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Bought a Mac Pro GPU, received an Asus... what the &%$?

GermanyChris said:
Man consumers go to the Apple store and pick a 5770 or a 5870, they pay their 250/450 and walk away knowing they have a supported warrantied card. Some go to ebay to try and save a buck and others still come to forums ad read a big or go over to netkas and read some more. You got it, it works and it's what it says it is.
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The 5770 came with my Mac Pro. The 5870 is the same thing, as it doesn't offer two dual-link DVI outputs, which is what I need. The mini display port to dual dvi adaptor is a joke, it flickers, never works right. That's why I went looking for a "GTX285 FOR MAC" - I need to drive two HP LP3065 monitors at 2560 resolution.

And you are partially right: I got it, it works. But it is NOT what it says it is. So it is being returned.

Now I am back hunting for a FOR MAC, video card that has two dvi outputs.

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Macsonic said:
Hi MacProFreak,

You can try checking this eBay seller who sells an EVGA GTX285 HERE

I bought a GTX285 from this same seller months back and works fine. It's categorized as a used second hand card. Boots with the gray apple logo on start up.
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Does this card have two dual link DVI outputs? I wrote to the seller but no answer yet.
 
MacProFreak said:
Yes, but the listing is insidious in many other ways:

1) No picture of the actual card being sold
2) No mention of it being re-flashed
3) Picture used is not representative of the item that is described

How does a person at a consumer level (non-geek) will not be fooled by a listing that OMITS information? Anyways, all this is beyond the point right now because this Asus Matrix is too noisy for me, so back to where it came from it will go.

If you are reading this as a consumer that has not much experience in hardware details, I hope this thread serves as a good warning, just be careful with unclear, unethical sellers out there. Like I've mentioned before, if I was the seller, I would have explicitly mentioned everything about the item. It's a matter of ethics and honesty. This seller not only lost me as a customer, he'll probably won't get too many others that will be fortunate enough to learn with my experience by reading through this thread.
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Habitually, I try to send an inquiry to the eBay seller before making any purchase specially if the seller is using a stock photo. From there I observe how the seller replies and if adequate information is given. Some sellers don't reply at all and mostly likely I avoid making the purchase. Some sellers posts actual photos of the item and I still clarify. Some sellers don't post all the information and when they reply, they tell you more that was not stated in their ad posting.
 
Buyer Beware

When I was searching ebay for Xeons to upgrade my MP I came across several highly rated sellers that had listings for "Seller Refurbished" Xeons. !?!?!

I'd give a weeks pay to see one of those sellers refurbishing a Xeon. :rolleyes:
 
MacProFreak said:
Does this card have two dual link DVI outputs? I wrote to the seller but no answer yet.
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Hi MacProFreak. Yes the GTX285 has 2 DVi outputs from the seller. It also came with 2 power cables and packed in a box with anti-static wrapping and bouble wrapped. Its quiet and works fine on my Mac Pro 2008 and 2010 5,1. If you sent a message on weekends to the seller, his reply usually comes in Monday. On weekdays he usually replies fast. This seller also sells pre-owned Mac Pros sometimes at good prices. Hope you get to find the card you want.

Here is the actual card I got from the eBay seller:
1P4FBFZ.jpg
 
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Macsonic said:
Hi MacProFreak. Yes the GTX285 has 2 DVi outputs from the seller. It also came with 2 power cables and packed in a box with anti-static wrapping and bouble wrapped. Its quiet and works fine on my Mac Pro 2008 and 2010 5,1. If you sent a message on weekends to the seller, his reply usually comes in Monday. On weekdays he usually replies fast. This seller also sells pre-owned Mac Pros sometimes at good prices. Hope you get to find the card you want.

Here is the actual card I got from the eBay seller:
Image
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LOL are you the seller?... :eek: :p
 
MacProFreak said:
LOL are you the seller?... :eek: :p
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Nope I am not the seller and not in any way connected with the seller. I can send you the invoice of the card I purchased from the seller privately by request. I thought it might be of help to you by posting the photo of the item I got.
 
