? no
can u ram? yes

 

[high]

Yes RMA it if u can and get another one. Everyone deserves a second chance. I know I wouldn't want to be stuck with a $150+ piece of PCB.

 

[Shinei]

High, that's why the R9500 softmod comes with a dozen warnings that tell you that it may not work and may corrupt your card. (As in, user reviews warning about this type of problem.) If you tinker with a card and it dies, you're at fault for tweaking the settings in the first place; it's like adding NOS to your car and trying to get the manufacturer to honor the warranty after you blow the cams through your block.
Sorry to hear about your card, but ethically, I can't recommend an RMA on a card that you intentionally modified with other-than-intended results.

Edit: Of course, it's also a possibility that the curse of the Catalyst has struck you... Double suck.

 

[Blastman]

Was the card working properly before the softmod? Or did you just buy it and softmod right away without really testing the card to see if it was working properly?

 

[nirgis]

I am still uncertain as to whether or not the softmod can damage the card. It explicitly says the softmod does not damage the card on the softmod driver website...but then you all say it does. Also, I have been scouring forums and haven't found examples of people who have done the mod, but then damaged their cards.

Couple points, then this can die:

-didn't test before modding--I wish I had now, if only for the certainty

-what is Catalyst curse?

-This is a long shot, but would the PSU make a difference? I have a 300W and have been noticing that people suggest higher power.

Anyways, thanks for the help

 

[high]

How are your 5V rails?? Idont know if this affects 9500 but 9700/9800 that have seperate power connectors depend on it. But yeah Nirgis, like I said, maybe do a clean wipe/install and see if itdoes fix the problem. If not, explan in your RMA that your card is faulty and you have no clue why. I'm not the most ethical person when it comes to RMA's because I dont like the idea of wasting 150+ on something that you tinker with.

Just an added comment, I would totally be against the RMA if a vmod or anything like that, a "hardmod", but since this is software driven, go nuts!! I'm sure they make more earnings ina day than I do in a year, so get what u can.

 

[Blastman]

Originally posted by: nirgis

-didn't test before modding--I wish I had now, if only for the certainty

Well, given that, if you are reasonably certain you have restored the card to it?s original state, then you probably have a very good case that the card was defective before the softmod. I doubt the softmob would break the card.

If I were a judge and you were in my courtroom -- against the big bad corporation : ) ... ... I would give you the benefit of the doubt in this case because: it ? ?appears? ? the card was never working properly in the first place. (again assuming the card is now back in its original state). And this softmoding area may be a little bit of a gray area with regard to warranty just like overclocking is (ie. A lot of graphic cards come with overclocker software thereby encouraging the practice). But I would admonish you for softmoding and say I darn well don?t want to see you in my courtroom again. : )

psu or other things could be an issue. May want to try card in another system if possible.

 

[Viper96720]

Overclocking can damage video card cores or memory from overheating. The 9800XT's have thermal monitoring for their automatic overclocking utility. Even then it barely
overclocks the card.
The smart person doesn't come on a message board asking if he can return something after it's been overclocked. They just tell whoever they are returning it to what happened
and if it's returnable.

 

[Robor]

Morally and legally I think most would agree the answer is no. The fact that you never saw the card perform properly at default speeds leads me to believe the card was defective in the first place. However, you can't say for sure because you modded it before that.

I flashed my 9800 non-pro to a pro a while back. Had it not worked I would've been the one eating the cost of the card. I'm adding a VGA Silencer cooler and RAMSinks to it tonight and the same deal applies. If I screw it up it's not Sapphire or ATI's fault.

I guess the decision to RMA the card is up to you. I'd consider it a lesson learned either way.

 

[nRollo]

High:

I'm sure they make more earnings ina day than I do in a year, so get what u can.

I hope this is the case for the rest of your life, and given your lack of ethics, imagine it will be. Stealing from someone because they have more money than you is still stealing High.

Everyone deserves a second chance. I know I wouldn't want to be stuck with a $150+ piece of PCB.

