Buying used graphics cards: Reddit — Dive into anything

How to Check Used Graphics Card Before Buying?

With the recent GPU shortage coming to an end, the used GPU market is getting more and more popular. You can see loads of scalpers and miners selling old graphic cards for lower prices now. While buying second-hand graphic cards is quite normal and they can withstand a lot of use, you need to know how to pick the right one.

Well thankfully, there are some key identifiers which you can use to tell if a used graphics card could potentially die to save yourself from purchasing a faulty graphics card. In this guide, we’ll show you how to check used graphics card before buying and also give you some advice when buying used graphics cards.

Should You Buy a Used Graphics Card?

Before asking how to check used graphics card before buying, you first need to ask yourself if it’s the right option. Buying anything second-hand has its problems and risks. Obviously, you don’t want to get scammed and sold something that doesn’t work as intended or isn’t in the condition that you wanted. The same is the case with graphic cards.

One of the biggest risks of buying used graphic cards is the possibility that they could’ve been used for mining. Most miners underpower their graphic cards to reduce the cost of their electricity bill so they can run for a longer time. But there are also many short-term miners who overclock their graphic cards and keep them running at high loads constantly. This reduces the lifespan of the graphics card. When these cards are just about dead, the miners sell them. These graphic cards are in very poor condition and could die at any time which is why it’s risky to buy them.

Also, a lot of Chinese manufacturers make copies of popular graphic cards with cheap technology. These are fake graphic cards and are sold in the used PC market. You don’t want to mistake a genuine graphics card with a knockoff Chinese one as those deliver nowhere near the performance. Usually, these kinds of graphics cards are sold for half the price or even less. Although, this is an entirely different debate, buying used graphic cards does include these kinds of risks.

In the end, if you’re out of money and can’t afford a new graphics card, the second-hand graphics card market is your best bet. To help you make your choice and avoid getting scammed, we’ll give you some tips on how to check used graphics card before buying.

What To Look For In a Used Graphics Card

Physical Condition

Moving on to the more technical side of buying used graphic cards, there are some things you have to physically know about when wondering how to check used graphics card before buying. Physical deformities such as rust, corroded colour, broken fans, warped PCBs and more could indicate a lot of problems in the graphics card.

PCB

Warped PCB

PCB is the main circuit board which keeps all the electronic components and chips. PCBs are used in many electronics including the graphics card, RAM and motherboard. Coming back to used graphic cards, the first thing you should check on them is the PCB’s physical condition.

Make sure the PCB isn’t warped or broken. Warped PCBs are mostly caused because of external thermal pads attached to the graphics card. These thermal pads aren’t exactly the right size and hence put pressure on the PCB making it warp over time. But as long as the graphic card works, warped PCBs can be fixed by replacing the old thermal pads with the right size.

PCBs are also damaged because of too much air pressure when cleaning the graphics card. Too much air pressure damages components of the PCB. This results in games crashing, blue screen of death error and other problems related to temperatures.

You can get these PCBs fixed by manufacturers for some change. But, take into account the cost of fixing the graphic card when buying a graphics card with a warped or broken PCB. If you don’t want to put in the extra work, don’t buy these graphic cards.

Capacitors

Broken capacitors

Capacitors are also important to inspect in a used graphics card to make the right choice. These require you to check the graphics card internally and some sellers don’t allow that. If they do allow you to check the capacitors, there are some problems you can check for.

Firstly, you should be on the lookout for any broken or missing capacitors. Among these, cylindrical capacitors are easy to identify because you can see them going bad with time. They can also have any one of the legs pulled out and you can easily see them as well. On the other hand, inductors will have some burn marks if they’re broken up.

Also, a key identifier in cards with LEDs is the red beeping lights that shouldn’t appear at the PCIe connectors. These issues are extremely hard to fix. It is also unlikely that you’d be able to spot these issues because most sellers don’t allow you to open up the card. Small issues with capacitors will downgrade the performance obviously, but you can still run the card and it’ll work mostly fine.

Thermal Paste

Dry thermal paste

The next thing you should probably check in used graphic cards is the thermal paste. You can check a few problems related to thermal paste in used graphic cards.

