A player makes a lucky find at a second-hand shop: a GeForce RTX 2080 Ti that is not only very well preserved but also a special specimen. Normally, this model is not even available to gamers.
A player posted on Reddit several pictures from a second-hand store: a very well-preserved GeForce RTX 2080 Ti from Nvidia with original packaging. However, what is special is not even the graphics card itself, but a green sticker on the back.
Because the sticker states that the graphics card is officially not intended for sale but only for development.
The graphics card was officially not intended for sale
What kind of model is this? According to a user, it is a so-called ES model. The abbreviation “ES” stands for “Engineering Sample,” which refers to models that are given to developers shortly before the release of a graphics card, so they can test their games on the new hardware. After development, and as soon as the new graphics cards are officially on the market, the ES models are to be discarded.
However, this obviously did not happen here. Instead, the very well-preserved model ended up in a second-hand shop, where the player found it for $300.
How good is the graphics card? The RTX 2080 Ti was considered the fastest graphics card for gamers at its release (2018) and clearly outperformed the competition, as seen in tests by ComputerBase.de. Even today, you can still play many modern titles at high details with the old high-end GPU, although newer cards from the 3000 or 4000 generation are now more modern and, above all, more efficient.
Even features like the new DLSS 4.0 can still be used with an RTX 2080 Ti; only functions like Frame Generation (FG) are reserved for the newer models.
Some hardware enthusiasts also point out that the ES models clock a bit slower than the official models that were later available in stores. Nevertheless, the graphics card for $300 is likely to be a more than fair offer (via reddit.com):
If I understand correctly, the samples are usually clocked lower because they are less strict regarding the die rules [of the chip] and similar aspects. So if they have a cut that is more 2080 than 2080 Ti but was intended for Ti, they just stick a Ti label on it and leave it at that.
Second-hand shops are often considered a hidden gem for hardware finds
You can often find great deals in such second-hand shops, as computer hardware is often found in the USA. This way, you can save some money if you do not want to spend 2,500 euros on a single graphics card.
However, not everyone who seeks bargains is received well. A photographer recently bought an expensive lens for a low price, and many users accuse him of having cheated the charity store out of a lot of money. However, he does not see the mistake on his part: A photographer makes the purchase of his life: Gets a €1,500 lens for €6 because the seller thinks it’s a drinking cup.