MacProFreak said:
The 5770 came with my Mac Pro. The 5870 is the same thing, as it doesn't offer two dual-link DVI outputs, which is what I need. The mini display port to dual dvi adaptor is a joke, it flickers, never works right. That's why I went looking for a "GTX285 FOR MAC" - I need to drive two HP LP3065 monitors at 2560 resolution.

And you are partially right: I got it, it works. But it is NOT what it says it is. So it is being returned.

Now I am back hunting for a FOR MAC, video card that has two dvi outputs.

----------





Does this card have two dual link DVI outputs? I wrote to the seller but no answer yet.
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What you need is to power 2 1600p monitors. Because your MDP to dual link sucks doesn't mean they all do. I've had my $100 Apple converter since 2009. and it works just peachy.

Again you didn't go to the one dude you could probably place an custom order with and have a new card and new generation for about the same money.

but please continue looking for a GTX 285 made for Mac.
 
Considering quadro's are normally several thousands and unless you need those specific cards for heavy 3D polygon modelling and such complex computation 3D work tasks. They're in no way meant for any sort of gaming.
 
Badagri said:
Considering quadro's are normally several thousands and unless you need those specific cards for heavy 3D polygon modelling and such complex computation 3D work tasks. They're in no way meant for any sort of gaming.
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Yes, I don't play video games on the computer. It's mostly for audio and video editing and rendering, plus DVD authoring (under OS-X) and trading (under Windows).
 
cyber16 said:
The sellers auction clearly "stated"
Compatible Apple Part Number(s): TW387ZM/A
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That's subtle. Clear would have been stating "modded Asus card". I guess to you that would be overly clear.

MacVidCards said:
The simple fact is, if it weren't for card flashers, there would be 4 or 5 Nvidia cards for Macs, 4 of them out of production.
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I don't think anyone said there shouldn't be flashers. I think they, and you, provide a value service to the Mac community. I don't think that's disputed at all.

GermanyChris said:
it's what it says it is
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I bought a used LG Blu-ray player once. Among other things, the seller listed "LG Remote" as one of things included. When it showed up, the "LG Remote" was for an LG TV and not the Blu-Ray player. It didn't control many critical functions on the Blu-Ray player, like having a button to get to the setup menu.

He used the same excuses some of you guys are using now:
(1) It is exactly what he said it was. An LG remote. True. (2) I should have asked if the LG Remote was for the Blu-Ray player, so it was my fault for not being diligent.

I, on the other hand, think there is a reasonable expectation for both parties that if someone sells an LG Blu-Ray player with an "LG Remote", that the LG remote will control the functions of the device it is included with. Maybe I'm crazy for thinking this.

The seller was so audacious that he filed a complaint that I hadn't left positive feedback even though he sent exactly what he listed. Which is technically true. Keep in mind, I didn't leave negative feedback either; I had left no feedback at all, but that wasn't good enough for him.

Happily even though I never got to tell my side of the story, the dispute resolution folk sided against him after hearing only his side of the story.

This was the second time something like this happened to me. Another seller, based in the USA, selling on the Ebay USA website, to a customer in the USA, sold me a print server with a European power cord. Same excuse. Auction listed that it came with a power cord and technically, yes it did!
 
ActionableMango said:
That's subtle. Clear would have been stating "modded Asus card". I guess to you that would be overly clear.



I don't think anyone said there shouldn't be flashers. I think they, and you, provide a value service to the Mac community. I don't think that's disputed at all.



I bought a used LG Blu-ray player once. Among other things, the seller listed "LG Remote" as one of things included. When it showed up, the "LG Remote" was for an LG TV and not the Blu-Ray player. It didn't control many critical functions on the Blu-Ray player, like having a button to get to the setup menu.

He used the same excuses some of you guys are using now:
(1) It is exactly what he said it was. An LG remote. True. (2) I should have asked if the LG Remote was for the Blu-Ray player, so it was my fault for not being diligent.

I, on the other hand, think there is a reasonable expectation for both parties that if someone sells an LG Blu-Ray player with an "LG Remote", that the LG remote will control the functions of the device it is included with. Maybe I'm crazy for thinking this.

The seller was so audacious that he filed a complaint that I hadn't left positive feedback even though he sent exactly what he listed. Which is technically true. Keep in mind, I didn't leave negative feedback either; I had left no feedback at all, but that wasn't good enough for him.

