New Posts All Forums:Forum Nav:

Ok, to buy a used Graphics Card?

Subscribe Search This Thread

« Previous
1
2
Next »

Start a New Thread

post #1 of 19

1/24/11 at 11:12am

Thread Starter

Kasumi
333mhz

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 50
Rep: 0 (Unique: 0)
Select All Posts By This User

I am looking to buy a second 5830 Sapphire Graphics Card and have found a used one for sale.

It is 6 months old/used (about the same amount of time I have had mine for) and costs $100cdn less than the cheapest new one I have found.

I heard not a good thing to buy if the person has overclocked it (mine has not been) and I have asked if it has been, but need to wait for a reply. If it has been Overclocked, can it be un-Overclocked? (yes, I am that much of a Noob)

Getting this would leave me money to get a CPU fan also right away. I would also be buying this from some place just up the street from my work place, so feel abit easier knowing that instead of getting it from someone in another city or something.

Is there anything you can think of I should ask even?

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition 3.2GHz	Gigabyte GA-890XA-UD3 Socket AMD3	Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 5830 1GB GDDR5	8GB: (4x2gb) Corsair XMS3 Dominator DDR3 1600MHz
Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Optical Drive	Cooling
Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB SATAII 7200RPM	Western Digital Green2TB SATA3 6Gb/s 64MB	Pioneer DVR-218LBK (Black) SATA 22x DVD-Writer OEM	Cosair H100
OS	Monitor	Keyboard	Power
Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit	ASUS VW266H 26"	SteelSeries Merc Stealth	Cooler Master Silent Pro M700
Case	Mouse	Mouse Pad
CM Storm Sniper: Black Edition	Logitech Gaming Mouse G700	Razer Destructor Mouse Pad
View all

hide details

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition 3.2GHz	Gigabyte GA-890XA-UD3 Socket AMD3	Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 5830 1GB GDDR5	8GB: (4x2gb) Corsair XMS3 Dominator DDR3 1600MHz
Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Optical Drive	Cooling
Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB SATAII 7200RPM	Western Digital Green2TB SATA3 6Gb/s 64MB	Pioneer DVR-218LBK (Black) SATA 22x DVD-Writer OEM	Cosair H100
OS	Monitor	Keyboard	Power
Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit	ASUS VW266H 26"	SteelSeries Merc Stealth	Cooler Master Silent Pro M700
Case	Mouse	Mouse Pad
CM Storm Sniper: Black Edition	Logitech Gaming Mouse G700	Razer Destructor Mouse Pad
View all

hide details

post #2 of 19

1/24/11 at 11:15am

knoxy_14
4.0ghz

Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 1,804
Rep: 64 (Unique: 62)
Trader Rating: 12
Select All Posts By This User

you could put the clocks back to default but who knows how far hes overclocked it and how long he has had it overclocked and hopefully it was properly cooled

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
I5 2500K	AsRock extreme4 p67	GTX 470 SLI	8gb Gskill
Hard Drive	OS	Monitor	Keyboard
Crucial 128gb,WD black 1tb, Seagate 500gb	windows 7 64 bit Enterprise	U2311H	Razor
Power	Case	Audio	Audio
Antec HCP 1200	Corsair 800D	xonar DX	M-Audio BX5a
View all

hide details

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
I5 2500K	AsRock extreme4 p67	GTX 470 SLI	8gb Gskill
Hard Drive	OS	Monitor	Keyboard
Crucial 128gb,WD black 1tb, Seagate 500gb	windows 7 64 bit Enterprise	U2311H	Razor
Power	Case	Audio	Audio
Antec HCP 1200	Corsair 800D	xonar DX	M-Audio BX5a
View all

hide details

post #3 of 19

1/24/11 at 11:15am

_02
Tick tock, life is gone

Joined: Aug 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 7,700
Select All Posts By This User

Check up on the warranty.

I don't think Sapphire will accept an RMA from someone who purchased the card second hand. Other than that, there is no real way to tell if it has been overclocked besides if it is damaged physically some way.

Overclocking doesn't mean the card is bad, it is just something to be aware of. I have an 8800gt that is perfectly fine that ran overclocked 24/7 for a year. The only way that an overclock would be permanent is if they had flashed the cards BIOS to something else, or modded the hardware physically.

