Test bench and software

advertising

Configuration

• Motherboard: Asus Maximus VII Hero (BIOS v 0904);
• CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3800 MHz (100x38, 1.132 V) or 800 MHz when measuring the noise of the cooling system;
• CPU Cooler: Thermalright Archon (Thermalright TY-140 fan, 140 mm, 500 rpm);
• RAM: Kingston PC3-17000 (DDR3-2133, 9-10-10-27, 2x4 GB, dual channel);
• Hard drive: OCZ Vertex 4, 128 GB;
• Power Supply: ETG Premium, 1200 Watts;
• Case: Cooler Master HAF 922.

Software

• Operating system: Windows 7 x64 Ultimate;
• Video card driver: Nvidia ForceWare WHQL 344.48;
• Auxiliary utilities:
• GPU-zv. 0.8.0;
• Heaven Benchmark 4.0;
• MSI Afterburner v4.0.0 Final;
• MSI Kombustor 2.5
• Evga PrecisionX 16 v5.2.4.

Testing tools and methodology

For overclocking video cards, as well as monitoring temperatures and fan speeds, the proprietary utility MSI Afterburner v4.0.0 Final was used.

advertising

The stability of the accelerators during overclocking was checked using the MSI Kombustor 2.5 utility (GPU Burn-in mode, 1920 x 1080). The obtained frequencies were additionally verified by running the Heaven Benchmark v 4.0 test with an extreme level of tessellation and graphics tests from the 3DMark 2013, 3DMark 11 and 3DMark Vantage packages.

Heaven BenchMark v4.0 (quality: ultra, tessellation: extreme, AA8x, 1920 x 1080) was used to check the temperature regime of video cards in conditions close to everyday ones.

The noise level was measured using a TM-102 digital sound level meter with a measurement error of no more than 0.5 dB. The measurements were taken from a distance of 0.5 m. The background noise level in the room was no more than 28 dB. All system fans, including the one installed in the power supply, turned off. The air temperature in the room was 26 degrees Celsius.

Standard frequencies and overclocking

The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming video card, in addition to a high-quality cooling system, received another indisputable plus - factory overclocking. So, the frequency of the graphics processor was increased from 1050 MHz for the core to 1178 MHz, in Boost mode it is 1329 MHz at a voltage of 1.218 V. The memory frequency remained unchanged - 1753 MHz.

Without load, these values ​​​​are reduced to the reference 135 / 162 MHz. In this state, the model runs quietly, despite the fact that the fan speed is approximately 1630 rpm (40% of the maximum), and the temperature drops to 32°C. If in terms of noise you do not believe me, then at least believe the device, the indicators of which were entered in the final graph. But once again, one might wonder why 1600 rpm was chosen for idle time, and not, say, 1000 rpm?

In gaming applications, thanks to the GPU Boost 2.0 algorithm, the clock frequency of the video core increases up to 1392 MHz. This is an excellent indicator, some models cannot achieve this even after overclocking.

The applied cooling system did not allow the GPU to warm up above 63°C, which is an excellent result. The developers did not invent anything, and set the fan speed as a percentage equal to the same temperature indicator, but in degrees. From here we get 63°C at 63%. The noise level was comfortable for extended work.

Smoothly we pass to dispersal. It would be better to use official utility Gigabyte Guru OC, but from my point of view, its interface is not very friendly, and the functionality is no different from third-party programs.

Therefore, the more interesting Evga PrecisionX 16 was used to increase the frequencies.

Let's start with overclocking without increasing the voltage. With the reference 1.218 V, it was possible to increase the clock frequencies of the core and video memory to 1310 MHz and 2028 MHz, respectively. The aggressive behavior of GPU Boost 2.0 showed itself here too: in gaming applications maximum frequency equaled 1518 MHz! A result that is not yet achievable for models from other manufacturers.

It is worth noting that the cooling system did not increase the fan speed, and the GPU warmed up to only 65°C.

advertising

Gigabyte announces selected GPUs for its line of graphics cards. Who knows if this is a marketing move or it really is, but we continued to overclock the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming, and she, in turn, continued to please.

Increasing the voltage by 87 mV led to an early overheating and reset of the video driver. After a dozen trial and error, I had to fix the speed of rotation of the impellers at 2300 rpm, and then things moved. After selecting the necessary values, I managed to overcome the 1.6 GHz bar on the core using standard air cooling.

