Every year, NVIDIA launches new video cards on the market, which differ from their predecessors in improved performance and the availability of modern technologies. Thanks to this, many expensive video adapters, both from the High-End segment and the middle class, are transferred one class lower. Naturally, their cost is also reduced. The product GeForce GTX 560 and its overclocked modification suffered the same fate. Now, buyers looking for a gaming graphics card in the budget segment have a chance to purchase one of the most interesting devices on the market at a very attractive price (the 560th modification costs about 6,000 rubles, and its overclocked version of 560 Ti costs no more than 10 thousand rubles).
Mind Games in NVIDIA Walls
It's no secret that the manufacturer first produces a reference chip, and only then, after dispersing it in frequencies, offers an improved modification to the market with the marking “Ti”. However, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 graphics card was built a little differently. Based on the GF104 graphics core (GTX 460 video adapter), the manufacturer improved it a bit and as a result got a very productive chip that could overclock the High-End niche. Naturally, such a decision clearly did not suit the management of the company, because the pricing policy was violated.
NVIDIA technologists assigned the productive chip the GeForce GTX 560 Ti, and its weak modification (560th) entered the market with one locked multiprocessor. So do not be surprised to see on the shelves of two modifications of video cards on the same graphics core with the same core frequencies and memory bus. The manufacturer worried that the Ti model was superior to its fellow.
Specifications
To better understand all the manufacturer’s actions, it is better to get acquainted with the technical characteristics of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 chip in comparison with the Ti modification and the representative of the GF104 graphic core, a video adapter based on the GTX 460.
- One multiprocessor contains 48 streaming cores, respectively, the improved Ti modification has 384 cores, and the GTX 560 has 336 cores (exactly the same number with the GTX 460).
- The GPU clock speed of the 560Ti modification is 822 MHz, of the 560 - 810 MHz (GTX460 - 675 MHz).
- The GDDR5 memory is identical for all reviewers: it works on a 256-bit bus and has 1 GB on board. True, on the new circuit board there is a wiring for doubling the volume.
- The memory frequency for the GF114 graphics core is 1002 MHz (the GF104 had 900 MHz).
- The shaders of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti operate at a frequency of 1644 MHz, GTX560 - 1620 MHz, GTX 460 - 1350 MHz.
The remaining indicators regarding the form factor (two slots), interface connectors, power supply and heat dissipation are identical for all three video cards, which suggests the use of one printed circuit board as the basis for different graphic chips.
Bring it all together
Quite strange, when compared with the previous generation of the video card, the technical characteristics of the new GeForce GTX 560 Ti are obtained. They suggest that this is a regular chip based on the GTX 460, which, having received an improved graphics core, was simply overclocked. To remove all doubts, it is enough to test all three video cards.
Comparison results in synthetic tests will only increase suspicions: the overclocked GTX 460 will have identical characteristics as the new GeForce GTX 560. But the improved GTX 560 Ti chip still demonstrates slightly better performance at standard frequencies. There is only one conclusion: the owners of the 4th series do not make any sense to update their video card with the next generation of the graphics core.
Acquaintance with the basic device
A video adapter based on the GeForce GTX 560 and its improved modification by NVIDIA is not available in retail stores on the world market, but the manufacturer provides this product to well-known test laboratories. Thanks to this, it is possible to see the printed circuit board with the elements placed on it firsthand.
The first thing that catches your eye is the standard manufacturer’s defect in terms of the placement of power elements - they are scattered around the entire board. The memory modules are placed more compactly around the GPU, which allows them to be better cooled by the cooling system. By the way, the installed fan hints to the owners that the device belongs to the middle class (there is no protective casing in the budget segment, and High-End representatives have a turbine).
As you would expect, for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 chip, the technical specifications directly depend on decent cooling. The fan in the base unit is clearly not designed for overclocking, so when choosing a video card in the market, the buyer should pay attention to the cooling system in the first place.
Hot sale
The GeForce GTX 560 graphics card under the ASUS brand is the best purchase in the domestic market. In terms of price and quality, this video adapter has no competitors. The manufacturer has completely modified the printed circuit board:
- grouped all the batteries in one sector (on the back of the board);
- replaced PWM controllers and installed solid-state capacitors instead of conventional capacitors;
- changed memory modules for Samsung controllers with a response time of 0.4 nanoseconds;
- GPU powered by a separate phase;
- installed an additional radiator on the batteries.
