So I've put it off a while, but I'm looking into getting the XFX ATi 5830 I put in my brother's system RMA'd as its constantly having issues, and I'm constantly having to adjust it to get it to function.

So Im gonna end up trying to get another 5830 or a 6870, which ever I can get cheaper. (5830s have gone up on NE, as well as XFX 6780s).

Once I get A new Card Im going to send the 5830 to XFX to be replaced, to either XFire them when the other gets back or replace my 8800GTS.

Now.....will XFX send me back another 5830 or a 6870? (Since the 5800 Series is out of production, and their form I fill out states they may ship equivelent, yada yada yada.).

XFX is reputable and will replace it for a current SKU that most closely matches the 5830 in price and GPU computational power. However, I am not sure that will be the 6870. You will need to send in a copy of the receipt and they will inspect it for warranty variance issues like improper watercooling or LN2 problems.

I dont have a receipt, i ordered it from NewEgg, so I can re-print the receipt from the site.

6870 is the same Shader Count as the 5830. (1120 Shaders)

I was going back and forth with support on my Ticket, but i told them that I would not be able to send it in till the fall, they said that was ok, yada yada yada... so I already have a RMA technically, but I can get a new one if i need too.

Too bad about the XFX HD5830.

I gave mine to my 12 year old Grandson in a Phenom II 965 system I built him (from mostly my pre-Bulldozer system). He has been using it constantly all Summer vacation. No issues yet.

Of possible interest to SimHQ folks.

That 12 year old Grandson got REAL interested in flying based on using the IL2-1946 I gave him early this Summer -- with the computer and a joy stick. So, I gave him some actual flight manuals and MS FSX. He really likes instrument flying. Already this summer he's flown a real airplane twice (local flying club gives interested/able kids "air time"). Now, he's planning on flying lessons when he's 14 (apparently they're available/legal then). Anyhow, he's two real flights ahead of me. When not flying, he's programming robots (both real and simulated) -- a beginner at that subject but not bad. Toys with HTML for internet pages. And to think when I was 12 all I had was a used "slide rule" I didn't know how to use.

I think we have yet another budding Engineer in the family. Never know what a free computer might do to unlock a mind. Got my money's worth on that one.

XFX use to be (still?) known for their support.

More than likely you'll receive an upgrade unless they happen to have a 5830 in stock (doubtful).

after delays one after another I finally shipped his XFX card last week,

Arrived/Signed for yesterday?

will XFX Email me any updates regarding the RMA Process (ie when they begin processing the card, when they ship it back, etc)?

cant seem to find any sort of "Check my RMA Status" thingy on their page.

edit: never mind they sent me a message on my support ticket.

I wonder if they are just gonna ship me another 5830, or contact me regarding replacing it with a 6870 (or Equiv.)

how long should i wait before sending them a message asking the status of my RMA?

they told me friday someone would be in contact shortly, i guess they dont work Sat/Sun, and its 4PM Tuesday, so they got about 4 hours left on their work day in Cali...

Skate Zilla,

A week when I RMA'ed a video card earlier this year.

im gonna have to wait "a couple of weeks" according to the Support Ticket response, while my brother whines about his PC sitting there doing nothing.. lol..

they could just replace it with a 6870 if they wanted, same specs, but they wont I guess. even though the Agreement i signed said they can replace the card with one of similar performance if the specific model is not available.

Hrmm, its been over a week since I last heard from XFX,

My brother is getting frustrated with the situation... I've tried to explained its an EOL Sku, and that they prolly have next to nothing in their warehouse the 1 week after Black Friday.

If i dont get a Response by tomarrow night Im gonna email them. Hopefully they offer a Steam Download Code or something to make up for not having the card for about a month now, shipped Nov 11th.

the last 2 responses from support:

One month is too long, holiday season or not.

I would hope they compensate you/him somehow at the least. Did you have to pay shipping for the RMA?

Shipping was $15 or so, i sent it insured from the East East Coast all the way to the West west coast...

I emailed them earlier today, but I never hear from them before 5 PM EST so...

Update:

they shipped a package to me that left Tuesday, via FedEx Smart Post (thats a new one on me,lol)

Scheduled delivery is Monday.

Well, Got my box from XFX from my RMA.

They replaced my brother's 5830 with a 6850.. debating on whether its a performance jump or not,.

Well,

So Far,

The 6850 idles 10c lower than his old 5830,
The 6850 Sends his audio through HDMI to his monitor (that surprised me as I forgot about that feature, the 5830 didnt)
The 6850 has 960 shaders vs 5830s 1120 yet it outperforms the 5830 by over 10%,

Runs everything I threw at it in tests, beat the 5830s benchmark scores in FurMark, 3d Mark, Hawx2, FinalFantasyXII, etc.

So... I figured it was a downgrade because of the shader count, but i guess these shaders work better?

Clocks were i think 800 Core/1100 Memory, Black/Grey Heatsink shroud (which isnt listed on newegg, new eggs's BlkGry is 775/1000)

Will post model#.

So was this card supposed to be better than his 5830?

Also Running the latest drivers (from 4 days ago.)

Yes, it was supposed to be better. The shader model is different.

Glad to see they replaced with "something as good or better" than the original. Smart customer relations to do it that way.

On one hand, XFX seems to get a few more "complaints" in customer comment sections (though I've had no problems with GPU and PSUs). Yet, on paper, many of their products have among the best warranties when things do go wrong. Your experience seems to confirm that.

yeah, they apologized for the long delay..

i guess i need to register this one on XFXforce.com as it doesnt show up on my registered devices. (Still shows my 583x)

im in my office so i dont have the Model # available to me right now (will look when I get home).

they also sent an ENTIRE Box Set. the brown Shipping Box contained the actual 6850 Retail Box w/ the Discs, Card, Power Adapter, Do Not disturb door knob thing, instead of just a card in a static bag.

This Card Uses 1x6 Pin connecter vs 2 6 pins of the 5830?

No download codes that I saw, but i didnt open/look at the cd envelopes,
and TBH i dont care about free games, lol, my brother will prolly be abusing Skyrim this weekend.

Edit: going by specs i saw, and the 1x6-Pin requirement, and the "upgraded heatsink" i could see through the shroud.

I believe XFX Sent me a:
AMD Radeon™ HD 6850 - 800 Mhz Core 1024 MB DDR5 DisplayPort XXX Edition - HD-685X-ZNDC

I dont remember the Fan color, or seeing a "remove protective film before use"

the only complaint i would have, is the delay.. But... having worked in retail for Walmart and Shopping Malls, as well as a few PC shops..

Sending an RMA of an EOL SKU on the Same weekend as BlackFriday/Cybermonday.... yeah.. that's asking for a delay as Im sure their warehouses are bone dry empty.

This was their last Support Ticket response before someone else posted the tracking info:


I guess the upper management bit the bullet and sent out the nearest equivalent card they could. But as far as I can tell, this one is better, so that makes up for the delay.