Really? Why don't you post your name and address so we can all come and steal from you and get a second chance? Or better yet, sell me your video card, I'll softmod it and OC it, then send it back to you if it breaks. Sound fair? I bet I've got more money than you have computer parts, so I want to buy ALL your stuff, OC it, return it. Sound good and fair? Remember, I deserve a second chance?

Nirgis:
If you do this, you're a thief. If you want to be a thief with no honor, go ahead. It would be worth more than $150 to me not to be a low life thief.

 

[bpt8056]

Ripped from ATi's website

This warranty does not apply to the software component of a product or a product which has been damaged due to accident, misuse, abuse, improper installation, usage not in accordance with product specifications and instructions, natural or personal disaster, or unauthorized alterations, repairs or modifications.

Since you altered your video card via softmod, you lost all grounds for RMA. You decided to bet $150 on it and lost. If you wanted a Radeon 9700, then you should have just gotten that instead. I feel bad that your card isn't working properly, but you chose to do it. If you want a second chance, buy a video card and don't mod it.

 

[high]

Wow Rollo you need to calm down buddy. All I'm saying is RMA it and see what happens. If they honor it, you're golden, if not, well atleast Im sure they would send the card back. And no I'm not "stealing from someone with more money than me". It happens to be a billion dollar company whose product he purchased and its acting up. Go for the gold! See if they will RMA.

 

[Alptraum]

Originally posted by: high
Wow Rollo you need to calm down buddy. All I'm saying is RMA it and see what happens. If they honor it, you're golden, if not, well atleast Im sure they would send the card back. And no I'm not "stealing from someone with more money than me". It happens to be a billion dollar company whose product he purchased and its acting up. Go for the gold! See if they will RMA.

The thing is its "acting up" because he decided to screw with it. Since he never tried it before flashing its almost impossible to say wether or not its a defective card.

I have some sympathy for nirgis, yet cant understand why he wanted to mod right off the bat without even checking to see if the card was good to begin with.

 

[modedepe]

I tend to doubt the softmod messed up the card, but doing any mod like that definitely does void your warranty. And there is the possibility the mod DID do something.

 

[nRollo]

Wow Rollo you need to calm down buddy. All I'm saying is RMA it and see what happens.

I'm calm as it gets High. When I see people talking about stealing, I call them thieves. I don't lose sleep over it or get upset.
After all, I'm not the worthless loser who misused a product then stole another, or the guy that was immoral enough to tell him to do it.
Why don't you ask your Dad this one, High? If he's not a scumbag, he'll probably say what I did if you show him the thread so he gets the whole picture.

Anyway Nirgis- why ask us? Why don't you call the vendor or manufacturer, tell them you softmodded it, and let them decide if you deserve an RMA?


I can see that conversation:
"Uh sir? My pal Billy successfully softmodded and OCd a card liek this, so I thought mine should too! Would you give me another one to break please? I don't want to pay for a faster part like a man would, so I've got to keep trying to OC your cheap parts to try and eek a little more performance out of them."

 

[Blastman]

Originally posted by: bpt8056
Ripped from ATi's website

This warranty does not apply to the software component of a product or a product which has been damaged due to accident, misuse, abuse, improper installation, usage not in accordance with product specifications and instructions, natural or personal disaster, or unauthorized alterations, repairs or modifications.

Yes, but you forgot the first part ?

(quote) ? ATI Technologies Inc. warrants to the original purchaser of the hardware that the product is in good working condition, according to its specifications at the time of shipment, ?(quote).

He has a good case that it wasn?t in good working order when he received it ..and ? that the card was not broken/damaged by his actions (misuse).

EDIT: If the card was working for a time and then went south, then he really wouldn?t have much of a case for an RMA..

 

[high]

Lol anyways this is turning into a flaming thread and AT does not need anymore of these. Do your heart's content...if you want to try RMA, hopefully you speak with a nice understanding person and get it. Again, this doesn't involve me, my 2 cents have been injected into this thread to stick up for the guy with unfortunate luck, and is now between him and ATI.

Peace