Do you guys have backup discrete GPUs?

[freeagent]

Not really.

I have Ada and Ampere running right now, if anything goes south.. I have a Fermi and Maxwell collecting dust.

So I would have to buy a new GPU lol.

 

[thestryker6]

I selected bought a card for backup, but this is the first time I've done that and only because my backup card at the time would have been a GTX 970. Typically I keep systems long beyond their reasonable resale rate so when I upgrade I keep at least one other functional system. I'd given a friend my 1660 Ti so I picked up a 6800 XT when they were down at ~$430, but now I won't have to pickup any replacements so long as I don't have multiple video card deaths.

 

[80-watt Hamster]

I've had at least one spare graphics card ever since I bought my second graphics card. Sold a couple, gave away a couple, but generally hold on to the retired parts.

If you're worried, grab a used 1070 ti or 5600 XT for a hundred bones. Might find a 2060 or 3050 for that money if you're lucky/patient.

 

[AusWolf]

I've had at least one spare graphics card ever since I bought my second graphics card. Sold a couple, gave away a couple, but generally hold on to the retired parts.

If you're worried, grab a used 1070 ti or 5600 XT for a hundred bones. Might find a 2060 or 3050 for that money if you're lucky/patient.

The much hated RX 6400 is also around 100 quid brand new. It's good enough to be used as a spare, and it doesn't even need a power cable.

 

[SirKeldon]

I used to keep my old GPU's as a backup ... but these last years I decided to gift them to my dad, I inherited his old rigs when I was a kiddo, so I'm kinda repaying, however, I think keeping the old ones is not a bad idea in case the current fails, at least you end with a decent card that doesn't stops you from gaming 100% while you research a new one. Buying exclusively a backup, unless you make your payroll through gaming/streaming, it's not worth it IMHO.

 

[DaemonForce]

If you guys feel bad about keeping spares around, the market always demands them.
Other than that, don't feel guilty about putting them to work. Transcode duty, camera record/encode, 3D render server, etc.
Anything faster than an RX 580 seems real good for it, in terms of support anyway.

 

[Sithaer]

Personally no, I was considering some cheapo card in the 25-50$ range on the second hand market but eh I've had 2 cards fail on me since 2008 so its like whatever if I need one then I will buy one. 'I have a gamer kind of phone so I can play some of my cross platform games there for a few days if really needed'

 

[freeagent]

It's good enough to be used as a spare, and it doesn't even need a power cable

I think.. the 9600XT was the last GPU that I had that didn't require a cable..

Looking at a GPU with no cable would be like looking at a cat with no fur

 

[AusWolf]

I think.. the 9600XT was the last GPU that I had that didn't require a cable..

Looking at a GPU with no cable would be like looking at a cat with no fur

I actually had a 6400 before I built a mini PC with it for a friend's daughter. It was fine for what it is. I've still got a GT 1030 in one of my HTPCs. I love it when a card doesn't need excessive amounts of power but is still good for some light gaming.

Edit: Oh, and a passively cooled, no power connector 1050 Ti in the other one. Brilliant card!

 

[wheresmycar]

I've got a GTX 1660 TI + GT 1030 sitting around.

+ a couple of other weighty cards in repurposed builds at home.

 

[jormungand]

Evga GTX 1070 FTW ( on my sons pc atm)
Evga GTX 1080

 

[Solaris17]

I keep backup everything, but I frequently do builds for people so it pays to have extra parts regardless.

Same. I am bursting with Intel cards atm because of FW projects. I had plenty more than I have on hand now, but I build systems for friends and give cards away for those that need them. I give a xmas PC to a family I know every year like clock work because they...cant. And I usually drop in the best spare GPU I have in it. The older AMD cards I have on hand were actually for the HW flashing guide. They were quite popular at the time and the forum was flooded with mining conversions. So I bought a few to flash manually so I could make the guide for those that need it. Now they sit in the closet. I think if my 4090 failed, realistically the 7900xtx is what I would be putting in. The rest are victims of circumstance. Always nice to pass them along. satisfies karma so I can be a dick the rest of the year

 

[oxrufiioxo]

Same. I am bursting with Intel cards atm because of FW projects. I had plenty more than I have on hand now, but I build systems for friends and give cards away for those that need them. I give a xmas PC to a family I know every year like clock work because they...cant. And I usually drop in the best spare GPU I have in it. The older AMD cards I have on hand were actually for the HW flashing guide. They were quite popular at the time and the forum was flooded with mining conversions. So I bought a few to flash manually so I could make the guide for those that need it. Now they sit in the closet. I think if my 4090 failed, realistically the 7900xtx is what I would be putting in. The rest are victims of circumstance. Always nice to pass them along. satisfies karma so I can be a dick the rest of the year

Its slowed down to a crawl after the pandemic but previously I'd have enough spare parts after 6-12 month to build a whole pc and give it away just to clear space lol.

