Second hand GPU Quality checking sofware?

[MrSimSim]

Hi im planning on buying a 4090 second hand since the gpu price disparity between new and used is very high here in sweden. We have pretty good customer safety laws and I have also already checked the marketplaces I am using has same day return of the product is not as listed or faulty. Was wondering what software is best to use for checking if the card works properly? Any good things to look out for physically on the product when I have it in hand would also be nice.

[Motifator]

This is like saying I'm going to buy a fancy car but I'm going to buy one that's somehow made over 200k on the odometer lol.

Now I'm not saying all second hand cards are that bad, but why do you want the best of the best in second hand configuration?

Just buy a cheaper card that gets your job done, new.

[boaz_n_hoaz]

1 minute ago, Motifator said:

This is like saying I'm going to buy a fancy car but I'm going to buy one that's somehow made over 200k on the odometer lol.

Now I'm not saying all second hand cards are that bad, but why do you want the best of the best in second hand configuration?

Just buy a cheaper card that gets your job done, new.

I'm sorry but this just feels like a poor take. There will be a lot of perfectly good cards on the used market that will offer the performance of a top tier card at a lower cost. If OP wants to try and grab himself a great deal I thinks it's definitely a good idea. 

 

OP also mentioned buying from a trusted marketplace with customer protection so feels pretty low risk provided they can be sure that the card they got is functioning correctly after delivery, hence this post. 

[YoungBlade]

TimeSpy, OCCT, Heaven, Superposition, Furmark, Blender renders, even the stupid Userbenchmark benchmark - they all can confirm that a GPU is functioning. The ability to boot into Windows and install drivers can tell you that, as Windows uses GPU acceleration for the desktop.

 

If you are concerned that there is some hard-to-find instability, then the only true solution is to put it through a wide range of different scenarios to try to tease out the rare situation where the card becomes unstable.

 

When I test for stability when undervolting or overclocking, I run Heaven and look for graphical glitches and check the thermals. Then, I boot up a few games - I've found Control to be particularly good at getting an unstable configuration to crash. My recommendation would be to play 5-10 minutes in the games (or the applications) that you'll actually be using - since that is the load that you're going to be putting on the card.

 

As for physically inspecting the card, if it's from a major manufacturer, you should be able to find high resolution images of the card online - look it over and if you see anything that seems odd, compare it to the pictures you find of the card new.

 

The most common problems are damage to the PCIe connector - a crack in the PCB just above the connection points has been a known issue with 30 and 40 series cards with big coolers - and inspecting the PCIe 5.0 power connector on the card for any signs of burns or melting, as that's also been a known issue.

 

Otherwise, just check it for dust or other debris lodged in the cooler, and look at how the thermals are under load.

[Motifator]

1 minute ago, boaz_n_hoaz said:

I'm sorry but this just feels like a poor take. There will be a lot of perfectly good cards on the used market that will offer the performance of a top tier card at a lower cost. If OP wants to try and grab himself a great deal I thinks it's definitely a good idea. 

 

OP also mentioned buying from a trusted marketplace with customer protection so feels pretty low risk provided they can be sure that the card they got is functioning correctly after delivery, hence this post. 

It might not be the best take but I'm heavily doubting the OP needs somebody else's dusty, used 4090 at all.

They will be more than fine with a lower segment new card.

Just because the second hand market offers decent buyer protection, doesn't mean you should go out and buy a used 4090. That's a dumb logic to begin with because the 4090 is already a furnace anyway.

[boaz_n_hoaz]

1 minute ago, Motifator said:

It might not be the best take but I'm heavily doubting the OP needs somebody else's dusty, used 4090 at all.

They will be more than fine with a lower segment new card.

Just because the second hand market offers decent buyer protection, doesn't mean you should go out and buy a used 4090. That's a dumb logic to begin with because the 4090 is already a furnace anyway.

But by that logic why buy any used card if I can get a worse card for a similar price new? 

 

There are so many reasons to buy used with cost only being one of them. But it is very possible that OP's budget would allow them to purchase either a new 4080 Super or a used 4090. While they are both excellent cards, there will be a noticeable improvement with a 4090. 

 

Then there is the fact that purchasing used parts prevents e-waste. While again, a 4090 is unlikely to end up e-waste, the fact that it is a very valid reason to buy used cards still stands. 

 

Finally, OP may not be able to get the model of GPU they want if they buy new. I know I personally love the look of the FE cards but you can only get them used at this point. It is entirely possible that OP's decision is aesthetic. 

 

All this to say, if you don't want used then don't buy used. If you want the piece of mind of a new card and are happy with the performance a new card will provide at your budget then you make the decision that you're happiest with. But OP came here asking the best way to validate a used GPU and I don't think that you arguing why used is bad was due here. 

[MrSimSim]

14 minutes ago, Motifator said:

This is like saying I'm going to buy a fancy car but I'm going to buy one that's somehow made over 200k on the odometer lol.

Now I'm not saying all second hand cards are that bad, but why do you want the best of the best in second hand configuration?

Just buy a cheaper card that gets your job done, new.

