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Anybody bought flashed card from Macvidcards?
- Thread starter cnsla
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I got a 7970 from him and my only complaint is like others -- not so great on the customer service. When the card failed, and I emailed to ask what could be done, the first email I got was brusque and declared that I hadn't bought it from them. I assumed that they'd have a record tied to the eBay transaction number (which I supplied), but they didn't. After I sent a copy of the PayPal transaction the exchanges lightened up. I was annoyed because not long before, MVC had been angry on some thread here when someone called him a liar. And here it was me being called a liar.
But! My warning to people is that if the card fails after 60 days, you're screwed. It's been modded, so the manufacturer isn't going to help. MVC gives 60 days, which is not unreasonable, considering that it's not really their card. And this isn't hidden in any way -- it's all there. Like most of us, I'm so used to having electronics just keep on working, that I didn't worry about it. On the 61st day, I was on my own, and before 6 months had gone by, the card failed, and I was out more than $400.
If I get a new card I'll just get it on the retail market and I won't get it flashed. I have an old 3870 I can use for a bootscreen, and if the new card takes a dump, I'll be protected.
But! My warning to people is that if the card fails after 60 days, you're screwed. It's been modded, so the manufacturer isn't going to help. MVC gives 60 days, which is not unreasonable, considering that it's not really their card. And this isn't hidden in any way -- it's all there. Like most of us, I'm so used to having electronics just keep on working, that I didn't worry about it. On the 61st day, I was on my own, and before 6 months had gone by, the card failed, and I was out more than $400.
If I get a new card I'll just get it on the retail market and I won't get it flashed. I have an old 3870 I can use for a bootscreen, and if the new card takes a dump, I'll be protected.
Ive purchased a GTX 780 from MVC last year, overall i was quite happy with the performance but theres this annoying fan bug which i had to install software for to fix.
If I'm honest the costs wasn't exactly right, I remember having to pay more for a flashed card then i would have had to just buy the card from best buy and have it shipped to him to flash it but oh well.
I also got slammed at customs for over 90 quid but thats more to do with the UKs stupid rates (i personally don't think something being brought in for personal use should have any levy placed upon it but hey ho)
If I'm honest the costs wasn't exactly right, I remember having to pay more for a flashed card then i would have had to just buy the card from best buy and have it shipped to him to flash it but oh well.
I also got slammed at customs for over 90 quid but thats more to do with the UKs stupid rates (i personally don't think something being brought in for personal use should have any levy placed upon it but hey ho)
This thread might be useful relating to fan speeds: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-problems-with-non-apple-video-cards.1685629/
ITs a strange issue all right, its actually the reason that I've just sold 3 of my GTX 680s and replaced them with the 7950 3GB cards. these cards don't cause and fan ramping and essential have the same/similar performance as the 680, also a bit cheaper.
i feel my machines boot a bit quicker now, as the chime happens after about 3 seconds prior being around 6-7 seconds. also not having to wait for Macsfancontrol to load to cease the fans and the buggy nvidia driver is gone as well.
i don't game much on my machines so its no real loss. would be nice to run dual 7950s though.
I, too, have used MacVidCards to flash a Sapphire 7950 Reference Design card for my 2008 Mac Pro, and I am completely satisfied with his flashing price, turn around time, performance of the flashed card and his service overall. I recommend him without any qualms whatsoever. But, I also followed his instructions for including the order paperwork in my package (not a hard thing to do). I know how to follow check lists. 
I used MacVidCards to purchase a 7950. The card arrived one week after order (with express mail shipping). Fast enough, just don't expect Amazon fast even for in stock items. The card works and came with the proper cables. My only concern was communications. I needed to get some idea of when the order would ship to coordinate the overall project I was working on and I also had a question about the card itself. There is no phone number to call and nobody ever returned my emails. So just beware of that. It's probably a small shop trying to juggle many things.
^^^^My communication with him has always been top notch. I to use eMails or PMs. He has always replied.
As far as "Amazon Fast" - Not True UNLESS you have Amazon Prime, which you PAY for. I choose not to pay the Amazon Prime Fee, and when I choose Free Shipping my items can take up to three weeks to arrive - That's not very Fast IMO.
Lou
As far as "Amazon Fast" - Not True UNLESS you have Amazon Prime, which you PAY for. I choose not to pay the Amazon Prime Fee, and when I choose Free Shipping my items can take up to three weeks to arrive - That's not very Fast IMO.
Lou
My communications experience was different from yours. No response to email or PM. As far as Amazon Fast goes there are two components: time to ship and transit time. I paid the for the express mail service. Therefore transit time was fine. It was time to ship that not on par with the Amazons of the world. Like I said overall time to my door was fine for me, but expectation levels are extremely high these days unless otherwise communicated.
I suspect your three week delivery was from an Amazon Marketplace seller, and not Amazon direct. You don't need to be a prime member to get quick delivery. Non-Prime members can get SAME DAY (in select cities) for $9.98 shipping (far less than cost). Anything from Amazon is typically quoted 3-5 days delivery for free (non-Prime) shipping.
I think everyone agrees that the Amazon shipping and delivery model is the one to beat.