Everything else is a software adjustment that can be undone AFAIK.
Edited by _02 - 1/24/11 at 11:20am

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
Phenom II X3 720 @ 3.5 (1.39v)	Gigabyte GA-MA790XT-UD4P	ASUS 5850 @ 880/1180 (1.118v)	4gb 1333mhz G.Skill DDR3
Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive
64gb Crucial M4 SSD	3x 250gb WD2500JD - RAID0	1tb WD1001FALS	1tb WD10EARS
Optical Drive	Cooling	OS	Monitor
Pioneer DLDVD/CDRW	Arctic Freezer Pro 64	Win 7 64bit Ultimate	E2305 LG 23" LED
Keyboard	Power	Case	Mouse
Filco Majestouch II Ninja Tenkeyless	Fortron BlueStorm II 500w	CM 690II Advanced	Razer DeathAdder
Mouse Pad	Audio	Audio
generic	Echo Miamidi PCI	M-Audio BX5a Studio Monitors
View all

hide details

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
Phenom II X3 720 @ 3.5 (1.39v)	Gigabyte GA-MA790XT-UD4P	ASUS 5850 @ 880/1180 (1.118v)	4gb 1333mhz G.Skill DDR3
Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive
64gb Crucial M4 SSD	3x 250gb WD2500JD - RAID0	1tb WD1001FALS	1tb WD10EARS
Optical Drive	Cooling	OS	Monitor
Pioneer DLDVD/CDRW	Arctic Freezer Pro 64	Win 7 64bit Ultimate	E2305 LG 23" LED
Keyboard	Power	Case	Mouse
Filco Majestouch II Ninja Tenkeyless	Fortron BlueStorm II 500w	CM 690II Advanced	Razer DeathAdder
Mouse Pad	Audio	Audio
generic	Echo Miamidi PCI	M-Audio BX5a Studio Monitors
View all

hide details

post #4 of 19

1/24/11 at 11:15am

MightyMission
4.0ghz

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,561
Rep: 73 (Unique: 57)
Trader Rating: 2
Select All Posts By This User

i wouldn't hesitate if the seller was reputable.
though its probably worth checking if the seller would assist with rma's if the card has been registered

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
Intel Core i5 2500K	Z77E-ITX	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680	G Skill RipJaws X
Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive
OCZ Nocti 120GB mSATA SSD	OCZ Agility 3	OCZ Agility 4	Intenso 256gb sata III
Optical Drive	Cooling	OS	Monitor
Samsung External DVD	Water!	Windows 8 Pro 64bit	Samsung 32" HDTV
Keyboard	Power	Case	Mouse
Dell Multimedia	Cooler Master Elite Power 500W	BitFenix Prodigy (Black)	Tesco cheapy special!
Mouse Pad	Audio
Sky Blue with coffee Stain!	Zotac GTX 680
View all

hide details

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
Intel Core i5 2500K	Z77E-ITX	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680	G Skill RipJaws X
Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive
OCZ Nocti 120GB mSATA SSD	OCZ Agility 3	OCZ Agility 4	Intenso 256gb sata III
Optical Drive	Cooling	OS	Monitor
Samsung External DVD	Water!	Windows 8 Pro 64bit	Samsung 32" HDTV
Keyboard	Power	Case	Mouse
Dell Multimedia	Cooler Master Elite Power 500W	BitFenix Prodigy (Black)	Tesco cheapy special!
Mouse Pad	Audio
Sky Blue with coffee Stain!	Zotac GTX 680
View all

hide details

post #5 of 19

1/24/11 at 11:16am

col musstard
4.0ghz

Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,029
Rep: 66 (Unique: 61)
Trader Rating: 3
Select All Posts By This User

warranty status is what i would be interested in. And overclocking usually isnt harmful unless there was some crazy overclocking

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
i5-2410m	Lenovo	Intel HD 3000	8GB GSkill DDR3
Hard Drive	OS	OS	Monitor
Kingston HyperX	Windows 7	Ubuntu	14" 1600x900
Case
Thinkpad
View all

hide details

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
i5-2410m	Lenovo	Intel HD 3000	8GB GSkill DDR3
Hard Drive	OS	OS	Monitor
Kingston HyperX	Windows 7	Ubuntu	14" 1600x900
Case
Thinkpad
View all

hide details

post #6 of 19

1/24/11 at 11:18am

Clock for Clock
333mhz

Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 84
Rep: 1 (Unique: 1)
Select All Posts By This User

yeah, you should ask, if they overclocked, what speed they set it to, but more importantly what voltages they used, as high voltages are what will degrade any hardware.