Happily even though I never got to tell my side of the story, the dispute resolution folk sided against him after hearing only his side of the story.

This was the second time something like this happened to me. Another seller, based in the USA, selling on the Ebay USA website, to a customer in the USA, sold me a print server with a European power cord. Same excuse. Auction listed that it came with a power cord and technically, yes it did!
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My issue is more with the OP than anything else. He wen't looking for a quite a rare and older card and thought he scored one, he read the add and saw what he wanted we all do that. When that happens though we don't go to a related forum a complain we take our lesson and move on.

In the end for me it's the complaint, just email the seller and let them know.

I'm going through the same thing with a RAID card the battery is dead the seller tried to back out with his no return policy I just told him that it was not as described 4 emails later he's finding me a battery. the solution is the seller not this forum.
 
GermanyChris said:
My issue is more with the OP than anything else. He wen't looking for a quite a rare and older card and thought he scored one, he read the add and saw what he wanted we all do that. When that happens though we don't go to a related forum a complain we take our lesson and move on.

In the end for me it's the complaint, just email the seller and let them know.

I'm going through the same thing with a RAID card the battery is dead the seller tried to back out with his no return policy I just told him that it was not as described 4 emails later he's finding me a battery. the solution is the seller not this forum.
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Well I totally disagree with that! People who shorten up on the description and don't disclose all the details are crooks plain and simple. They know it.. or they're so stupid lord knows how they were able to create an auction at all. So there's little doubt that it's purposeful and contrived. Crooks should be publicly outed - not given a pass with silence. And they should be outed in the relative communities affected by their crookery. Additionally if the auction hosting company bares some blame they should be cited for it as well.

Who was it that said: "All that's needed for crooks to prosper is that good men do nothing."

OK, that's paraphrased but it holds its truth! The worst thing we can do when someone gips up is to just "learn a lesson and move on". What would be the lesson be anyway? Don't buy anything on line? Don't use ebay at all? Expect that all our fellows will rip us off at any opportunity? That's not a lesson, that's submission to evil. No way! No thinks!

I only wish there was a single popular website where all such claims and announcements could be posted collectively in addition to community postings such as this one!
 
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Tesselator said:
Well I totally disagree with that! People who shorten up on the description and don't disclose all the details are crooks plain and simple. They know it.. or they're so stupid lord knows how they were able to create an auction at all. So there's little doubt that it's purposeful and contrived. Crooks should be publicly outed - not given a pass with silence. And they should be outed in the relative communities affected by their crookery. Additionally if the auction hosting company bares some blame they should be cited for it as well.

Who was it that said: "All that's needed for crooks to prosper is that good men do nothing."

OK, that's paraphrased but it holds its truth! The worst thing we can do when someone gips up is to just "learn a lesson and move on". What would be the lesson anyway? Don't buy anything on line? Don't use ebay at all? Expect that all our fellows will rip us off at any opportunity? That's not a lesson, that's submission to evil. No way! No thinks!

I only wish there was a single popular website where all such claims and announcements could be posted collectively in addition to community postings such as this one!
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We'll have to agree to disagree then.
 
Most seasoned eBay buyers would have taken note to the description word Compatible and then should have followed up with more questions.
If the OP is not a seasoned buyer, this is just one learning step in becoming.

Indeed yes the seller had several misleading/worded statements within his ad. Yet it IS up to the buyer to 100% know what it is they are purchasing.
It is also always BEST only to communicate via the eBay messaging system. This way all those communications ARE being documented "DON'T DELETE THEM" and eBay/Paypal will include them for review if needed later on during a dispute

ActionableMango said:
That's subtle. Clear would have been stating "modded Asus card". I guess to you that would be overly clear.
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Originally Posted by cyber16
The sellers auction clearly "stated"
Compatible Apple Part Number(s): TW387ZM/A
That's subtle. Clear would have been stating "modded Asus card". I guess to you that would be overly clear.
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Hi, I have an EVGA Mac Pro GTX 285 for sale if you would be interested. It is the PC version that has been "flashed" to Mac. The only difference between this card and the Apple card is the sticker on the font is different.
 
