The high-end gaming adapter GeForce GTX 970 gained fame in the world arena thanks to the scandal that caused potential buyers, the media and competitors. However, recently, many experts in the field of IT technologies claim that this was a normal marketing move in order to attract maximum attention to the product. So is it really or not - it doesn’t matter, the main thing is that every user has learned about the new product. In this article, the reader will get to know the wonderful GeForce GTX 970 chip from Nvidia, as well as devices based on it, released under the brands of well-known manufacturers.
The essence of the problem GeForce GTX 970
To the world community, the manufacturer of Nvidia presented the new game chip as the GeForce GTX 970 4096Mb, which has 64 rasterization units and a second-level cache on the graphics core with a capacity of 2 megabytes. However, the first buyers when launching the testing applications found that the amount of video memory is not 4 GB, but 3.5 gigabytes, 56 rasterization units, and the L2 cache has 1.75 MB. Naturally sensing a fraud, many users turned negative to the manufacturer.
With the amount of memory, the situation was resolved favorably: in fact, it is simply segmented into 3.5 + 0.5 GB (when filling the main volume, the backup segment is connected). But the manufacturer attributed the insufficient number of cache and ROP blocks to the mistake of the company's designers.
In order to somehow make amends for the conflict, Nvidia reduced the cost of the GeForce GTX 970 chip. As a result, only the buyer was the winner, because this video adapter occupies a leading position in the market by price-quality criteria in the High-End class. Competitors from the manufacturer AMD lag behind by a wide margin in this matter.
Chip specifications
Attractive price for a video adapter GeForce GTX 970 (20-30 thousand rubles) clearly confuses all potential buyers in the market when they first get acquainted with the technical characteristics of the device. Indeed, when compared with the older model of the line (we are talking about the GTX 980), the cost of which is twice as high as the video card in question, the chip parameters are not too different and differ:
- uses the same graphics core GM204 (Maxwell) with a technical process of 28 nanometers;
- same L2 cache (declared);
- GDDR5 memory with a 256-bit bus operating at a frequency of 1750 MHz and having a capacity of 4 GB is also identical;
- Naturally, the memory bandwidth will be the same - 224 gigabytes per second.
The difference between the GeForce GTX 970 and the flagship GeForce GTX 980 is only in the number of shader units (the younger model has 1664 units, instead of 2048 units of the top device). Texture blocks 104 (the GeForce GTX 980 has 128 pieces). The graphics processor GeForce GTX 970 operates at a frequency of 1050 MHz (instead of 1126 MHz for the flagship).
First introduction to the GeForce GTX 970 adapter in the factory
The reference device from Nvidia is not available in retail, but with special desire, the original GeForce GTX 970 graphics card can be provided by the official distributor of the manufacturer (this is used by the media and independent laboratories around the world for testing). The cost of such an instance always exceeds similar products sold on the market under other brands - this is the company's policy.
The video adapter is shipped without packaging (OEM). The appearance of the device clearly hints that the video card belongs to the High-End class: dimensions, a dual cooling system and the presence of a turbofan. It is worth noting that during a detailed inspection of the batteries and after testing the GeForce GTX 970 adapter under load, many users found that the manufacturer installed cheap Chinese chokes in order to save money, which not only squeak during operation, but also become very hot. There are no questions about the cooling system; when operating at standard frequencies, the cooler coped with its task 100%.
The best purchase in the domestic market
The Asus GeForce GTX 970 Strix graphics card became the first Nvidia representative to hit store shelves around the world. The device immediately attracted the attention of all buyers of the gaming segment not only at an affordable price (22,000 rubles), but also with decent performance. True, for this in the laboratories of the company completely modified the printed circuit board of the video card:
- full replacement of all batteries, including PWM controllers, chokes and phase distributors;
- components that are responsible for energy distribution are assembled together and placed on the front of the GeForce GTX 970 circuit board (as on budget video adapters) for better cooling;
- The 8-pin power connector in the ASUS lab has been turned upside down (for easy disconnection);
- Samsung memory modules are installed, capable of operating at a standard frequency of 2000 MHz.
