• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Supposedly NEW GTX 660 scratched/damaged PCB

Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
8 (0.00/day)
Hi,

I recently bought an ASUS GTX 660 DC2TG and just got it in may mail.

I was quite surprised to find that the box was a little damaged but not cared much, but what was surprising is what i found inside.

For instance, i bought asus products before and never got something like that. Either there is a serious problem with the shop that sold me this, or Asus became kinda lazy about the quality of their product.

So, is it normal for the pcb to be like this?

http://i50.tinypic.com/28bxuhg.png pic 1

http://i47.tinypic.com/10r92s5.png pic 2

http://i49.tinypic.com/wjb0ao.png pic 3

http://i48.tinypic.com/2j0o2rp.png pic 4


All the pcb around the DirectCU is like this, scratched, sometimes deeply scratched as if a screw driver was used to make scratches on it, unbelievable. Kinda horrible, and i fear that even if i keep it - if i decide to sell it - i'll be accused of not being careful about my hardware.

I fear that i got a repackaged/refurbished product (i paid for one supposed to be NEW and the asus products are pricey in my country), and if that's the case, i refuse to keep it. I paid for a clean NEW card and I'm not rich. So I want your advice on it.

I have 7 days to send it back if i choose to.

Thank you in advance for your help.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jun 12, 2007
Messages
4,815 (0.79/day)
Location
Wangas, New Zealand
System Name Darth Obsidious
Processor Intel i5 2500K
Motherboard ASUS P8Z68-V/Gen3
Cooling Cooler Master Hyper 212+ in Push Pull
Memory 2X4GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) ASUS R9 270x TOP
Storage 128GB Samsung 830 SSD, 1TB WD Black, 2TB WD Green
Display(s) LG IPS234V-PN
Case Corsair Obsidian 650D
Audio Device(s) Infrasonic Quartet
Power Supply Corsair HX650w
Software Windows 7 64bit and Windows XP Home
Benchmark Scores 2cm mark on bench with a razor blade.
Send those pictures to the place you bought it from and see what their response is.

Personally if the card is running without problem I wouldn't worry about it.
Being an ASUS card, it should have a 3 year warranty.
 
Joined
Aug 11, 2011
Messages
4,355 (0.95/day)
Location
Mexico
System Name Dell-y Driver
Processor Core i5-10400
Motherboard Asrock H410M-HVS
Cooling Intel 95w stock cooler
Memory 2x8 A-DATA 2999Mhz DDR4
Video Card(s) UHD 630
Storage 1TB WD Green M.2 - 4TB Seagate Barracuda
Display(s) Asus PA248 1920x1200 IPS
Case Dell Vostro 270S case
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Dell 220w
Software Windows 10 64bit
Is pretty obvious that it has been tampered with. It's either an open box item or maybe one they had it on a display machine or something that was later taken apart.

I have bought plenty of recerts over the time and not even those look like that.

If the card works fine I wouldn't fret but if you need the peace of mind then ask for a refund.
 
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
8 (0.00/day)
Send those pictures to the place you bought it from and see what their response is.

Personally if the card is running without problem I wouldn't worry about it.
Being an ASUS card, it should have a 3 year warranty.

Thank you to have taken the time to help me.

I know asus has a 3 year warranty on their GPU, but what if they accuse me of scratching/damaging the PCB if i ever have to RMA it? That's what i wonder and fear.

If it's like the RMA for memory rams, companies can be quite picky when it comes to warranty. And can refuse to take your product in charge if something seems weird to them, like for example that you were not acreful enough about the product you bought.

Anyway, I'll follow your advice and send pictures to the online shop.

Thanks again for your help.
 
Joined
Jun 12, 2007
Messages
4,815 (0.79/day)
Location
Wangas, New Zealand
System Name Darth Obsidious
Processor Intel i5 2500K
Motherboard ASUS P8Z68-V/Gen3
Cooling Cooler Master Hyper 212+ in Push Pull
Memory 2X4GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) ASUS R9 270x TOP
Storage 128GB Samsung 830 SSD, 1TB WD Black, 2TB WD Green
Display(s) LG IPS234V-PN
Case Corsair Obsidian 650D
Audio Device(s) Infrasonic Quartet
Power Supply Corsair HX650w
Software Windows 7 64bit and Windows XP Home
Benchmark Scores 2cm mark on bench with a razor blade.
NP.
I suggested sending it, so you have a reference, that states this card came like this and the retailer knows this.

Depending on where you live ASUS can be really dodgy with the QC of their products.
Where I live it's hassle free, but there has been some nightmare support from what I have read over in the US.
 

