Video Card Diagnosis

[GZFant]

Yes,

Today will be my third RMA this week with EVGA regarding POS 7900GT's.

The exactly same problem happens each time. When you go into the Nvidia control panel with the symbol spinning to fix quality preferences, the screen goes completely frosty like a TV with static. This happens whenever I go into any game, whenever a video loads, websites with flash movies for advertising do this as well. It stays in this static for 15-20 seconds then comes out of it. In game with the first card it use to do this upon load of every game, I would then alt-tab out to desktop, let the static go away, alt-tab back in and everything was peachy for a while. It happens occasionally after the first time so I alt-tab to fix.

Well, the first RMA I received I was lucky enough to have a neighbor that recently built a new computer. He has an 8800GTS to boot. So, being the smart guy I'm not, we switch video cards. Guess what!? It works perfectly in my system and the 7900GT has the same "artifacting" issues in his.

Every RMA since has done the exact same thing. I am beginning to think it might be something else but, if that 8800GTS worked just fine, I can't help but think it is ONLY the video cards.

Pictures of what happens can be found here:
Picture 1
Picture 2

System:
ASUS A8N Sli Deluxe
Opteron 170 Stock
3gb RAM
7900GT
OCZ Powerstream 520W
Windows XP32

My original, original 7900GT had the exact same problem only started happening 8 months after the initial purchase.

This is getting frustrating being EVGA's guinea pig for bricked 7900's.

Anyone have any suggestions besides buy a new video card? I am going ask them this time around to take my 7900GT and let me pay the difference for a newer card. That would be good business anyway..

**Edit added pictures and PSU**

 

[SolMiester]

Originally posted by: GZFant

I am going ask them this time around to take my 7900GT and let me pay the difference for a newer card. That would be good business anyway..

After 3 efforts with old cards, I reckon this is your best option, AND I would expect some goodwill on EVGA's part to keep you as a loyal customer after all the time you have spent with their defective cards.

 

[daveybrat]

If i were you, i would try to upgrade to something else or call it quits. I have a customer that has 2 of those EVGA 7900GT's with the same symptoms and both are bad. We replaced them with 9600GSO's and not a single problem.

Funny thing is that the symptoms are almost identical to yours, the whole screen goes all fuzzy and corrupted in any game or videos.

 

[GZFant]

I spoke to EVGA. They will not help me out with a new card. Also, they mentioned how this exact same setup is known for causing issues...They said I can do whatever I want with the old card.

Really makes me frustrated that they will not help me out, wonder why?

Do you guys think I should call back and say something? I got the same tech guy I usually get and he was not very helpful for the first 2 RMA's. Felt like he had a grudge against me and I was so kind the whole time...

 

[ashishmishra]

Originally posted by: GZFant
I spoke to EVGA. They will not help me out with a new card. Also, they mentioned how this exact same setup is known for causing issues...They said I can do whatever I want with the old card.

Really makes me frustrated that they will not help me out, wonder why?

Do you guys think I should call back and say something? I got the same tech guy I usually get and he was not very helpful for the first 2 RMA's. Felt like he had a grudge against me and I was so kind the whole time...

So wait are they really saying that you're SOL and they are not going to do anything?? Man you shouldn't just let it slide, go higher up, tell that tech that you need to speak to his supervisor.

 

[GZFant]

Ok guys, once again, never talk to the same person twice. I called customer service back and got a new rep. This guy was totally cool, I told him the story and said that the last guy basically said I was SOL. I said this is not right that EVGA expects me to buy a new video card when I am still under warranty and they keep returning faulty products to me. This guy told me EVGA was here to help and that in the new RMA notes (4th since last week) that a new product needs to be shipped because of issues with the 7900GT.

I really really hope they see that note. Secondly, I really hope it is something comparable in performance. I emphasized the performance needs to be the same so, my fingers are crossed.

Frustrating endeavor indeed!

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: GZFant
I spoke to EVGA. They will not help me out with a new card. Also, they mentioned how this exact same setup is known for causing issues...They said I can do whatever I want with the old card.

Really makes me frustrated that they will not help me out, wonder why?

Do you guys think I should call back and say something? I got the same tech guy I usually get and he was not very helpful for the first 2 RMA's. Felt like he had a grudge against me and I was so kind the whole time...

Definitely call back and get someone higher up. That is absolute BS and they should be doing something to help you, particularly since it seems to be a known problem. Sometimes you need to go higher and get a little tough with them when being nice no longer works; unfortunate, but true.

KT

Edit: Just saw your latest post. Good stuff, let us know how it turns out.

 

[ashishmishra]

Originally posted by: GZFant
Ok guys, once again, never talk to the same person twice. I called customer service back and got a new rep. This guy was totally cool, I told him the story and said that the last guy basically said I was SOL. I said this is not right that EVGA expects me to buy a new video card when I am still under warranty and they keep returning faulty products to me. This guy told me EVGA was here to help and that in the new RMA notes (4th since last week) that a new product needs to be shipped because of issues with the 7900GT.

I really really hope they see that note. Secondly, I really hope it is something comparable in performance. I emphasized the performance needs to be the same so, my fingers are crossed.

Frustrating endeavor indeed!