Many second-hand graphic cards are used for very long periods of time which makes the thermal paste cracked or very dried out. Both idle and stressed temperatures are increased greatly when the thermal paste has gone bad. As you can probably guess, the fix to this problem is to apply a new thermal paste.

Reports from a user say they saw a huge 20°C dip in temperatures once they replaced the old dried-up thermal paste with a new one. So, if you find a graphics card with this problem, you can easily fix it by applying a new thermal paste.

Fans

Dead GPU fans

You won’t find many used graphic cards being sold out there with broken fans. This is because they stand out so much that any potential buyer would ignore a graphics card with a bad fan. It just screams that the graphic card has been dealt a bad hand.

But that’s not always the case. For example, if other parts of the graphics card are mostly well kept, but the fins on one of the fans are broken, you can still get the whole fan replaced very easily. Some common problems with fans include headers not being connected or broken, mistaking stealth operation features with broken fans, and broken blades and bearings.

Most graphic cards being sold right now have stealth operation which has the fans in a stationary position when working idle. However, some people confuse this with the fans being broken or unfunctional. If the fans aren’t moving when heavy gaming, then that should be a concern but otherwise, the fans are probably working fine.

Another problem is broken headers, fins or bearings which can be fixed by replacing the fan entirely. Broken headers are identified by the fan not moving entirely and broken bearings are identified by the sound the fan makes when moving. If you do find a graphics card being sold for low prices with this problem, you can easily take out the fan, find the model and replace it manually.

Heat Pipes

Bad heatsink and heat pipes

The last one on our list is the graphic card’s heat pipes which could be busted after being used for a long time. Heat pipes are used to regulate waste heat out of the graphics card to keep it cool. But after extended use, they can get quite rusty and old.

Heat pipes gather quite a bit of rust and the metallic surface can be seen corroding. This indicates that the graphic card has been handled quite roughly and will probably have issues with temperatures. If this is the case, we’d advise you not to buy the card as it doesn’t have a lot of lifespans left.

Software To Run For Checking Used Graphic Cards

When it comes to the question how to check used graphics card before buying, there is a couple of software that you can run to see what state your used graphics card is in.

Temperatures

Sample Superposition benchmark

The most important thing you need to see in used graphic cards is the temperatures. For this task, software such as FurMark and UNIGINE Superposition is the best. These softwares test your graphics card, power supply and cooler to see how hot the GPU gets when rendering out a 3D scene. There’re a couple of other useful things such as FPS, GPU Usage, TDP and more you can check using these tools.

You can put extreme levels of stress on your graphics card using this software. Running FurMark for too long could even permanently damage your graphics card. Run the 1080p test for 5-10 minutes and it should give you a pretty good idea of the temperatures when the graphics card is working stressfully. You can also use presets to run the test in different resolutions depending on how much load you want to put on the graphics card. Rendering 4K will be much harder for the graphics card than the 1080p. After you get the results, you can compare them with other graphic cards and users.

The same is the case with the Superposition benchmarking tool. You can check your graphic card’s temperatures and performance by rendering out a scene on different resolutions. For simplicity’s sake, use the 1080p preset and let the test complete. After it’s finished, it’ll give your graphics card a score which you can use to compare with other graphic cards online. Some of them will have different configurations so take these results with a grain of salt.

Anywhere between 65°C to 85°C is perfectly normal and you should only be worried if your graphic card exceeds 90°C. If that’s the case, then it’s a clear indicator that the graphic card has been mined and is probably close to failing.

If the graphic card survives these tests and the programs don’t crash, then the card is probably in good condition and will work fine. You can also compare the second-hand graphics card to a new one side by side.

Both FurMark and Superposition allow you the option to compare your graphic card’s result to many different cards. You can use this to compare your used graphics card with a new one. The closer they are to the score, the better the condition of the card is.

Artifacts

Example of GPU artifacts

Another issue that commonly pops up in used graphic cards is related to GPU artifacts. To put it simply, using graphic cards that have been overclocked improperly gets pretty unstable and hot. This causes visual glitches called graphical artifacts when playing games, and causes errors when mining or crashes other 3D rendering programs.

