Refurbished video cards

[forgiveforget]

What is the deal with refurbished Radeon 9800 Pro video cards selling at Newegg.com? Are they to be avoided at all costs, or are they ok? Of course I'd rather have a new card, but if I can save a little money, that would be nice. Are they returns, or cards that were in one way or another broken? Thanks!

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...02-286R&depa=0

[BionicSniper]

I bought a refurbished 9800se off newegg GREAT BUY FOR ME!!!! not one prob AT ALL. it just doesn't come with any thing other than the card but it is in anti-static and wraped in bubble wrap ina box so its protected.

[RamonGTP]

I'd say if it has a warranty, then go for it. Thats an awsome price. If its "as is" then i'd stay away.

[bob05]

I was seriously considering getting a 9800 SE from there. It comes with a 14 day warranty, so I guess that should be sufficient to catch any immediate problems.

[Nascarfan_40]

personally I wouldn't trust refurbrised electronics. I'd go with a new one.

[dragflameson]

Originally posted by Nascarfan_40
personally I wouldn't trust refurbrised electronics. I'd go with a new one.

Same here... I know the price's are tempting, but still...

Refurbished: To make clean, bright, or fresh again; renovate.
Renovate: To restore to an earlier condition, as by repairing or remodeling.

It's really just the way I am but the "lowest" I'll go is OEM. Anything that’s been messed around with (refurbished) I wouldn’t want because I simply wouldn’t be able to trust it.

Especially if there was a chance the whole thing could have got took apart and messed around with tools and everything else, and the person doing it all didn’t even care about that piece of equipment in their hands (you know... if the screw driver slips or something like that) and he's just waiting for the clock to come around to the 5. Know what I mean?

Maybe not, but that’s just the way I am, sometimes I wont even feel "right" buying OEM. I just like to know that all my stuff is in PERFECT condition when I first get it, and then I’m the type that tries to keep it in that condition… and then I’m the type that gets all P.O’ed when the littlest thing happens to it (like the fist scratch)! lol That goes for everything with me though, not just computer stuff.

[forgiveforget]

Yea, I kina abandoned the idea of refurbished for those reasons also. Now, in my seemingly never ending quest for a video card, I have decided on the MSI Radeon 9800 Pro. From all the reviews on Newegg.com, it sounds like an awesome deal. Under $200 for, if I understand correctly, a detuned 9800XT. With the new drivers even Windows reconizes it as a 9800XT, all you would have to do is flash it or overclock it to XT speeds (or higher, but I would probably stay at XT speeds). I'll get this and another 512mb of RAM for under $300 and I'll be happy.

One question: Do you think my system will be bottlenecked by my processor? If so, do you think it would be worth upgrading it to like a 3000+ 400FSB? I mean, my next system would be an Athlon 64 system, and that would probably be sometime later next year, or should I just wait to build the Athlon 64 system?

AMD XP 2400+ 266FSB
1GB of PC2700 RAM (512 presently)
MSI 9800PRO (obviously)
WD 80GB 8mb cache 7200rpm HD

Thanks so much. You guys are really helpful!

[braamer]

I bought a refubished 9600xt from Newegg and have had no problems with it. It sometimes makes sense to go that route to save some $$$.

[Happy Joe]

Much more than 50% of all returnes to retailers are not defective-its a gamble. "You pays your money and you takes your chances."
Enjoy!

[dragflameson]

Originally posted by Happy Joe
Much more than 50% of all returnes to retailers are not defective-its a gamble. "You pays your money and you takes your chances."
Enjoy!

Yup, Life is one big CHANCE!

[bonz_dragon]

I find nothing wrong with refurbs.
Right now I'm on a refurbed D-Link router and WI-FI card from D-Link and also have a refurbed HP Photo printer from HP. All had very good warranties and have experienced Zero problems.

[dragflameson]

Originally posted by bonz_dragon
I find nothing wrong with refurbs.
Right now I'm on a refurbed D-Link router and WI-FI card from D-Link and also have a refurbed HP Photo printer from HP. All had very good warranties and have experienced Zero problems.

Well thats exactly the chance you take One time you might get something else refurbished and have all kinds of problems with it (not saying you will) but you never know! (well at least you cant be 100% sure)

[bonz_dragon]

Originally posted by dragflameson
Well thats exactly the chance you take One time you might get something else refurbished and have all kinds of problems with it (not saying you will) but you never know! (well at least you cant be 100% sure)

Right! Just like the Brand New In-the-Box hardware we hear about at times that comes DOA or doesn't work properly and has to be RMA'd.
All the refurbs I am using have come from a manf. outlet not a retailer. Also the company I used to work for would buy refurbed monitors all the time to replace worn-out workstations. They saved alot of money that way.
My brother has also just bought a refurbed D-Link Wi-Fi and it's working flawlessly too!