Don't Buy EVGA SSC Models If You Want Step-Ups and a Lifetime Warranty

[LedHed]

I'm not sure how many of you know this, but as of January 1st of this year if you buy a SSC model from EVGA and you do not pay the extra money for the extended warranty you will not be eligible for the 90 day step-up (or one at all) and your warranty will be cut from lifetime all the way down to 3 years. I was made aware of this by one of my friends who bought a SSC GTX 460 who was going to step up to a GTX 560ti.

Here is the page "explaining" this policy: http://www.evga.com/support/warranty/extended.asp


I for one can not believe EVGA is doing this. People who buy the SSC models are either A. people who don't want to OC cards themselves and depend on the company to do so; or B. are hoping for a cherry chip that will OC beyond a standard chip.


EVGA I have been buying cards from you for I think 8 years and this is the first time I am ashamed to have your name on my card. Keeping the Step-Up and Lifetime Warranty for so long and then suddenly removing for SSC models is appalling. SSC customers are the ones spending the most money and they are trying to spend even more money by stepping up to another card. I have always told forum members and friends that your warranty is the best out there and the increased price of your cards are easily worth it because of this. However now I can't do that anymore and I am going to make sure anyone who ask me at work (Gov't IT Hardware Tech) or socially about what brand to go with that they should call you and make sure you can't back stab them from some random policy change you decided to put in place since the last time I was on your web page.


Most people don't even think there is a difference between a stock card and a SC or SSC model, but boy were we wrong. You must be picking these chips and/or components specifically to OC to these speeds (and it seems you question their lifespan). I just wanted to make this thread so this doesn't happen to anyone else out there. EVGA has always treated me well, especially recently. I just don't know what to say to this. You for sure are letting your customers down who decide to buy your "premium" cards.


Again here is the link: http://www.evga.com/support/warranty/extended.asp




I apologize if this has been posted before.

[zanzabar]

so, if u buy their overpriced non binned oced cards u get less benefits and pay more than the normal cards?


and im only seeing that its the KR cards on your link, and im seeing the sc (i cannot find ssc) on their site and it says limited lifetime like everything else that is not the lowest end.

edit- im seeing a bunch of them have a 2 or 3 but its random, like they want to confuse u.

[Dumo]

Probly crazy amount of rma

[LedHed]

but here is the weird thing EVGA used to cover OCing and even software volt-modding along with HS changes.

[STEvil]

[LedHed]

Zanzabar was correct I wrote this wrong last night. If they were binning the chips then the SC and SSC would have the same warranty. Only if the chips were no different would the warranty be changed due to clock speeds.

So this proves onces and for all SC/SSC chips are no different than stock.

[OC Nub]

It would be hard to buy an SSC card now even if you wanted to. Only SSC model I see is the GTX460SSC, none are available for the 500 series .

[LedHed]

well NVIDIA is starting to produce their own built cards so maybe they aren't allowing OC models anymore, similar to AMD.

[vern]

Nice photo

[zanzabar]

well NVIDIA is starting to produce their own built cards so maybe they aren't allowing OC models anymore, similar to AMD.

the SSC was replaced by the FTW with high end parts

[LedHed]

that has nothing to do with NVIDIA starting to produce their own cards again...

also the only EVGA FTW cards are water cooled with the 400/500 series.

[OC Nub]

EVGA still lists SC, SSC, and FTW cards on the box. I dont think SSC was replaced with FTW, the FTW has the hydrocopper water cooler while the SSC, as I understood it in the past was a higher clocked card with a binned gpu.

Im not sure if other companies are binning gpu's now but I know Gigabytes SOC cards are all binned.

[LedHed]

find a 400/500 series card with the FTW chosen. Just because the name is an option on the box doesn't mean it is being sold. The only 400/500 FTW are water cooled, just try and find one that isn't and you'll see.

[OC Nub]

find a 400/500 series card with the FTW chosen. Just because it is on the box doesn't mean it is being sold. The only 400/500 FTW are water cooled, just try and find one that isn't and you'll see.

Seems you are right, cant find anywhere. Maybe those days are gone

I ordered the asus gtx580 dc2 card, should get it today, gigabyte hasnt released the 580 soc yet. I have never had such a hard time choosing a gfx card before, normally I would just go with the SSC version but I really didnt like anything I had to choose from this time other than the FTW card, but I refuse to pay 699.00 for the FTW.

