[IMPORTANT] If You are buying a 7900Gt read this [IMPORTANT]

[Jleo]

Fact

Evga have updated there EVGA GeForce 7900 GT KO SuperClocked 512MB

Evga are supplying Rma returns with new revision card that runs 2 different voltages. 1.2v for 2d operations and 1.4 for 3d operations, which leaves the voltages similar to the 7900Gtx board

Info on voltages http://www.evga.com/community/messageboard/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15640


Fact
Memory issues have also been addressed.


Board Revisions From Evga Forum

7900 GT Series
New part number - Existing part number
256-P2-N580-AR - 256-P2-N560-AX/BX/DX
256-P2-N582-AR - 256-P2-N562-AX/BX/DX
256-P2-N583-AR - 256-P2-N563-AX/BX/DX
256-P2-N584-AR - 256-P2-N564-AX/BX/DX/FX

7900 GTX Series
New part number - Existing part number
512-P2-N571-AR - 512-P2-N570-AX

EVGA has been working out the new SKUs to resolve the issues that some users are experiencing with artifacting during 3DMark06 and random games; we have been manufacturing new cards based on a new AVL list.

Here are the details on the new 7900 cards:
"New" AVL Memory (Approved Vendor List)
RoHS compliant
Test results are extremely positive

If you are an EVGA user that is experiencing artifacting with your 7900 Series products we ask that you submit for an advanced replacement through our website directly. If you are not experiencing artifacting then there is no need for you to submit for an RMA, the number of cards that are having this issue is very low in comparison to the number of 7900 Series of cards that have shipped.

Please allow 2 business days your card to ship once you have submitted for a replacement board.
These boards will be shipped overnight to you via UPS in the US, and for Canada will be USPS Express.

Please visit www.evga.com/rma to apply for this new card.


FAQ:

Q. Will online retailers have these new cards as well?
A. Yes online retailers will be carrying the new SKU's.

Q. My card is not listed, what do I do?
A. If your card is not listed; please stay tuned as we will have more information in the days to come regarding the other 7900 Series of cards. Our resolution will not disappoint, please stay tuned for further announcements. Once we have a resolution you can submit an RMA for cross shipping on our website.

Q. Are the -AR and –BR cards still covered under the EVGA lifetime warranty?
A. Yes, these cards are also covered under EVGA's lifetime warranty. The –AR and –BR represent the packaging type and that the cards are RoHS compliant.

Q. I have a pending RMA for one of the above cards; will I get the N58X series?
A. Yes, all cards that are pending RMA are being switched over to the new 7900 cards.

Q. Should I re-install my video drivers when installing my new N58X/N571/N572?
A. Yes, it is recommended to completely remove your current display drivers and installing the 91.31 WHQL certified drivers.

Also Fact
Old board

New board

 

[Jleo]

I would like to find out if this part of the Evga 7900 Gt board is common among other manufacturers boards.

If someone could have a look at their non Evga board and see if this particular part of the board is the same, maybe post a pic

Thanks in advance.

 

[SithUK]

I'm running my 7900GT overvolted to 1.55v 24/7. I haven't had any problems... yet (touch wood!)

I'm getting 690/1600 and a 3DMark2005 score of 10585 with an Opteron 146 at 2850 (1.593v).

I am watercooled.

I'll let you know if it blows though I haven't read any worrying threads about boards blowing at this voltage...

 

[Jleo]

Good luck with your card SithUK

Bumpty Bump...... as this is an important issue, because the previous generation cards where so easily overclocked this news is necessary to keep peeps who are spending their hard earned cash clued up, and not have them forking it out on Rma double postage

Have added old and new part numbers in first post.

 

[JSynnott]

I notice this card has a "pre-order" status on overclockers, does anyone know when it is going to be in stock?

 

[james.miller]

oh what a load of rubbish lol. the cards can't sustain 1.4v doing nothing so they lowered it, only to leave it at 1.4v when going full pelt. That isnt going to be the problem. no way, no how.

 

[killer_uk]

Surely if it can't run at 1.4v for a long period of time, then it is eventually going to die due to a lot of gaming?

 

[Corasik]

When the cards running full pelt, the power's being used to switch transistors, and do work. Perhaps they just have a current leakage problem when idle (like P4 prescott), so lowering the voltages when the GPU is doing nothing could well make it more reliable.

 

[killer_uk]

When the cards running full pelt, the power's being used to switch transistors, and do work. Perhaps they just have a current leakage problem when idle (like P4 prescott), so lowering the voltages when the GPU is doing nothing could well make it more reliable.