For used graphic cards, you can test them out by gaming for 30 minutes or more. Usually, the graphics card is put under a bit of load and displays some visual tears and glitches. If this happens, you should return the graphics card immediately as it indicates a dying card.

BIOS

Comparing BIOS

One last important thing that you should check is the BIOS information of the graphics card. You have to make sure that the piece you’re being sold isn’t a modified version of a mined graphics card. To verify this, you can use software such as GPU-Z.

GPU-Z gives you clear information about your graphics card and its manufacturer. It can’t be modified and is the most reliable way of getting to know about your graphic card specification and model. Compare the BIOS data with the GPU-Z data to verify that the information about the graphics card hasn’t been modified. The reason why this is so important is that miners often modify their graphics cards’ BIOS settings to make them best suited for mining. So, to make sure you’re not getting scammed, everything must line up correctly.

Payment Method

Arguably, the most important factor to consider when you wanna know how to check used graphics card before buying is the human factor and the payment method. Obviously, you need to see if the person you’re buying the graphics card from is trustworthy and has a good reputation to ensure you don’t get scammed.

This is a very social subject which is why we won’t go into detail here but at least make sure the pricing and listing match standard expectations before even thinking of buying any second-hand graphic cards.

When buying used graphic cards online, make sure that the payment method you’re using is secure and has a return policy. This is to ensure that if any defects come up when testing out the graphic cards, you can always return them and keep your money. Make sure you’re comfortable with the terms and conditions of the sale.

There are a lot of scammers selling Chinese knockoffs and almost dead graphic cards online so choose your payment method wisely. You also need to be careful about shipping procedures when shopping globally because there might not be a return procedure depending on different places.

If you’re buying locally, you can inspect the graphics card on the spot. Additionally, you should ask the seller for a minimum of 3 days of checking the warranty. If any issues pop up during this time, you must have the right to return the graphics card to the seller and take back your money.

Final Thoughts

In this article, we showed you how to check used graphics card before buying and avoid scammers. With the way things are now, a lot of miners are selling almost dead graphic cards in bulk. Make sure to follow the tips we’ve provided above in this article to save your money and make the right choice when buying used graphic cards. When in the market, you will have a short timeframe to analyze everything carefully but always take precautions such as buying from only trusted sellers.

Should I Buy a Used Graphics Card? (Full buyer’s guide) – CareerGamers

I’ve bought used graphics cards for the last 10 years, and I have never had one fail on me.

My last GPU was a used ‘Nvidia GTX 970’ and that card was superb. It lasted over 3 years and I bought it from a UK shop called ‘CEX’. I paid £75 for it.

After my ‘GTX 970’, I stepped up my game and purchased a ‘GTX 1080ti’. And that’s what I still use today. The ‘1080ti’ cost me a little more to buy, around £300 pounds, but that’s nothing compared to the price of this card when it came out new: £800.

(Sorry everything is in pounds I wanted to be as authentic as possible using my own experience here in the UK. Prices can easily be converted to US dollars.)

But surely there are loads of things that can go wrong with a used graphics card, I hear you say. The fans might stop working or it might just burn out. That’s all true… but…

As somebody with experience in buying used graphics cards, for many years I might add, I wanted to answer the question as accurately as possible for you, and to shutdown some myths that you might have heard about buying used goods.

Should I buy a used graphics card? Yes, you should buy a used graphics card. Used graphics cards offer far more computing power per dollar spent than new graphics cards. Plus, you’re saving perfectly good graphics cards from ending up in landfill sites. In this article we’ll look at:

I’ll answer the question in more depth
List of where you can buy used graphics cards
Look at the difference between used and refurbished graphics cards
Problems you may encounter when buying used graphics cards
Tips for buying a used graphics card
A quick look at why you might not want to buy a used graphics card
A conclusion and a look at what you can do next

Ok, now you know what I’ll cover in this article, let’s crack on and take a closer look at each section…

Why should you consider buying a used GPU?

