How to Spot Fake GPU in South Africa (2025 Guide)

You found it. The perfect deal online for a graphics card that’s way below the usual price. It feels like a win, right? But before you hand over your hard-earned cash, hold on. In South Africa, the market for PC parts can be a bit of a wild west, and a deal that seems too good to be true often is. Learning how to spot a fake GPU in South Africa isn't just a handy skill... it's essential for protecting your rig and your wallet. 🔧

Why You Need to Spot a Fake GPU

Palit GeForce RTX 5080 GamingPro 16GB GDDR7 / 30Gbps Memory Speed / PCI Express® Gen 5 / NE75080019T2-GB2031A

R24199.00In Stock

Palit GeForce RTX 5070 Infinity 3 12GB Graphics Card / 12GB GDDR7 / 6144 Cuda Cores / 192-bit Memory Interface / Boost Clock : 2512 MHz / NVIDIA Blackwell & DLSS 4 / NE75070019K9-GB2050S

R10799.00In Stock

MSI GeForce RTX 5070 12G Inspire 3X OC Graphics Card / 12GB GDDR7 / 6144 Cuda Cores / 192-bit Memory Interface / Boost Clock : 2542 MHz / NVIDIA Blackwell & DLSS 4 / 28Gbps Memory Speed / PCI Express® Gen 5 / 912-V532-017

R14499.00In Stock

MSI GeForce RTX 5070 12G Gaming Trio OC Graphics Card / 12GB GDDR7 / 6144 Cuda Cores / 192-bit Memory Interface / Boost Clock : 2610 MHz / NVIDIA Blackwell & DLSS 4 / TRI FROZR 4 Thermal Design / Metal with Airflow Vents / 912-V532-019

R15199.00In Stock

MSI Geforce RTX 5070 Ventus 2X 12G OC Graphics Card / 12GB GDDR7 / 6144 Cuda Cores / 192-bit Memory Interface / Boost Clock : 2542 MHz / NVIDIA Blackwell & DLSS 4 / 28Gbps Memory Speed / PCI Express® Gen 5 / 912-V532-009

R13999.00In Stock

XFX SWIFT AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Triple Fan 16GB GDDR6 GPU - White / AMD RDNA 4 Architecture / 3rd Gen Radeon Raytracing Accelerators/ AMD Fidelity FX Super Resolution 4.0 Upscaling Technology / RX-96TS316W7

R8499.00In Stock

A counterfeit graphics card isn't just a low-quality knock-off; it's often an old, weak GPU that has been modified to trick your computer into thinking it's a much more powerful model. Scammers take an ancient card, flash its firmware (the card's basic software), and stick it in a convincing-looking shell.

The result? You pay for an RTX 3060 but get the performance of a card from 2012. This means terrible frame rates in games, system crashes, and zero driver support. Getting stuck with a fake graphics card is a surefire way to waste money and ruin your gaming experience.

The Physical Inspection: Your First Line of Defence

Before you even think about plugging a card in, give it a thorough once-over. Scammers often cut corners on the physical product, and these clues can be a dead giveaway.

Check the Box and Packaging

Genuine manufacturers spend a fortune on high-quality packaging. Look for crisp, high-resolution printing, correct logos, and a factory seal. A common sign of a fake GPU is a box with blurry text, off-brand colour schemes, or typos. Compare it to images from a trusted source, like the packaging you'd see on our genuine NVIDIA GeForce cards.

Examine the GPU Itself

Take a close look at the card's plastic shroud, the fans, and any branding. Counterfeit cards often feel lightweight and cheap. The plastic might be flimsy, and the logos could be stickers instead of being printed or moulded. Also, check the display outputs. Does a supposedly modern card have an old-school VGA port? That's a massive red flag. 🚩

Look for Signs of Tampering

Sometimes, scammers will repurpose old hardware, like outdated professional workstation cards, and try to pass them off as gaming models. Look for signs of wear, dust in hard-to-reach places, or mismatched screws that suggest the cooler has been removed and replaced.

XFX SWIFT AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC 16GB Graphics Card - Black / 16GB GDDR6 / 2048 Stream Processors / 128-bit Memory Interface / Boost Clock : 3320 MHz / RX-96TS316B7

R8499.00In Stock

MSI GeForce RTX 5070 12GB SHADOW 3X OC / PCI Express Gen 5 / 6144 Cuda Cores / 12GB GDDR7 / DirectX 12 Ultimate / 912-V532-008

R13999.00In Stock

MSI Geforce RTX 5070 Ventus 2X 12G OC Graphics Card / 12GB GDDR7 / 6144 Cuda Cores / 192-bit Memory Interface / Boost Clock : 2542 MHz / NVIDIA Blackwell & DLSS 4 / 28Gbps Memory Speed / PCI Express® Gen 5 / 912-V532-009

R13999.00In Stock

XFX SWIFT AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Triple Fan 16GB GDDR6 GPU - White / AMD RDNA 4 Architecture / 3rd Gen Radeon Raytracing Accelerators/ AMD Fidelity FX Super Resolution 4.0 Upscaling Technology / RX-96TS316W7

R8499.00In Stock

Palit GeForce RTX 5070 Infinity 3 12GB Graphics Card / 12GB GDDR7 / 6144 Cuda Cores / 192-bit Memory Interface / Boost Clock : 2512 MHz / NVIDIA Blackwell & DLSS 4 / NE75070019K9-GB2050S

R10799.00In Stock

XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9070 OC Graphics Card - White / 3584 Stream Processors / 256-bit Memory Interface / Boost Clock :2700 MHz / AMD RDNA™ 4 Architecture / RX-97SWFB3W9

R13499.00In Stock

Software Verification: The Ultimate Truth Test

If the physical inspection passes, the next step is to test it with software. This is where you can definitively identify a fake GPU, as software doesn't lie.

GPU-Z is Your Best Friend

Install the card and run GPU-Z. This tool reads the card's BIOS and hardware sensors directly. Pay close attention to these fields:

• GPU Name: Does it match what you bought?
• Shaders / CUDA Cores: This is a key performance metric.
• Memory Type & Size: Is it GDDR6 as advertised, or something older like DDR3?
• Release Date: Does the date make sense for the model?

Now, open a new tab and compare these specs directly against the official manufacturer's website or a trusted product page for authentic AMD Radeon GPUs. If the numbers don't match, you've spotted a fake.

Run a Benchmark

A fake GPU might trick the system about its name, but it can't fake performance. Run a free benchmark like Unigine Heaven or the 3DMark demo. A fraudulent RTX 2060 will deliver scores that are a fraction of what a real one produces. If the performance is shockingly low, you have your answer.

The Seller and The Sale: Avoiding GPU Scams in SA

Knowing how to spot a fake graphics card also means knowing how to spot a shady seller. Scammers are active on local marketplaces, preying on those looking for a good deal.

If The Price Is Too Good To Be True...

It is. No one is selling a brand-new R15,000 GPU for R4,000. Scammers use ridiculously low prices to lure in eager buyers. Always check the current market price on reputable sites first.

Vague Listings and Stock Photos

A legitimate seller will post clear, original photos of the actual card for sale, including the box and serial number. Be wary of listings that only use generic stock images pulled from the internet. This is a common tactic used to hide the true condition and identity of the product. This applies to all brands, from the most popular to newer ranges like Intel's Arc graphics cards.

Hype for New Releases

Scammers love to take advantage of the hype around new product launches. They'll create fake listings for highly anticipated cards that aren't even out yet to collect deposits from unsuspecting buyers. When the next generation arrives, be extra cautious of deals for something like the anticipated RTX 5060 that seem to defy logic.