Good point, that could well be it.

 

[Cyber-Mav]

this is a load of crap. voltage is not the problem with these cards. there is another serious flaw with something on these gfx cards.

lower 2d voltage is no point.

i can see a shed load of cards failing when vista is out and the areo glass view is using 3d power all the time. do not buy a 7900gt, you all have been warned.

 

[LoadsaMoney]

Re [IMPORTANT] If your thinking of buying a 7900 read this [IMPORTANT]

Don't, get yourself an X-Box 360 as they are more reliable.

 

[Darkwave]

Watching eVGA/XFX/etc. the last couple of months has been like watching someone desperately clutching at straws like their life depended on it. I say they should just dump 7900 production entirely and push for G80, as G71 has proven itself again and again to be a pile of crap.

 

[no_1_dave]

Watching eVGA/XFX/etc. the last couple of months has been like watching someone desperately clutching at straws like their life depended on it. I say they should just dump 7900 production entirely and push for G80, as G71 has proven itself again and again to be a pile of crap.

If you had a good working one you wouldnt think that!
But then, I guess your card struggles with red alert 2?

 

[Jleo]

oh what a load of rubbish lol. the cards can't sustain 1.4v doing nothing so they lowered it, only to leave it at 1.4v when going full pelt. That isnt going to be the problem. no way, no how.

Conjecturing ? LOL

speculation: a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)

no_1_dave

Nice 3DM2005 score see it against my X800 Xtpe

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=1966152

Why no cpu score?

 

[Darkwave]

If you had a good working one you wouldnt think that!
But then, I guess your card struggles with red alert 2?

Did it not occur to you that this X300SE might be a temporary replacement? Look at the rest of my spec for God's sake.

I prefer my X1800XT over the 7900GT anyday. Better IQ, faster, more reliable, and cheaper (unless you're going to argue with Gibbo's words.)

So, just how does HDR+AA look in Oblivion for you? How about Far Cry and Splinter Cell? Good FPS there?

 

[james.miller]

Conjecturing ? LOL

speculation: a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)

I dont need a mobile dictionary, thank you. Why would lower 2d voltage make any difference? heat and voltage kill far quicker than anything else and running a game will put far more stress on a gpu than sitting in windows idling. but you tell me, how *could* that be the problem?

 

[man_from_uncle]

Another positive 7900gt story here. My first card has been at 1.55v virtually since I took it out of the box (which admittedly was a stupid thing to do). Still sit's happily at gtx speeds. I think my second card will overclock even better as it hit 600/1700 on stock volts.

I'm running them slower now just because of the heat (and because....well 2 7900gts at stock is still more than enough for anything at 1600x1200).

I've no idea what's apparently wrong with these cards, but to so far they've been dynamite for me (and i'd still recomend them over a X1800XT if the user is prepared to do the volt-mod).

 

[OC_A64]

The cards never ran 1.4v anyway... They had a fixed 1.2vGPU and 2.04 vMem. The GT's didnt have 2d and 3d voltages just a constant 2d, probably to stop people overclocking the cards and getting a 7900GTX for free. The stock GT cooler cant really cope with 1.4vGPU too well either, especially if the core was overcloked.
The original issue with the cards was (afaik) poor vmem supply, it simply couldnt sustain the draw from the memory.. Partial solution was to stick crapper clocking infineon ram on the cards - pretty sure this didnt solve the problem in many cases however it does mean the memory doesnt clock as far, and therefore there's less strain on the vMem supply on the cards.
Be nice for someone to confirm whether the issues with these cards are sorted though..

 

[Jleo]

This points to a possible voltage issue in 2d applications with earlier launch cards at a higher 2d voltage.

The hardware revision is fact, and what I posted is there for everyone to see also.

Yes you are correct 'Voltage and heat do kill components' hence my point, and why Evga decided to do this modification without asking you first is beyond me, think of all the unecessary labour hours they could have saved on. LOL

 

[james.miller]

Yes you are correct 'Voltage and heat do kill components' hence my point, and why Evga decided to do this modification without asking you first is beyond me, think of all the unecessary labour hours they could have saved on. LOL

lowering 2d voltage doesnt solve heat problems. what were the cards idling at? oh yeah, more than cool enough.

at any rate, all i can see is that they've changed the memory and they are now 'RoHS compliant'. could you show me where they said the 2d voltage was the problem?