Save money

You can save very large sums of money by buying used graphics cards.

For example, if I bought a ‘RTX 2080 ti’, it would cost me around £1200. Yet, if I bought a used ‘GTX 1080 ti’, I get 80% of the graphical power of the ‘RTX’ card, but I only spend £300, or 25% of the cash I’d pay for the ‘2080 ti’, for the privilege.

Get more power for your money

You don’t just have to buy old generation cards, you can buy current used generation cards too, and make a big saving.

Or you can use your budget to “level up” the card you intended on buying.

For example, a ‘RTX 2060’ is worth about £300 new, but £240 used. An ‘RTX 2060 super’ is worth £350 new, but £300 used.

If you had a budget of £300 to spend on a graphics card, instead of opting for a new but slower ‘RTX 2060’, you could level up your graphics card for the same budget by buying a used ‘RTX 2060 super’.

Helps save the environment

One of the biggest draws for me, and maybe it is for you too, is that by buying second hand you are saving yet another piece of electronics from wasting away in a landfill.

By buying a new graphics card, you’re making a descent into the “fast fashion” culture, which is when you dump things as soon as the “next big thing” pokes its head out and around the corner!

So, buy a used graphics card and do your little bit for the environment.

You can buy current generation graphics cards, after mid generation refreshes

Another great way to buy used graphics cards is to buy the older version of a graphics card after a mid generation refresh.

For example, the ‘RTX 2060’, got the “Super” mid generation refresh.

This refresh knocked £100 off the used ‘RTX 2060s’ overnight.

Where can I buy used GPUs?

This is my list of the best places to buy used and refurbished graphics cards. If you can think of anywhere else that I could add to this list, let me know in the comments.

Websites

Amazon
Ebay
Craigslist
SellGPU.com

Shops

UK
- CeX – Offers a good 2 year warranty, but you do pay a little extra for this.
- Game – Sometimes sells used computer components, but not often. Usually sells them cheap.

Difference between refurbished and just plain used graphics cards

What is the difference between a refurbished and a used graphics card?

Generally, used graphics cards are cards sold by individuals that have used them for gaming, and are now looking to upgrade. You’ll find a lot of these types of used GPUs on websites like eBay. They usually don’t come with any kind of warranty, other than the protection that the website offers.

Refurbished GPUs, on the other hand, are still used GPUs. However, refurbish GPUs are usually checked by qualified technicians before they are sold. They are checked to ensure they are working, that fans are turning, that they boot up, and can actually play games.

Usually refurbished graphics cards are sold by companies that have bought used graphics cards, often in bulk. Or they can be shop returns.

I would say it is less risky to buy refurbished graphics cards. However, you will pay a premium for this “professional” refurbishment.

Problems you may encounter with a used graphics card and how to solve them

A sagging PCB board
- Very rare in modern graphics cards
- Avoid buying
The fans may be clogged with dust
- Easy fix, just clean them out
The PCB might be damaged
- If the PCB is damaged, the card won’t work. So, again be sure to check that the card is working, see it running a few games before putting cash down for it
- If it’s not working, it’s very hard to fix
The card is overheating
- If the card is overheating, it could be dust clogging the fans, check this first
- If there is no dust the fans could have stopped working completely
- If the fans are working, the thermal compound between the GPU and heat-sink may have deteriorated
- This can be fixed, however, it can be technically demanding

!!Attention!!

It’s worth me pointing out that in all the time I’ve spent buying used graphics cards, I have never encountered any of the problems above.

Tips/Checklist for buying a used or refurbished graphics card

Tip 1: Aim to buy a one generation old graphics card

When buying a used graphics card, try not to buy a card that is more than one generation old. An older GPU will be at risk of not being able to play new or upcoming games due to the limitations in its computing power and RAM.

The best savings can be made 1 generation old. Any older and you run the risk of the card being underpowered.

Tip 2: Compare to newer cards

The price of new and used graphics cards are always fluctuating. You’ll sometimes find a new graphics card from the newest generation has fallen through the cracks and is priced lower than a used graphics card from a generation ago. So, always compare the graphics card you’re thinking of buying to the current generation.