Nope, my deliveries from Amazon Marketplace sellers ALWAYS are on time, unless it's a shipment from a Marketplace seller where Amazon handles the shipping. If I buy on Amazon, spend more than $35.00, and choose the Free Shipping option, the shipment never ships before 8 or 10 days have elapsed and then they ship by a slow boat. I have had an occasion where they waited 2 full weeks to ship and then shipped overnight. It's like they are trying to punish those of us who are not Prime Members. I have complained, but it falls on deaf ears.
Lou
This seems pretty anecdotal. amazon has always been top notch for me, about 2 days for dispatch and delivery within a day from then. (not prime) maybe the Royal mail is a bit faster than USPS..
I'm sure it is, Deutsche Post is faster than USPS too, but I think that additional speed comes because of the size of the country.
Update:
Got the card. 3 weeks later. 6 to 8 pin connector is missing! Included mac to 6 pin cables are different color.
Box looks like collected at junkyard. Original card packaging is long gone as it seems.
Card itself looks okay but definitely not 5 days old as should be. Can't connect obviously.
Is it poorly hidden attempt to make me not being able to run the card for 60 days or what.
Not happy. Very very not happy. For $1450 service could be a bit better.
Got the card. 3 weeks later. 6 to 8 pin connector is missing! Included mac to 6 pin cables are different color.
Box looks like collected at junkyard. Original card packaging is long gone as it seems.
Card itself looks okay but definitely not 5 days old as should be. Can't connect obviously.
Is it poorly hidden attempt to make me not being able to run the card for 60 days or what.
Not happy. Very very not happy. For $1450 service could be a bit better.
I would like to point out that the titian x MVC sells is designed to run on 2 6 pin cables he mentions this on his website so please next time read up on what he says on the website before buying a 1.5K card and complain its missing an adapter...
Mate,
1) Card should have this adapter supplied as a part of the package.
2) Card can run on power supplied by those 2x6 pin power points. Means no external PS needed. Still needs 6x8 connector.
3) I paid $1450 to get BRAND NEW flushed card for god's sake. Not off-eBay/OEM/Black market or second hand one. All original packaging and manuals and other stuff gone!
If card he selld is OEM - why not say on his web site?
Agree 100%. I doubt MVC does enough volume to buy OEM direct from manufacturers, so he must source his cards from either retail, or like you said, various other sources. I would feel like you, when paying higher than retail price for a very expensive card, I would expect to receive every single accessory, box and piece of paper that came with the card.
I never understood the pricing there...a Titan X 12GB for $1450 or flashing service for $180. That makes the card value $1270, but you can buy a brand new card for $999 on Amazon (with all new cables and accessories and free shipping). If I were to do this, I would buy direct from Amazon and have Amazon ship it to MVC (for free) and then just have to pay return shipping from MVC. I would expect to receive EVERYTHING that MVC got from Amazon.
Sorry that things are not working out optimally for you.
No the physical connector is fine as long as the power is there. Just plug the 6-pin cable in; 8-pin sockets were designed to physically connect to both 8-pin and 6-pin cables.
Well, MVC's instructions for ordering a flash expect that you include an information sheet so he knows which order it is related to. They probably get all kinds of Amazon packages every day and I certainly wouldn't want my card to be mixed in with that without having the information sheet. It would be like returning a warranty item without including the return slip.
For what it's worth, I ordered my GTX 980 card from Newegg (shipped to me) and ordered the flashing service from MVC. I included the information sheet according to his instructions and shipped it to him. I received everything back in a timely fashion, everything. Even a useless corner piece of marketing material inserted outside of the retail box but underneath its shrink wrap, and even the "remove before use" protective plastic on the card. If it weren't for the removal of the shrinkwrap on the box, I wouldn't know anything had been opened.
^^^^My experience also, except I removed all the superfluous stuff that came with my GTX 780, and I included, along with my check, a personal information sheet. MVC shorts a couple of pins on the 8 pin power connector on the card so it will work with the Macs native 6 pin cables. Actually this was the second card he modified for me, the first was a GTX 570, that now resides in my closet.
Both worked as expected.
Lou
Both worked as expected.
Lou
Spoke to MVC
They keep packaging in case I return the card which makes perfect sense in a way. The packaging they give apparently eco-friendly and recyclable (means plain paper stuff. Cause I support but having such clause would be nice somewhere in a card description.
While connector was not included apparently 2x6 power points is enough to keep the card happy. I will connect and see.
They keep packaging in case I return the card which makes perfect sense in a way. The packaging they give apparently eco-friendly and recyclable (means plain paper stuff
. Cause I support but having such clause would be nice somewhere in a card description.While connector was not included apparently 2x6 power points is enough to keep the card happy. I will connect and see.
There's a surprise! Can be very argumentative and gruff. Plus, he uses this forum as a marketing tool for hacked hardware, which I think diminishes this forum's value.
If you don't see the value in MVC's posts, just put him on ignore list.
BTW, what GPU do you have in your Mac Pro (If you use a Mac Pro at all), if you don't mind asking?
Why is that necessary? Can't you use a mini 6-pin to 8-pin adapter to plug directly into the card without modding the card? Seems modding the card would void the warranty.