The results are impressive, the processor temperature is only 62°C, although there was little time left before the local overheating of the power subsystem.

advertising

Study of the potential of the cooling system

First of all, a study of the possibilities of SO was carried out in automatic mode work with the removal of temperature and noise indicators. The graphs contain the results of all previously tested by this method GeForce video cards GTX 970. Over time, the list of models presented on it will be expanded.

Idle temperature.

idle temperature

Standard settings
°C

Temperature values MSI graphics cards should not scare you, since it works in passive mode.

advertising

Rotation speed of the fan impellers (in all cases, percentages of the maximum according to program monitoring data are indicated in brackets).

Fan speed

Standard settings
rpm

Please enable JavaScript to see charts

The load was carried out by three runs in Heaven Benchmark 4.0, then the fixed maximum temperature and fan speed marks were entered on the graphs; noise values ​​are shown on a separate graph.

The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming video card is the most resourceful, and without modifying the BIOS, the 40% bar cannot be overcome. But even with its 1600 rpm, it did not stand out against the background of the work of other components in a closed case.

Temperature under load

Heaven Benchmark
°C

Please enable JavaScript to see charts

advertising

The WindForce 3X cooling system performs well against its competitors. There is a certain margin, which allows you to reduce the speed of rotation of the turntables.

Fan speed data.

Fan speed

Standard settings
rpm

Please enable JavaScript to see charts

Temperature under load

Maximum overclocking
Heaven Benchmark
°C

Please enable JavaScript to see charts

At the stage of the maximum overclocking achieved, I had to intervene in the impeller speed control algorithm, since the power subsystem was simply overheating, so you should not be embarrassed by the reduced temperature of the GPU.

advertising

Fan speed data.

Fan speed

Maximum overclocking
rpm

Please enable JavaScript to see charts

For a complete assessment of the efficiency of the WindForce 3X cooling system, I will give a graph of temperature and noise versus fan speed.

As for me, comments are unnecessary. With automatic operation of the cooling system and factory frequencies, the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming can operate even at the minimum rotation speed of the turntables.

advertising

Conclusion

I can't be called an adherent of any vendor, but to be honest, Gigabyte video cards have not always pleased users with their design or implementation of the cooling system. Over time, in the minds of buyers, models released under this brand have firmly registered in the category of mid-range solutions. This happened with the Gigabyte GTX 700 series graphics accelerators. Nevertheless, the company's engineers took full advantage of the opportunity provided by the announcement of the GeForce GTX 970 / GTX 980 line, trying to regain lost confidence. And the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming succeeded.

Among the advantages demonstrated by the video card, it is worth noting the excellent efficiency of the cooling system, its low noise level in automatic mode, factory overclocking and the use of high-quality components. What else does an ordinary user need who wants to play without too much noise? And enthusiasts of the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming will be pleased with the enhanced power subsystem and excellent overclocking potential, for the disclosure of which a lot of work has been done.

True, everything is not forgotten just like that, and many still remember the unsuccessful decisions of Gigabyte developers. So has anything changed for the better? And what are the chances for the updated line of WindForce 3X (G1 Gaming)? In my opinion, yes. At the moment, the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming looks like a good choice that deserves the attention of not only ordinary users, but also enthusiasts who want to get to know the Maxwell processor better and squeeze the last megahertz out of it.

Nefedov Petr aka Go.d-bq

advertising

We are grateful to:

• Regard Company for the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming video card provided for testing.

Readers of the information portal i2HARD we could already get acquainted with a very successful model GTX 970 performed by Gainward. But it is worth recognizing that the Phantom model, and indeed the products of this company, are extremely rare in the vastness of our country. In this article, we will test GTX 970 from a more famous brand gigabyte, whose products everyone can buy in the stores of their city right now.

Specification

• Manufacturer: Gigabyte
• Model: GV-N970WF3OC-4GD;
• GPU: GM204;
• Manufacturing process: 28 nm;
• GPU clock: 1114 MHz (1253 MHz in GPU Boost mode);
• Number of shader processors: 1664;
• Video memory: 4 GB;
• Video memory type: GDDR5;
• Video memory bus width: 256 bits;
• Video memory frequency: 1750 MHz (7.0 GHz QDR);
• SLI support: yes;
• HDCP support: yes;
• Ports: 3 x DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-D, DVI-I;
• Max. number of connected monitors: 4;
• Additional power connector: 8-pin + 6-pin;
• Length: 295 mm.

