5770 RMA, switch to GTS 250, 9800 GTX+?

[xrome]

Hey all,

So last week I bought all the parts for a new build for the wife:

Antec 900
ASUS 790X AM3 EVO
PII x4 955 BE 3.2ghz
OCZ modXstream 600w PSU
G.Skill ripjaws ddr3 1600 9-9-9-24

and

MSI HD 5770

I put the build together yesterday, and the fan on the MSI 5770 is the loudest thing in the case. Actually it's the loudest thing in the house. I can hear the 5770 fan over this entire build AND the other gaming rig in the room... while I'm in the kitchen. Anyways you get the idea.

So i need to RMA it I guess (a process i've never done... and I just hope newegg doesn't try to hit me with shipping costs or a restocking fee...). I have only ever owned 2 ATI cards now, and both have given me problems with drivers and fans. making me want to stick with nVidia again (currently running a gtx 260 core 216 in my rig, upgraded from an 8800GT, both work flawlessly)

Poking around for other options (instead of just replacing the MSI as I've had another MSI video card fan crap out on me I think I'll just pass on that brand now...) I saw the PNY 9800 GTX+ on newegg for $85 after rebate. Eighty-five fricken dollars.

MSI 5770 - $149 after rebate
PNY 9800gtx+ - $85 after rebate.

From the tests I've read and seen, the 5770 is not 75% better than the 9800gtx+. But it is 75% more expensive.

Also available for only $99-$119 is the 1gb GTS 250.

So basically I have a few options and I'd really like some assistence. from what I've been reading here, it seems like ALOT of you forum regular are big ATI fans, but I really want to get as unbiased on an opinion as possible.

Option 1.) Exchange the MSI 5770 for another MSI 5770
Option 2.) Exchange the MSI 5770 for a different brand 5770, even though it will cost 10-20$ more...
Option 3.) Return the MSI 5770 and buy a 9800gtx+ for only $85 total.
Option 4.) Return the MSI 5770 and buy a GTS 250 for only $100 total.
Option 5.) Return the MSI 5770 and wait a week to see how the fermi release changes the market pricing (price drop on GTX 260?)

Spending the $149 was already at the top of the budget, so please do not tell me to get a 5830 or something. Please tell me which option I listed makes the most sense and why. THANKS!

~xRome

 

[Kari]

so is the fan running @100% all the time?
there should be some fan profile controls in the CCC...

 

[xrome]

No the fan is running at 35%...

when i use MSI afterburner and increase the fan to say... 70%, it sounds like the computer is litterally going to take off like a jet

 

[xrome]

I've been around computer gaming enough to know a defective fan when I hear it ^_^

This MSI is getting exchanged or returned one way or another, but I don't know what to do after that.

 

[jryan388]

If I were you, I'd RMA it and get my money back, then wait till Fermi is released and everything drops in price. You could just buy another 5770 after that and save some money.

 

[Bluescreendeath]

Is the MSI version the one with the huge fan and exposed PCB board? Get another manufacturer's card - some manufacturers have better fans/better cooling than others.

 

[notty22]

So noise aside, are you not impressed with the performance ? Performance for the price ?
You could always go cheaper , like you suggested and go gts 250, gtx+, or even the xfx 4770.

 

[xrome]

This is the MSI i got, sorry i should have linked it earlier...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127484&cm_re=msi_5770-_-14-127-484-_-Product

To be honest I havent even figured out the performance... The system is for the wife, who as of now tries to steal my rig every day to play dragon age. She intends to play through dragon age, the DA expansion, and get into guild wars 2 when it finally releases.

I hooked it up to my gear to make sure everything was working and install windows, just threw DA:O on it but was forced to use the 720p TV as a monitor to check out the game on the new system (don't ask).

I am satisfied with the performance of my GTX 260 216, and from what i have hear the 5770 performs in between the 9800 gtx+ and the GTX 260, which seemed fine for $150. haven't gotten to try the thing out really. HDMI worked to output audio and video on first try which is nice.

jryan: That's whats floating around in my head as the best idea so far, but wouldn't price drops only come in the 5850 and 5870 level? And even if they dropped across the board, it wouldn't be for another month or so right?

After reading 100 1-egg revews about grey screens and vertical lines on the XFX 5770, I'm pretty scared of the 5770 now lol. But the price/performance seems right... bah i dunno. Maybe after fermi the 5830 will drop to $150! haha

 

[xrome]

Any other thoughts?

 

[mr2shim]

I wouldn't waste my money on outdated tech. Fermi is coming out in a week or so. Get your money and wait, or get another 5770. I know when Fermi comes out, it'll be the higher end cars first, but I'm sure the middle range will follow very soon.

