Help me decide from 3 amazingly priced 3850!

[DeadlyNinja]

First we have this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103051
That's 512 MB at a mere 109 bucks!!! I'm fully aware of the benefits and all that, but does anyone know anything about the company that's selling it? I had a very awful experience with HIS with my very first video card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131096
Same deal, even cheaper!!!! But not enough reviews for me to decide. I want to know if it's quiet. I like silence.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129101
This one is obviously not as good as the previous 2, but there's no need for rebates. Plus, if the company is superior, I will go for it instead.

Mainly I'm interested in silence and a good company. I wish they have some Palit cards at that price since they are the only ones to offer a 2 year warranty on AMD cards. Still, if you guys think highly of any of those companies, please tell me. I'm very worried about warranty simply because I intend to use it for more than a year. I have VERY horrible luck with electronics. You can read about my sob story in one of the threads in the main section of this board.

 

[Pinchy]

Id go the Powercolor.

All three are good, known brands, Powercolor probably the best known of all three.

 

[bobyjo]

I have a pair of matched VisionTek HD3850 512's and I am not having any problem at all. I believe NewEgg had these on sale last week for about $110. The 256 model is the one that is featured on the link you have selected. That card should be a great card. Just remember that these VisionTek Boxed Retail cards are warranted for life. That might mean a great deal if you plan on fiddleing with them. BJ

First we have this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103051
That's 512 MB at a mere 109 bucks!!! I'm fully aware of the benefits and all that, but does anyone know anything about the company that's selling it? I had a very awful experience with HIS with my very first video card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131096
Same deal, even cheaper!!!! But not enough reviews for me to decide. I want to know if it's quiet. I like silence.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129101
This one is obviously not as good as the previous 2, but there's no need for rebates. Plus, if the company is superior, I will go for it instead.

Mainly I'm interested in silence and a good company. I wish they have some Palit cards at that price since they are the only ones to offer a 2 year warranty on AMD cards. Still, if you guys think highly of any of those companies, please tell me. I'm very worried about warranty simply because I intend to use it for more than a year. I have VERY horrible luck with electronics. You can read about my sob story in one of the threads in the main section of this board.

 

[Odin Eidolon]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121219

far far better for a mere +5$... its super-silent and has great reviews.
Asus is used to be a good company too

 

[philbrown23]

get the visiontek, lifetim warranty that even asus cant match

 

[DeadlyNinja]

get the visiontek, lifetim warranty that even asus cant match

Are you sure about the warranty!? It says only 1 year on newegg if you click on the manufacturer info.

 

[erocker]

The visiontek is only 256mb. I would go with the Powercolor or Odin's suggestion of the Asus.

 

[DeadlyNinja]

If visiontek does indeed offer life time warranty, then I'd rather sacrifice the VRAM for the warranty. I had a very awful experience with my first card, so now I'm a warranty whore.

 

[thoughtdisorder]

If visiontek does indeed offer life time warranty, then I'd rather sacrifice the VRAM for the warranty. I had a very awful experience with my first card, so now I'm a warranty whore.

I hear ya, but Asus gives a 3 year warranty and will you really be satisfied with any card you buy today in 3 years? Just a thought.

<Warranty info>

 

[JrRacinFan]

@Bobyjo
Did you visiontek's come with bridges?

@DeadlyNinja
Out of those 3 get the Diamond if you dont mind MIR's.

O/T: Erocker, I got both bridges today and man, the pair of 2600 Pro's rock for the price.

 

[DeadlyNinja]

I hear ya, but Asus gives a 3 year warranty and will you really be satisfied with any card you buy today in 3 years? Just a thought.

<Warranty info>

The ASUS one is more expensive though. If the other companies offer life time warranty and cheaper price, I get 2 for the price of one. I live with a S3 ProSavage (ok, so I don't really play games back then) for 4 years and a GeForce 2 MX for another 3, I'm sure I can live with a 3850 for 5 or more years. Besides, life time warranties mean auto upgrade if it dies.

@DeadlyNinja
Out of those 3 get the Diamond if you dont mind MIR's.

Any other advantages?

 

[spearman914]

Diamond FTW!! Can you stretch a little more for a sapphire?

 

[ShogoXT]

Nevermind I had a link for one about $82 but I guess ewiz messed up their prices AGAIN. Damnit....

 

[DeadlyNinja]

Diamond FTW!! Can you stretch a little more for a sapphire?

What the difference though? I mean, I might, but now I'm hearing Powercolor offers life time warranty and so unless Sapphire can turn me into superman, it doesn't sound like a very good deal. Again, I'm willing to listen though.