We have very high purchase taxes here, the price difference between second hand and new 4090 is about $500 give or take

[MrSimSim]

14 minutes ago, YoungBlade said:

TimeSpy, OCCT, Heaven, Superposition, Furmark, Blender renders, even the stupid Userbenchmark benchmark - they all can confirm that a GPU is functioning. The ability to boot into Windows and install drivers can tell you that, as Windows uses GPU acceleration for the desktop.

 

If you are concerned that there is some hard-to-find instability, then the only true solution is to put it through a wide range of different scenarios to try to tease out the rare situation where the card becomes unstable.

 

When I test for stability when undervolting or overclocking, I run Heaven and look for graphical glitches and check the thermals. Then, I boot up a few games - I've found Control to be particularly good at getting an unstable configuration to crash. My recommendation would be to play 5-10 minutes in the games (or the applications) that you'll actually be using - since that is the load that you're going to be putting on the card.

 

As for physically inspecting the card, if it's from a major manufacturer, you should be able to find high resolution images of the card online - look it over and if you see anything that seems odd, compare it to the pictures you find of the card new.

 

The most common problems are damage to the PCIe connector - a crack in the PCB just above the connection points has been a known issue with 30 and 40 series cards with big coolers - and inspecting the PCIe 5.0 power connector on the card for any signs of burns or melting, as that's also been a known issue.

 

Otherwise, just check it for dust or other debris lodged in the cooler, and look at how the thermals are under load.

thanks, that was very helpful, will try them all

[Motifator]

5 minutes ago, boaz_n_hoaz said:

But by that logic why buy any used card if I can get a worse card for a similar price new? 

 

There are so many reasons to buy used with cost only being one of them. But it is very possible that OP's budget would allow them to purchase either a new 4080 Super or a used 4090. While they are both excellent cards, there will be a noticeable improvement with a 4090. 

 

Then there is the fact that purchasing used parts prevents e-waste. While again, a 4090 is unlikely to end up e-waste, the fact that it is a very valid reason to buy used cards still stands. 

 

Finally, OP may not be able to get the model of GPU they want if they buy new. I know I personally love the look of the FE cards but you can only get them used at this point. It is entirely possible that OP's decision is aesthetic. 

 

All this to say, if you don't want used then don't buy used. If you want the piece of mind of a new card and are happy with the performance a new card will provide at your budget then you make the decision that you're happiest with. But OP came here asking the best way to validate a used GPU and I don't think that you arguing why used is bad was due here. 

Jeez, why are you defending used so much? It's like you don't understand you can get bummed out of somebody's dirty stuff.

If I had to choose between a new 4080S or a used 4090, new 4080S all the way. The difference is nowhere as large as you're making it out to be, and the card being fresh is a bonus always.

Then you talk about buying used to prevent e-waste, lol. I'm sure there are better things you can do to prevent waste...
 

4 minutes ago, MrSimSim said:

We have very high purchase taxes here, the price difference between second hand and new 4090 is about $500 give or take

Yeah, that's because you're looking at the highest end card and those are the ones that get the most tax... if you're to look at lower end cards, no way that will happen.

[GuiltySpark_]

24 minutes ago, YoungBlade said:

TimeSpy, OCCT, Heaven, Superposition, Furmark, Blender renders, even the stupid Userbenchmark benchmark - they all can confirm that a GPU is functioning. The ability to boot into Windows and install drivers can tell you that, as Windows uses GPU acceleration for the desktop.

 

If you are concerned that there is some hard-to-find instability, then the only true solution is to put it through a wide range of different scenarios to try to tease out the rare situation where the card becomes unstable.

 

When I test for stability when undervolting or overclocking, I run Heaven and look for graphical glitches and check the thermals. Then, I boot up a few games - I've found Control to be particularly good at getting an unstable configuration to crash. My recommendation would be to play 5-10 minutes in the games (or the applications) that you'll actually be using - since that is the load that you're going to be putting on the card.

 

As for physically inspecting the card, if it's from a major manufacturer, you should be able to find high resolution images of the card online - look it over and if you see anything that seems odd, compare it to the pictures you find of the card new.

 

The most common problems are damage to the PCIe connector - a crack in the PCB just above the connection points has been a known issue with 30 and 40 series cards with big coolers - and inspecting the PCIe 5.0 power connector on the card for any signs of burns or melting, as that's also been a known issue.

 

Otherwise, just check it for dust or other debris lodged in the cooler, and look at how the thermals are under load.

Bookmarking this post for later use. This comes up a lot. 

[OddOod]

44 minutes ago, Motifator said:

Now I'm not saying all second hand cards are that bad, but why do you want the best of the best in second hand configuration?

I have bought over half a dozen used GPUs, some then-current gen top spec, and literally never been burned. 

 

40 minutes ago, Motifator said:

They will be more than fine with a lower segment new card.

How could you *possibly* know that? Seriously.

 

42 minutes ago, Motifator said:

4090 is already a furnace anyway

Okay, that's laughable. My 4090 FE with stock settings under full load hits a whopping 75C
 

28 minutes ago, Motifator said:

why are you defending used so much?

