@AtilG LoL yeah kinda, it is a question of perspective I guess.

When what you really need is a V100S, but can only afford a 2080 ti...
Then you are on a "limited budget". 

I have been training a Machine Learning Model for a month now and am only half way through the 1.5M step target.
And since virtualization is not avail on a 2080 ti, I haven't been able to work on other smaller models while waiting.

A few question for people who have experience with the step up program in the past because we wont have information on the 30 series step up options.
If you've used the step up program what product did you step up from and to?
Which cards were made available in the past through the step up program?
Was your purchase of an EVGA video card influenced by the step up program?
have there been backlogged step ups in the past where a card is not currently available but you submit a form to step up and it may be filled outside of the given 90 window due to manufacturing being unable to keep up with the initial demand (e.g. 3080 sold Sep. 17th out of stock immediately but still able to select it for step up to when Sep. 17th is within 90 days of the initial purchase)?
 
to answer my own questions I haven't used the program before but looking at my available options from my 2070s hybrid it shows one option from the 1650 up to the 2070s xc ultra. when I bought my card 2 months ago I had originally intended it as a security purchase as GPU availability at the time was rough and I knew we would probably be seeing  a new release from Nvidia in September based on leaks. Looking only at the numbers Nvidia has given us so far it looks like banking on EVGA's step up program was a good choice but now I'm worried about availability through the step up program. both by selection of cards that are made available from the drop down menu as well as by no confirmation being given if there will be a queue for step ups if you register even if stock is not available due to scalpers/bots/insane demand.

Just hope these cards are available when Cyberpunk is released. One 3090 Hydro Copper please!

I missed my register date for my 2070 super black the step up so I'd need pay the $30 bucks to get the step up which would start july 18th. Should I do it and hope to step up to the 3080? Got a Ryzon 3700x, 8gb ram and 750w psu.

I missed my register date for my 2070 super black the step up so I'd need pay the $30 bucks to get the step up which would start july 18th. Should I do it and hope to step up to the 3080? Got a Ryzon 3700x, 8gb ram and 750w psu.

I'm in the exact same situation- same date, GPU, CPU and PSU- and I went for it

Yes you will have to purchase the extended warranty.

They couldn't care less.

They are laughing at us for buying a 20 series knowing a new generation was coming "eventually".
The variable that wasn't expected by late buying, in my case, was a launch at half the price completely destroying the resale value of the 20 series.
I was expecting to loose a few hundred of dollars, not a 1000$.
This launch is a total disrespect of the clients.
At least they could have hinted at the reduced prices by reducing the 20 series prices in the months coming up to the 30 series release.

All you are is a number. No one cares about your pain in this messed up world where evil prevail.
All they want is your money.
No one cares about how much time of your life you spent working and saving.
Trolls will just troll you and mock you without knowing the context of your decision because this is how the world is.
Evil prevails. (for the moment)

Konzeza
I registered my 2070 XC 2 months after my initial purchase date.  Will I have to purchase the extended warranty to qualify for the step up program?  I just want to make sure I am reading the requirements correctly.  Thank you.

 Yes, I registered at 16 days and had to get the extended warranty to qualify for step-up

nickhmmm
Any ideas when theyre being added to the step up list? My last step up date is Oct. 1. and I have a 2080 Super. Thinking of stepping up to the 3080.

All signs point to October 2nd at the moment.

nickhmmm
Why October 2? Thought 3080 releases on September 17

Yes, Inquiring minds want to know !

mbdash
1 day left for my step up on a 2080 ti black.
It cost me an arm and a leg on my limited budget.

Please, allow us to get on a waiting list from the date of the announcement.
This hurts so much... I am in not so bad shape.

Wow! Thats really gotta hurt. Especially when all reports say a RTX 3070 ($500-$700) will ****kick a RTX 2080ti. I kinda feel for ya. I am in not so bad shape. I bought a RTX 2070 Super (bad ass) Sept/19. It replaced a pair of antique GTX680+ in SLI. I will drop the 2070 in my X58 build, and throw a RTX 3080 in my X79 for the cost of the RTX 2070. I almost was going to pick up another RTX 2070 for the X58. Glad I didnt. It is currently running the pair of GTX680+'s. X58 and GTX60+ in SLI still games hard at 1080. Will be interesting to see if X58 bottlenecks a RTX 2070. Anyone know?
 
As far as supply and demand go, I think I will be alright there. I havent built an air cooled system since before 2010. All 3 systems I currently have are custom water cooled, including my X79 system. So I will have to wait for Watercool to release a Heatkiller block for the RTX 3080 anyways. LOL, built the X79 in 2011. 3960K (6 cores, 4.7GHZ all day long gaming) still crushes tons of high end late gen CPU's. S2011 and S1366 were brutes. In my opinion, the X58 being the best 'bang for buck' platform Intel has released to date. X58 is still very relevant today.
 