Packaging and equipment

When it comes to Gigabyte products, the packaging remains the same, even with the division of models from AMD and nVidia. Only the accompanying inscriptions on the box and the description of key features change.

This approach helps the company to reduce costs. Here the logic is simple, if you develop a universal package size and design, then in the future a minimum of effort is spent to match the required model. In fact, only the form changes, which fixes the video card inside and protects it from damage during delivery.

The bundle is modest, here you will find a user manual and a pair of adapters with molex connectors for 8 and 6 pins for additional power supply to the video card.

The example of this model shows that the company tried to minimize production costs in order to GV-N970WF3OC-4GD got you at a better price.

Product appearance

An important parameter here is the length of 295 mm, which slightly limits fans of compact systems and owners of outdated case models from thinking about buying. When assembling a new computer, problems can be avoided, since most modern cases allow you to use video cards up to 300 mm long.

There is no plate on the back, and along with the lack of side lighting, these are the most noticeable differences from the more expensive model. GV-N970G1 GAMING-4GD.

When oriented towards the motherboard, we see large slots in the sidewall, you can even say that it is almost absent.

On the other side, there are power connectors, and the casing covers the central part of the radiator more.

You will need a quality 550W or higher power supply to function properly. It is desirable to have additional power connectors for 6 and 8-pin.

It can also be noted that the heatsink is noticeably longer than the PCB.

To connect multiple displays, the video card is equipped with the latest interfaces: 3 x DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-D, DVI-I.

Cooling system

Model GV-N970WF3OC-4GD Equipped with a dual-slot Windforce 3X cooling system. The manufacturer decided to sacrifice the length instead of covering the third slot. The plastic casing is a little flimsy, I strongly do not recommend holding the card by it, it can be easily damaged.

The lack of warranty seals on the screws has become a pleasant tradition, so enthusiasts will replace the thermal interface with a better one immediately after purchase.

Unlike the older model GV-N970G1 GAMING-4GD, there are not four, but two heat pipes. To increase efficiency, the radiator is divided into three compartments, each of which is cooled by a personal fan.

One part is used to remove heat from power elements.

The central heatsink should cool the graphics chip using direct contact technology, where the tubes are in direct contact with the GPU. To remove heat from the memory chips, a separate plate is used, equipped with thermal pads. It is important to note that not all chips are cooled, as some of them are located on the reverse side of the board.

And the third section, which can be called auxiliary, completes the engineering thought. Here, a recess is noticeable, covering the top connectors for additional. power supply on the board.

All fans are mounted on three screws, while the design of the blades is vaguely reminiscent of Aerocool Shark fans. Such tricks increase the efficiency of the air flow.

All fans are marked PowerLogic PLD08010S12H, the impeller diameter is 75 mm.

Printed circuit board

In case of PCB differences between models GV-N970G1 GAMING-4GD and GV-N970WF3OC-4GD no, which is a plus towards the latter. The layout of the elements on the board is different from the reference.

In the center is the most popular GM204 graphics chip to date, which is characterized by economical consumption and high performance.

The memory is represented by chips manufactured by Samsung, which should have a positive effect on overclocking. All chips are marked K4G41325FC-HC28. The volume of 4 GB is filled with 8 modules of 512 MB.

Unlike the reference sample with four phases of the GPU power supply, an enhanced circuit with six phases is used here.

The PWM controller manufactured by ON Semiconductor marked NCP81174 controls the power phases, it is soldered on the back of the board.

Next to the 27 MHz quartz resonator are two microcircuits marked PI3WVR12412. These are video signal switches that switch between DisplayPort and HDMI.

On the reverse side, in addition to memory chips, there are two linear stabilizers, which are distinguished by a low voltage drop across the regulating element (marking uP0104P).

Two power phases are reserved for memory. Empty landing pads can be useful to ensure that each phase gives more power and will probably be used on a more advanced model. In addition, you can see a p-channel field-effect transistor AP3310GH and linear regulator L1117LG.

