Topic: To RMA or not to RMA, that is the question

[scottws]

Quite some time ago, back when I was playing F.E.A.R., I was having trouble with my Radeon 9800 XT overheating and getting red dots everywhere in the game.  My warranty on my card was still good, so I decided to see if I could RMA it.  ATi accepted the request, but they were going to repair it.  I would be without a videocard, and therefore a computer, for at the minimum two weeks. So I never sent it in.  Instead, I got ATi Tool and underclocked my card some, which solved the overheating problem.

Fast forward to Tuesday.  I come home after spending a week over Jennie's.  My computer is making all kinds of racket.  I identify that it is coming from the videocard fan.  The bearings must be wearing out.  So I submit another RMA request to ATi, and get a response just minutes later.  My warranty is expired, and they will not repair my card.

Then I remember I still have the other RMA.  I check the e-mail and the RMA approval came on 11/2/05.  ATi has an RMA status checker, so I check it.  It says it hasn't been fulfilled, basically, but doesn't say cancelled or anything.

So, I was thinking I could just send it in and use that old RMA number.  But I'm afraid that they'll receive it, find out the card isn't under warranty anymore, and send it back and all I'll have accomplished is being without a computer for a week or so.

Then I was thinking I could call ATi and explain the situation and ask them if I could send it in using the old RMA number without a problem.  Then I'm thinking that might be a bad idea and they could lock down the old RMA and then I would have burned a chance to send in the card without notifying them of anything.

What do you guys think I should do?

[Pugnate]

Do it!

ATi are really good with the RMAs and I've had my old 9800XT RMA'ed twice... which is insane. In the end the third one eventually started giving similar issues so my bro had to underclock it. But the new he got was still in better condition than what he had.

So RMA it before you lose the chance. Also I am sure you can find a cheap used PCI card to get a display, right? At least in this part of he world, the backup card I had cost $5.

[scottws]

Well, my question is really should I just send it in using the old RMA # from a few months ago, hoping they just see that the RMA was approved and repair it?  Or should I call ATi first to make sure they'll do it even though my warranty is now expired?

Basically, here are my fears:
1)  I send the card in without calling them to make sure it's ok.  They receive it, see that RMA is approved but warranty is now expired and send it back.
2)  I could send the card in; ATi techs would receive it, see that RMA is approved, and repair it.  However, I don't know that.  Instead, I call ATi to see if I can still use the old RMA even though my warranty has expired since.  They say no, and then cancel the open RMA.  Now if I were to send in the card, the techs would see that RMA is closed/denied and not repair it.

I just don't know what to do.

[Pugnate]

What's the worst that can happen? They will send it back without repairing right? I say don't call them and hope for the best, but that's just my opinion. I would always have a backup PCI card though for such a situation.

[scottws]

Yeah, I think I'll send it in.  Thanks for talking me into it.

I'll just have to do without a backup.

[scottws]

Status update:  ATi's RMA status checker shows item received.  Awesome!  Here's to hoping I don't see that it shipped out tomorrow.

[Antares]

*crosses fingers*

[Pugnate]

Lovely.

[Ghandi]

Damn right. Stick it to the bastards.

 

Sorry,  no clue where that came from.

[scottws]

If for some reason they don't repair it and just send it back, I'm considering calling them and saying, "If you ever want me to buy an ATi or AMD chip again, you'll fix this thing or send me a new card."

It's pretty well documented across the web about the overheating problems of the 9800 Pro and especially the 9800XT.  That alone kind of pisses me of considering I paid $500 for the card and do my best to keep my internals cool, using 3 intake fans and 3 exhaust fans.

[Pugnate]

I got the 9800 Pro had the same issues and sent it in. They sent me a new one that was a 512 mb version and it eventually gave the same issues, though not as severe. I gave the card to my bro., and while he had it, it got a lot worse.

So he sent it in and got a replacement, this time an XT. A few months later, and it is ok.

[scottws]

Awesome.  Just got an e-mail from ATi.  My RMA return has shipped.  Only I'm not getting my card back.  I'm getting this:

102A2610700                        1       1       0
R420 256M GDDR3 V-VIVO-DI(450M/475E)
6110020500G EU                     1       1       0
LF CABLE ASSY. 9 PIN VIVO 8.5MM
6111017500G EU                     1       1       0
ATI ADAPTER DVI-I TO VGA

Looked up the R420 on Google.  It's a Radeon X800 XT.  Nice!  Upgrade!

[Quemaqua]

Some people get all the luck.

[gpw11]

Well, I think I know what I'm doing next time I buy a new card.

[Ghandi]

I'm gonna send my whole computer in and just write "replace" on the paper.

[Pugnate]

hahaha that's awesome!!!!

[scottws]

Well, I got it.  It was actually a X800 Pro, not an X800 XT.  Oh well.  I think it's refurbished and not new because the PCB is kind of bent, which is what my 9800 XT looked like when I took it out.  It's the weight of the things.  I forgot how heavy the cards were when I took my 9800 XT out.  So I'm not surprised it is and was bent.

In any case, even if the card is refurbished, its components all look brand-new and it seems to function just fine.  I haven't really stressed it yet.  I plan to do that on F.E.A.R.

[Pugnate]

Dude the X800Pro and X800XT aren't all that different in games, though yes an XT would have been much nicer hehe. You should easily get decent frames on Oblivion with that.