For example, a ‘GTX 1080ti’ has about the same power as an ‘RTX 2080 super’, minus the ray tracing. At the time I bought the ‘1080ti’ for £300, a ‘2080 super’ was selling for £800. It made sense to buy second hand.

Another example, a ‘GTX 1080’ is about 3% more powerful than a ‘AMD RX 5700’. However, a new ‘RX 5700’ costs between £350, whereas a used ‘GTX 1080’ is about £225. By buying a used ‘GTX 1080’, you’re getting far more graphical power per pound, or dollar, spent.

But this isn’t always the case. So be sure to check.

Tip 3: Shop around

You might get the same graphics card for the same price refurbished. So, don’t just buy a card as soon as you see it, take a look around different shops and websites.

Tip 4: Look for evidence that it works

Always seek evidence to show that the graphics card actually works. If you’re buying it off an individual, such as on eBay, get them to show you pictures of the graphics card working, with the fans spinning, and make sure a picture is showing on a monitor as a game is playing. If the seller won’t do this for you, walk away.

Tip 5: Discover the history

Try to discover the history of the graphics card before you buy it.

It’s better to buy a graphics card that is 2 years old, but has never been overclocked than to buy a graphics card that is only 6 months old, but has spent its entire 6-month life heavily overclocked.

And be sure the graphics card you’re thinking of buying hasn’t been used for cryptocurrency mining.

Tip 6: If you can get buyer protection, such as on eBay, take it

eBay offers buyer protection. This means that if you buy a dead graphics card you can inform eBay, send pictures of it to show that it doesn’t work, and you get your money returned to you.

If the website you are thinking about buying the graphics card from doesn’t offer this facility, such as Craigslist, be sure to see the graphics card working on a monitor playing games before you buy it.

Tip 7: Warranties are great so long as you don’t pay too much extra

If you can get a warranty on a second-hand graphics card, take it.

But, be sure you aren’t paying a premium for a warranty. I buy my used cards from CEX in the UK and you do pay a premium for their 2 year warranty. But if the card stops working, and I have my receipt, I can take the card back and they’ll give me my money back as in store credit so I can buy another card.

But, I would recommend that as soon as that warranty runs out you should sell the used GPU and buy another one with a new warranty.

Tip 8: Keep an old/cheap GPU handy as a backup

It’s always a good idea to keep an old GPU handy just in case your new GPU stops working. This is particularly important with used graphics cards.

Tip 9: Sell your old GPU to help pay for your new used graphics card

Don’t let your GPU gather dust under your bed. Give it a new life, and sell it to somebody else who can make use. Then put the money you earned from selling it into buying your next graphics card.

Tip 10: Wait for the new generation of cards to come out before buying new

You should wait for a new generation of graphics cards to go on sale before buying a used card. Right after new graphics cards go on sale for the first time, old graphics cards drop in price a lot.

Tip 11: Wait for a mid generation refresh

You can pick up a great graphics card, at a great price, after a refresh. For example, the ‘RTX 2080’ was refreshed by the slightly more powerful ‘RTX 2080 Super’.

People started selling off their “old” ‘RTX 2080’ to help fund their purchase of the new “Super” version.

This mass selling-off floods the market with the older, but still amazing, ‘RTX 2080s’. And in accordance with supply and demand, when there is oversupply and demand is low, the price plummets, and it’s the perfect time to buy.

Why shouldn’t you buy a second-hand graphics card

I couldn’t honestly send you on your way without giving you a good counter-argument for why buying second-hand could be wrong for you.

After all, whichever way you buy a graphics card, it’s a lot of money to spend. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t buy a used GPU:

Used cards don’t come with a manufacturer’s warranty
You may not be able to send it back as easily if you buy from an individual seller, such as on eBay
New cards will be more powerful for the same tier of graphics card
- Example: An ‘RTX 2060’ will be more powerful than a generation old ‘GTX 1060’
A lot of the time you won’t know the graphics cards usage history
A generation old used card may not use current technology
- For example, the ‘GTX 1080 ti’ can’t use ray tracing.