Test stand configuration

• Processor: (4000 MHz);
• Motherboard: , BIOS version 1304;
• Cooler: Corsair H-110;
• Thermal interface: Arctic Cooling MX-2;
• Memory: , 2 x 8 GB DDR3 2400;
• Video card: Gigabyte GTX 970 (1114 / 7000 MHz (core/memory));
• SSD storage: Samsung 840 Pro 256 GB;
• Fan speed controller: Schyte Kaze Q-12;
• Power supply: Corsair AX860, 860 watts;
• Chassis: NZXT Switch 810;
• Monitor: VIEWSONIC VP2770-LED;
• Operating system: Windows 7 64-bit Service Pack 1;
• Drivers: GeForce 344.75

As CPU Intel Core i7-4790K was installed, while the processor frequency was nominal. HyperThreading and TurboBoost were enabled during testing. The motherboard SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK 1 (BIOS version 1304) was used as a system platform. The factory thermal interface on the graphics chip has been replaced with Arctic Cooling MX-2.

From analogues Gigabyte GV-N970WF3OC-4GD features a proprietary triple-fan cooling system, modest factory GPU overclocking, and a modified PCB.

Synthetic tests

Synthetic performance was measured using Valley Benchmark, Heaven Benchmark, 3DMark11, 3DMark Vantage, and 3DMark13.

Game tests

Let's move on to gaming applications and dwell on the testing methodology. FPS was measured using the FRAPS utility, the resolution in all games was set to 2560x1440 pixels. The following options are manually disabled:

• VSync (vertical sync)

All other settings in the games were set to the maximum possible.

shadow play

Perhaps ShadowPlay is the most useful additional option implemented through the driver. With this function, you will not miss an important game moment, just press hotkey and everything will be written to the specified location. Thus, you no longer need to buy separate devices for recording, because with ShadowPlay there is no longer a drop in performance of the recorded application, as, for example, happened with FRAPS.

Enabling this option is easy, first go to GeForce Experience and make sure your computer meets the minimum system requirements.

Then go to options and on the right upper corner, after activation, you can change all the necessary settings.

It can be seen that nVidia tried to take into account all the wishes of the players and make the recording process itself as comfortable and convenient as possible. You can choose the manual recording mode, which is unlimited in time, or you can resort to the help of automation and set the required time interval. In the quality tab, recording is available with support for resolutions up to 4K, and as a soundtrack, you can record the sound from the game and provide it with your own comments. Using ShadowPlay as an example, you get a great tool for creating videos like Let's Play.

I will give an example of shooting gameplay using this technology, while FRAPS is launched for informational purposes and you can compare the FPS level with that indicated earlier in the tests.

Temperature and overclocking

For overclocking, the MSI Afterburner utility was used, overclocking was carried out with raising the voltage:

• The GPU frequency was increased by 190 MHz, which in the final version was 1304 MHz. At the same time, the value of the dynamic frequency reached 1443 MHz.
• The memory frequency was increased by 465 MHz and the value was 1985 MHz (7.94 GHz QDR).

Despite the factory overclocking of the graphics core by 64 MHz, during manual change parameters managed to achieve much more impressive results. Such a significant increase in the frequency of the GPU and MEM will have a noticeable impact on the level of performance.

Testing took place in an open case at room temperature of 26 degrees. In idle mode, the frequency of the GPU and memory is reduced to 135/324 MHz, this directly affects energy efficiency and improves thermal performance.

The cooling system copes with its direct task perfectly and even under load the temperature does not exceed 62 degrees, this is simply an excellent indicator even taking into account the low consumption of the chip.

The fan speed varies depending on the workload of the video card (from 1529 to 1927 rpm.). Despite the seemingly high tachometer readings, the fans are very quiet both at idle and under load. In this case, there is no compromise, the low temperature under load and at the same time the quiet operation of the cooling system causes only positive emotions.

Conclusion

For example GV-N970WF3OC-4GD Gigabyte has turned out to be a very successful product, which is devoid of any noticeable disadvantages. The only drawback is the length of the video card, which introduces some limitations on compatibility with compact or outdated cases. Otherwise, we only observe positive sides: good system cooling, impressive results of manual overclocking, low operating temperature, low chip consumption and support for a number of proprietary technologies from nVidia.

Some are tormented by the question of choice, buy GV-N970G1 GAMING-4GD or GV-N970WF3OC-4GD. Does it make sense to overpay for a more expensive model? The answer will be this: there are no significant differences between the video cards, and it is up to you to decide whether it is worth paying extra for two additional heat pipes, a backplate and a backlight.