Glad it worked out for you, keep us posted.

 

[Boobs McGee]

I would bet that they are out of 7900GT cards now. They didn't have any when I RMA'd mine at the end of the summer. I got a 8800GTS in return. I had a similar experience though kinda reversed from yours. The first guy I talked to was all about replacing my card, he just wanted me to run a few tests first. I did all he asked and still had the problems. The next guy I talked to tried telling me my warranty was out due to not re-registering my step up card. Anyways, I talked to a 3rd person who was great and got everything finalized for me.

 

[PCTC2]

I've always had great service from eVGA. I've replaced my 680i twice and my GTX 260 once. I also stepped up my 8600GTS to an 8800GTS once I got the money. It is their policy that step-ups can only occur with 90 days of the purchase, or when the part being replaced is no longer in stock and will be replaced with an equal value part, such as the 7900GT -> 8800GTS. I'm sorry you've had problems, but I never call ahead. I just do an electronic RMA on their website and submit my invoice on their website.

Speaking of which, I think I need to RMA my 7950GT. Starting to artifact. Need to figure out which one it is (I have 2 in SLI)

 

[GZFant]

The new card is coming today which I am stoked about!

One problem, in preparation of this new card, I was going to uninstall/run Drivercleaner to clean things out. When I got into Device Manager in safemode and right-click uninstall, an error came up saying Windows Installer is not working..

I re-booted into normal windows, same thing. My Device drivers will not uninstall.

Can I run driver cleaner with my Nvidia drivers still installed?

Can all of this uninstalling/re-installing have corrupted Windows? I really don't think so but this is odd!

 

[2dt Drifter]

Originally posted by: GZFant
The new card is coming today which I am stoked about!

One problem, in preparation of this new card, I was going to uninstall/run Drivercleaner to clean things out. When I got into Device Manager in safemode and right-click uninstall, an error came up saying Windows Installer is not working..

I re-booted into normal windows, same thing. My Device drivers will not uninstall.

Can I run driver cleaner with my Nvidia drivers still installed?

Can all of this uninstalling/re-installing have corrupted Windows? I really don't think so but this is odd!

I wonder if anything else will go wrong in your little adventure.... perhaps you'll get a working card and your monitor will end up falling off your desk thus rendering you unable to use your computer for another few weeks!

Can't you re-install certain programs that windows comes with using the install disk?

GL bro!

 

[GZFant]

Well everyone, I wanted to give you an update to my status in case this happens to one of you!

All my patience and persistence has payed off. After I spoke to the new representative, he said he would mark down to send me something new because the 7900GT was not working. They listened and they did.

I am typing to you now on a 9800GT free of charge through and RMA from EVGA. This card is obviously superior to my 7900GT and comes without any issues as well.

Windows is running smoother than ever and I really appreciate their gift from all of my hassle. Note, I was never rude, raised my voice nor did I ask for a better ever. I simply asked to have something comparable sent to me and this was comparable answer.

Good luck to anyone with my issues...now just waiting to see if my monitor falls off..

haha
/sappiest story ever

 

[Pelu]

companies are runing in critical economical points.. and employess get affected... sometimes they turn into big sobs because they no loonger care about their job... because their job is a deadend or they are going to get kick soon....

and a lot of companies are hiding... reducing their customer support people and also QA and testing people....

from now on, in this new global economical crisis expect getting crap from a lot of companies then dont bother calling technical support because is non existant....

 

[Markfw]

EVGA has been great to me, I am glad they helped you out.

This is what keeps companies in business....

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yeah, well, on the other hand...

My friend ordered an EVGA AGP 8x 7600GT card, and it suddenly died, less than a year old.

EVGA says that he cannot RMA, because he didn't register his warranty.

So EVGA isn't all that.

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Yeah, well, on the other hand...

My friend ordered an EVGA AGP 8x 7600GT card, and it suddenly died, less than a year old.

EVGA says that he cannot RMA, because he didn't register his warranty.

So EVGA isn't all that.

Well, they have a policy and you have to adhere to it. If you do, you're golden. I have always registered my eVGA products the day after I receive them.

 

[GZFant]

I register my video cards the moment I take them out of the box. Literally first thing I do. Always keep receipts/invoices then later on, no qualms whatsoever. I definitely took steps knowing I don't have the money to constantly upgrade so when something like this happens, my lifetime warranty will be taken advantage of.

 

[Continuity28]

Ugh, 7900GT, most problematic video card I had. I did eventually fix that screen static issue by changing the clock speeds of the card, the problem would go away if I slightly overclocked or underclocked it. I don't remember exactly what I changed the clock speeds to, as it was quite a long time ago, I flashed the BIOS so I wouldn't need to use RivaTuner all the time.

But then, even besides that issue, it was never perfect. It would do some strange things in games. Had it for a couple years before it began artifacting with colored pixels.

 

[RM1]

Yes, I had some issue with 7900GT from Palit. Would post initially but will quickly die off and won't show any video at all. Had 2 cards tried out, and both crashed out. At that time, the 8800GTX just came out and I opt to pay more to get the exchange. Still working till today, 2 years plus. This card is a heater and since i am in the tropics, it makes me sweat after some gaming time.