Such modifications on the printed circuit board clearly hint to the owner that they plan to use the video card in the walls of ASUS for overclocking. But, as you know, the full potential of the device depends directly on decent cooling.
Plagiarism or old ASUS technology
It is not known for certain which manufacturer came up with an aluminum sole installed on the bottom of the printed circuit board in the cooling system, but this technology is used in all High-End devices based on Nvidia chips. Asus GeForce GTX 970 is equipped with the most modern and most effective cooler that a user can meet on the market.
As users note in their reviews, the manufacturer did not spare non-ferrous metal for a gaming video card. Two sections of aluminum radiator are pierced around the perimeter by five copper tubes, which are brought together on a copper contact pad. The metal structure is mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board and pressed with screws that tighten the aluminum sole with the main system. On top of the entire structure, a cooling system casing with two huge fans is mounted. The rotational speed of the GeForce GTX 970 4Gb air-cooled fans is controlled by the BIOS microprocessor, which has special temperature sensors throughout the device’s printed circuit board.
Asus representative performance and overclocking potential
As the owners note in their reviews, a lot of work was invested in the modification of the Asus GeForce GTX 970 Strix video card, and the declared characteristics at the same time look very poor: the manufacturer only increased the nominal frequency of the GPU to 1114 MHz (1253 MHz Boost). Apparently, the manufacturer decided to entrust the acceleration to the future owner. And, as tests by independent laboratories show, there is potential, and it is very high.
Without exception, users note that overclocking the video adapter is unlimited - it all depends on the influx of cold air and a powerful power supply, since the Asus GeForce GTX 970 graphics card is very gluttonous in overclocking. So, many owners managed to achieve maximum air-cooled for the graphics core 1550 MHz and memory 8000 MHz. True, the power consumption of the video adapter increases proportionally: the standard indicator of 145 watts rises up - to 200 watts.
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 Graphics Adapter Zoo
The Taiwanese manufacturer decided to use all its innovations and developments to create game-class video adapters based on the GTX 970 graphics accelerator, otherwise there is simply no explanation for what purpose the well-known brand presents the market with so many different new products built on one chip. The most affordable device is considered to be the video card Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 ITX OC. For only 20,000 rubles, the buyer receives a high-end game-class adapter.
True, many potential buyers are confused by the appearance of the gadget - it looks like a cheap budget device. The company's policy here is quite simple: not all owners of gaming computers own spacious system units. This modification is one of the few in the market in the elite class that can be easily installed on a personal computer. The shortened radiator and one fan in the cooling system do not interfere with the performance and overclocking of the graphics core. The video adapter perfectly accelerates to 1200 MHz in a crystal and up to 7700 MHz in memory, although the sensor detects an increase in core temperature up to 80 degrees Celsius.
Gigabyte Triple Strike
The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 WindForce OC video adapter is the complete antipode of the shorter version of the video card. Many owners jokingly note that they know exactly where the third cooler came from in the cooling system of this device (a hint of a shortened version of the ITX OC gadget). When creating a radiator for heat dissipation, Gigabyte Corporation obviously did not spare copper in production. Lattices in sections, tubes, a core and a lower substrate for a printed circuit board are made of copper. True, the casing of the cooling system is plastic, including fans.
As expected, a decent heat dissipation is a harbinger of high performance and excellent overclocking potential. The graphics core of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 chip perfectly accelerates to 1444 MHz (the nominal frequency is 1178 MHz). Not bad for a device that has not been finalized in the laboratories of Gigabyte.
The final version of the manufacturer
Its third product - GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 4G - manufacturer Gigabyte still decided to upgrade. As expected, the changes affected the batteries - they were collected in one sector and placed on the back of the circuit board. The manufacturer also replaced the chokes (apparently, the feedback from the owners of the first two products was still heard) and delivered a separate power phase for the memory modules.
