I opted to return the card for a full refund because I just didn't want to deal with that crap (sigh, why can't things ... just.. work!).
You are lucky you had this option. I was told that they can exchange the card immediately, but if I want refund they need to analyze the card in their "lab" and that it can take over a month because they have a long back log, and then if they deem the card functional, I have to pay a service fee and end up with a card I cannot use.
I mean the card was functioning. It was just slower than much inferior cards. And when they were asking for return reason and I replied with "slow" they did not look convinced at all. I had to explain that on the desktop I can visually see how a widow being re-drawn when moving/re-sizing it which you should not observe on the working graphic card with proper drivers. I don't have much faith in their competence and I doubt their motivation, so I would not be surprised if they plug the card in in their "lab" see that it's working, run a few games, see that those load and display too, and tell me that the card is all right.
Given this grim perspective I agreed for the exchange, and fortunately it solved my issues.
