So this is how resellers get rid of their old-stock graphic cards?!?

[Black Panther]

I came across this incident on another forum:

This guy ordered a M571RU laptop from Eurocom, with a 9800M GT graphics card.
When he got the laptop, he found out that it was shipped with an 8800M GTX instead. Even though on his receipt it stated 9800M GT.

I get it that the 2 cards are very similar in performance, if not identical. But what I find outrageous is that Eurocom refused to replace to what he ordered. I think he has a right for the 9800M GT because he ordered it in the first place. Secondly, it's a newer-gen card hence the resale value of his laptop would be affected.

This is what Eurocom told him:

We have special VBIOS from Nvidia that allows you to change 8800GTX to 9800GT, and our Technical Support will email you on Monday along with instructions.
Please note that 8800GTX is higher performance GPU, 9800M GT is lower. Maybe numbers seem higher but specs is lower. This is part of Nvidia marketing - it looks like new technology but it's not.

Dear Eurocom Service
Please email M57RU VBIOS for 9800GT with update instructions. Please make sure that client is capable to re-flash.

Client answered --

As far as ive seen, the 9800M GT is slightly more powerful than the 8800M GTX (proven through tests used on an identical laptop from justin woite from xoticpc) so where ever you got this false information from about the 8800M GTX being more powerful due to specs is actually quite false, both cards have identical physical specs, there are no differences physically. The only difference lies in the stream processors which are approximately 5% faster at processing than the 8800M GTX. The 9800M GT also generates a bit less heat.

Eurocom replied --

both 8800GTX and 9800GT is same thermal spec - and there is no difference as far as heat is concerned.
We have proper R&D test lab with proper test equipment - we are not mail order company like other companies you are mention in your email.
Our test labs show clearly better performance of 8800GTX; the only reason that Nvidia moved to 9800GT is strictly marketing. NV needed to introduced "new" and less expensive technology to complete with new Ati line of GPUs.

Eurocom unlike other companies is developer of notebook technologies and not resellers - we have our own R&D program to enhance and/or improve exiting products. We work very closely and direct with Nvidia, ATi, AMD, Intel etc. You probably know that EUROCOM always has something over standard specs - this is part of our internal R&D program.

You can maybe ask Justin (xoticpc) for specific thermal tests results showing that there is difference between 8800GTX and 9800GT - I would like to get his results showing temepratures 1) inside the module - VGA PCB board 2) top on VGA module - heatsink 3) bottom of VGA module - bottom of GPU heatsink - all of this under stress test - 48 hours of eqipment running stess tests prior to temperature test.

This is how tests are done - not by visual "feel" - testing is science not rumors.

When the client asked to see the R & D reports they refused saying that they do not release them to the general public.

So, further to this refusal to replace, Eurocom are just suggesting their client flashes the bios... and voila gpu-z will read the card as a 9800M GT

I think I know where all the 8800M GTX cards are going now...
I wonder if this is something regularly done?

What I wrote above is my attempt to summarize this notebookreview forum thread.

Do you think that a reseller is justified in doing this kind of stuff? What are your opinions?

 

[Exceededgoku]

WTF?! Why has he not been on the phone to them TELLING them to give him the laptop he ordered or a full refund, failing that simply call the bank and get his money back and keep the laptop. It's what I would do...

 

[WhiteLotus]

He can easily sue if he is in the UK, Trade Descriptions act and all that.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I agree,in the uk eurocom would get screwed for doing that.

 

[jbunch07]

I wish this kind of thing would happen to me here in the states. I have two Cousins that professinal lawyers, I would be a millionaire before you knew it.

 

[Black Panther]

Duh, what's more apparently he also actually rma'd the laptop because of an unrelated monitor problem... and they still keep insisting that he flashes the bios himself! (page 6 post 53) This is just crazy...
And people there have been telling him it's no big deal, the 9800M GT is an 8800M GTX anyway...

 

[WhiteLotus]

It doesn't matter that they are the same performance, if it was better i wouldn't care but you get what you paid for. If I paid for a product I want the product to be exactly what I paid for.

 

[jbunch07]

But still If I pay for somthing and get something different I would not be happy. I want and am entitled to what I payed for.

 

[Triprift]

thats not the point if he ordered the lappy expecting a 9800 not an 8800. Regardless of relative performance of the two he didnt get what he ordered. I no i would of been pissed if i ended up with a 6000 series instead of my 7600.

 

[Black Panther]

He's going to insist that the gpu is changed from 8800M GTX to 9800M GT.

