I live in Canada and want a graphics card for gaming on a 4K OLED TV. I'm deciding between a brand-new RTX 5070 Ti with store warranty for $1,800 CAD and a Gigabyte Windforce RTX 5080 listed for about $2,000 CAD. The seller says the 5080 was purchased in July, has never been used, and comes with the receipt. They're willing to bring it over so I can test it and say I can register the card for the three-year manufacturer warranty. However, they want me to hand over the full cash payment before I test it, saying that establishes ownership during the test. I plan to verify the serial number on the box and card. Is the 5080 the obvious choice, and what else should I check before buying?
2 Answers
For only about $200 more, the RTX 5080 is the better choice for 4K gaming, assuming the card is genuine and works properly. A receipt and an apparently unopened card are good signs, but confirm that the serial number matches the receipt and that the manufacturer warranty actually transfers to a second owner in Canada. Also make sure the warranty can be registered before completing the deal, if possible.
I would not pay the entire amount before testing it. A card can boot and run a short game while still having problems under sustained load, and once the seller has the cash, you have very little leverage. Test it with a demanding benchmark for at least 20–30 minutes, check temperatures, clock speeds, fan noise, display output, and look for crashes or visual artifacts. Meet somewhere safe or use a payment method with some buyer protection. If the seller refuses to let you test before payment, I’d walk away, regardless of the claimed warranty.
You could offer to leave a reasonable deposit while testing, then pay the balance after the benchmark passes. Paying everything upfront makes the arrangement unnecessarily risky.
That makes sense. I’ll verify the serial number and warranty details before handing over anything.