Bo$$

Lab Extraordinaire
Joined
May 7, 2009
Messages
5,656 (1.04/day)
Location
London, UK
System Name Desktop | Server
Processor Intel i7 2700k @ 4.6GHZ | AMD 5350 @ 2500MHZ
Motherboard Asus P7Z77-V Pro | Asus AM1I-A
Cooling Corsair H60v2 | Stock Air
Memory Crucial Ballistix 2x8GB CL8 1600MHZ | Corsair Vengence 2x4GB CL9 1600MHZ
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 1060 6GB | PNY GTX 750Ti
Storage Samsung 840 EVO 250GB + 4TB WD Red | 2x Seagate Barracuda 2TB
Display(s) Samsung S27D390H + Asus VE276Q | Headless
Case Fractal Design R5 | CM Elite 110
Audio Device(s) Asus Xonar D1 w/Otone Stilo 5.1 and Creative Fatal1ty headset
Power Supply EVGA Supernova 850 G2| Corsair CX430M
Mouse Razer Imperator 2012
Keyboard Corsair K90
Software Windows 7 SP1 X64 | Ubuntu 16.04LTS
Yes good luck, send those pictures to Asus as well...

Was the box sealed when you got it?
 
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
8 (0.00/day)
Is pretty obvious that it has been tampered with. It's either an open box item or maybe one they had it on a display machine or something that was later taken apart.

I have bought plenty of recerts over the time and not even those look like that.

If the card works fine I wouldn't fret but if you need the peace of mind then ask for a refund.
I haven't tested it because the it's not the problem in my mind.

Even if the card works, it can break tomorrow and I'll be in some deep problems if Asus decides to be dodgy about it.

I lean towards the refund.

Anyway, thanks a lot for your message.

NP.
I suggested sending it, so you have a reference, that states this card came like this and the retailer knows this.

Depending on where you live ASUS can be really dodgy with the QC of their products.
Where I live it's hassle free, but there has been some nightmare support from what I have read over in the US.

That's the problem, I read that Asus can actually be dodgy where I live. Asus doesn't even offer direct RMA, you actually have to send your product to the shop from whom you bought it, then the shop is supposed to contact Asus. No direct link.

It's the same with MSI, and it can be a real pain because it takes a long time to reach the manufacturer. It can be damaged by the shop between the travel from them to Asus (because the shop will check it). And you always have to fear that your RMA will be rejected with a tiring process to get it back if they don't want to repair it.

Yes good luck, send those pictures to Asus as well...

Was the box sealed when you got it?

That might seem strange to you but where I live the Motherboard/GPU boxes are never sealed. No blister, no seal. The only thing you can check to see if the boxes was opened is to rely on your eyes. And actually, the box i received is in state that it can well be a box that was opened before. The strap that is supposed to keep the box closed was damaged on the side (like every strap after people open it for the first time). The box was scratched too.

What is more surprising is that the black cardbox inside the box is actually scratched. The same as if you used your fingernails to trace line on it. I actually just rechecked and there's even a blow on the cardbox, while there's no blow at this very place on the surface of the outside box. If there's a blow inside on the cardbox there should also be a blow on the first box at this very same place. It's not the case.

But at first i thought "oh well, maybe the strap got damaged during the travel" and "maybe the Asus boxes are like this recently".

But then i looked at the card itself and got more than suspicious.

Anyway, thanks all for your help and kindness. You really all helped me to clarify things and make my mind about my issue.
 
Joined
Feb 21, 2008
Messages
6,862 (1.17/day)
Location
S.E. Virginia
System Name Barb's Domain
Processor i9 10850k 5.1GHz all cores
Motherboard MSI MPG Z490 GAMING EDGE WIFI
Cooling Deep Cool Assassin III
Memory 2*16gig Corsair LPX DDR4 3200
Video Card(s) RTX 4080 FE
Storage 500gb Samsung 980 Pro M2 SSD, 500GB WD Blue SATA SSD, 2TB Seagate Hybrid SSHD
Display(s) Dell - S3222DGM 32" 2k Curved/ASUS VP28UQG 28" 4K (ran at 2k), Sanyo 75" 4k TV
Case SilverStone Fortress FT04
Audio Device(s) Bose Companion II speakers, Corsair - HS70 PRO headphones
Power Supply Corsair RM850x (2021)
Mouse Logitech G502
Keyboard Logitech Orion Spectrum G910
VR HMD Oculus Quest 2
Software Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
Benchmark Scores https://www.3dmark.com/spy/34962882
if I paid for a new video card, I expect a new condition video card. I'd ask for a refund.
 