As far as the problems with the 5770. They are all/mostly driver related. The newest drivers are pretty stable. I haven't had any problems with my 5770 since. Mine is an xfx and it's been up to 85c with the fan going no higher than 53% and I can not hear it over my other fans, which are all on 100%.

 

[xrome]

Woah... its normal newegg policy to charge 15% restocking fee on all returns??

http://www.newegg.com/HelpInfo/FAQDetail.aspx?Module=6#xdetail617

The line above the big gray box.

Do they actually charge that fee?

 

[xrome]

And yeah fermi cards are high high end in the price range. There isn't even any official word about mid range and low range models being made right? Therefore, if and when they are made we are still talking months later?

$150. Thats basically what i got. I can't imagine in the next couple weeks to a month there will be a new nVidia anywhere near that range. Plus if it releases at $150 it will likely be outperformed by the 5770 anyways which is discounted to $150.

Bah, if the stupid fan just didn't sound like a lawnmower I wouldn't have to still be figuring this out!

(which xfx 5770 do you have?)

 

[builderbobftw]

Mid end Fermi models will start coming out in Summer.

 

[mr2shim]

I have this one..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447&cm_re=xfx_5770-_-14-150-447-_-Product

 

[xrome]

So are the cooling systems of the card like your usually cooler and louder than one like this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150462&cm_re=xfx_5770-_-14-150-462-_-Product

Just odd because I'm running this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130433&cm_re=xevga_260-_-14-130-433-_-Product

and it's whisper quiet at 40%. Can't hear it at all...

the MSI 5770, like i said, is loud enough to hear over both computers at 35%.

 

[mr2shim]

I'm not sure. I've heard the Sapphire Vapor-X has the best cooling and is the quietest of the 5770 cards. I liked the reference design, so that's why I went with the 5770 I have. I don't really like that design.

Which MSI do you have? The one with dual fans?

 

[xrome]

i have this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127484&cm_re=msi_5770-_-14-127-484-_-Product&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

 

[builderbobftw]

I'm not sure. I've heard the Sapphire Vapor-X has the best cooling and is the quietest of the 5770 cards. I liked the reference design, so that's why I went with the 5770 I have. I don't really like that design.

Which MSI do you have? The one with dual fans?

ASUS Dark Knight cooler>Vapor X.

I don't know if they made a 5770 one yet.

 

[xrome]

So, no one thinks a 9800 GTX+ for $85 is a good plan?
No one thinks $99 for a GTS 250 1GB is a good idea?

I've tried to make the gaming usage clear. She will probably be playing 1 game at a time, and keeps coming back to saying "If it will play dragon age maxed, then thats great."

Think there will be any immediate response from ATI in terms of price cuts big rebates on 5770's?

 

[builderbobftw]

Just stick to the 5770 like everyone in the thread said.

 

[mr2shim]

Yea, just stick to the 5770. The other cards are so old. It would be a waste of money, the difference will probably make you regret not sticking with the 5770. I was just playing dirt 2 with everything maxed out x8 AA on my 19" widescreen lowest frame I seen with FRAPS was 48, highest was around 65. That's plenty enough for most people. Unless you're insane and think you can see more than 35 frames per second.

 

[iggybeans]

Absolutely wouldn't consider the step down to either of the Nvidia based models you mentioned.
I don't think you'd be impressed after the 5770, they'd be too close to the performance of your original video card.

 

[builderbobftw]

Yea, just stick to the 5770. The other cards are so old. It would be a waste of money, the difference will probably make you regret not sticking with the 5770. I was just playing dirt 2 with everything maxed out x8 AA on my 19" widescreen lowest frame I seen with FRAPS was 48, highest was around 65. That's plenty enough for most people. Unless you're insane and think you can see more than 35 frames per second.

The human eye can detect only 24 frames per second. However, even up to 60, more frames reduces jitters, and lessen the distance things move per frame, so even at 30+ you can sometimes see a difference in the distance things move per frame.

 

[xrome]

Just stick to the 5770 like everyone in the thread said.

Actually, until you typed that, no one said definitively to stick to the 5770

Thanks for the thoughts all.

Last 2 things then:

1.) Does NewEgg actually charge the 15% restocking fee? I'd never even heard of it so I assume they don't actually charge it?
2.) Worth waiting an extra week or so then?... in hopes of some type of price cut on the 5770 because of NVidia finally getting back in the game?

 

[builderbobftw]

1.) No, they try not to piss of customer's.

2.) RMA is a replacement, not a refund right?