[LedHed]

The best part is the Good/Better/Best part, the Good and Better don't have a Lifetime Warranty or Step-Up without paying more money. eVGA marketing really has me pissed off lately. (what the whole OP is about)

[zanzabar]

The best part is the Good/Better/Best part, the Good and Better don't have a Lifetime Warranty or Step-Up without paying more money. eVGA marketing really has me pissed off lately. (what the whole OP is about)

the non overclocked has the warranty still and so do the high end overclocked, its just the mid range overclocked that dose not but then some do. so i think that they are just trying to confuse the people who are buying in the lower brackets who wont know any better. and their warranty even if its a 2 year is still the best.

[LedHed]

the best that doesn't allow them to step-up to a better card? Like my friend from a 460 SSC to a 560ti?

Also I don't consider a $225 card to be in the "lower" brackets.

[Wumpus]

EVGA, I am disappoint.

Their warranty stuff is all mixed up now, and if you warranty DOES run out, they tell you to GTFO and wont even fix the card. Not a company I would be willing to buy from...

[LedHed]

Also if you do buy the extended warranty to allow step-up for the SSC cards that require it for step up:

If you choose to Step-Up, the extended warranty will not transfer to the new product.

http://www.evga.com/support/warranty/extended.asp

I guess their awesome warranty/step-up was really putting a dent in their profits. It is sad to see EVGA let their warranty fall to the average ranks instead of being the top when you buy certain OC'd cards.

[LedHed]

I believe this thread should stay on the front page of the NVIDIA section until EVGA changes this or just to warn new guys that are starting the hobby.

[JohnZS]

Remember what happened to BFG?
I think these warranties are sadly no longer cost effective in the current economic climate and may sadly be exploited by OCcers constantly RMA'ing to find a card which Overclocks well.
Such a shame as eVGA were the last brand to offer more than the standard 24month warranty.
Hopefully if the economic climate improves we may see another eVGA of old.
John

[Buckeye]

We also knew about this sometime last year, I can't remember the date tbh

[Bobsama]

Extended warranties are always for additional profits. Its use is more to pay for the item to be examined at the front of the line and shipped with next-day or something. Otherwise, it's used to purchase an insurance policy and the rest becomes profit. On a car, for example, a $2000 Extended Warranty is $1200 towards an insurance policy and $800 pure profit. For a major appliance, a $200 extended warranty is like $80 Insurance and $120 pure profit. The EW margins are slimmer on computer components because it's a niche and most companies will self-insure.

[Kyuusei]

Hold up hold up hold up. As far as I can tell nothing has changed other than the fact that if you have a KR card, you can purchase an extended warranty.

EVGA's warranty policies were never based on card names like "SuperClock" or "FTW". It has always been based on their product code suffixes -KR, -AR, etc. Names can always be and probably have been thrown around on different card series, like a 460 -AR might of been called a SuperClock has a lifetime warranty, but a 560 TI -KR which is also called a SuperClock doesn't.

* All -KR products purchased ON or AFTER January 1st, 2011 include a 3 year limited warranty from the date of purchase. Registration is recommended. Optional Extended Warranty and Step-Up™ eligibility are offered for purchase upon product registration of a -KR part number within 30 days of the purchase date.
* Products purchased ON or AFTER November 1, 2006 MUST be registered within 30 days of the ORIGINAL DATE OF PURCHASE to receive EVGA's Free Extended Warranty. All products not registered within 30 days will ONLY receive a 1 year limited warranty. Refer to the following suffix guide to identify the length of your warranty:
o Limited Lifetime: -A1, -A2, -A3, -A4, -AR, -AX, -CR, -CX, -DX, -FR, -FX, -SG, -SX
o Limited 5 Year: -GR
o Limited 3 Year: -K1, -KR (Before 1/1/11)
o Limited 2 Year: -LA, -LE, -LR, -LX, -T1, -T2, -TR, -TX
o Limited 1 Year: -B1, -BR, -BX, -DR
o Limited 90 Day: -RX (Recertified parts)

So basically, the warranties haven't changed. -KR cards still carry a 3 year warranty. -AR cards still have the lifetime warranty. Only now, you can buy extended warranties for the -KR cards.

Moral of the story? If you want lifetime warranty, don't look for "FTW" "SuperClock" or whatever marketing mumbojumbo naming crap. Pay attention to the product code.

[Telo]

well NVIDIA is starting to produce their own built cards so maybe they aren't allowing OC models anymore, similar to AMD.

When did AMD put this in play? I bought a Black Edition 6870 on 12/30/10, it is overclocked.