Pros:

• Efficient WINDFORCE 3X cooling system;
• Quiet even under load
• Good GPU and memory overclocking results;
• Low consumption;
• Support for TXAA, GPU Boost, Adaptive V-Sync, ShadowPlay;
• Excellent performance.

Minuses:

According to the editors, taking into account all the pros and cons, Gigabyte GTX 970 (GV-N970WF3OC-4GD) receives the Gold award.

If new motherboards for Socket platforms AM3 + is being released, so does anyone need it? We even know exactly who wants them to be. For the mid-entry segment, AMD has great deals. How do you like an 8-core for $130 or a CPU with four cores for $75? Motherboard manufacturers undertake to modernize the strapping of the age platform. Recently, companies have introduced a whole handful of new models. Let's consider one of the versions with a gaming bias in a little more detail. Today we have GIGABYTE testing GA-970-Gaming under $100.

At the end of last year company GIGABYTE announced an update of the lineup of devices for Socket AM3+. The manufacturer presented a number of models, among which one of the most affordable is the GIGABYTE GA-970-Gaming board based on the AMD 970 chipset.

The list of supported processors includes all models for Socket AM3/AM3+ platforms, except for FX-9xxx chips with TDP 220W. The latter are specific CPUs, which require motherboards with a very powerful power subsystem, as a rule, these are top-end devices based on AMD 990X/990FX.

Contents of delivery

The board is offered in a medium-sized box, which is designed in the usual style for the latest models of the G1 Gaming series.

The device comes with a manual, quick installation instructions and warranty documentation, a driver disk, 4 SATA interface cables, and a G-Connector adapter for connecting system buttons and indicators. Those wishing to designate the use of the board game line A round sticker with the G1 Gaming series logo will come in handy.

Design and layout

GIGABYTE GA-970-Gaming complies with the ATX format, having classic dimensions for this form factor – 305×244 mm. Externally, the board is designed in the spirit of the models of the gaming version. Black base, cooling system radiators and most interface connectors. Some of the connectors are colored red. Such a technique

The printed circuit board has a spectacular matte finish that hides the copper tracks very well. On boards of this level, as a rule, the conductors are clearly visible through the thickness of the varnish. In the case of the GA-970-Gaming, a coating is used, which is often used for more expensive models. Of course, for a motherboard, appearance is definitely not the most important attribute that significantly affects the choice of a particular model. But neat stylish design of the device has never been superfluous.

The power block is made according to a 5-phase scheme (4 + 1). The VRM parameters are controlled by the Richtek RT8868 controller. In this configuration, the power stabilizer module can rather be called sufficient for using the system in normal mode and moderate "walking" overclocking. Obviously, for a record forcing, more equipped platforms with an increased power reserve will be needed.

For additional cooling MOSFET assemblies use an aluminum heatsink. The block is not very large, although due to the complex shape of the profile, the manufacturer tried to increase the scattering area. The radiator is pressed very tightly, a screw fastener is used for fixing.

There are 4 slots for installing memory modules on the board. DDR3 strips with an effective operating frequency up to 2133 MHz are supported. The maximum amount of RAM is 32 GB. The connectors have a double-sided mechanism for fixing modules. In this case, such a mounting design will not interfere with the control of the brackets with the video card installed. Color-coded connectors make it easier for novice users to navigate when setting up a dual-channel memory mode. The board supports X.M.P. profiles, which also facilitates the selection of parameters.

An 8-pin 12V connector is provided for connecting additional power.

The board has 6 expansion slots. Two full-format PCI Express x16, a pair of PCI Express x1 and the same number of PCI. The first PCI-E x16 slot always operates in full speed mode. For the second, 4 bus lines are allocated (x4 mode). The board supports the CrossFire mode, but does not allow for the operation of two video cards in an SLI bundle. The slots are copied in such a way that even after installing a pair of graphics adapters with two-slot coolers, one PCI-E x1 and PCI are available. Recall that PCI support here is native. Chipsets for AM3+ still have a built-in controller for this bus, which is good for the owners of the corresponding peripherals. Of course, equipment manufacturers have not been guided by this standard for a long time, but owners of high-quality sound cards with such an interface are unlikely to be very worried about this.

Note that both PCI slot Express x16 have a metal frame that enhances the strength of the connectors.