 

[spearman914]

What the difference though? I mean, I might, but now I'm hearing Powercolor offers life time warranty and so unless Sapphire can turn me into superman, it doesn't sound like a very good deal. Again, I'm willing to listen though.

I've read a lot of reviews stating the Sapphire overclocks better. Diamond is good too but not as Sapphire. Also the designs on Sapphire cards looks much nicer and provides a better,quieter fan.

 

[DeadlyNinja]

Good good. This is the kind of stuff I need to decide on.

 

[bobyjo]

This is a copy and paste from VisionTek's website. This covers all thier lines of cards. If you purchase the "Xtasy" or "VisionTek" retail boxed cards, this comes with the bridges, cables for HDTV audio and video out, S Video out, and composite out. Everything you need to install these cards are shipped with the card. If you go to NewEgg's site pick out the card you are interested in and look at what is encluded in the box. There will be several pics of what is there. Software, owners manual, bridges, cables and all that stuff,


Limited Lifetime Warranty
Products Covered:
ATI Based Retail Packaged “VisionTek” or “VisionTek Xtasy” Brand 3D Graphics Accelerators

3 Year Warranty
Products Covered:
ATI Based Retail Packaged VisionTek RADEON 7K (PCI and AGP) graphics card B2 Black Box Packaged.

1 Year Warranty
Products Covered:
VisionTek Theater 550 Pro TV Tuner Cards, VisionTek MediaXchange series DCS Keyboard, XG6 Gamer Mouse

@Bobyjo
Did you visiontek's come with bridges?

@DeadlyNinja
Out of those 3 get the Diamond if you dont mind MIR's.

O/T: Erocker, I got both bridges today and man, the pair of 2600 Pro's rock for the price.

 

[DeadlyNinja]

Looks like I'm going with VisionTek then. It might be 256 MB less, but I really don't game at a higher resolution anyway. Plus, the lack of a rebate means less hassle and life time warranty.

 

[JrRacinFan]

@bobyjo

No offense to you, I feel as though visiontek can go straight to h***. These cards will be the last items I ever purchase from them. Their customer service is a joke and their representatives (I spoke to 3) all told me to pretty much f*** off.

 

[DeadlyNinja]

Wow, really? It's that bad? And I thought HIS was bad. Well, I'm actually having second thought now since it looks like the 9600GT might actually be a better deal.

 

[bobyjo]

The fellow I first spoke with was named Eric and he was very nice and offered to help me in any way they could. He issued a RMA # to me and sent an email giving me the address to send the cards to.

I do not want to call you a lier, but what you are stating does not hold up to any time I have talked to the Tech Support.
What # did you call to reach tech support? I have the direct line # to tech support, and when they answer you are talking to a tech right then.
I can give the # to you if you wish, but first I would like for you to give the # you called. BJ

@Bobyjo

No offense to you, I feel as though visiontek can go straight to h***. These cards will be the last items I ever purchase from them. Their customer service is a joke and their representatives (I spoke to 3) all told me to pretty much f*** off.

 

[tkpenalty]

Lifetime warranty? PFFT. It doesn't mean your product will get repaired or anything after one year. Anyway, out of all of those, I'd make a beeline for the powercolor.

 

[bobyjo]

Why not give us the # of the tech dept so we could feel somewhat better about what you are stating. Sad that someone just has a bad taste in thier mouth about a product, and wants to blast that product everytime they see it. BJ

Lifetime warranty? PFFT. It doesn't mean your product will get repaired or anything after one year. Anyway, out of all of those, I'd make a beeline for the powercolor.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Not blasting the product. I myself as well work for a service department, I know I would have never treated a person the way they treated me. Also the number that was called was I want to say 888-VTEK-411.

EDIT:Gave you a couple thanks, I am not one to act like this in any way. So don't think I am a jerk, I am far from.

 

[bobyjo]

The # you have given is fairly close but no cigar. Sorry bout that, thier qualifications for RMA is an envoice showing your purchase from a legitimate VisionTek vender, and exactly what the problem you are having. What are your system specs etc, which driver you are attempting to run. If you have this info, and call the right # you will be given a RMA #.

I was surprised to call Monday and was given a FedEx tracking #, I did receive this matched pair of HD3850's stickered as "tested good" I even installed ATITool and found that the fans have been locked on hi speed. The cards cores are running about 47c after a couple hours on the internet. Surfing the web was where the cards locked up with the original cards. The covers are rock solid stable, where the original ones were loose and actually gave me a feeling that the cover may well break if any force was applied during installment. BJ

Not blasting the product. I myself as well work for a service department, I know I would have never treated a person the way they treated me. Also the number that was called was I want to say 888-VTEK-411.

EDIT:Gave you a couple thanks, I am not one to act like this in any way. So don't think I am a jerk, I am far from.