Also, the manufacturer installed a proprietary cooling system (in fact, they even turned out two). The usual modification of the GTX 560 is equipped with one cooler, and the overclocked version received a proprietary casing with two DirectCUII fans, which is installed on High-End devices. As a result of decent cooling, the video adapter has excellent overclocking potential (it overcomes the 1000 MHz threshold in the core very easily).
Decent approach to customers
As expected, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti graphics card under the ASUS logo will also be able to surprise with its characteristics not only in the review, but also in tests. All manipulations with modifications of the printed circuit board touched the improved representative of the graphic core GF114. To somehow differ from competitors, the corporation took advantage of the presence of a wiring on the board to install additional memory modules. The representative of ASUS became the proud owner of a 2-gigabyte memory capacity.
They did not overclock the graphic core at the plant, providing this opportunity to the future owner. Imagine the surprise of the owners, judging by their reviews, when they saw the full potential of the video card in overclocking - the core gain is an average of 40%. However, it is still impossible to reach the High-End class in synthetic tests, this is the manufacturer’s policy.
The tricky steps of the Taiwanese giant
Gigabyte Corporation also attracted the attention of the parameters of the GeForce GTX 560 chip. The technical characteristics of the device clearly contribute to the high overclocking potential. The manufacturer has completely modified the printed circuit board of the video adapter:
- installed eight Hynix memory chips with a total capacity of 1 GB;
- solid-state capacitors and ferrite chokes are placed in one unit on the back of the board;
- low resistance MOS transistors added;
- Installed proprietary cooling system.
There are legends about the Gigabyte cooler called WindForce 2X. This system has proven itself in high-end devices, so its presence on the GeForce GTX 560 chip clearly hints to the owners of the huge overclocking potential. The aluminum radiator with copper tubes, which are reduced at the base of the contact area of the GPU, is cooled by two huge low-speed fans.
Taiwanese giant potential
Judging by the performance of the representative of Gigabyte, built on an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 chip, you can only thanks to the tests. However, as the owners note in their reviews, expectations are slightly at odds with desires. So, the graphics core shows stable operation at a frequency of 950 MHz, any increase leads to the demonstration of artifacts on the monitor screen (colored squares). Memory is also not particularly overclockable - 1040 MHz is the limit after which the NVIDIA driver stops responding, and the operating system throws a blue Windows screen.
The whole problem, according to experts in their reviews, is in the cooling system, or rather, in the air flow of fans, which have a speed limit. The manufacturer, in pursuit of silent operation, did not take care of decent cooling. Whether this is intentionally done or not, no one will know already, since this video adapter is currently out of production.
Error handling
In the laboratories of the Gigabyte Corporation, the chip based on the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti was given special attention. And, as practice shows, the work was excellent. Firstly, technologists, along with the installation of all proprietary components on the PCB of the product, added two additional memory modules (wiring is provided on the reference device). Accordingly, its volume increased to 1280 MB, and with it the memory bus became larger - 320 bits. It is easy to guess that such a step increased throughput.
Installing a proprietary WindForce 3X cooling system, unlike a lightweight modification, no longer has a speed limiter. Achieving high performance in games with such a solution has become easier for many owners. In tests of overclocking the core to 1 GHz, the video card is rapidly approaching the results of the representative of the High-End GTX 570 class - this is a serious indicator for many potential buyers. It confuses only the price, which, along with productivity, increased by 20% (12,000 rubles).
Favorite Overlocker Maker
The GeForce GTX 560 Ti was also of interest to representatives of Zotac, since on its basis the market saw several solutions from a well-known manufacturer. With the modification of the printed circuit board, this brand has always had problems - the maximum technologists of the company can transfer the heating batteries to one unit. However, this market representative has always paid special attention to the cooling system. As the owners of the board note in their reviews, even in the process of overclocking, the system radiator has room temperature.
The main component in decent cooling of the printed circuit board and graphics core is a proprietary fan, which has a specific blade structure and improved bearings that create a powerful air flow. In tests of cooling systems, the Zotac brand always takes a leading position, this makes it possible to freely overclock the graphics core and memory, without leading the system to overheating.
