DIGG This: I'm having trouble with the manufacturer of my video card.

I can't help but feel Sapphire tried to shaft me by offering me a X1950Pro for a X1900XT. All the numbers that matter--GPU core clock speed, memory clock speed, number of pipelines and benchmarks--go DOWN on the X1950Pro. The only number that goes up is the model number and for that reason alone, Sapphire (Althon Micro, Inc.) tried to call it an upgrade.

Today is November 14. I RMA'd my video card on October 16th. Guess who's sitting at home unable to play a copy of Orange Box she's owned since last month? Guess who can't run video-intensive apps needed for productivity?

Most reputable AIB manufacturers offer the following: lifetime warranty (Sapphire recently reduced theirs to one year), cross-shipping during an RMA (I've been without a decent video card for nearly a month), an actual upgrade if they don't have your exact model (Sapphire offered me a downgrade).

In today's market, this is intolerable. As ATI's largest AIB partner, Sapphire had better get it together or nVidia is going to clean their clock with AIB companies like eVGA, XFX, BFG, etc. which offer much, MUCH better customer service.

At this point, I want two things:

First, I want a decent, working video card and at this point I believe I deserve a substantial upgrade considering the attempted bait-and-switch, the long wait and the snarky super moderator at the Sapphire Forum.

Secondly, and most importantly, I want to see a shakedown at Sapphire. It's good for everyone if ATI's main AIB partner can compete with nVidia's partners. Sapphire is setting up AMD and ATI for a royal screwing.

Thanks for your support on this matter.