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
17,866 (3.00/day)
Location
Quantum Well UK
System Name Quantumville™
Processor Intel Core i7-2700K @ 4GHz
Motherboard Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3
Cooling Noctua NH-D14
Memory 16GB (2 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance Black DDR3 PC3-12800 C9 1600MHz)
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 2080 SUPER Gaming X Trio
Storage Samsung 850 Pro 256GB | WD Black 4TB | WD Blue 6TB
Display(s) ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR (4K, 144Hz, G-SYNC compatible) | Asus MG28UQ (4K, 60Hz, FreeSync compatible)
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty PCIe
Power Supply Corsair AX1600i
Mouse Microsoft Intellimouse Pro - Black Shadow
Keyboard Yes
Software Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
You've definitely been fobbed off with a used card and that's dishonest and illegal. Go for that refund as soon as possible, then buy that model from somewhere else. I've had stuff like this done to me before and it doesn't feel nice so I can understand where you're coming from.

Which retailer did you get it from and which country are you in if you don't mind saying?
 
Joined
Sep 22, 2012
Messages
1,010 (0.24/day)
Location
Belgrade, Serbia
System Name Intel® X99 Wellsburg
Processor Intel® Core™ i7-5820K - 4.5GHz
Motherboard ASUS Rampage V E10 (1801)
Cooling EK RGB Monoblock + EK XRES D5 Revo Glass PWM
Memory CMD16GX4M4A2666C15
Video Card(s) ASUS GTX1080Ti Poseidon
Storage Samsung 970 EVO PLUS 1TB /850 EVO 1TB / WD Black 2TB
Display(s) Samsung P2450H
Case Lian Li PC-O11 WXC
Audio Device(s) CREATIVE Sound Blaster ZxR
Power Supply EVGA 1200 P2 Platinum
Mouse Logitech G900 / SS QCK
Keyboard Deck 87 Francium Pro
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
This look like they play basketball with that peace of hardware.
And I was in similar situation before few years and because of that I stop with ASUS.
I never got apology for damaged box and damaged package and two in service confirmed fault cards. Never, on the contrary all time I was feel like I need to say I'm sorry because I complain.
That is usually for my country, they benchmark their cards like crazy to show like perfect and after that sell like new...
And nobody can't say nothing against them or famous group attack immediately.
Best looking hardware than their is prohibited and you can't know even about news like 2GHz record if that is not on ASUS or similar things.
But instead of that people can know when some kid in some country make something with ROG hardware.
Whole that situation push me away from them.
 
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
1,237 (0.30/day)
Location
California, unfortunately.
System Name Sierra ~ Server
Processor Core i5-11600K ~ Core i3-12100
Motherboard Asus Prime B560M-A AC ~ MSI PRO B760M-P
Cooling CM 212 Black RGB Edition ~ Intel Stock Cooler
Memory 64GB (2x 32GB) DDR4-3600 ~ 32GB (4x 8GB) DDR4-3200
Video Card(s) XFX Radeon RX 6950 XT ~ EVGA GeForce GTX 970
Storage 4TB Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink NVMe SSD ~ 2TB Kingston NV1 NVMe SSD + 500GB WD Blue SATA SSD
Display(s) 2x Dell S2721QS 4K 60Hz ~ N/A
Case Asus Prime AP201 - Open Frame Chassis
Power Supply Thermaltake GF1 850W ~ Thermaltake Smart 500W
Software Windows 11 Pro ~ Proxmox VE
Benchmark Scores Laptops: Dell Latitude E7270, Dell Latitude 14 Rugged 5420.
Yes, you should get a refund and take your business elsewhere.
 

de.das.dude

Pro Indian Modder
Joined
Jun 13, 2010
Messages
8,737 (1.74/day)
Location
Stuck in a PC. halp.
System Name Monke | Work Thinkpad| Old Monke
Processor Ryzen 5600X | Ryzen 5500U | FX8320
Motherboard ASRock B550 Extreme4 | ? | Asrock 990FX Extreme 4
Cooling 240mm Rad | Not needed | hyper 212 EVO
Memory 2x16GB DDR4 3600 Corsair RGB | 16 GB DDR4 3600 | 16GB DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) Sapphire Pulse RX6700XT 12GB | Vega 8 | Sapphire Pulse RX580 8GB
Storage Samsung 980 nvme (Primary) | some samsung SSD
Display(s) Dell 2723DS | Some 14" 1080p 98%sRGB IPS | Dell 2240L
Case Ant Esports Tempered case | Thinkpad | Antec
Audio Device(s) Logitech Z333 | Jabra corpo stuff
Power Supply Corsair RM750e | not needed | Corsair GS 600
Mouse Logitech G400 | nipple
Keyboard Logitech G213 | stock kb is awesome | Logitech K230
VR HMD ;_;
Software Windows 10 Professional x3
Benchmark Scores There are no marks on my bench
asus has gone down the shitter.

there were a lot of complaints around here of them recycling rma'd motherboards after improper repairs.
 

