Check for retired memory pages when buying used V100 GPUs

steezy13312 · reddit · 2026-08-21

A guide to avoiding pitfalls when buying used V100 GPUs:

• The Issue: The author bought a 32GB V100 on eBay that passed basic tests but showed weird VRAM errors in llama.cpp.
• Root Cause: Diagnosis via Claude revealed that ECC (Error Correcting Code) was disabled by default, hiding minor RAM issues. While the aggregate ECC error counter can be reset, if ECC is enabled and RAM fails, a record with timestamps is stored in the card's InfoROM.
• The Fix: The author provides a script to check for "retired pages" on the GPU. On his card, it showed timestamps dating back to 2019 (indicating damage), while a known-good 16GB V100 showed zero.
• Lesson: Unfortunately, the author learned this after the 30-day return window. Run this script immediately upon installing any used V100 to avoid buying someone else's e-waste.

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