Bye-Bye 7900GTX, Hello 8800GTS

So one wonderful Saturday morning, I turn on my computer and log into FFXI as usual for Limbus. As soon as I load up into view in Whitegate, I am surrounded by giant artifacts of ill proportions. Seconds later, my baby resets. Uh oh. After a few more attempts, it was obvious enough I couldn't use my PC normally anymore. Thank goodness I have a laptop.

Anyway, for that next whole week, I encountered random reboots, strange BSoD's one after another, ran an insane number of tests (Prime95, memtest, verifier.exe, ...), and updated/experimented with various different drivers that might be related to the problem. After that hellish week, it was safe to conclude I needed a new graphics card.

The first step was to look around and scout out the current market. There were high praises for the 8800GT, but at 200, it was exactly the same specs as my 7900GTX. If I were to spend on a new card anyway, I'd rather have it as an upgrade rather than getting the same thing for something I bought a few years back for 500! The next one that caught my eye was the 8800GTS and it was 250.

The next step was to wait for the perfect timing to buy it - good price (with rebates and whatnot). The price history showed that it dropped a bit earlier that month, meaning I already missed the perfect chance. Feeling a bit depressed, I was discussing it with Mike and he kept urging me to ask about my warranty.

Well I read about the warranty policy a long time ago and I remember reading that the warranty is only valid if it was registered 30 days within purchase. I recalled that I registered past 30 days but didn't realize that my product was actually under the limited lifetime warranty which doesn't have the 30-day registration policy. On top of that, I also had no RMA experience, and the stories I hear of cards being sent over the border are rather frightening.

I decided to take my chances anyways. I sent in a trouble ticket to see how valid my warranty was and indeed I was eligible! After my approval, they sent me the instructions on how to get my stuff sent. The following day, I took my lunch break to get it sent out. I walked a few blocks to a Fedex to find that they only did international express that takes 2-3 days but costs 60+. They pointed me to a Canada Post and got it done there for 25 instead. I didn't want to entrust Canada Post with my beloved card, but I didn't have a choice, as I didn't know where the nearest Purolator was.

So it was dispatched Tuesday, and it arrived in Brea, CA Friday sometime (Canada Post chose not to scan it when they dropped it off, thus the information under the tracking number was never updated after it crossed the border - wtf). As soon as I received the Fedex shipment notification that it was on its way to me that following Monday, I mad refreshed its tracking page all day long, all week. Every new update got me more and more excited.

I knew I wasn't going to be able to get my package from home so I forwarded it to the nearest Fedex drop off location in Downtown. The ETA'd Wednesday rolls around... I was going through my mad refresh ritual until suddenly it said it was ready for pick up at around 10AM. As soon as it hit lunch time, I made my way there by bus there and back (which took a good hour).

Got home and immediately popped in it. No more smokin' hot laps and crap resolution FFXI! It was back to pretty high res and I loved (and still loving) every moment of it! ;_;

First RMA Experience: It was smoother than expected. Had no customs issues, no silly additional duties. The Fedex delivery was quick! Took merely 2 1/2 days to get to me. EVGA was prompt about everything so it was great. It was a worthwhile experience so I'm glad I went with it.