Anyways, hope EVGA comes thru with the step up option if thats the route you go. My 2070 doesn't qualify. And in my case, my RTX 2070 has a home to go to.

SO if you do the stepup program and go to choose your "new" card. As far as i can tell you can only choose the XC card right? You cannot choose the FTW3 model? 
 
Second question; if the card is unavailable due to stock issues, will that card be sent once available? Thus not leaving you high and dry
 
Third question; Here in sweden i cannot find any EVGA cards listed with any retailer. Who is going to be selling them at launch? EVGAs store? If i want a 3080 XC at launch where do i look? I want to prepare and just click BUY  

So on the 17th the stepup for the 3080 IXC will be available? 

JasperHursley
It's pretty disappointing that EVGA isn't taking into consideration that Covid will impact the number of cards released and that they won't extend or begin the step-up program to the 3000 series right now. They really should open the queue for the cards for those who figured the 3000 series would be delayed till next year because of the virus. I purchased a 2070 Super in July figuring the 3000 would be delayed. I've stuck with EVGA since they have great customer support and their product is top notch. This situation however is pretty disappointing.
 

 
True. Ultimately it is what it is, but it would be disappointing if they did not open their step up program for upgrades upon release...considering that is what their advertisement is ultimately all about.
 
Quoted directly off their website 
 
"The EVGA Step-Up program helps you have the peace of mind to purchase your favorite product now, knowing you can upgrade to the latest parts that come out within the first 90 days from your purchase." 
 
There ultimately shouldn't be any gray area here. They advertise the program as hey buy this now and if its "released" within the first 90 days, boom you can upgrade! As they say "It's really that simple!" 
 
Reading furthermore into it, the selling continues...

Why do I have to wait in queue?

We have a queue for our Step-Up process so you can keep your current EVGA product until we have your new product ready and waiting for you in our warehouse. Sometimes, very high demand will necessitate a longer than usual queue, but once you have made your request and you are in queue the 90 day limit no longer applies - you are considered in the Step-Up process.
 
Again...this is a great selling point. The only thing so far referenced in this program is "latest parts that come out within the 90 days from your purchase" and "enter a que" which references strong demand and something that could take many weeks. 
 
Lets continue.. 
 
STEP-UP INVENTORY - WHAT CAN I STEP-UP TO?
EVGA maintains a list of current graphics cards as well as motherboards available to Step-Up to. Products listed are mostly stock (not factory overclocked, or water cooled) due to stock limitations.
 
Okay...nothing about it not being able to step up, just that I might not be able to get a fancy FTW3 Ultra+. Oh well...from what I understand, the performance of the new cards means this wont really matter. 
 
Now things change..
 

• Products known to have a limited availability will not be made available to the Step-Up program. (Limited availability determined by EVGA.)

Does this mean that EVGA can say that these new freshly released cards that already has a years worth of demand ready to be gobbled up are determined to have limited availability? 
 
And you also have your typical - 
 
EVGA reserves the right to cancel the Step-Up program at any time.
 
EVGA reserves the right to change the terms of the Step-Up program at any time without notice.
 
Typical company - lawyer policy. 
 
I apologize for the long post, but from what I see here - I don't why they wouldn't make the new product releases available for everyone to step up too *assuming they qualify upon official release of the product*. I bought my 2070 two weeks ago solely because I knew I would be well within the range to upgrade with the release being so soon around the corner. Grill that with a side of EVGA well bragged about customer service and top notch products, they made a nice chunk of change from me. 
 
Am I a sucker? 
 
Can I Step-Up to something not on the Step-Up list?
Due to limited quantities, only select cards are available via Step-Up. Cards not on the list will not be available to Step-Up to.
 

 
Well...thanks for reading!

maleix
If we cannot upgrade from a 2080 to a 3080 or better while still in my 90 day step up window... then I have NO clue what the point of the program is even for or the purpose of it. I mean this is the EXACT situation it sells me on. In what situation would a step up work if not for when a new generation of video cards is released.
 
Having just forked out $1500+taxes on a 2080 then right after finding out about the new 3080 which is miles better and cheaper irks me to no end, I feel terrible about my purchase :(

The purpose of the program is to allow customers an option to upgrade if they are wanting a more powerful card after their purchase.
 
In ways it is more expensive to Set-Up than to buy what you want .... original shipping, return shipping, second card shipping ....
 
Availability of any one product in not guaranteed .... only what is listed
 
The rules of the program are clear -  EVGA Step-Up