EVGA GTX 285 Hydro Copper - Is this a joke or what?

[Waterlogged]

Nowhere do they mention that it isn't possible to use 1/2" fittings and that this Innovatek cooler isn't designed to use with a 1/2" setup.

Nowhere do they mention that it isn't possible to connect the fittings on the top side or connect it to use it for SLI.


On some retailers website you do see a picture of the graphics card with the Innovatek cooler. You only see a picture of the bottom side of the graphics card with the fittings screwed in.

The only information about this product that they gave me that I can find on the website of EVGA is a PDF of the Part Number 01G-P3-1290-ER with a picture of the bottom side of the graphics card.


If you look at the website of MPL you can still find the information of the EVGA GTX Hydro Copper with the same graphics card and cooler that you can find on the website of EVGA.

Nobody ever told them that this product isn't the same as what they show on their website and what they think they are selling.

*sigh*

. . .because they reserve the right to change product specifications (for better or worse) without any prior notification. This means they don't have to tell a single living soul that the product on their site "may" be different than shown. Again, it's always in the fine print somewhere to cover their asses in situations like this.

[Alien Grey]

Here's what makes this case so difficult.

If the EU law sees the blocked inlet and outlet as a hidden defect, it gives every citizen in Europe the right to bring his EVGA GTX 285 Hydro Copper that came with an Innovatek cooler back to his retailer and ask for a full refund or his graphics card to be replaced, whenever he wants to do that.


And than EVGA is going to be in a lot of .

[ChielScape]

It may be a lot less hassle if you sell the block on ebay, kapaza.be or tweedehands.be, and then just buy an EK block.

[Alien Grey]

It may be a lot less hassle if you sell the block on ebay, kapaza.be or tweedehands.be, and then just buy an EK block.

This isn't possible. You can't use a different cooler on that graphics card. I don't think that it's a Nvidia reference design.

So you can't sell the Innovatek cooler because it won't fit on a different graphics card. These are especially designed for EVGA but someone screwed it up. This can be Innovatek but I think it's EVGA because if it was Innovatek they would have to replace the inlet and outlet so it extends further on the graphics card.

[Equinediver]

I have 2 of the HC's for the 285FTW. I bought the blocks separately from the cards though. Looking at your pictures it seems that you have the 2nd rev of the 285, I am pretty sure in thinking they didn't even make a backplate for the original 285's, one of the screw holes is in a different place. Also, I don't think EVGA offered a block for the 2nd revisions.

Pity you never got your card fired up, as I very much doubt it had the 720Mhz clock speed! Anyways, that definately isn't the block EVGA used for the rev 1 285's.

I smell a rat, and that rat looks like your vendor, or whoever they buy their EVGA products from.

[Alien Grey]

I smell a rat, and that rat looks like your vendor, or whoever they buy their EVGA products from.

The rat that you smell is definately EVGA because the Part Number 01G-P3-1290-ER is listed on their website and the graphics card has the Innovatek cooler.

[CyberDruid]

By now I think I would have gotten whatever card I wanted and written off the other as a loss. The time this has taken is way too aggravating.

[Waterlogged]

The rat that you smell is definately EVGA because the Part Number 01G-P3-1290-ER is listed on their website and the graphics card has the Innovatek cooler.

Poking through the options available at that link I had a thought. I opened all the 01G-P3-1290-** PDF's and after careful inspection, came to the conclusion that anything ending in ER is for European Retail and anything ending in AR is American Retail. Maybe if you specify that you want a AR, things "might" get settled to your satisfaction.

[Alien Grey]

Looking at your pictures it seems that you have the 2nd rev of the 285, I am pretty sure in thinking they didn't even make a backplate for the original 285's, one of the screw holes is in a different place. Also, I don't think EVGA offered a block for the 2nd revisions.

This is what I could see: EVGA EV10834 REV:1.1

[Equinediver]

That must be a block just for the European market, as this is the one I've got http://www.evga.com/products/moreInf...1&family=Hydro Copper Waterblocks.

It seems sadly, that EVGA in Europe is nowhere near the company it is over here. Even reading their forums one often comes across people having issues with them.

I've never bought anything with the block already in situ, as I like to be able to revert back to stock if necessary.

[Alien Grey]

By now I think I would have gotten whatever card I wanted and written off the other as a loss. The time this has taken is way too aggravating.

I did that but I didn't get an answer on my question from EVGA. All that they were saying is that it's possible to use 1/2" fittings, witch I doubt it is, and that they could send those to me.

So I said "no thank you" because I don't want that graphics card with the Innovatek cooler.

Poking through the options available at that link I had a thought. I opened all the 01G-P3-1290-** PDF's and after careful inspection, came to the conclusion that anything ending in ER is for European Retail and anything ending in AR is American Retail. Maybe if you specify that you want a AR, things "might" get settled to your satisfaction.

You are right. You have ER (European), AR (American) and BR (Complete computer systems).

I did say to the guy that I want an AR version but he never said that this could be done.

[ChielScape]

This isn't possible. You can't use a different cooler on that graphics card. I don't think that it's a Nvidia reference design.

So you can't sell the Innovatek cooler because it won't fit on a different graphics card. These are especially designed for EVGA but someone screwed it up. This can be Innovatek but I think it's EVGA because if it was Innovatek they would have to replace the inlet and outlet so it extends further on the graphics card.

i believe eVGA also sells the HC blocks seperately, so if you're sure its the eVGA PCB... take that instead of the EK.

