Got my GPU back from warranty (560ti)....NOT HAPPY

So i made a thread a while back talking about how my GPU all of a sudden booted into 100% fan mode whilst playing skyrim despite temperatures not exceeding 60 degrees clecious at load or 40 degrees celcius at idle. My computer shut off a minute after that happening and whenever i tried to boot my PC with the GPU from then on it would automatically go to 100% fans straight away and nothing would show on the screen. I did all the usual stuff including an entire re stall of windows and I as well as members here determined it was indeed a GPU problem.

So i take my less than 4 month old card into the shop. In email discussions with them I was informed they would test the product themselves, and if they found a problem with it they would send it off to Asus. So a month later it has been to Asus and back and i was told the GPU was in normal working order which is one hell of a contradiction considering, according to the shops policy, they test the products themselves so one can only assume they found a problem with the card . Sceptical i took the card home and tried it out. Now the weird thing is, i had spent almost a week trying to get this card to work, and all of a sudden i put it into my PC and it works. Strange right, I know something must of been done to it yet they passed it off as a fully functioning card which IMO is a straight up lie because the card simply would not boot before i had sent it off. As well at this the fan speed was in check. Great, whatever, it works what do i care right?

Well within an hour, whilst watching some NBA highlights the card boots into 100% fan mode again despite a temperature of 41 degrees. Weird, whatever i kept on browsing until i started smelling the same smell that occurred when it broke in the first place. Something was burning. I immediately turn off my PC, and dismantle my PC to check for burning. Nope, it was definitely a card problem. I put it all back together making sure my wiring is super stringent, this time the PC turned on for 2 seconds then swithed off. From there it would not start at all. So at this point i just started using the onboard video on my mobo which works fine. Before i go to bed i decided to try it one more time.

I put my GPU back in my PC, and as soon as turn it on (it actually booted this time) a big spark flys right out from the side of the card on the MOBO side. Before i had a chance to turn my PC off, something i can only describe as a jet flame was emerging from the place it had just sparked and i could see the bright yellow flame lighting up a large area of the case. Needles too say this scared the absolute bonazas out of me and it scares me even more to think this could of happened whilst the computer was running unmonitored.

I have emailed the shop and told them of the inherent contradiction concerning their policy and Asus's statement that the card is fine. If the card was damaged which I can only assume because of the shops own testing policy, why and how could Asus state the opposite without any concern? I told them there is noway i am putting this card back into my PC repaired or not and that i demand a replacement. Inspecting the card i can see where the damage is, on the side with the two black insulated cables, one of them is very frayed and i assume that was the source of the spark/power surge.

Sorry about the wall of text, anyway the point is do you think my request for a replacement card is reasonable? I have waited over a month for this problem to be rectified only to be told that there is no problem despite an inherent assumption that there is a problem.

You must have a crap power supply.

antec neo eco 520c, never overcloked once or changed voltages, been told many times this would be a suitable PSU for a sinlge 560ti. I run a modest system with a 95w phenom, 1 HD and 1 DVD drive and a couple of case fans. If it is a PSU problem ive dun goof'd. I guess ill go buy another power supply and see if it works.

edit: how does an inadequate PSU cause a GPU to start flaming? I are confused

just put it back in, seems to working ok so far. Sure as hell won't be leaving this thing on over night or when im out of the house tho.

wish i had one or could afford one

I agree test it with a multi-meter if you don't know or care to learn how to use one you shouldn't be working with custom computers period. Heck i know elementary school kids that use multi-meters.

My parents are both engineers and taught me at a very young age to use one. I started with testing batteries and then self taught myself on other things such as current with surge strips.

They are not that expensive either, cheaper than a power supply tester for sure by about 5-10$

Thats awesome Mightymaxio... Good for you.


Good deal mkristian... Yeah, you can get them cheap. The Needle meters as I call them which are non digital can be as low a 5 or 8 bucks.

Sure no prob post back with your results and we will be glad to assist you.

Hey so I have been up all night just learning about voltages and playing the odd game to try out my GPU. So far its working without a hitch but i went ahead and tested some voltages anyway.

I have tested the 5v and 12v rails from a spare molex adapter whilst my PC is running and got 5.12 and 12.28 volts respectively. Is that it? If so does that officially mean my PSU is ok? Or do i have to test out the the 6 pin adapters that plug into my GPU as well?

Still scares me though that something was burning in that GPU, maybe it was some residue or something I have no idea all i know is it works fine atm at very nice temps too.

Did you try cleaning your GPU card since that incident?. If you suspect some residue left, just remove the fan and heatsink which doesn't void your warranty. (Make sure you dont damage the warranty sticker covering the screws or other parts).

One more point is, since you said your are able to boot, goto Bios and there you can check the all voltages that come from PSU. You may not need multimeter in this case. However if your PC does not boot\other such cases, you can use a multimeter then as "biscuitasylum" suggested. But a low quality multimeter will show more variations and results will not be more accurate. Also never attempt to measure the current .

One more, make sure you are always inserting probe into Voltage socket (V Ohm) of a multimeter, not into current (20A\mA) measurement socket. Because in current measurement mode, it will short circuit your PSU lines , so be careful
....Just an advice

And please make yourself seated in a proper ground\conducting material that will ground you, your ESD can still make things worse when you deal with motherboard\other accessories. Also you can discharge yourself first by standing on ground for a moment and step-in.

A low quality multimeter wont fluctuate to a point you wont get a good reading. Ill argue this till the death bed. This isn't the 70's anymore.

With a keen eye, you can average out readings per say a number of times and see what ya get. the average of 5 separate readings should give you a decent average on what its doing.

Quite honestly I would be more concerned with a whole volt over lets say a half a volt.

Hey everyone thanks again for the followup replies. Since that incident my card has worked flawlessly and i just cannot comprehend what caused a flame akin to that of jet lighter to emerge from the side of my card, and even more cannot comprehend how it is not damaged in anyway. Looking at the card there is no damage other than a slightly frayed insulated black tube on one the wires as i stated earlier. I am not complaining however the card is working flawlessly I am very happy.