How cool is EVGA? I'm about to find out.

So, I recently discovered that the awesome lifetime warranty for my EVGA GTX260 SSC only applies if it was registered within 30 days of purchase...which it wasn't... I didn't think anything of it before, but the same day I found out about that requirement, I discovered that EVGA's lifetime warranty covers GPUs that have been converted to watercooling!

So, with that in mind.. The temp sensor on the card died several weeks ago. I decided to ignore it and hope that it wasn't indicative of any serious trouble. ...bad idea, as it turns out... Last night my computer started randomly locking up and showing solid pastel colors on the two screens hooked up to my 260. Today when I went to boot it up...only the onboard GPU was working. :(

So, I went ahead and got an account on EVGA's website, registered my card, uploaded a PDF of the receipt, and sent in a ticket explaining my situation.

I've never dealt with EVGA's support before, but I've heard that it's stellar, so.. *crosses fingers* Here's hoping that they decide to approve my RMA even though I didn't register the card...two years ago...

EDIT:

In case they won't approve it...would anyone be interested in trading an 8800 GTX for a GTX260 (192) DD Tieton block with rear copper brace and single-bay faceplate?

Great news! Even though I didn't register it, so technically my warranty expired about a year ago, they ok'd a one-time replacement! :D

The replacement won't have any warranty, but hey, at least I don't have to buy a new card! :D

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Originally Posted by x88x

Great news! Even though I didn't register it, so technically my warranty expired about a year ago, they ok'd a one-time replacement! :D

The replacement won't have any warranty, but hey, at least I don't have to buy a new card! :D

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Awesome! Damn, I know who I'm buying from for now on!

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Originally Posted by Zephik

Awesome! Damn, I know who I'm buying from for now on!

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That, combined with aftermarket coolers and watercooling not voiding their warranties...yeah, definitely. :D

Awesome!!! EVGA is one of the best!

*sigh* if only they made stuff to work with AMD and ATI...

EVGA is one of the best GFX card makers.

So the tieton is off the market?

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Originally Posted by mofo

So the tieton is off the market?

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Yup, sorry.

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Originally Posted by diluzio91

*sigh* if only they made stuff to work with AMD and ATI...

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For ATI, I would go with XFX. They seem to be about as cool as EVGA about stuff.

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For ATI, I would go with XFX. They seem to be about as cool as EVGA about stuff.

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i asked them to sponsor me with some toys.... heres hopin they are as good as every1 thinks!

It occurs to me that they might send me a 216-core model instead of a 196....in which case, yes mofo, the tieton might be back on the market. We'll just have to wait and see. According to the USPS tracking records, they left a notice for EVGA that a package is waiting for them on Saturday, so hopefully it'll be delivered today.

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Originally Posted by x88x

It occurs to me that they might send me a 216-core model instead of a 196....in which case, yes mofo, the tieton might be back on the market. We'll just have to wait and see. According to the USPS tracking records, they left a notice for EVGA that a package is waiting for them on Saturday, so hopefully it'll be delivered today.

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IIRC the 216-core is the same as the 196 core. Nvidia changed it (firmware unlock) after the Radeon 4000 series kicked the 196 core 260 in the teeth.

I just looked into it, and it looks like we're both right. :P Apparently in their never-ending quest to complicate things, nVidia released two different versions of the 216-core GTX260. :facepalm: One with the 65nm die and one with the 55nm die. The 55nm die chips are the ones that my Tieton won't work with, so I'll have to figure out which one they send me when I get it back.

Good news! I got the replacement card in today and it appears to be a 65nm 216! :D I can't find anything specifically telling me the die size, but it looks like it might be that and a few Newegg reviews agree with me. P/N 896-P3-1265-AR if anyone wants to try and confirm.

So, new 260 is installed, running on air right now. I'm gonna tear the loop down again probably this weekend, and get the waterblock on it, but at least now I have a dedicated drain port. :D I'll make sure to support the card properly this time... :whistler:

Good deal!! Post a pic of your drain port setup. I am going to be installing the DD loop this weekend and want some ideas for mine.

I'll get you a pic of how I set mine up when I had my LC CJ

Here's mine. I have the pump feeding straight into a Bitspower crystal Q-block, that feeds to both the drain port and the CPU (and from there the rest of the loop). I used a Q-block instead of a T-block because that's what I happened to have. Plus, this gives me a nice place to add a temp sensor later if I want to.

EDIT:
The rest of the loop is kinda a mess right now; I just threw it back together quickly so it would work while I was waiting for the card to get back. ...and yes, I did see those drops of fluid on the bottom of the case. I bent a line a bit too much and some leaked out while I was trying to fit the 260 in with its HS/F. ...that's also why the res is crooked.

Thanks for posting that pic. I have an idea on how you could read the data from that sensor you place later on... :D

Hahaha, hmmm, I wonder what that could be... ;)

Looking at that picture again, I just realized something... I took that picture with the phone on my camera..look at the fan; it must have a pretty slow shutter speed.

Yea, you must have a steady hand.

lookin good! that's kinda like the pics I took at the beginning of Armor Redux..the fans are all still but the LEDs are on lol

CJ I PM'd you the pics of my setup, I don't want to hijack x88x's thread lol :D

Hahaha, go ahead. The point of this thread is over now anyways. :P

So, along the lines of EVGA being awesome, I got this email from them today..not sure why, maybe just a "Hey, you've had an account here for a month or so" thing, idk. Anyways, I just thought it was cool that they would actually send out useful advice to people, and even one of the 3 pieces of advice is for watercooling. :D

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Dear EVGA Member,,

Thank you for your purchase from EVGA! We like to make sure that you are receiving and will continue to receive a great experience with your EVGA product.

Have you looked inside your system recently? Dust can be a tough foe against your hardware and EVGA is here to help. Take a few minutes to open up your system and make sure your system is running clean and cool at the same time. Here are some simple steps to keep your EVGA product running for a lifetime of use.

1. Every 30 days get some canned/compressed air and clean out your system. Dust can cause heat issues which can lead to hardware failure if not maintained and cause an unwanted RMA in the future. Remove your components one at a time to thoroughly clean them. Take the time to keep your system clean and keep it running.

2. Preventing dust is just as important as keeping it out of your system. Some cases have built in filters to prevent dust and build up from entering your case. Make sure to clean or replace any filters to maintain good clean airflow into your EVGA system. Don’t have any filters? Take a look online for some simple ways to add filters to your case and keep it clean.

3. Running water cooling? Have you flushed your system recently? Water cooling can become a nightmare if not maintained. Make sure to flush your system to prevent mold, algae and build up from creating complications. Make sure to clean your system fans at the same time, blocked air flow on your radiator can cause just as much trouble.

Following these simple steps to maintain your EVGA system will improve your gaming experience and keep you fraggin’ for a lifetime.

Thank you,
EVGA Customer Service

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Originally Posted by x88x

So, along the lines of EVGA being awesome, I got this email from them today..not sure why, maybe just a "Hey, you've had an account here for a month or so" thing, idk. Anyways, I just thought it was cool that they would actually send out useful advice to people, and even one of the 3 pieces of advice is for watercooling. :D

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EVGA has been by far one of my favorite parts manufacturers. Theyre one of the ones that make a big attempt at doing it right.