New
#11
Expectations on video card life depends on luck, user maintenance, and quality of the video card/quality control.
I tend to take the video card apart and replace the thermal paste between the GPU and heatsink with superior quality paste before installing it.
^major failure point here, the stuff wears out, what they used is unknown. (and if they forgot to use it, saved the card)
If paranoid, read the reviews for the card on online seller web sites, normally like most electronics they fail early (or way past the warranty period).
So like others have said, you probably want a strong warranty, but also a backup working card, if you have to go that route.
Check your case at least every 3 months and clear the dust and debris in the video card fans and CPU fan/heatsink for a reasonable user maintenance plan.
Power supplies degrade over time, so I suggest going 200W+ over the rating a PSU calculator gives you for a whole system requirement, it only draws what is needed, a 1000W PSU is not using 1000W per hour unless you are using 1000W per hour (very unlikely).
I have a MSI brand video card, I am past 2 years on it, no issues, my still working last 2 video cards, are Diamond and XFX.
I would take solace in the fact that these video card manufacturers can't stay in business if their product is complete junk, far too much competition, having said that if you haven't heard of a brand or their web presence looks sloppy, I would avoid them.