My friend is intersted in purchasing a GTX 1070, but due to the VRM heating issues, he's starting to look elsewhere. I believe the safest way to get an EVGA 1070 with all the fixes in it is to purchase directly from EVGA; however, that is not possible. Is it better to just look for other 1070's then?

I'll let him know. He just asked me because I'm helping him pick out parts.

This is why this entire situation is a disaster for EVGA. You can never know if you will get a new card with the thermal pad fix unless you buy from EVGA at full price (rip off). Unless EVGA does a complete recall of all shipped cards (which they won't), forget buying one at any other retailer like Newegg, Amazon, Microcenter, Frys....ect.
 
Why on earth would anyone by an EVGA card from a retailer and have a high chance of getting a unit without the fix when there are PLENTY of other brands that engineered their cards with a correct thermal design...rip EVGA.
 At this point you would have to be crazy to buy an EVGA unit.

pawelblyskal
This is why this entire situation is a disaster for EVGA. You can never know if you will get a new card with the thermal pad fix unless you buy from EVGA at full price (rip off). Unless EVGA does a complete recall of all shipped cards (which they won't), forget buying one at any other retailer like Newegg, Amazon, Microcenter, Frys....ect.
 
Why on earth would anyone by an EVGA card from a retailer and have a high chance of getting a unit without the fix when there are PLENTY of other brands that engineered their cards with a correct thermal design...rip EVGA.
At this point you would have to be crazy to buy an EVGA unit.

Where I would agree that unless third party sellers promote the revised upgrade I too wouldn't buy a 1000 series EVGA card. But as for your comment of "rip EVGA", it would be a dark day if that ever happened. To be left with the remaining & questionable RMA Nvidia partners with EVGA out of the equation would be awful imo. 
Anyone that advocates their demise will do themselves no (future) favours....

wampawookie
I do not believe he wants to open up his card and fix the issue himself. He wants to get a card with the fixes already.

If your friend were to purchase the card from Amazon or Newegg and register it, he can give us a call and we can send him the replacement (with the thermal pads installed) before having to send his in. It is a little inconvenient but this will resolve the issue and you will still have a card with a great warranty. 

wampawookie
So after he purchases his card. He needs to wait for it to ship. Then register it. Then mail it to you guys to put the pads on? That sounds like too much trouble. 

He won't have to ship it in to us to install the thermal pads, we are offering a complimentary Advanced RMA for US/CA.

Pretty much (im doing this). Bought the new card and registered in at evga. Then opened a support ticket to get a rma open for cross shipped card with pads . They also include a shipping label to return the non padded card.

wampawookie
 I don't really hear people registering their GPU

We All Register Our EVGA Products!

bcavnaugh

wampawookie
 I don't really hear people registering their GPU

We All Register Our EVGA Products!

Definitely, mind you I skipped my ZOTAC GT 730 2GB Graphics Card............Don't ask

Wowww. where am i hearing this. LOL. i should start registering them then. Thanks. I'll let my friend know about the RMA and see what he thinks :)

Seb6440
So He has to pay the full price ... and he will have a refurb card ... at the full price ...
No, definitively, ACTUALLY, he should buy something else or buy it on EVGA! (except if he loves EVGA products, or he loves the costumer service, ... ).
 

This is incorrect, since its within 30 days of purchase he will get a new card from EVGA, cross shipping will be free, and he will not get charged unless he doesn't return the RMA card.

• All products returned from EVGA's RMA department are thoroughly tested recertified products. If an RMA is necessary within 30 days of the original purchase date, a new in box OEM replacement will be sent in return if the product was purchased new-in-box, subject to availability.

It really no trouble other then walking to the post office to send in the return card.
 
--James

Takes 1-2 days to get the RMA approved and then its shipped 3 day shipping

No guaranteed but they seem to be fast turn around. Best thing is you can do an RMA well the card your returning is being sent by newegg just need the serial number and invoice.