 

[Solaris17]

Its slowed down to a crawl after the pandemic but previously I'd have enough spare parts after 6-12 month to build a whole pc and give it away just to clear space lol.

same. I'll be honest I think selling is a hassle because too many people from my experience dont know how to use it to f@#$ it up and want money back. Then logistics of going to UPS etc. When I buy things I consider the money gone and I reconcile it that way so I'm never at a loss if something doesnt resell the way I expect. Makes it easier to give away because its essentially taking up space and the dollars have already been spent. Feels good, so why not.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

same. I'll be honest I think selling is a hassle because too many people from my experience dont know how to use it to f@#$ it up and want money back. Then logistics of going to UPS etc. When I buy things I consider the money gone and I reconcile it that way so I'm never at a loss if something doesnt resell the way I expect. Makes it easier to give away because its essentially taking up space and the dollars have already been spent. Feels good, so why not.

For me it was becuase I take existing parts the person has as payment for a build fee if they dont want to pay in gift cards (I dont take cash) and sometimes they were really decent just 1 gen old. Plus the backup stuff i purchase on my own.

 

[neopolaris]

I bought a GT 1030 a few years ago during the video card shortage for backup. I paid so much for a 2060 at the time that I thought I...I...I... yeah there's like zero logic in that purchase.
It's actually being used in a dedicated 7D2D server atm. *shrugs

 

[sLowEnd]

I do have old unused cards sitting around, but I wouldn't really consider them proper backups given their age. (GTX 960 is toast, gave away my RX570, next newest card is a GTX 470) I'd be buying new card if my current one conked out.

 

[avidgamer121]

a gt 710, if that even counts, btw most people's secondary gpus seem better than my main.

 

[Sir Beregond]

GTX 980 or a Titan X (Maxwell) are my newest, old cards lol.

 

[GrimReaper85]

I wanted to have current 4070 SUPER for backup, but it is so loud I will:
1. buy 9070 XT
2. sell 4070S
3. buy UDNA 24 GB
4. have 9070 XT for backup

Basically with these absurd Nvidia prices I want to make a complete change to AMD. And who wants to use DDU (even if it takes only 5min) when something goes wrong and you need to put in backup card.
Cables though aren't such a problem, with my current 2 cables with 4x 8-pin I can run everything up to 350W (probably even more, but better safe than sorry), be it 2x 8-pin, 3x 8-pin or Nvidia cards with original adapters.

Before that I bought used 970 end of 2020 before 3070 release and I had to repaste it due to high temps. I still have it but it was already too weak beginning of 2020 when I had shenanigans with 6900 XT.

 

[Zectyr_Strae]

I do, in fact I'm using it right now. It's a dinky lil' GTX 1650 4GB, taken from my father's system when he upgraded to an RTX 3060 12GB.
I'm using it bc:
1. 5800X3D, no iGPU, better than nothing.
2. Sold my RTX 3080 Ti before the value dropped any lower.
3. Waiting for a 5090 restock. And I was wondering how far I could OC a GPU running purely off slot power (Not by much lol).

Welp, scratch that, got a 7900 XTX instead.

 

[Grotesque Subhuman]

I have an RX 570 and RX 580 from doing builds for people 7 years ago. They've been handy a couple times. If you're an enthusiast, having extra parts is a great help.

 

[R-T-B]

I did, I had a backup 6900 XT. It ended up in my brothers new PC, somehow. Now I have nothing if all hell breaks lose. Still, couldn't leave him hanging (his old 1080 failed), that's why we have siblings right?

 

[InfaRedd]

Still have my ASUS RTX 2080 Strix from my 2018 build sitting my closet. That was replaced by a RX 6800 XT that was traded in last week.

 

[Rover4444]

Still have my ASUS RTX 2080 Strix from my 2018 build sitting my closet. That was replaced by a RX 6800 XT that was traded in last week.

How'd you manage that? That's killer.

I did, I had a backup 6900 XT. It ended up in my brothers new PC, somehow. Now I have nothing if all hell breaks lose. Still, couldn't leave him hanging (his old 1080 failed), that's why we have siblings right?

Should give him an RX 580 and one of these