A product for lovers of silence
Gainward's product, built on the basis of the GeForce GTX 560 chip, did not go unnoticed in the computer market either. The review of the novelty leads to the idea that the well-known manufacturer, taking the NVIDIA reference board, simply installed its proprietary cooling system on it. This is evidenced by the location of the batteries on the printed circuit board (scattered across the surface). Unless the color of the PCB changed - it turned red. During an external examination, a Gainward representative based on the GTX 560 looks very much like the previous modification of the GTX 460, which confuses many buyers.
Fans of the Phantom series also have claims to the manufacturer, because, in addition to the silent operation, the video adapter is not able to demonstrate high performance and overclocking potential. All this suggests that Gainward did not pay attention to an interesting product at all. Such an attitude to the buyer can hardly be called worthy.
EVGA Suitcases
EVGA products based on the GeForce GTX 560 Ti chip are quite interestingly presented on store shelves. Outwardly, they are very similar to the representatives of the High-End-class (GTX 570 and GTX 580) of the same manufacturer. The huge cooling system with the inscription "Superclocked" completely covers the even printed circuit board. The difference between the products is only in labeling and cost, and so is complete identity.
As expected, a serious representative of the computer market has contributed to the placement of batteries on the device’s circuit board. All of them not only lined up in one row, but also underwent major changes: ferrite inductors, solid state drives, PWM controllers - everything is completely replaced by the manufacturer.
The proprietary cooling system, according to EVGA representatives, provides frosty freshness to all elements on the adapter circuit board, including the graphics core. The logic of the manufacturer is clear, as tests and reviews show, the video card does not heat up above 65 degrees Celsius even at the maximum overclock (1004 MHz). But there are still limitations; they are implemented at the BIOS level of the video adapter.
Kid with character
Representative MSI based on the GeForce GTX 560 chip, marked Twin Frozr II / OC with its appearance resembles a top-end device. In the reviews of the owners, an analogy is drawn with the flagship NVIDIA Titan. However, when comparing these devices, it turns out that the new GTX 560 is one and a half times smaller. The design of the video card, the rich package bundle and high performance in the tests will clearly attract the attention of any buyer.
Unlike all competitors, the video card based on the GeForce GTX 560 is equipped with an aluminum casing for the cooling system. Naturally, heat removal in this design will be much more efficient. A huge two-section radiator, pierced by copper tubes, copes with heating perfectly. Two powerful fans do not allow the entire system to overheat. The video adapter overcomes the psychological barrier of 1 GHz in the graphics core somehow imperceptibly, and, as testing shows, the potential is fully revealed at around 1100 MHz. Pros recommend the future owners of this video card to get an ATX-Tower system unit first. The fact is that the device greatly heats the air inside the case, respectively, decent cooling already depends directly on the quality airflow of components.
Diaspora representatives
All other companies that presented their products based on the GeForce GTX 560 chip fell into this category. Reviews of professionals assure that many manufacturers very hesitantly approached the representative of the middle class in the market of gaming devices. Any representative of the market can attach a corporate sticker or install their own low-quality cooling system, however, the buyer, when choosing, focuses more on the performance of the video card and its overclocking potential, rather than on the appearance and brand.
Well-known companies in the world market, such as Palit, Galaxy, PNY and many others, in comparative tests demonstrate low performance during overclocking, and therefore are ignored by many overlockers in reviews. No one disputes that in the standard performance these representatives are able to demonstrate good performance in synthetic tests and games, however, in terms of overclocking (and, as you know, it will be needed after the release of new games), these representatives have no future.
Finally
This is not to say that the technical specifications of the GeForce GTX 560 graphics chip are ideal for many modern games. The middle class only guarantees the launch of all existing resource-intensive applications in minimal and medium settings, so you should not expect anything supernatural from this chip. The video card will be more interesting to people who want at a small financial cost to get a more or less productive device in order to immerse themselves in the dynamic scenes of their favorite toys. All the modern technology, the absence of freezes and good indicators of realism in applications, the video adapter based on the GeForce GTX 560 still provides.
It makes no sense for users who own a GTX 460-based video adapter to switch to an updated chip. Yes, the new product has the potential for overclocking, but the system is clearly not designed to work at elevated temperatures constantly. Price-quality - this is the main criterion for positioning this video card in the computer market. You need something more productive - welcome to the High-End class.