pegasus1:

It seems totally bizarre that the QA/QC process allowed this, surely there is a QA/QC process.

Mpampis:

Ah, the year of unreasonably overpriced, poorly constructed hardware. And we'll still buy them. Happy new year everyone!

pegasus1:

It seems totally bizarre that the QA/QC process allowed this, surely there is a QA/QC process.

asturur:

Seems like a bloodbath if they have to replace all coolers

k3vst3r:

Well guess depends what QA/QC consists of. If all test benches aren't pc cases, which has card installed horizontally then under vertically installed conditions you wouldn't see any issues with hotspot and would appear the vapour chamber is working as it should be. Der8auer even himself dismissed the vapour chamber been the problem in his original testing of the card, when user who sold it to him said he thinks vapour chamber on the card is fubar. It's only after relooking at the issue has he discovered it is the vapour chamber, after knocking off all other potential issues like mounting pressure, improper thermal paste application. Gravity seems alleviate whatever is causing the vapour chamber not to function at 100%, one can assume maybe isn't enough liquid inside an it needs assistance of gravity to travel back from cold to hot side of the vapour chamber? (think of pump with not enough head pressure to overcome the block restrictions would be one way describing it) who knows obviously engineers who designed it, didn't fully understand it either. Der8auer kinda elaborated at it too by pointing at vapour chamber itself how it narrows towards the end, maybe it's too restrictive to vapour flow.

k3vst3r:

Might have to redesign the entire cooler, if it's too restrictive to vapour flow and wasn't manufacturing defect, basically it was designed defective. AMD would have difficult choice to make recall all cards for cooler replacement? offer replacing all reference cards for AIB model instead? basically unlaunching all reference cards.

pegasus1:

QA/QC should be thinking "So What", to every possible scenario and every possible permutation of each scenario. Whether it was time constraints or financially driven, corners seem to have been cut and this may have significant implications.

pegasus1:

Neither is a cheap or easy solution. You just know that there is a somebody somewhere, very low down the pecking order who would have raised this, and was ignored.

Horus-Anhur:

Truth be told, most people throughout GPU history, avoided the reference models, preferring custom cards with better cooling, OC, power delivery and aesthetics. People who considered the reference model would usually be people that wanted the cheapest. Or who would want a standard PCB to install a water cooler.

Krizby:

Nothing wrong with buying the cheapest option that work well enough, in fact the majority of buyers do so 😉

Horus-Anhur:

Truth be told, most people throughout GPU history, avoided the reference models, preferring custom cards with better cooling, OC, power delivery and aesthetics. People who considered the reference model would usually be people that wanted the cheapest. Or who would want a standard PCB to install a water cooler.

cucaulay malkin:

man the reference would be my #1 pick this time, the card is a looker I'd even buy this box alone to put on a shelf https://www.eteknix.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/7900-xtx-box-front-1.jpg

cucaulay malkin:

man the reference would be my #1 pick this time, the card is a looker I'd even buy this box alone to put on a shelf https://www.eteknix.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/7900-xtx-box-front-1.jpg

TheDeeGee:

I prefer this era of GPU boxes ^^