How to spot a second hand card with a new one?

[Master]

Hello everyone,
How can I spot/distinguish a second hand or used graphics card from a new one?
By the way I saw a graphics card(1080 G1 Gaming) today, which had a large stain of oil at the back of the card, as if someone had poured some oil on the card (to make it more shiny? or look new?), when I asked the dealer, he said, this is OK, there are some kind of stuff on these cards, that when they are placed in a hot environment they just liquefy , there is nothing to worry about! I didnt buy it! I had alot of cards including a GTX980 from gigabyte (windforce), and alot more, but I have never seen anything like this! I sent back the card, but this was something like this : I drew that in ms paint just to show the extend of the stain I saw.

So What are the ways I can use to say for sure a card is second hand/repaired/used ?
Thanks in advance

 

[qubit]

It may be impossible to tell. Always buy off a reputable seller such as Amazon (not marketplace) and you'll be ok.

If there are telltales, they may include things such as scratches, wear marks (especially on connectors) dust (especially on fans) bits broken off no matter how small etc.

Oh and new things tend to smell new as well. If there's a distinct lack of it, then it may not be new. Not a deciding factor, though.

You were right not to buy that oil covered card. What a conman!

 

[alucasa]

It shouldn't be an issue when buying from reliable sources.

Anyways..., oil and epeen go (really) well if you know what I mean....

Aaaanyways, ways to tell? Inspect it. There should be signs. Finger prints, power slot having scratches. If one's a pro at it, it could easily hide those though.

Anyways, oil huh. Someone had fun with it.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Try and register it with the manufacturer.

 

[Jetster]

New uasally has some type of protective plastic over scratchable surfaces but even that can be replaced and gpu boxes are sealed

 

[alucasa]

Try and register it with the manufacturer.

Wow, man, What a nice idea. I guess two badgers are better than one, huh.

Though I've never registered any GPUs so far. Never bothered.

 

[peche]

I had alot of cards including a GTX980 from gigabyte (windforce),

interested....

So What are the ways I can use to say for sure a card is second hand/repaired/used ?

most cards comes with caps on some ports, like HDMI's .. display and other ports, they come like covered by them ...
also some cards come with plastic over cooler shrouds, fans and backplates, also with some stickers that says peel....

here i have some pics of one of my dudes taking care a new video card i've installed on my office machine, take a watch...

Plastic over shroud / fans...

there are some caps neat HDMI>Vga connector, red ones that says MSI,

For example...
also the smell of new hardware its something we cannot miss!

Regards,

 

[qubit]

also with some stickers that says peel....

That's a good point. My new Zotac GTX 1080 that I got recently has got three fans with the middle one having a transparent sticker on it saying just that. It literally would have stopped the fan from turning had I not removed it.

 

[alucasa]

Maybe it's because I buy inexpensive (cheap) cards, but I've never seen mine coming with any sort of protective covers to peel.

 

[peche]

That's a good point. My new Zotac GTX 1080 that I got recently has got three fans with the middle one having a transparent sticker on it saying just that. It literally would have stopped the fan from turning had I not removed it.

agreed, even my older GTX 760 & 660 had the same decals / plastic and also all my new video cards had those plastics caps for all ports, sli connector and also with decals from behind, also the most important thing, some cards come with PC stickers, at least vendor logo, used / repaired or other might not come with this one, for example the gigabyte G1 card that @Master mention might come with this one:

or also this way, also anti-static enclosure covering the card, all video cards i have purchased for me or friends came closed on that bag

Regards,

 

[jboydgolfer]

a new video card comes sealed in a box. There's no if's ,and's or buts about it. If someone opens the box their now the owner of a used video card ,because there's no proving to what extent they've used said video card. You can check the contacts on the PCI E Ln, you could also check for maybe scuffing on the power plugs, but as I said there's no sure way once the container has been opened. that's why I never trust unless the box is sealed or I buy it from a retailer that is reputable. None of these "opened it just for review purposes" BS, Then you just tell them you hope they got paid for the review ,because it's gonna cost them The difference between a new and used video card or a sale. It's a buyers market

 

[peche]

None of these "opened it just for review purposes" BS, Then you just tell them you hope they got paid for the review ,because it's gonna cost them The difference between a new and used video card or a sale. It's a buyers market

+1

 

[alucasa]

Also, watch out for price.

If it's too good to be true, it probably is. Like, if a girl is so cute and she is hitting on you, there has got to be a catch.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I didn't see dust mentioned. It's almost impossible to completely remove it from a used card. And even if you do, none of the parts involved, especially fan blades, will look as pristine as they do brand-new.

 

[Sasqui]

I didn't see dust mentioned. It's almost impossible to completely remove it from a used card. And even if you do, none of the parts involved, especially fan blades, will look as pristine as they do brand-new.

Yes, if it looks like this, it's used, lol

 

[jboydgolfer]

I didn't see dust mentioned. It's almost impossible to completely remove it from a used card. And even if you do, none of the parts involved, especially fan blades, will look as pristine as they do brand-new.

Yeah but I was assuming we're talking about a one or two days used card ,it takes a little while for dust to build up unless of course you live in a haunted mansion or something

Also, watch out for price.

If it's too good to be true, it probably is. Like, if a girl is so cute and she is hitting on you, there has got to be a catch.

Or it turns out it's a man wearing a dress

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Yes, if it looks like this, it's used, lol

Hang on a minute........i recognize that gpu....

 

[alucasa]

Or it turns out it's a man wearing a dress

When I was a teen, that would have been a joke. But these days? It's a real possibility.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

I used a brush and now it looks like this.

 

[alucasa]

I used a brush and now it looks like this.


View attachment 87060

Thanks for the X rated photo.

 

[Sasqui]

Thanks for the X rated photo.

DUAL XX rated at that. And I swear it's new! ;P

 

[qubit]

I didn't see dust mentioned. It's almost impossible to completely remove it from a used card. And even if you do, none of the parts involved, especially fan blades, will look as pristine as they do brand-new.

Yeah, I've noticed that too. It's like the dust gets ground into the surface of the plastic. It's a bit like a coffee stain in a cup. Really hard to get off and even if you do with caustic soda, the cup will now get grubby again much more easily than when it was new. In this case of course, the action of high heat is significant.

 

[jboydgolfer]

Easiest way to spot a used video card................?

It will say used and or refurbished in the title on the for-sale page .

Example: for sale slightly used video card.

 

[peche]

Easiest way to spot a used video card................?

It will say used and or refurbished in the title on the for-sale page .

Example: for sale slightly used video card.

no explanation needed....

 

[jboydgolfer]

If I has the monies, I download a new video kard every s6months


That's another reason I like my 970 reference cooler the dust doesn't stick to it at all