The article says what you're saying, but in addition to no longer receiving better treatment, they won't be able to sell cards in Europe too. It's a rumor, of course.
If Nvidia does remove XFX from their list of "approved manufactures" this doesn't mean that XFX will stop selling nvidia cards.
If simply means that XFX will no longer get chips directly from nvidia, it's a simple business decision on XFX's side if the rumour is true, cheaper prices, or "approved manufacture"?
Nv sells chips at a price according to the quantity that you order (larger quantity, cheaper per unit price), buying directly also means you can be listed as an approved manufacture, which means free advertising.
However, let's say XFX is only capable of selling 1,000 units so buy 1,000 units at a unit price of USD27, but another manufacture sells 9,000 units, and buys 9,000 units from Nvidia at USD24, picks up XFX needed quantity and negotiates with nvidia to a unit price of USD23.5, then sells back chips to XFX at USD25.
Both parties gain from the deal, and nvidia doesn't loss one brand selling the products, sounds more like reality?
Meh.. nVidia is doing a lot of talk and no goods to show for it..
Many brands offer both nVidia and ATi products.. so why slap them in the face..? The only thing that worries me if they actually deny them to sell any nVidia based cards in Europe is that other brands can up their price due to lack of competition..
And this accomplishes...?
Wht happened to gainward??
You had problems with GTX 280's too?
My guess is that nVidia have removed XFX from their preferred partners list, (this does not mean that they would not be making nVIdia cards).
However my other guess is that XFX's nVidia operation in Europe has folded rather like BFG :(
I have heard that eVGA are struggling somewhat in Europe too... so they might be the next to go.
However things in the USA for eVGA, BFG etc will remain unchanged.
John
So wait,
nvidia are stopping XFX and visiontek selling Fermi's in Europe because they sell ATi cards,
so basically they're saying we want less sales and if ATi is better then XFX and visiontek get more sales.
Palit or POV are both pretty decent to deal with. No need to buy EVGA, etc cards if you plan on overclocking them yourself anyway. EVGA/XFX/etc are nice for pre-overclocked hardware, but if you flash bios/etc yourself just pick up any vanilla reference card from Palit or POV and save yourself some money. I've had good luck with Palit's binning so far, never a DOA card.
I'd really hope that BFG doesn't completely pull out of Europe, as far as I know they pulled their RMA service already.
Also XFX has been pretty good to me with my ATI cards, and other than them Saphire is really the only other worthwhile ATI seller.
I just wished an ATI partner would also offer warranty services like EVGA or BFG.
Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that XFX still seem to be one of Nvidias solid partners, we've gotten trust worthy information that says there even working on Fermi designs at the moment so seems like a false alarm so far.
- XFX still a close partner to NVIDIA (Source: NordicHardware)
I'm not surprised, BFG could in the same rope if they start selling ATi :rofl:
BFG have pulled out of the European market, this is a fact! Some people are hinting that if the Fermi is a success they MAY return later in the year.
The RMA's are still going (I think and hope) as I have a GTX 285 OCX at RMA and apparently a replacement card was shipped out to me today. So rest assured RMA's are still going on in Europe.
I linked above the statement issued by a proprietor of one of the UK's largest e-tailers saying that BFG have pulled out of the EU market. He hinted that eVGA might be next too as apparently they are not getting things in, in large volume anymore.
Whatever happens to XFX remains to be seen, however I can tell you that XFX nVidia cards appear to noticeable by their absence at e-tailers.
John
That's horrible news, I only ever bought BFG for Nvidia in Europe, so with them gone and hints of eVGA leaving also, it's bad news.
At least for something we have good laws here. The reclaim has nothing to do with manufacturer if you haven't bought it directly from him. It's reseller's problem, he does the manufacturer's own RMA process. The best shop here around usually change you the bad component up to a week (if they have it on stock at the store, they change it that day) :)
It's good since these brand things pass you. You just take the cheapest reference model (or another one if you want something special) and are happy :D
As for BFG, they were usually one of the more expensive players offering nothing extra. Can someone explain me why are you all so exited out of them? I personally did not have any reason to buy BFG or even to suggest somebody anything from BFG :shrug:
Indeed it is bad news. According to Overclockers UK it is because BFG and eVGA did not make bucket loads of cheep as chips cards marketed at the entry level (e.g. your 9400 series cards and bellow and the GT210 etc).
If they did.. it could have saved them.
By UK law the e-tailer/retailer is responsible for the first year of any warranty, after that it is up to the manufacturer if they have more than the statutory 12months.
I am hoping my replacement GTX 285 arrives tomorrow, I haven't got a tracking number, just an e-mail from the BFG RMA department this morning saying that my card will be shipped out today.
Fingers crossed eh?
XFX's warranty in Europe wasn't very good compared to the USA, I recall that it was a 12month only thing, and then they extended it to 2 years but you had to pay for carriage to Holland? and then that was shipped to the far east. A slow process....
OCZ is the same too, they ship to Holland and then from there it goes from Taiwan.
ASUS the same..
I wish more companies kept the EU stuff in EU (i.e you ship to Holland/Germany etc and it is dealt with there and the replacement shipped back to you.)
John