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Buying used graphics cards!

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  • GPUs
  • Amazon
  • Graphics Cards
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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June 9, 2014 5:24:16 AM

So as i was looking for my GPU replacement i noticed on amazon that a 3rd party seller was selling a Gigabyte Radeon R9 290X for 340Usd,that is very cheap compared to the prices this cards is sold at!.

does this seem too suspicious ?,what should i enquirer from the seller such as a receipt,serial number for the card ?,should i ask to see a video of it running ?,And if i do buy it how far does amazon cover me ?.
Did any of you buy used GPUs from 3rd party sellers and if so what was your experience and what do you think about me going with this deal?

More about : buying graphics cards

a b U Graphics card
June 9, 2014 5:44:26 AM

I would get a card new so that you have a warranty and you have peace of mind that it has not been under load before. Re-sellers can really abuse the card then sell it and make quick cash from it.
June 9, 2014 6:51:32 AM

mamamia13 said:
I would get a card new so that you have a warranty and you have peace of mind that it has not been under load before. Re-sellers can really abuse the card then sell it and make quick cash from it.


Very valid ! but what if the photos seem to be okay ?,i am wondering if i could send my emails to amazon and show them that i was promised a unharmed product!

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a b U Graphics card
June 9, 2014 2:08:02 PM

Well amazon won't do crap and if they do, it will take them at least 2 months to get you a new one or they will give you amazon credit. As i said before buy new. The GPU is the most important part of a gaming computer. Without it being functional, you will not be able to game at your expected results.
a b U Graphics card
June 9, 2014 2:12:33 PM

mamamia13 said:
Well amazon won't do crap and if they do, it will take them at least 2 months to get you a new one or they will give you amazon credit. As i said before buy new. The GPU is the most important part of a gaming computer. Without it being functional, you will not be able to game at your expected results.


Although I did buy my graphics card preowned, I was able to run some tests before purchasing it in my local PC shop. I wouldn't buy online unless the seller says that, if anything goes wrong within the warranty period, then they will RMA it for you.

Oh and your GPU is the SECOND most important thing in a gaming PC, behind the PSU. Definitely don't go cheap on that...
June 9, 2014 2:31:50 PM

there are thousands of Radeon Gpus selling on ebay as used. The problem is that, most of them were used for bitcoin mining.

That means that they were kept under 100% load, 24/7, for say, 3 month.

Do a little bit of math. 3 month 24/7 means that they used it like if you had 3hrs of gaming EVERY DAY for 2 year.

Quite a lot.

June 9, 2014 3:06:09 PM

because it was either a used R9 290x gigabyte or the brand new 280x by sapphire with vapor chamber and 3 fans!,would i be able to run games at ultra with the 280x as well as the 290x or the 290x only stretches its legs in high resolution monitors ?
June 9, 2014 3:27:50 PM

With a 280x you will be able to play at very high setting in almost everything at 1920*1080.

Anyway, to have an idea of the performance search some benchmark.

There's a big difference in performance between a 280x and a 290.

But it really depend on what you want, what resolution you play and so on.
June 9, 2014 3:34:48 PM

If I were you, don't get a pre-owned card. Many high end cards that are being sold as "pre-owned" were probably used for bitcoin mining, meaning they were at full load for hours without any rest. So, pretty much, it has very little life left in it.
June 9, 2014 4:00:55 PM

Lets say usually the Resolution in a game is limited by the monitors capabilities!...so which resolutions would i need to be hitting to use the R9 290x capabilities!,i looked at a benchmark for watch dogs and the R9 280x goes unplayable at about 2560×1600,i wont be getting a 2560×1600 monitor any time soon,i might be able to pull a New R9 290x but it would be above my budget and i would need to loose on the ability to get some stuff such as a gaming keyboard,better CPU cooler so on

EDIT:i was able to find a 290x in a good deal! but it is by a 3rd party seller but it is listed as new! is this any different ?
a b U Graphics card
June 10, 2014 12:49:54 AM

FireManDude said:
Lets say usually the Resolution in a game is limited by the monitors capabilities!...so which resolutions would i need to be hitting to use the R9 290x capabilities!,i looked at a benchmark for watch dogs and the R9 280x goes unplayable at about 2560×1600,i wont be getting a 2560×1600 monitor any time soon,i might be able to pull a New R9 290x but it would be above my budget and i would need to loose on the ability to get some stuff such as a gaming keyboard,better CPU cooler so on

EDIT:i was able to find a 290x in a good deal! but it is by a 3rd party seller but it is listed as new! is this any different ?


Contact them and ask if the box is sealed, and ask why it isn't sealed if it's open
June 10, 2014 11:09:41 AM

you have a much greater gap from 280x-->290, than from 290--->290x.

I remember, according to tomshw graphic card of the month, given 100% the 295x2, you're gonna get 59% of it's performance with a 290, and 63% (of the 295x2) with a 290x.

Factory OC cards may change the situation a little bit, but from a pure performance point of view, no big increase, and you're gonna pay (at least in my country 100$ more).

To me, it's not worth (i've just bought a 290 tri-x oc, for example), but that's depend on what you need/whant, and what's your budget.
June 10, 2014 2:33:19 PM

zeroc00l1star said:
you have a much greater gap from 280x-->290, than from 290--->290x.

I remember, according to tomshw graphic card of the month, given 100% the 295x2, you're gonna get 59% of it's performance with a 290, and 63% (of the 295x2) with a 290x.

Factory OC cards may change the situation a little bit, but from a pure performance point of view, no big increase, and you're gonna pay (at least in my country 100$ more).

To me, it's not worth (i've just bought a 290 tri-x oc, for example), but that's depend on what you need/whant, and what's your budget.


they both are options! but i try to understand if the 290/290x offer more than just stability and high frame rate in large resolution!,i am trying to see if it is neccisery for me to go above my budget for those cards or they give me what the 280x can
!