Splitting connectors under the weight of adapters is rather an exception, such consequences can be caused by inaccurate manipulations with the adapter during the installation / removal of video cards. An additional casing should just protect the connectors from such incidents.

The board does not provide additional system controls or auxiliary indicators. The model is positioned by the manufacturer as the basis for a gaming platform, and not an overclocker stand, because there is no corresponding body kit here.

From what is there are two BIOS chips for backing up the firmware. Microcode duplication is useful even if you are not actively engaged in overclocking. From power failure during BIOS updates no one is insured (you use an uninterruptible power supply when flashing, right?), and just DualBIOS is very useful in this case.

To connect fans, the board has a pair of 4-pin connectors and two 3-pin ones. Speed ​​control is provided only for fans connected to 4-pin connectors. 12 V is supplied to the 3-pin ones, and you will need to control the speed using additional adapters or potentiometers.

Of the interesting features of the board, we note that the panel for connecting buttons and indicators is located in the central part next to the connector ATX power supply. Connectors have color coding, but when connecting cables, it is more convenient to use the supplied G-Connector adapter, after assembling all the elements on it, and then connecting it to the board in one fell swoop. Near the panel there is also a two-pin connector, the closure of which clears the CMOS memory.

To connect drives, the board has six SATA 6 Gb / s ports. All connectors are positioned perpendicular to the PCB plane and placed in the lower right corner. Taking into account the fact that the model is full-size with classic dimensions, the angle is securely fixed with a screw, because printed circuit board will not bend when connecting interface cables. The SATA ports are placed in such a way that even using a second video card with a dual-slot cooling system, access to the connectors will not be difficult.

The M.2 port is a curiosity for Socket AM3+ motherboards. It is not yet an essential attribute, however, the popularity of drives of this format is growing, therefore, even potentially being able to connect a high-speed SSD is a useful bonus. In this case, two PCI Express 2.0 lanes are allocated for M.2, and the port bandwidth is 10 Gb / s. The board allows you to use an M.2 SSD with a length of 42, 60 and 80 mm. At the same time, both SATA drives and PCI Express (NVMe) are supported. In the first case, one of the six available SATA channels will be used, in the second, half of the lines allocated for PCI Express x4. In general, 10 Gb / s is not too much bandwidth. Some high-speed SSDs can offer higher transfers, in this case, their data transfer speed will be limited to 1-1.2 GB / s. But, in any case, this is above 550 MB / s, which are available for traditional SATA drives.

AMD chipsets for the Socket AM3+ platform do not natively support USB 3.0. In such a situation, additional third-party chips come to the rescue. To implement USB 3.0 on the GIGABYTE GA-970-Gaming, the VIA VL805 controller is used, which provides support for 4 ports of the corresponding bus. Two of them are placed on the interface panel, another pair is provided with an internal connector on the PCB. Often it is used to bring ports to the front panel or case wall.

If there were no problems with USB 3.0 on boards with AM3+ initially, then the appearance of support for USB 3.1 with double the bandwidth is the "goodies" of new wave boards, which are only now appearing on sale. The high-speed bus in this case is implemented thanks to the ASMedia ASM1143 controller. The chip provides two USB port 3.1, which are located on the interface panel. Moreover, one of them is made in the classic USB Type-A format, the second is in the form of a compact symmetrical USB Type-C. This is the best combination.

Closing the topic with USB ports, we note that a couple of connectors on the interface panel have increased resistance to possible voltage drops when connecting resource-intensive peripherals. Additional regulators allow you to get a stable 5 V. Ports with an isolated power supply, for which a USB technology DAC-UP, marked with yellow inner inserts. It is these connectors that the manufacturer recommends using to connect external DACs or other peripherals that are sensitive to even small power drops.

The SB950 southbridge chip is covered with a medium-sized heatsink. During the operation of the system, the block warmed up to 42-45 degrees.

The Killer E2201 gigabit controller is responsible for connecting to a wired network, which is hidden on the board behind a metal shielding casing. A feature of the solutions of this series, for the development of which the company Rivet Networks is now responsible, is the possibility of automatic redistribution of traffic priority. Under conditions of heterogeneous network load, this allows you to reduce possible delays, for example, for online games or video streaming.

