What to look for before buying AVT-8710 on eBay?
 

I want to purchase an AVT-8710 unit on eBay, which goes for around $1k these days. I am wondering if there are any suggestions of what to ask the seller or what to look for before purchasing it and anything I should know once I receive the unit? thanks!

Do not buy a black unit, as those have flawed chipsets. Only green. Everything currently on eBay is black/wrong.

Better yet, don't buy on eBay. It's a video gear dumping ground -- not a reliable place to acquired vetted known-working video gear, such as this site's marketplace. eBay sellers tend to know nothing about gear, all they see is a brick of gold. They don't care if it works -- either at all, or properly -- they just want your money.

A lot of those eBay sellers are outright scum. The terms "tested" and "working" are almost always complete BS.

Do note, than case swapping is a thing. Black board in green case, and newbies are none the wiser. Again, scummy scammy eBay sellers.

Somebody recently got taken for $1000 on a "for parts" green AVT-8710 auction. It was a known-bad unit that had been passed around multiple times. The final seller put it up "for parts", and the final buyer didn't know any better. He/she has yet to post, but we know what happened.

Thanks so much, what is the flaw in the chipset? Would love to learn more.

It causes frame sticking, actually inducing dropped frames -- the very thing is was supposed to prevent. :smack:

There are threads in this forun, going back 15 years that explain it in depth.

None of those eBay sellers were actual users of the gear. Or, if they were, they didn't pay attention. Most just lie, and want your money. By the time you figure it out, you're screwed, past 30 day return window. The seller won't reply to you, not their problem. Some smug SOB sellers will actually tell you things like "you should have researched what you were buying", meaning they knew they sold bad items.

eBay is such a crappy place for functional (ab)used items. eBay is mostly good for collectibles, cheap Chinese parts, and low-cost items below you loss/gambling threshold. Never a $1k used item. Maybe $1k new items, depending on what it is.

Thanks I am glad I asked you, since ChatGPT said the green ones were the bad ones. If you were prepared to spend a lot of money, what other TBC options might you go with? thanks!

ChatGPT is such a POS when it comes to niche information. Gemini is better, but not by much.