But the cooling system has undergone only minor improvements - in the walls of Gigabyte decided to leave a fan with a turbine to cool the chip.
The performance and overclocking potential of a graphics accelerator based on the Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 chip look a little modest compared to the WindForce modification (1280 MHz on the core are somehow not impressive). It is also better to be careful with memory during overclocking - it heats up too quickly and displays artifacts instead of images.
The golden mean from MSI
The company's laboratories also felt that noisy chokes on the PCB needed to be replaced. In addition, the MSI GeForce GTX 970 video adapter received a number of improvements in the power system. It is worth noting that the manufacturer also increased the number of phases to 6, separating the power of the graphics core from microchips and memory modules.
All products on the market from MSI, built on the GTX 970 chip, are implemented on the same PCB, but with different cooling systems. Therefore, as users note in their reviews, one should not expect a dramatic performance gap between MSI products. It is recommended to focus on the golden mean.
The video card GeForce GTX 970 Armor 2X, unlike its competitors, is equipped with a more simplified cooling system: a two-section aluminum radiator is fastened with two copper tubes that converge on an aluminum core. A plastic casing with two fans is installed on top. Externally, this device is vaguely reminiscent of a budget representative - this video card looks somehow flimsy and inexpensive. However, in tests everything quickly falls into place (the graphics processor accelerates perfectly from 1100 MHz to 1311 MHz and at the same time demonstrates stable operation).
Anniversary representative
Based on the MSI GeForce GTX 970 platform, the manufacturer made two more new video adapters of the Gaming 4G series. They have the same cooling system and corresponding characteristics. Their only difference is the color: red and green. The last video adapter has the suffix “100ME” in the marking, which indicates that this video card was included in the anniversary hundred millionth batch released at the factory.
However, most potential buyers are more interested not in the appearance of the video adapter, but in its technical characteristics. Here, the manufacturer is unlikely to be able to surprise the user with something: all the same printed circuit board and Twin Frozr V cooler, respectively, and the same characteristics as the Armor 2X device. The difference only in price greatly confuses buyers - 5,000 rubles per color look clearly unworthy.
MSI Turbine Product
On the basis of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 chip, another interesting product of a well-known manufacturer was made in the walls of the MSI factory. Outwardly, it strongly resembles the Nvidia reference device, however, upon a detailed examination, it turns out that the MSI technologists have modified the printed circuit board and cooling system a bit. As expected, the changes affected the batteries: chokes and PWM controllers were replaced. The manufacturer also segmented the placement of heating elements on the front of the circuit board.
The factory characteristics declared by the manufacturer Nvidia were not changed at the factory, entrusting this procedure entirely to the user. Even the most demanding owner will be satisfied with the overclocking result (1450 MHz for the core and 7800 MHz for video memory). Great performance. However, as users note in their reviews, the temperature of the graphics core reaches 80 degrees Celsius and the video card in some cases lacks the power of the power supply (PSU must be from 550 W or more, otherwise the system will simply restart in overclocking).
Finally
As you can see from the review, the chip based on the Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 will linger in the elite gaming class for a very long time. The guarantor provides him with excellent potential for overclocking, which is about 20-30% of the declared nominal value by the manufacturer. Many enthusiasts are pleased that the overclocking is not limited at the hardware level by the BIOS, therefore, by improving cooling (liquid or nitrogen), one can surpass the test results of the official world laboratories.
Many potential buyers should listen not only to the opinions of experts, but also to the reviews of the owners regarding their preferences before buying a decent game adapter. In terms of price and quality, among the most productive devices with huge overclocking potential, the best representative is the Asus GeForce GTX 970 Strix graphics accelerator. If value is a priority, then you should take a closer look at the product of the manufacturer Gigabyte.