I, too, am going to stick it out and wait for the reference 980.  
Waited this long already.  I don't want to cancel and switch to the ACX 2.0 and have to wait even longer.    

So what happens if the 90 day step-up window runs out before you even get put into queue?
Don't mean to be a downer but I'll be super pissed if after waiting 2+ months, I can't get the step-up. My 90 day window is up in 37 days, been waiting almost 30 so far.
 
I'm not in a rush to get the card, I just want to know I'll get the step-up eventually.
 
Best of luck to everyone.

Still waiting, signed up 28 Sep for a 980 ACX 2.0

I am thinking that there is a big supply issue somewhere with the chips...  
 
I switched yesterday to the FTW 970 so my wait is likely going to be even longer now.  
 
I had the 770 and stepped up on the 20th of September and as of yesterday, nothing had changed.
 
At this point I might get the 980 at Frys or Microcenter and just sell the FTW when it comes.  Then again I like the voltage options with the FTW card.

Seikenfreak
So what happens if the 90 day step-up window runs out before you even get put into queue?
Don't mean to be a downer but I'll be super pissed if after waiting 2+ months, I can't get the step-up. My 90 day window is up in 37 days, been waiting almost 30 so far.
 
I'm not in a rush to get the card, I just want to know I'll get the step-up eventually.
 
Best of luck to everyone.

You're already in the queue when you put in for a Step-up.  The 90-day window is only for submitting your step-up, not for finishing the step-up and getting your card.  If you are still in the queue at the time your step-up window closes, you remain in the step-up.  The only difference is that you can no longer switch your step-up choice, or cancel and resubmit.  If you do need to switch your step-up for any reason, please call EVGA Support before trying to cancel and resubmit.

I signed up for my step up on the 24th so seeing as how alot of you guys put in before me and still have not got past the que I guess I don't feel so bad.  But I will be super excited when I get the email saying I can pay for my 970 and mail in my 760.  Only real sucky part will be having to use a gt620 for the week or so it takes to get the new card after sending in the old one.

Has anyone else received notice of their queue being ready? I have been waiting since September 22nd and I read someone got their card from a Step Up on the 20th. I was curious what day they are on since it has been about three weeks now. 

I think the 19th was the first day, but that's sweet you've got yours heading to you. Maybe it won't be too much longer for myself! I signed up probably an hour after it went up.

It was around 4 weeks ago or something like that for the entire wait! I saw another person post that the step-up started and I sprung on it, problem is I really wish I chose the 980 now but oh well lol. Not so bad of a wait if you consider how the 900 series stock is almost always gone or starting to rise in price. 

I did the 970's as well since I had 2 step up's to do just didn't want to shell out that much extra cash for 2x 980's.
 
Literally first 10 minutes i was in the que not sure why mine is taking so long considering there are a few people that are already processing hmm

ericdelgado2
I put in my step up request for the vanilla 980 on the 19th of September. Still no word.

I realize Step Up is kind of a benefit because you chose EVGA over other brands, but this is kind of ridiculous. I mean, it is two days away from being an entire month and you haven't even got a queue number or any kind of notice/confirmation? I submitted mine on 9/22...I seriously doubt I will see a card in another month's time...kind of depressing. 
 
So I was looking on the Interwebs and it seems like this Step Up cycle is gonna be the same as when people stepped up from the 6 series to 7 series, basically a lot of demand. Judging from these quotes from User trabe3 "For reference, I did step-up for the 780...I was in the middle #300s when I entered the queue.  It took at least 2.5-3 months to get through...hope for the best, expect the worst...."  and "Don't get your hopes up, it ain't gonna happen in 5-6 weeks. Like I said with the 780 step-up, there was weeks when there was 20 or 50, then nothing for a few weeks. I bet you will be in queue for 2 most likely 3 months. 8-12 weeks minimum."
 
I think we can all expect the wait to go on for quite a while particularly if you chose a reference card since those will be harder to come by. 

This is the first time I have ever done this, although I have had EVGA cards in the past :).
 
Still pending on everything for me. I ordered the card through Newegg (as I have parts wise for years). Not in any hurry, love my 780, but can't wait to get that notification to pay and ship my card.
 
It's really cool of EVGA to do this sort of thing.

I put my request in at 9:20PST on the 19th for the reference 980 and still haven't heard a word. At this point, this is getting a little ridiculous that there hasn't been an update.  

Even just a "Hey guys, there's been a lot of demand, we're still waiting on new cards to come in etc." would be nice to hear, rather than radio silence

shogon
EVGA received my card yesterday and I just opened up the UPS email saying the new card will be here Friday(hopefully, UPS has a knack of causing unrest within me lol).
 
I think I started my step-up in the 18th or so, or basically the first day they had it up. 

How long did it take them to send out the new card after they received yours?
 
/edit
 
Also guys, I just sent my cards in yesterday paid for 2 day shipping so they should have it by Thursday!