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cyber16 said:
Most seasoned eBay buyers would have taken note to the description word Compatible and then should have followed up with more questions.
If the OP is not a seasoned buyer, this is just one learning step in becoming.

Indeed yes the seller had several misleading/worded statements within his ad. Yet it IS up to the buyer to 100% know what it is they are purchasing.
It is also always BEST only to communicate via the eBay messaging system. This way all those communications ARE being documented "DON'T DELETE THEM" and eBay/Paypal will include them for review if needed later on during a dispute
Click to expand...

Yes I know that, but in this particular case, the listing isn't honest nor ethical, so I received a noisy asus and it got returned already. I have seen other sellers (after this purchase) that state clearly that they are selling a flashed PC card for mac. This seller didn't do that, and I fell for it. Lesson has been learned, but this seller lost me as a customer. Worth it for him? I doubt it. We're at the age of Ethics. Those who don't have it WILL fall, it's just a matter of time. :D :cool: :apple:
 
MacProFreak said:
Yes I know that, but in this particular case, the listing isn't honest nor ethical...
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Yup, folks here showed that he told (was it two or three?) outright bold-faced LIES!

That's not including the fudges and less than forthcoming description either!
 
MacProFreak said:
So... dear Mac experts... Is this completely overpriced, or a good buy?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PNY-nVidia-...894?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item3f2271cc6e
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That is an old card that they haven't sold for some time. Buying that tends to be a bad idea, as it's likely at or nearing the end of official support from NVidia and Apple, especially as the Mac Quadros are a very small market. They're useful in specific applications. If you aren't using 3d apps and choking them due to high poly counts, you lack a reason to even consider one. I guess it would apply with CAD too, but that doesn't seem to be a big Mac market.

cyber16 said:
Most seasoned eBay buyers would have taken note to the description word Compatible and then should have followed up with more questions.
If the OP is not a seasoned buyer, this is just one learning step in becoming.

Indeed yes the seller had several misleading/worded statements within his ad. Yet it IS up to the buyer to 100% know what it is they are purchasing.
It is also always BEST only to communicate via the eBay messaging system. This way all those communications ARE being documented "DON'T DELETE THEM" and eBay/Paypal will include them for review if needed later on during a dispute
Click to expand...

If I actually sold stuff on ebay, I wouldn't count on seasoned buyers. I would specifically state that it's a flashed PC card, but I'd also include that Mac native cards of this model didn't exist. This way random uninformed individuals wouldn't think someone else was selling the real thing rather than a hack.
 
100% agreed in a perfect world.
If that was the case here I'd wager this seller would still be sitting on his card as he will be now, lucky for the OP, and many other sellers like him that attempt to mislead buyers would not be selling nearly as many or for the prices.

Them being the sellers, they want the item sold, usually at any cost.
As the buyer, you need to fully understand what it is you are buying or don't buy.
Sorry to say in this time & age it is the real world approach, now try your perfect world expectations on purchasing a used car, dealer or private party that is right in front of you for a hands on inspection, I once again wager more times than not the sellers will not disclose anything that may hinder his sale or the price, especially if NOT asked.
You MUST ASK to even have a chance within litigation, yet it usually comes down to all sales are final without warranty unless otherwise agreed upon.
Caveat emptor
 
Personally I flash cards for Mac Pro's all the time. However I only do it for AMD based cards such as the ATI 5870 and AMD 6870 for personal use and sometimes to sell. There is nothing wrong or harmful to your system using a flashed card unless it needs more power then the PSU can supply.

The seller should however stated that it was indeed a flashed card.
 
Yeah, the issue here has nothing to do with "perfect world" scenarios. The little jerk lied and cheated - plain and simple.

You can choose to be OK with that like GermanyChris does or you can detest it and alert others when you see it happening.

It's not complex...
 
Tesselator said:
Yeah, the issue here has nothing to do with "perfect world" scenarios. The little jerk lied and cheated - plain and simple.

You can choose to be OK with that like GermanyChris does or you detest it and alert others when you see it happening.

It's not complex...
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LOL..

Remember some of don't see it as that..thats why we think it's OK. If he had sold it as an Apple card I'd have issues and likely report it.
 
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