PSA: Discolored reminiscence chips are a typical signal indicating closely used graphics playing cards, presumably former mining playing cards. Current proof suggests some resellers try to deceive prospects by portray over the reminiscence. The paint comes off comparatively simply for these inspecting the used GPUs.
Two Brazilian YouTube channels have uncovered indicators that crypto miners try to promote used graphics playing cards by passing them off as extra calmly used than they’re. A stunning new tactic is to disguise indicators of damage on the GDDR reminiscence.
When a GPU has been underneath heavy load for prolonged intervals, corresponding to for mining cryptocurrency, the warmth may give the reminiscence chips a yellow tint. Iskandar Souza (under) and TecLab lately posted movies analyzing playing cards showing to have paint on these chips. Scraping off the paint revealed discoloration. Souza’s report compares a recent GPU with one that includes disguised put on and tear.
The previous few years have set the stage for such schemes within the graphics card market. Miners try to dump the GPUs from their rigs that misplaced profitability after the crypto winter and Ethereum Merge final 12 months. Though the mining drop-off has improved costs in current months, many playing cards nonetheless wrestle to achieve their MSRP.
On this atmosphere, offers on used GPUs are doubtless nonetheless engaging to many potential prospects. These patrons doubtless need to keep away from playing cards from crypto mines that are extra worn than most.
Heavy use and restore efforts additionally depart marks on different elements of GPUs, as Souza’s video exhibits. Discoloration round and scratches on the cardboard’s central processor might point out the vendor tried to resolder it, as an illustration. Lacking screws might counsel somebody opened a graphics card to cowl up traces of mining use.
Final 12 months, we reported on a video displaying a miner making an attempt to organize GPUs for resale by blasting a rack of them with a strain washer — a extremely unadvisable methodology. Not solely can untreated water injury graphics card elements, however so can the pressure of the strain washer.
All refurbished GPUs aren’t dangerous, nevertheless. Patrons simply have to be cautious when shopping for from third-party sellers on main websites like Newegg and Amazon. The most secure option to get refurbs might be straight from the shops of board companions like PNY and EVGA (pictured above).