But he's worried that they'd just flash the bios and not give him a 'genuine' 9800M GT.

Is there any way to know if he gets a genuine card? From a little research I did, the cards look identical... and also have the same number of shaders etc etc...

Is there maybe a way to check the date of manufacture of the card? Because obviously if the date would be like 6 months ago then it'd just be bios-flashed and not an original 9800...

 

[alexp999]

He's going to insist that the gpu is changed from 8800M GTX to 9800M GT.

But he's worried that they'd just flash the bios and not give him a 'genuine' 9800M GT.

Is there any way to know if he gets a genuine card? From a little research I did, the cards look identical... and also have the same number of shaders etc etc...

Is there maybe a way to check the date of manufacture of the card? Because obviously if the date would be like 6 months ago then it'd just be bios-flashed and not an original 9800...

Wont it say on the actual card which one it is? Are the graphics cards in those laptops accessible?

Glad they are following it through, like other people have said, you could sue for that and claim to trading standards in UK.

You wouldnt expect dell to send you a PC with say a 2900Pro when you ordered an XT, and they say, oh yeah just flash it :shadedshu

 

[Black Panther]

The graphics card is easily accessible. It's user-upgradeable 8800M GTX - 9800M GT - 9800M GTX.... so far..



I've never actually looked at a mobile gpu...

In this picture I see it has got 8800M GTX written on the gpu. I guess that would be kinda engraved/printed. I think if the gpu chip has got 9800M GT then he'd be safe in assuming it's a 'genuine' card not a reflashed 8800?

 

[alexp999]

The graphics card is easily accessible. It's user-upgradeable 8800M GTX - 9800M GT - 9800M GTX.... so far..



I've never actually looked at a mobile gpu...

In this picture I see it has got 8800M GTX written on the gpu. I guess that would be kinda engraved/printed. I think if the gpu chip has got 9800M GT then he'd be safe in assuming it's a 'genuine' card not a reflashed 8800?

Thats more of a promotional shot. The real thing will be more like this:

Source

You'll need the part number.

 

[eidairaman1]

Duh, what's more apparently he also actually rma'd the laptop because of an unrelated monitor problem... and they still keep insisting that he flashes the bios himself! (page 6 post 53) This is just crazy...
And people there have been telling him it's no big deal, the 9800M GT is an 8800M GTX anyway...

Well for most users flashing the bios is a big ordeal, and also they could turn around and void the warranty of the laptop because he did a firmware modification that failed. I think its time to take this to the courts, for false advertisement, id suggest you look for that laptop specifically on their site if they have one and compare the difference in price between the 8800M GTX and the 9800M GT, because for all we know is they could of charged you more for the older card, altho sometimes performance is more than newer gen, anyone have gaming tests for these video cards?

 

[btarunr]

That's why I stay away from everything rebranded. If you still want to buy a desktop 9800 GT, you need to spend more time here

 

[Black Panther]

Lol.

What's weird is that on Eurocom's site, to customize the M571RU it will cost $220 more if you choose to put in an 8800M GTX than a 9800M GT.

eidairaman1 and btarunr, uhh, this is another guy's problem (see first post) not mine... I don't think the guy is even a member here...

 

[eidairaman1]

Rule of Thumb stay the piss away from Eurocom

 

[btarunr]

eidairaman1 and btarunr, uhh, this is another guy's problem (see first post) not mine... I don't think the guy is even a member here...

I know, I went thru that thread. I was just telling "stay away from rebranded stuff".

 

[JC316]

That is ridiculous. I would be demanding my money back or the correct product. Makes me glad that I shop newegg.

 

[spirits247]

That's terrible. Some e-tailers in the UK are guilty of sending out opened products as "new".

Twice, after ordering something online, I have received a previously opened product that was obviously sent back as the factory seals had been tampered with. Those should be sold as "refurbished".

Makes me really mad and I never again use an e-tailer who's done that. Once something is sent back after being opened, it is no longer "new".

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

I don't like how they kept leaving off the "M" part. I wonder if they think the desktop and laptop versions have the same specs, so they assumed their desktop performance comparisons would count as accurate for the mobile version's performance.

 

[X-Terminator]

Dude that is F-ed-Up I will never order anything from Eurocom. And there spec's are way off.

Now for a magic trick

1. Clap your hands
2. Smoke some bud
3. Kick your friend in the ballz
4. And Rock-On
5. And now you have just changed your 8800GTX to 9800M GT