Re: Graphics Card Failure Rates

"First of One" <root@127.0.0.1> wrote in message
news ...
> Interesting failure statistics from a "large French e-retailer" covering
> parts sold between September 2008 and March 2009.
>
> Failure rate by brand:
> - PNY 1.69%
> - ASUSTeK 1.71%
> - MSI 2.05%
> - Gigabyte 2.63%
> - Sapphire 2.7%
> - Gainward 3.15%
> - Point Of View 4.67%
>
> PNY seems to be doing quite well.
>
> Failure rate by chipset:
> - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 : 2.4%
> - ATI Radeon HD 4850 : 3.3%
> - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 : 6.5%
> - ATI Radeon HD 4870 : 6.1%
> - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 : 8.3%
> - ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 : 10.5%
>
> The GTX 295 is more reliable than the GTX 280, despite its greater
> complexity.
>
> Article is in French, so use Google Translate if required:
> http://www.hardware.fr/articles/773-...omposants.html

I think the article is only reporting the "rate of return". That doesn't
necessarily mean failure. The author even states at the end that it is hard
to draw conclusions from the statistics. If the reason for return had been
included, then we would have some useful information.

How many of those 10.5% returns on the 4870 X2 were because of inadequate
power supplies in the buyer's computer, or even difficulty in driver
installation? I also think we need to include the "user stupidity factor",
because some people just shouldn't have a computer.