....did you read their comment? Ewaste reduction and cost savings are DEEPLY valid reasons. Additionally purely not wanting to give NV more money is a good one. 
 

31 minutes ago, Motifator said:

lol. I'm sure there are better things you can do to prevent waste...

Such as? I'm all ears.

 

30 minutes ago, Motifator said:

If I had to choose

Fun fact: not everyone is you. You opinion is valid, but it's not the only valid one. 

 

32 minutes ago, Motifator said:

if you're to look at lower end cards, no way that will happen.

Correct. If OP bought a significantly worse card, they'd pay significantly less in taxes. But they'd also have a significantly worse card. You have no evidence that they would be remotely as well served by a worse card. 

[Motifator]

4 hours ago, OddOod said:

-snip-

You sure about any of that? Because this thread screams I want to have the latest and the greatest but I can't afford it therefore I'm getting it second hand. Hurr durr 4090 most powahful GPU... sigh.

That's why they want it so much, nobody with this analogy actually needs a 4090. If they did for pro work, I'm supposing they would have already had the funds.

If for gaming, much less powerful cards do it perfectly, even at 4k. Get real.

[GuiltySpark_]

5 hours ago, Motifator said:

because the 4090 is already a furnace anyway.

This seems to be what most non-4090 owners believe but I don't understand why. My stock TUF is runs so cool and is dead silent. 71c max? Ever?

[Motifator]

18 minutes ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

This seems to be what most non-4090 owners believe but I don't understand why. My stock TUF is runs so cool and is dead silent. 71c max? Ever?

The card pulls at least 350W and comes with like 4 slot coolers not to overheat. The top 5 reviews on TPU are waterblocked cards... really, specific cooling configurations might make up for it, but some won't perform as good such as cheaper models especially ones that are sold on the second hand market for cheaper prices.

I genuinely think the OP will be more than fine with a much cheaper card and this purchase just seems for bragging rights.

[OddOod]

18 hours ago, Motifator said:

The card pulls at least 350W and comes with like 4 slot coolers not to overheat

And thus, *doesn't overheat*
It was specifically mentioned in LTT's 4090 review that NV overestimated the power budget so they and all their board partners ended up building significantly more powerful coolers which lead to remarkably low temps even with the dials cranked. 
Yes, it uses a lot of power and thus generates a lot of heat, but a furnace is specifically a chip that *can't* be cooled effectively (looking at you 14th gen i9s) which the 4090 demonstrably isn't
 

 

18 hours ago, Motifator said:

I genuinely think the OP will be more than fine with a much cheaper card and this purchase just seems for bragging rights

WHY? Why are you this obstinate? Why do you insist you are able to read OP's mind? How is it so hard for you to imagine that someone might have a different use case than you? Or would want to save the better part of a thousand dollars while potentially running actually zero risk (many manufacturers have 3 year transferable warranties). 
And again, as a 4090 owner, I found the expense worth the upgrade over a 3080Ti. I'm able to actually get 144FPS on my 4k120 monitor. It brings me more joy. Not as a "bragging rights" dickswing, but as an actual functional piece of hardware. 
What is wrong with you?

[Motifator]

2 hours ago, OddOod said:

And thus, *doesn't overheat*
It was specifically mentioned in LTT's 4090 review that NV overestimated the power budget so they and all their board partners ended up building significantly more powerful coolers which lead to remarkably low temps even with the dials cranked. 
Yes, it uses a lot of power and thus generates a lot of heat, but a furnace is specifically a chip that *can't* be cooled effectively (looking at you 14th gen i9s) which the 4090 demonstrably isn't
 

 

WHY? Why are you this obstinate? Why do you insist you are able to read OP's mind? How is it so hard for you to imagine that someone might have a different use case than you? Or would want to save the better part of a thousand dollars while potentially running actually zero risk (many manufacturers have 3 year transferable warranties). 
And again, as a 4090 owner, I found the expense worth the upgrade over a 3080Ti. I'm able to actually get 144FPS on my 4k120 monitor. It brings me more joy. Not as a "bragging rights" dickswing, but as an actual functional piece of hardware. 
What is wrong with you?

It's obvious when somebody wants HURR DURR 4090 they want it for bragging rights especially when they can't even afford it new.

It's obvious that this is for gaming with at most a QHD panel which can be easily done with a much cheaper card.

Also, you fail to understand when you use these cards, you basically cause a "hot box" situation inside the case because of the enormous amount of heat. You should be asking yourself what's wrong with you since you're the one suggesting people to buy second hand cards in order to prevent waste disposal. If you're not the one buying it, anybody else will. This is not like a frigging tree that needs to be saved in order not to cut. You're making nonsenses.

[OddOod]

19 minutes ago, Motifator said:

It's obvious

Your confidence is adorable

[emothxughts]

In addition to the softwares listed in the marked answer, I'd like to add Cinebench R24 GPU test mode. It runs for like 10 mins by default and puts my GPU at max temps and usage %, basically an endurance test and also a test of your card's cooling capabilities too by extension.

 

PS: Some people here really need to learn proper question answering skills...