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
17,866 (3.00/day)
Location
Quantum Well UK
System Name Quantumville™
Processor Intel Core i7-2700K @ 4GHz
Motherboard Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3
Cooling Noctua NH-D14
Memory 16GB (2 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance Black DDR3 PC3-12800 C9 1600MHz)
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 2080 SUPER Gaming X Trio
Storage Samsung 850 Pro 256GB | WD Black 4TB | WD Blue 6TB
Display(s) ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR (4K, 144Hz, G-SYNC compatible) | Asus MG28UQ (4K, 60Hz, FreeSync compatible)
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty PCIe
Power Supply Corsair AX1600i
Mouse Microsoft Intellimouse Pro - Black Shadow
Keyboard Yes
Software Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
asus has gone down the shitter.

there were a lot of complaints around here of them recycling rma'd motherboards after improper repairs.

You don't say. I've got an Asus mobo and monitor and hope that I don't get problems with them.
 
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
8 (0.00/day)
This look like they play basketball with that peace of hardware.
And I was in similar situation before few years and because of that I stop with ASUS.
I never got apology for damaged box and damaged package and two in service confirmed fault cards. Never, on the contrary all time I was feel like I need to say I'm sorry because I complain.
That is usually for my country, they benchmark their cards like crazy to show like perfect and after that sell like new...
And nobody can't say nothing against them or famous group attack immediately.
Best looking hardware than their is prohibited and you can't know even about news like 2GHz record if that is not on ASUS or similar things.
But instead of that people can know when some kid in some country make something with ROG hardware.
Whole that situation push me away from them.

asus has gone down the shitter.

there were a lot of complaints around here of them recycling rma'd motherboards after improper repairs.

That's one of my assumption. The shop that sold it to me might be at fault for the kind dirty/damaged external box, but there's little to no reason for them to sell scratched cards if it's not a refurbished/repackaged card.

I'll know more when I'll get a reply from them. And the card they sold to me is ready to go back to them on monday.

Meaning that if it's not the shop fault, it might be that Asus packaged an RMA'ed card in a box and sent it to a store to sell it as new. Which would not surprise me because some of those scratches were really like screw driver scratches. I mean, a PCB is not easy to scratch. Even more that type of deep scratches. Not something you'd do with a fingernail for example.

For the record it happened to me to hit a motherboard PCB with a screw driver by accident, and it left next to no scratch at all. Nothing that can be compared with that: http://i49.tinypic.com/wjb0ao.png I hardly imagine the force you need to scratches a PCB like that.

Anyway, here I am waiting to see if things will go smoothly from now on.

Thanks again everyone. Despite my kinda horrible day, I'm happy to have found some help and advices here.
 
Last edited:

de.das.dude

Pro Indian Modder
Joined
Jun 13, 2010
Messages
8,737 (1.74/day)
Location
Stuck in a PC. halp.
System Name Monke | Work Thinkpad| Old Monke
Processor Ryzen 5600X | Ryzen 5500U | FX8320
Motherboard ASRock B550 Extreme4 | ? | Asrock 990FX Extreme 4
Cooling 240mm Rad | Not needed | hyper 212 EVO
Memory 2x16GB DDR4 3600 Corsair RGB | 16 GB DDR4 3600 | 16GB DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) Sapphire Pulse RX6700XT 12GB | Vega 8 | Sapphire Pulse RX580 8GB
Storage Samsung 980 nvme (Primary) | some samsung SSD
Display(s) Dell 2723DS | Some 14" 1080p 98%sRGB IPS | Dell 2240L
Case Ant Esports Tempered case | Thinkpad | Antec
Audio Device(s) Logitech Z333 | Jabra corpo stuff
Power Supply Corsair RM750e | not needed | Corsair GS 600
Mouse Logitech G400 | nipple
Keyboard Logitech G213 | stock kb is awesome | Logitech K230
VR HMD ;_;
Software Windows 10 Professional x3
Benchmark Scores There are no marks on my bench
You don't say. I've got an Asus mobo and monitor and hope that I don't get problems with them.

yeah, it was a big scam here. apparently the importer "rashi peripherals" were the same people who were providing the RMA service.

You needed to be really lucky to buy a sealed product. 99.99% of asus products here are un-sealed.

But finally after repeated complaints Asus set up a different organization to handle their RMAs.

I had to RMA my asus mobo 4 times in 2 years. I would have had to continue with more rmas, if i hadnt found some "source" to make sure i got a proper rma'd motherboard.
 
Top