Points to look out for when buying used GPU

[Tekongboy]

Hi guys, I'm planning to get my custom desktop within the next few months and I have very little experience building desktop. May I know whether it is typically safe to buy a used GPU from carousell/hardwarezone bazaar? And assuming that I do pursue this route to get my GPU, what are some of the things to look out for when physically checking the GPU or question to raise to the seller?

 

[Koenig168]

Assume that it has been used for mining and always ask for receipt. No receipt means high chance of no warranty.

 

[Phen8210]

Ask for receipt and box, also look for burnt mark and physical damage.
Check the serial number to see if the box, receipt and card tally.

All in all must have local warranty left.

Once u buy the card, be ready to rma it.. these days all those card use for mining r.i.p.

Actually it used to be safe to buy gpus, even when theres no warranty left.. but now all used for mining.. very dangerous if no warranty.

 

[Tekongboy]

I'm assuming that u are suggesting I RMAed straight away after getting it?

On the point of RMA, if the GPU is indeed damaged due to OC/mining, does the company charge us for repairs/replacement? Not sure how the process works and what to expect since I'm technically not the original owner of the receipt.

 

[undead102]

You cannot rma the card unless the card is faulty. So you have to use until it dies then you can rma.

The thing about buying this second hand card is that you have to know that they have are mostly mining cards that run 24/7 on full load everyday at high gpu temp and power. Life span is greatly reduce and could be dying depending on how old the card have been use for mining.

Just be prepare to rma the card when the card die and make sure to do it before the warranty ends. The card should still be working just that it might die in a few months time depending on how heavy it has been use for mining. And when it dies you have to take time off to go rma also. So take note of all this. Personally don't like to buy used 2nd hand mining cards as they can die very fast. You also don't know if they will die just after warranty ends also then is good game.

 

[Tekongboy]

You cannot rma the card unless the card is faulty. So you have to use until it dies then you can rma.

The thing about buying this second hand card is that you have to know that they have are mostly mining cards that run 24/7 on full load everyday at high gpu temp and power. Life span is greatly reduce and could be dying depending on how old the card have been use for mining.

Just be prepare to rma the card when the card die and make sure to do it before the warranty ends. The card should still be working just that it might die in a few months time depending on how heavy it has been use for mining. And when it dies you have to take time off to go rma also. So take note of all this. Personally don't like to buy used 2nd hand mining cards as they can die very fast. You also don't know if they will die just after warranty ends also then is good game.

Icic. Ya I'm just praying that who ever I'm buying the 1080 Ti from is honest about not using it for mining. With the RTX GPU release there are alot of ppl unloading their old 1080Ti to subsidize for their own RTX cards.

 

[Encrypted11]

Nothing wrong with mining card in sg context..
In sg for it to be profitable (used to) at sg kwh and ambients you can't run it at 100% TDP. Depending on what's mined 70% TDP or less is likely. For the same reason apart from Turing launch, SG KWh is already not sustainable for the important CUDA miners with negative return quite recently. In other words, the moment those rigs go online money is lost even when you account for the crypto balance that's not yet sold. Main reason why trucks of 1080 Ti's are appearing on resale market.

And 10 series cards have locked voltages and power limits abit past 1.06v, to won't work without nvidia signed vbios. Current AMD cards on the other hand do accept custom bioses. Gets a lot murkier with the tweaks you're able to do.

Just look at the physical condition of the card. Otherwise, I'd only be concerned with getting used mining cards sourced from regions with cheap/free electricity. That aside, look at the VRM capability of the board. Iirc FE 1080 Ti PCB = Titan X(p) PCB. Also to kiv, FE PCB cards based on anaemic coolers already likely can't cool that much thermal load past stock TDP.

Only concern real concern in local context is just the fan bearing type, what's the rated operating hours its designed for plus board vrm design.

 

[yusoffb01]

always buy with warranty left. ask for receipt.

 

[Ark Law]

No receipt = No warranty = No buy

 

[shadow84]

Make sure receipt shows purchased from a known shop like those in lazada, qoo10, shopee, sls.

 

[Swiftbladez]

I think if no warranty is fine especially if the card series you're getting is two gens and more behind.

what a legit seller will offer is personal warranty to cover DOA. I, myself, also give such guarantee for like 1 - 3 days as I know the card shouldn't have any issues.

 

[Phen8210]

I think if no warranty is fine especially if the card series you're getting is two gens and more behind.

what a legit seller will offer is personal warranty to cover DOA. I, myself, also give such guarantee for like 1 - 3 days as I know the card shouldn't have any issues.

but its not safe, personal warranty cannot be taken seriously.

 

[koicafex]

its up to u honestly, if you trust the seller
if not just buy with warranty or brand new, ezpz

i've sold cards out of warranty before and its fully functional

 

[Tekongboy]

All right thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[Beepok]

Is it possible that a GPU performance maybe affected without any signs of going out? Meaning no pixalletion, testing or blacking out? Temps are 60+ degree but fps from certain games went from 60+ in the past to 20+ now. Or is it other component? Superposition puts it at half of what it's expected to score. Which benchmark uses only GPU and not other aspects like ram, HDD, CPU etc?

 

[undead102]

Is it possible that a GPU performance maybe affected without any signs of going out? Meaning no pixalletion, testing or blacking out? Temps are 60+ degree but fps from certain games went from 60+ in the past to 20+ now. Or is it other component? Superposition puts it at half of what it's expected to score. Which benchmark uses only GPU and not other aspects like ram, HDD, CPU etc?

Could be due to thermal throttling. Could be thermal paste dried up resulting in higher temp and the gpu have to thermal throttle to stay in healthy temp resulting in lower FPS in gaming. Reapply thermal paste will fix the problem.

Or it could be due to dust clog up in fan just clean the dust. Or it could be that you have set a lower gpu temp limit in the msi afterburner settings.

Check also you are not using any FPS limiter software or set your fps limit to 30 or lower in game settings.

 

[msaz]

if you want to take a chance with 2nd hand gpu why not wait a bit more when the rtx 2800 floods the market.
chances are prices of brand new 10xx is going to be quite close judging by how many people sells their 1060 in 2nd Hand now. look especially for overseas retailer like newegg which have clearance discounts every week

 

[Beepok]

Could be due to thermal throttling. Could be thermal paste dried up resulting in higher temp and the gpu have to thermal throttle to stay in healthy temp resulting in lower FPS in gaming. Reapply thermal paste will fix the problem.

Or it could be due to dust clog up in fan just clean the dust. Or it could be that you have set a lower gpu temp limit in the msi afterburner settings.

Check also you are not using any FPS limiter software or set your fps limit to 30 or lower in game settings.

Temps never exceed 65 degree umder stress testings...Could still be die to thermal throttling?

 

[Phen8210]

No, thermal throttling doesnt occur at that range.

 

[undead102]

Thermal throttling can occurs if gpu temp reach around 80+c for some cards and for some other cards it can thermal throttle at 85c. Depending on what gpu you using.

Thermal throttling can also occur at 65c if your gpu temp target is set to 65c. Then it will thermal throttle in order to keep the temperature below 65c.

Have you tried a fresh windows install and check for any background program running in the background?