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
Intel Core i7 950 @ 4.0 GHz	ASUS Rampage III Formula	XFX Radeon HD 6950 unlock BIOS	6GB Super Talent, 1.6Ghz@ 6-6-6-18
Hard Drive	Optical Drive	OS	Monitor
120GB Intel X25-M + 1TB Caviar Black	is so 00's	Windows 7 Ultimate x64	Dell U2410 + 2X HP ZR24w
Keyboard	Power	Case	Mouse
An old Sony VAIO PS/2 one	Corsair AX750	Lian Li PC-7FNW	A cheap Dell USB one

hide details

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
Intel Core i7 950 @ 4.0 GHz	ASUS Rampage III Formula	XFX Radeon HD 6950 unlock BIOS	6GB Super Talent, 1.6Ghz@ 6-6-6-18
Hard Drive	Optical Drive	OS	Monitor
120GB Intel X25-M + 1TB Caviar Black	is so 00's	Windows 7 Ultimate x64	Dell U2410 + 2X HP ZR24w
Keyboard	Power	Case	Mouse
An old Sony VAIO PS/2 one	Corsair AX750	Lian Li PC-7FNW	A cheap Dell USB one

hide details

post #7 of 19

1/24/11 at 11:26am

scaz

Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posts: 1,046
Rep: 39 (Unique: 39)
Reviews: 1
Trader Rating: 4
Select All Posts By This User

I got a Sapphire card used and then did an RMA with the original receipt from the guy I bought it from and got it fixed, but that is just what happened for me.

I also don't think the OC damages hardware unless the temps get too high.

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
Phenom II 1090	GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3	Crossfired Ref Gigbyte 5850	OCZ 2X2GB 1600 CS7
Hard Drive	OS	Power	Case
corsair x64 + 1tb seagate	Win 7 Pro 64	Corsair 850TX	HAF 932
Mouse
G5
View all

hide details

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
Phenom II 1090	GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3	Crossfired Ref Gigbyte 5850	OCZ 2X2GB 1600 CS7
Hard Drive	OS	Power	Case
corsair x64 + 1tb seagate	Win 7 Pro 64	Corsair 850TX	HAF 932
Mouse
G5
View all

hide details

post #8 of 19

1/24/11 at 11:32am

SgtSpike
8200RPM HDD Overclockz!

Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 7,712
Trader Rating: 10
Select All Posts By This User

If it was overclocked, it will no longer be overclocked when you install it in your machine. The overclock isn't on the card itself, it is done in software.

As long as it still works, I wouldn't have a problem with buying an overclocked card. Tell him in advance you want to see a benchmark running on it (i.e. Vantage) before you buy it. This will ensure it is in good working order before you take it home.

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
Intel i7 950	Gigabyte X58-USB3	8400GS	24GB DDR3 G.Skill Ripjaws
Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive
60GB Mushkin Callisto Deluxe SSD	60GB OCZ Vertex SSD	120GB Mushkin Callisto Deluxe SSD	1TB Western Digital Caviar Green
Hard Drive	Optical Drive	Cooling	OS
1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3	Samsung DVD-Rom	Zalman 9500	Windows Server 2008
Monitor	Keyboard	Power	Case
17" CRT	Compaq	650w Corsair	Lian Li
Mouse	Mouse Pad	Audio	Other
Old Logitech	Allsop	None - audio drivers not installed.	CyberPower 810w UPS
Other
Intel Server-class PCI-e Gigabit Network Card
View all

hide details

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
Intel i7 950	Gigabyte X58-USB3	8400GS	24GB DDR3 G.Skill Ripjaws
Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive
60GB Mushkin Callisto Deluxe SSD	60GB OCZ Vertex SSD	120GB Mushkin Callisto Deluxe SSD	1TB Western Digital Caviar Green
Hard Drive	Optical Drive	Cooling	OS
1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3	Samsung DVD-Rom	Zalman 9500	Windows Server 2008
Monitor	Keyboard	Power	Case
17" CRT	Compaq	650w Corsair	Lian Li
Mouse	Mouse Pad	Audio	Other
Old Logitech	Allsop	None - audio drivers not installed.	CyberPower 810w UPS
Other
Intel Server-class PCI-e Gigabit Network Card
View all

hide details

post #9 of 19

1/24/11 at 11:42am

Thread Starter

Kasumi
333mhz

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 50
Rep: 0 (Unique: 0)
Select All Posts By This User

Ok, well, not sure about being able to check anykind of [reputablitly] as this is off of Craiglist/Kijiji.

If I do get a email back from them (if it is still available) I was ask:

- If it was overclocked if they flashed the cards BIOS when Overclocking.
- What speed they set it to and what voltages they used.
- If they would assist with rma's if the card has been registered.
- If they have the original Reciept.
- And a Benchmark on it.

Thanks guys.

