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weaz
11-15-2005, 06:36 PM
I've got 2 questions about my current GPU situation. I'll start by explaining the situation:

I have a <2 year old HP PC with a 64-bit AMD processor. I ordered the best GPU they were selling at the time (an ATI Radeon 9800, might have been a Pro), and I was happy with it. I was able to play all of my games (Morrowind, Neverwinter Nights, Vice City, Sims 2) at fairly high graphics settings with no real problems. Then my GPU "blew out" one day while the machine was still under warranty. HP sent me out a new card, which I assumed would be the same thing, I popped it in. I was just usnig basic Windows programs and not playing any games, and everything was butter. Then about 2 months ago, I tried to play one of my games for the first time in months, and the trouble began. Games would barely run with the settings turned up. I turned the res and detail and whatnot down, and I was still seeing random polygons appearing and disappearing during gameplay. Worse, I was getting all sorts of audio interference, mostly pops and hisses, during gameplay. It turns out that what HP sent me was an ASUS GeForce 5700LE. I tried out all sorts of different drivers for it, but nothing has resolved my problems. I called HP, and they said that as long as I was running fine in Windows, they didn't care and that the new card they had sent me was "comparable".

So, my 2 questions are:

1. IS this card really just a piece of garbage? I've tried drivers from both nVidia and ASUS, and nothing helps. Is there anything else I can try?

2. Is there any way I can get HP to send me a better card? I am very frustrated dealing with the standard telephone support. Are there any better ways to contact that organization to get my issue resolved?


Thanks for any help/advice you can offer...

If I can't work out either of those options, I'll probably just end up buying a 6600GT or x800 GTO.
Mike
11-16-2005, 02:31 AM
Even if we assume you had the 9800 and not the 9800 pro, as you can see in the comparison below, the 5700LE is absolutely, under no circumstances a "comparable" card.

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=33&card2=167

If I were you I would call them back and rake them over the coals till they gave you a proper replacement.
brightblack
11-16-2005, 02:52 AM
Hi. I am no expert as you'd see from any of my other posts, but a quick compare on the GPUReview site of those two cards, here:

9800 Pro vs 5700LE (http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=167&card2=31)

The 5700LE sucks in comparison.

I have a 9800 Pro now, and as I'll be upgrading in Dec/Jan., I'll be looking at going to a 6800GS in a PCIe. I'm guessing yours is a AGP board right?

Personally, I'd fight HP on it...of course the comparitive nature is valid, otherwise there'd be no reason to sell high spec machines!
brightblack
11-16-2005, 02:54 AM
Ha! I didnt refresh my page for 20mins before posting...and I probably got it wrong.
weaz
11-18-2005, 01:24 AM
Thanks for the advice, guys. HP is telling me that since my warranty expired between the time that they sent me the 5700 and now, they aren't going to replace anything. Sadly, it took me awhile to realize that the 5700 was garbage by comparison, and now I guess I'm screwed because of it. They're also telling me that both video cards have 128MB RAM, so they are comparable. I actually linked them to the comparison on this site, and they fell back on their warranty excuse.

Very frustrating. I guess I'll just keep calling them until I get somebody that will do something about it.
Mike
11-18-2005, 07:13 AM
Thanks for the advice, guys. HP is telling me that since my warranty expired between the time that they sent me the 5700 and now, they aren't going to replace anything. Sadly, it took me awhile to realize that the 5700 was garbage by comparison, and now I guess I'm screwed because of it. They're also telling me that both video cards have 128MB RAM, so they are comparable. I actually linked them to the comparison on this site, and they fell back on their warranty excuse.

Very frustrating. I guess I'll just keep calling them until I get somebody that will do something about it.

You tell them that the amount of ram has absolutely NOTHING TO FUCKING DO WITH PERFORMANCE and that anyone that thinks that has no business working with computers. They lied to you, they cheated you, and now they're trying to weasel out of it. Tell them you want to talk to their manager, and that you're going to report them to the better business bureau.
phranq
11-22-2005, 03:52 AM
Not to be the antagonist...but how did you not realize you had a 5700LE for so long? You had to install different drivers. On the other hand... 9800(pro or not) smokes the 5700LE.
weaz
11-25-2005, 04:11 PM
Not to be the antagonist...but how did you not realize you had a 5700LE for so long? You had to install different drivers. On the other hand... 9800(pro or not) smokes the 5700LE.

I realized that they had given me a 5700, but I expected that it was a comparable card (I'm not really into the whole GPU scene, so I really had no idea). I didn't have any reason to think they'd be trying to screw me, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt and went about my business. It wasn't until a few months later that I got around to playing some games and noticing how terrible it was that I did a little research and realized that they'd pretty much screwed me with a lesser card.