Reference GTX580

[DJKahuna]

Hey guys,
I'm gonna be upgrading to a GTX580 in the next few days, and since i'm now on watercooling, i'm looking for a reference design one that i can fit a full-board block onto (currently looking at the EK block).

I've heard people saying they're all reference design, but i just want to be sure that there's no specific brand that's using it's own layout (there's usually at least one odd-ball in each release).

I did searches both on Search Engines and here on the forums and didn't find any list or defining answer. Perhaps this is something OCUK could add onto future listings on the site, or a list for each card to be made for future releases here on the forum? The former is probably best for those who don't browse the forums much, although it does require more work on OCUK's side.

So, any brand out there to avoid if i'm looking for reference design?

 

[GJ02]

all im saying on this matter is
dont go for an evga if you think that it will be a super dooper clocker.
if i was to buy another 580 ( my 3rd ) it would be an asus without a doubt, and being as they are in 10+ stock it seems the only thing to go for
but thats me

 

[555BUK]

EVGA appears to be a company who speed bin their GPU's. In practice this means that their top end SSC cards overclock very well but their lower end vanilla cards do less well. Most other manufacturers do not bother with binning (pre testing to see how good they are) so you stand an equal chance of getting a good overclocker, even on their cheapest 580's.

The benefit of ASUS cards is that their BIOS allows a higher overclock voltage than all other cards. This helps them go further at the cost of more heat.

Personally I would just buy the cheapest 580 I could find. Imfact, that is exactly what I did with my two Gainward 580's.

 

[ghutchison14078]

All 580's released so far are reference design and are ALL cross compatible with any 580 waterblock

 

[slagsmal]

Can someone tell me what Reference design means?

 

[GJ02]

Can someone tell me what Reference design means?

same pcb layout, cooler, on every card ( evga, k2fa, gainward ), the card as is designed and released by nvidia or amd
msi are the first to make custom design cards, after initial release

 

[slagsmal]

Thanks \o/

 

[DJKahuna]

All 580's released so far are reference design and are ALL cross compatible with any 580 waterblock

Thanks for that
Not too bothered in clocking but very interested in making use of a cooler bought just last month.