Conclusion

I honestly believe that buying a used or refurbished graphics card is a great way to get more graphical computing power in your rig by spending less money.

Plus, you’re helping to fight against the toxic disposable culture that is growing around technology, clothes, and other consumer products.

But the big draw for me is the money you can save. So, check out some of the websites I mentioned above, your next graphics card could be listed on them right now.

What next?

Can I buy other used refurbished parts? Yes. GPUs, CPUs, motherboards, Blu-ray drives, you name it I’ve bought it used, and built a system out of it. I’ve never had any failure or problems.

What about used fans/cases? Yes, you can buy used cases and fans. You can also buy used cooling solutions.

What about the PSU? I have bought used PSUs in the past and they have worked absolutely fine. However, PSUs degrade over time. Their power output drops by about 5% every year, so, an old PSU will supply less power than a new PSU. That being said, if you buy a very powerful old PSU, it should easily have enough power to power even the most power-hungry modern components.

Buying a used video card or Avito in Chinese

Summer has come and the kids, having gone on vacation, wanted to play (during the school year it was a taboo and there was a promise “wooooooooo”) in Fallout 4
But the existing equipment with difficulty (brakes and periodic departures) worked with this toy
The Q9500+Sapphire ATI Radeon HD5750 1Gb configuration really screamed about the need to upgrade
The processor was already almost top-end in its subgroup and the point of replacing it with Q9650 economically there was none.
And the green amphibian did not allow to completely change the platform by switching to «aiki»

But in terms of the video adapter, the possibilities were much wider than
The amphibian did not doze off here either, and buying something new, and even with 3-4 Gb on board, was simply not considered. As a result, a consensus was reached and a card with 2 Gb of memory became the benchmark. After monitoring the domestic avito, I was almost about to take something, but quite by accident I came across an article where the author described how he took a used card on Ali
compared to a domestic cat in a poke, Ali has a serious advantage — a dispute, besides, you don’t have to go to the other side of geography, in addition, the price is also lower.

as a result, the choice fell on the hero of the mini-review

An additional advantage was that this card does not need additional power and its consumption is very modest, so that the computer’s power supply will remain the same

The seller painted how he cleans them:

and how he tests them:

reviews were also positive, and there were quite a lot of them

CONVINCED!

Ordered and a week later received a parcel:

Many times wrapped in Pupirku

on the cooler of no dust (there was a review of what was dusty there)

shows that it stood in the case

, turned on — it works —

determined:

222

launched a fresh 3DMark (and not you, the antiquity that the Chinese have in the picture 🙂 )

As expected, the tests with Dx12 did not go, but the rest were spinning cheerfully: you can hear the fan on the card, but the temperature was stable

Both I and the children are satisfied with the result
I’m not going to overclock
I really hope it lasts long enough.

nine0012

I plan to buy

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Liked the review

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nine0012

Buying a used video card or how not to be left with a nose

I was inspired to write this article by the very deplorable state of the PeC iron market at the moment. I am tormented by terrible flashbacks from 2017, the first mining boom. Prices for video cards soar to unthinkable heights. A piece of unoptimized code with a hype battle royale is entering early access. Everyone wants to play it, but they are in dire need of an upgrade for their swallow and everyone wants to find video cards for the price of a poppy seed bun and the possibility of a GTX TITAN. Yes, it was the secondary market that saved the battle royalists with financial difficulties and other gamers in need of an upgrade, but as they say, there are nuances. And as they say, I have some experience in this and I want to share it with you. nine0012

So

You have decided to buy equipment in the secondary market, which generally has great risks! Even after this article, I do not 100% guarantee that you will purchase the goods in good condition, but I will try to minimize these risks.

«Stosh», we have a limited budget. I don’t want to enrich dealers who raise prices five times (CARL 5X !!!), then you are welcome to all sorts of platforms for the secondary. But even worse creatures live there!

There are very bad people who are ready to sell non-working / broken

There are not very responsible people who did not take care of their property and unknowingly sell non-working / broken

And then there are miners who drain illiquid assets at very cheap prices

Chapter 1.

