***Official GTX 670 thread***

[RavenXXX2]

+1 gigabyte, all my future mobos will be from them and GFX will go to EVGA or gigabyte.

 

[alex_123_fra]

Ok, the absolute limit on 3dMark 11 for me is P10,445

1354MHz Core (+165), 7354MHz memory (+675)

Note that during these extremes, I managed to get a power usage of 90% (but notice I left the power slider at 100% and didn't max it) so I genuinely believe we are power rather than thermally limited. If you look at my temps, again not a bit above 54C. If a new bios could raise our power usage, we can do a lot more with these cards.

Spoiler

An interesting experiment I did, memory is quite happy to play even at 7400+ but once core gets involved you just need more power.

Spoiler

 

[pgi947]

Just spent the last hour or so reading through various forums and reviews (mainly on the 680, but it all applies the same).

From what I can make out (but not certain on, this is all a little over my head tbh) the cards have something called a TPL or Thermal Power Limit set at bios level. It tells the chip/driver/whatever that x% power = x temp. So regardless if its on air, water or LN2 as soon as the card hits x% power usage it kills the driver.

I hope that makes sense to someone, as it makes very little to me

But does it sound logical?

Its a shame I think we all agree that given the freedom these cards (both 670 and 680) would absolutely fly without these restrictions.

 

[welshdragon]

fudzilla took apart an EVGA Superclocked and that had a bigger heatsink than the pallit, not sure about the non-SC though, not seen a breakapart of the EVGA normal one

Ahh cool thanks for that. What are evga like rma/cs wise?

 

[Joshct]

I think you'll be a happy chappie when it arrives, mines dead silent and super cool, love it so far

Sure will, but i need the rest of my system ordered and delivered first XD Got monitor / ssd / gpu, just taking my time really.

 

[alex_123_fra]

Just spent the last hour or so reading through various forums and reviews (mainly on the 680, but it all applies the same).

From what I can make out (but not certain on, this is all a little over my head tbh) the cards have something called a TPL or Thermal Power Limit set at bios level. It tells the chip/driver/whatever that x% power = x temp. So regardless if its on air, water or LN2 as soon as the card hits x% power usage it kills the driver.

I hope that makes sense to someone, as it makes very little to me

But does it sound logical?

Its a shame I think we all agree that given the freedom these cards (both 670 and 680) would absolutely fly without these restrictions.

Makes sense but I don't understand why the ability to adjust voltage has been taken away from us. What were Nvidia afraid of? Is there some sort of rapid degradation of the architecture by not allowing auto throttle-down on idle/less stressful periods?

Really frustrating to be topping out at 54C when you know the card can give so much more.

 

[andybird123]

Ahh cool thanks for that. What are evga like rma/cs wise?

EVGA warranty is widely regarded as being one of the best, they don't even penalise you for changing the cooler as long as the card they recieve back has the original cooler fitted and no obvious signs of damage (so good if you're thinking of fitting an aftermarket cooler or waterblock)

 

[Space Monkey]

@ alex_123_fra,

Off topic but can you link me to your ROG wallpaper that's in your screenies, ta

 

[kmax86]

Makes sense but I don't understand why the ability to adjust voltage has been taken away from us. What were Nvidia afraid of? Is there some sort of rapid degradation of the architecture by not allowing auto throttle-down on idle/less stressful periods?

Really frustrating to be topping out at 54C when you know the card can give so much more.

maybe the voltage controls the amount of boost the card can do so they locked it to control the boost

I just hope they will release a bios update to allow us to increase voltage when all 600 series are out

 

[Boldie007]

Keeping an eye on this thread which was highlighted on overclock.net forum, it appears Norbit now picks up 680/670 bios and people have successfully up'd the power rating from 111-130 to 150% vis bios mods, things could get interesting

http://www.mvktech.net/component/op...ew/id,62683/catid,10/limit,10/limitstart,230/

Very, very interested in this, will be keeping an eye on the results for sure. Not sure I want to be one of the first to try it though given the 680 price tag....

 

[andybird123]

maybe the voltage controls the amount of boost the card can do so they locked it to control the boost

I just hope they will release a bios update to allow us to increase voltage when all 600 series are out

the reason it has been done is simple: Money
by building reference cards down to a cost they make more money and it leaves the door open for AIB's to make "super" editions like the hall of fame that come with an add in module to control voltage and charge an extra £100 for the privilege

 

[pgi947]

maybe the voltage controls the amount of boost the card can do so they locked it to control the boost

I just hope they will release a bios update to allow us to increase voltage when all 600 series are out

Ah we can dream I suppose

Finding conflicting reports on watercooling giving a higher headroom to overclock, most just say we clocked to xxxxmhz on water, only found one person (with a 680) saying they gained an increase from +110 (air) to +130 (water). The odd post as well that points towards watercooling being pointless on the 680 for OC gains.

 

[alex_123_fra]

@ alex_123_fra,

Off topic but can you link me to your ROG wallpaper that's in your screenies, ta

Here are my 2 favourites:

Spoiler

 

[Space Monkey]

Here are my 2 favourites:

Spoiler

Thanks

 

[bhavv]

Interesting, had missed that. Got a link at all to where you saw that? Ta

Take a look at the 'which GTX 670 to buy' thread. I read on the EVGA forum first that all their GTX 670s will use a vapor chamber design, and then found reviews of each with the cooler removed and posted the links in that thread.

 

[shadow_boxer]

Take a look at the 'which GTX 670 to buy' thread. I read on the EVGA forum first that all their GTX 670s will use a vapor chamber design, and then found reviews of each with the cooler removed and posted the links in that thread.

Thanks

 

[Vuvuzela]

Ok so I'm still testing. The windforce is simply EATING all the OCs I throw at it. I'm being deliberately slow but the card isn't even breaking a sweat.

Will just post the latest 3dmark and once I've hit a wall I will post the heaven bench as well:

Settings Core 1360 MHz (+171), Memory 7366 (+ 679). GPU max temp 54C!!! GPU score over 11,000 now.

Tried these settings and I keep getting error. Heaven benchmark runs for about 20sec and then crashes.

 

[alex_123_fra]

Tried these settings and I keep getting error. Heaven benchmark runs for about 20sec and then crashes.

Vuvu, these are pretty much the max I was able to get. I wouldn't start with those. You need to build up to them slowly. We have come to the conclusion that we are bios/power limited currently and thermally this card can achieve a lot more. Talking specifically about the windforce which seems to have a simply incredible cooler.

 

[pgi947]

Anyone stumbled upon someone who has managed to dump the bios from a 670 yet?

Gpu-z isn't reading it atm.

Edit: nevermind, managed to dump my bios with Gigabytes VGA @BIOS utility.

 

[Things change I've changed]

I'm back from work!

Just redone the Heaven bench @ 1920x1050,



Much better results

That's a stock bench on reference KFA2 GTX 670 boosting @ 1084

Temps maxing out @ 79c

Fan hitting 54% (fairly audible)

Temped to have a play at overclocking, it won't damage the card no?