[Alien Grey]

That must be a block just for the European market, as this is the one I've got http://www.evga.com/products/moreInf...1&family=Hydro Copper Waterblocks.

It seems sadly, that EVGA in Europe is nowhere near the company it is over here. Even reading their forums one often comes across people having issues with them.

I've never bought anything with the block already in situ, as I like to be able to revert back to stock if necessary.

I know but with all these GTX 285 revisions you can end up with a graphics card that isn't compatible with a full coverage block and I don't think that you can send it back for that reason.

[Alien Grey]

i believe eVGA also sells the HC blocks seperately, so if you're sure its the eVGA PCB... take that instead of the EK.

Yes, they do but it won't fit on that graphics card.

[ChielScape]

a universal block will always work in the worst case scenario.

[Alien Grey]

a universal block will always work in the worst case scenario.

You are right. I've got a graphics card with a MCW60 so why did I even bother to buy one with a full coverage block.


I hardly ever game. The only reason that I buy a new graphics card is to have a full coverage block so a universal block isn't really an option.

[Equinediver]

Yes, they do but it won't fit on that graphics card.

That's why I said I doubted it was the 720 Mhz card, as that has been discontinued for quite a while. I was looking for a 3rd one a while back and drew a blank.

If you plan to go down the route of getting your own block, you have to check the revision of your PCB. It would be great if it is a rev 1, as I think they are way better cards

[Alien Grey]

There's still isn't a solution for my problem with the EVGA GTX 285 Hydro Copper.

The distributor and EVGA don't want to replace the graphics card. They're saying that a soaked card isn't worth a RMA and they don't see any other problems that doesn't meet the specs like what you can find on their website.

The whole EVGA support is just a joke.


I wonder what would happen if there was something wrong with the card after I used it and send them a soaked card for RMA?

Do you think that they still wouldn't find that a problem and that the soaked card would still be covered for warranty?



It's starting to piss me off and I just want a full refund and that's what my seller is going to do at the end of the week if there's still no solution.

[ChielScape]

yeah, just get that refund, and buy a 5870, and an EK block seperately.

[DeathWalking]

*sigh*

. . .because they reserve the right to change product specifications (for better or worse) without any prior notification. This means they don't have to tell a single living soul that the product on their site "may" be different than shown. Again, it's always in the fine print somewhere to cover their asses in situations like this.

Everyone has that in their fine print, but it's pretty much always overturned as unenforceable in a court of law. Same as parking lots that say they're not liable for damage to your car -- they say that so you don't sue them, but if you do, the judge almost always rules that disclaimer of liability to be null and void.

[Alien Grey]

If there's one thing that I learned from all of this it's that you have to ask the P/N to EVGA before you buy anything. Because if I would have done that and look for the pdf of that P/N I should have known that it's not what I expected it to be

That's the kind of bull they tell me.


I could have known that it would be a different cooler but nowhere do they mention that it's impossible to connect a 1/2" setup to that cooler and that you can't use the top inlet and outlet in that pdf.


The distributor said that I should be glad that the card was a bit wet because with that I actually know that it's been tested.

What's the next thing that they're going to say? Are they going to say that it's Swiftech that is to blame because they shouldn't have sold me a 1/2" watercooling setup because all their calculations for optimal flow and pressure are wrong?

[Alien Grey]

Everyone has that in their fine print, but it's pretty much always overturned as unenforceable in a court of law. Same as parking lots that say they're not liable for damage to your car -- they say that so you don't sue them, but if you do, the judge almost always rules that disclaimer of liability to be null and void.

You're right because that's probably the next thing that's going to happen when MPL gives me the refund.

David from MPL told them that he's going to take "further steps".

If I understand this correctly I think he means that they're going to court with all the information that they've got or at least contact their lawer to see what can be done.

[Roger_D25]

What a total bummer A-Grey, it really sucks that you have had to deal with all this crap over a graphics card! I really thought eVGA would come through and support you (the customer) despite all the fine print, it doesn't make any sense that their so unwilling to make this right? I have truly had nothing but excellent service from them, from regular customer service inquires to cross-shipping RMA's? I'm just thankful that at the very least you'll be getting a refund, after all the crap they have put you through its probably best to get another card from another vendor anyway? Please continue to keep us posted if you would on this because its not over yet, thanks A-Grey!

[Sadasius]

Damn that sucks.....No eVGA GPU's...Check! I went through something similar with XFX. I can understand your frustration.

[ohms]

I had 1 bad experience with eVGA and it the whole experience pretty much turned me off to them and I have never purchased another one of their products since.

I had purchased the 8800 GTX Superclocked Edition AC-3 and within a year of having it the card died so I go to get an RMA and then I'm told that I had to register the card on the website within 30 days of purchasing the card to get the warranty. So I look all over the box to see where it states that I had to do this, nothing on the outside of the box, nothing in the manual, nothing on any of paperwork inside. You know where I found it? On the inside of the flap of the box in small faded blue lettering.

I don't know what kinda shady non sense that was but that was the first and last time I ever bought an eVGA product.

I don't know what other peoples experience with them has been but that was mine, and NEVER again.