Search for an ad.
First of all, you need to choose which video card you want. Here, too, there are nuances. For example, you need to understand video card segments. NVIDIA has xx50, xx60, xx70, xx80. And the fact that you shift your GTX 1070 to a newer RTX 2060, this vidyuha will give practically nothing but rays. These video cards are of course different and the RTX 2060 will certainly win in performance, but these miserable ≈ 8% -9% worth it? You decide. The AMD RX series have almost similar markings, but the latest models switched from decimal to hundredths RX 580 > RX 5800, by the way, the transition was very noticeable. We switched to the new RDNA architecture and GDDR6 memory type.

Well, you have chosen the video card you want and are looking for ads. I strongly advise in the current realities to choose cards with more video memory of 6gb. That is, the minimum cards are GTX 1060 6gb or RX 580 8gb (they cost about 10k wooden upd. Prices are rising on the used market, so from 15k), which will pull modern games in good and digestible quality so that you do not cry from soap FXAA. nine0012

What to look for in ads and what to ask?

Pictured is a reference GTX 1060 with turbine cooling.

This cooling is necessary for those who have a small windproof case, but it is not very effective. I do not advise you to choose it, since the cards are no longer young, and it is not known how they were exploited. Fortunately, NVIDIA abandoned such a system by the 20xx series.

The card’s temperature is the most obvious indicator of his health. Usually sold write or throw screenshots from temperature sensors. Of course, you can’t trust them by any means. Therefore, it is better to make a deal with the seller or at your home where you can check it. On the street / cafe / shopping center is not an option at all, if the seller insists, then send him to hell! nine0012

If the seller says that he dismantled the video card to replace the thermal interface, then I strongly advise you not to buy such a unit. This is evidence that the card is heating up so much that we had to change the thermal paste. High temperatures for a long time will not affect the health of the vidyuhi well, or even the chip may be warm! This is the worst thing they can give you. Vidyukha with a heated chip is already a corpse, it’s like cancer, it can recline tomorrow or in five years.

Ask about the presence of seals from opening, some manufacturers do not put them, but most of them do, so we choose with seals, but still the presence of a seal does not guarantee 100% that it was opened, so keep in mind!

An example of a seal (photo from the Internet)

Inspection of the video card itself.

Found an ad and agreed with the seller on the place of the transaction with you or with him. Be sure to check for seals, you should also inspect the radiator, perhaps there was a felt boot lying around. If there are traces of burning or darkening from the flux on the textolite, i.e. the color of the textolite is heterogeneous, in strange spots, then feel free to turn around and leave, if you are at home, then kick him out. If you have to go to the seller, then you will have to find or buy a storage medium (flash drive, external drive or other storage device) and download four programs there that will help expose the bad guys and recognize the good product. nine0012

1. GPU-Z (I attach the download link)tyts, this program shows the characteristics of the video card, it will save you from Chinese fakes from Ali and eBay.

Here we have an honest GTX 1060 3gb

And here is a not very honest Chinese fake. It should be noted that there are unified shaders, there should be as many of them as in the honest version of the card (you can look on the Internet for screenshots of GPU-Z of different cards), but the frequency of the GPU and memory can be different within reason, but not like in this case almost 2 times. (Photos taken from the Internet). nine0012

2. FurMark ths. Since everything is in order with GPU-Z, you can already run FurMark aka «donut», it loads the video card to the maximum. At least you need to wait at least 5 minutes during which you should notice the image artifacts

If there are any, there may be other distortions such as flickering, acid-colored squares, and so on (I advise you to first look at a known working video card to see how the fleece donut behaves), then immediately refuse to buy. nine0012

The maximum operating temperature of video cards is around 80 degrees Celsius. It may be higher if it was not cleaned, so download the third program

There are different skins on AfterBurner, most likely you will have one, I myself prefer the classic dark green.

Turntables will noticeably increase speed and buzz, pay attention to temperatures, the graph scale should stop and fall to normal values - below 80 degrees approximately, or even lower. If temperatures still continue to rise, then immediately stop the transaction and leave in English. If the temperatures are normal, then we launch the fourth program.