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition 3.2GHz	Gigabyte GA-890XA-UD3 Socket AMD3	Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 5830 1GB GDDR5	8GB: (4x2gb) Corsair XMS3 Dominator DDR3 1600MHz
Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Optical Drive	Cooling
Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB SATAII 7200RPM	Western Digital Green2TB SATA3 6Gb/s 64MB	Pioneer DVR-218LBK (Black) SATA 22x DVD-Writer OEM	Cosair H100
OS	Monitor	Keyboard	Power
Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit	ASUS VW266H 26"	SteelSeries Merc Stealth	Cooler Master Silent Pro M700
Case	Mouse	Mouse Pad
CM Storm Sniper: Black Edition	Logitech Gaming Mouse G700	Razer Destructor Mouse Pad
View all

hide details

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition 3.2GHz	Gigabyte GA-890XA-UD3 Socket AMD3	Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 5830 1GB GDDR5	8GB: (4x2gb) Corsair XMS3 Dominator DDR3 1600MHz
Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Optical Drive	Cooling
Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB SATAII 7200RPM	Western Digital Green2TB SATA3 6Gb/s 64MB	Pioneer DVR-218LBK (Black) SATA 22x DVD-Writer OEM	Cosair H100
OS	Monitor	Keyboard	Power
Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit	ASUS VW266H 26"	SteelSeries Merc Stealth	Cooler Master Silent Pro M700
Case	Mouse	Mouse Pad
CM Storm Sniper: Black Edition	Logitech Gaming Mouse G700	Razer Destructor Mouse Pad
View all

hide details

post #10 of 19

1/24/11 at 11:45am

SgtSpike
8200RPM HDD Overclockz!

Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 7,712
Trader Rating: 10
Select All Posts By This User

I wouldn't ask to see a benchmark score - just have him run a benchmark after you get to his place to buy it (assuming you go to his house to buy it). That's the only way to protect yourself from a dead card - ensure that it is working at the very moment you buy it. If you just ask for a benchmark result, he could be lying, copy/pasting someone else's score from the internet, or it might have been taken earlier, but now the card doesn't work.

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
Intel i7 950	Gigabyte X58-USB3	8400GS	24GB DDR3 G.Skill Ripjaws
Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive
60GB Mushkin Callisto Deluxe SSD	60GB OCZ Vertex SSD	120GB Mushkin Callisto Deluxe SSD	1TB Western Digital Caviar Green
Hard Drive	Optical Drive	Cooling	OS
1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3	Samsung DVD-Rom	Zalman 9500	Windows Server 2008
Monitor	Keyboard	Power	Case
17" CRT	Compaq	650w Corsair	Lian Li
Mouse	Mouse Pad	Audio	Other
Old Logitech	Allsop	None - audio drivers not installed.	CyberPower 810w UPS
Other
Intel Server-class PCI-e Gigabit Network Card
View all

hide details

CPU	Motherboard	Graphics	RAM
Intel i7 950	Gigabyte X58-USB3	8400GS	24GB DDR3 G.Skill Ripjaws
Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive	Hard Drive
60GB Mushkin Callisto Deluxe SSD	60GB OCZ Vertex SSD	120GB Mushkin Callisto Deluxe SSD	1TB Western Digital Caviar Green
Hard Drive	Optical Drive	Cooling	OS
1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3	Samsung DVD-Rom	Zalman 9500	Windows Server 2008
Monitor	Keyboard	Power	Case
17" CRT	Compaq	650w Corsair	Lian Li
Mouse	Mouse Pad	Audio	Other
Old Logitech	Allsop	None - audio drivers not installed.	CyberPower 810w UPS
Other
Intel Server-class PCI-e Gigabit Network Card
View all

hide details

« Previous
1
2
Next »

Start a New Thread

Subscribe Search This Thread

New Posts All Forums:Forum Nav:

Return Home

Back to Forum: Graphics Cards - General

Forums
Graphics Cards
Graphics Cards - General
Ok, to buy a used Graphics Card?

I wrote the initial info for this case, so that's pretty much my review. Compared to the TT Command Snow I just evaluated, if THIS case was ATX sized, I would rather buy this case than the TT...

Overall, I'd recommend passing on buying this unless you're at the store and it's the cheapest one you like. I'm more impressed by the quality of the generic Apex TX521 that Tiger Direct likes to...

Picked these up for my TRON Legacy theme build. Got the optional light bar upgrade kit(s). Note, for a quad channel package you will need two light bar kits as each covers two sticks. No issues...

I honestly love this cooler, but I think I'm gonna move on to another one soon, it just looks... A bit to bland compared to other flaming red (literally) coolers on the market.

Metro 2033 is one of the greatest FPS games ever made. Although not usually recognized as such, due to the horrible state the gaming industry is in, it succeeds largely on its storytelling,...

Recent Reviews

Ok, to buy a used Graphics Card?

Recent Discussions

Recent Reviews

New Articles

Featured Sponsors

Recent Reviews

Ok, to buy a used Graphics Card?

Recent Discussions

Recent Reviews

New Articles