Another option that develops the gaming abilities of the board is an improved sound subsystem. The audio path block is already expectedly separated from the general PCB array, but this will not surprise anyone. Let's start with the fact that the Realtek ALC1150 codec is used here, which in itself is a rarity for full-format boards costing about $100. The chip is also hidden under a metal frame. The chain uses specialized Japanese containers. Perhaps it was unexpected to see on a board of this level the ability to change the operational amplifier at will. Initially, the removable panel is occupied by a TI Burr Brown NE5532 chip.

An entry-level amplifier, but it generally fits into the composition organically. The board also provides a block of DIP switches for changing the signal gain (2.5x and 6x).

Well, yes, of course, the boundary track of the audio subsystem is highlighted with red LEDs. It's almost impossible without it. The contours of the audio path are not marked very intensively.

You can control the operation of the illumination from the BIOS or using the Ambient LED utility. Supported modes of constant glow, pulsation and backlight to the beat of the musical accompaniment.

On the software setting Better not to count too much. It is unlikely that it will be possible to achieve something better than the standard mode with the proposed improvers.

In general, I rather liked the built-in sound capabilities. There is a good margin of power to drive headphones with high input impedance. The sound is balanced, with pronounced high frequencies. For those who initially focused on a discrete sound card, the "embedding" will not full replacement, but for moderately demanding, but not too picky users, this solution will save.

There are no large piles of connectors at the bottom edge of the board. It houses an internal audio port, a two-pin S/PDIF, COM, three internal USB 2.0 ports, which in total can provide up to six corresponding ports and one USB 3.0 for two ports. As we already mentioned, the SATA ports are located in the lower right corner.

There are a minimum of elements on the reverse side of the printed circuit board. As you can see, the MOSFET and southbridge heatsinks are held in place with screws, while the northbridge IC cooler is held in place with plastic retainers.

With interface panel full order. In addition to the PS / 2 combo, there are six USB 2.0 ports, a pair of USB 3.0 and two USB 3.1 connectors. The latter are presented in the form of connectors USB Type A and USB Type-C. There is also an Ethernet socket on the panel. To connect acoustics, there are 5 3.5 mm audio jacks and an optical S / PDIF.

It is already somewhat unusual to see motherboards without video outputs, but this feature is not specific model, but in general the Socket AM3+ platform. The chips for this connector do not have integrated graphics, so a discrete graphics card is required to work. The exceptions are still available, but very rare models based on the AMD 760G chipset. In this case, the integrated graphics, modest in its capabilities, are contained in the northbridge chip.

UEFI and software

The UEFI graphical shell has the usual classic design for GIGABYTE boards. The characteristic placement and grouping of options has become a specific feature of the manufacturer's devices. The number of available parameters on boards for the AMD platform is traditionally less than in the case of models for Intel chips. There is not a large scattering of bookmarks and parameters here, however, the existing set is quite enough in case you want to deviate from the normal mode of the system.

The supply voltage on the x86 cores can be adjusted incrementally, from -0.275 V to +0.620 V. (step -0.025 ... + 0.02 V), on the north bridge chip from -0.175 V to +0.460 V. The voltage on the memory modules is regulated in within 1.25–2.0 V in steps of 0.01 V.

The GIGABYTE APP Center software package offers a set of utilities for managing the system from the OS. In the EasyTune application, profiles for auto-overclocking of the processor are traditionally available, which we tested for the FX-8320. This CPU has a default frequency formula of 3.5/4.0 GHz.

In Light mode, the operating frequency has been increased by 100 MHz (3.6/4.1 GHz). Medium assumes overclocking by 200 MHz, and Extreme adds 300 MHz to the initial values. You won't get a big increase in performance in this case, but these are quite acceptable conditions for safe forcing. It is curious that in this case the Energy Saving and Auto Tuning modes were not available. If you want more, you still have to delve into the settings in more detail. In general, this can be done right here in EasyTune by going to the Advanced CPU OC tab or directly in the BIOS.

AT manual mode the clock frequency of the processor was increased to 4.4 GHz under load on all computing units. To do this, it was also necessary to increase the supply voltage by 0.08 V. With a significant overclocking of the processor, one should take into account the seriously increasing load on the VRM power elements. The heatsink attached to the MOSFET in such conditions warmed up to 75–80 C under load. The mode is acceptable, but additional airflow in this case would not hurt. Of course, the temperature regime here will be very individual and largely depend on the processor cooler. When using tower-type models, due attention should be paid to the power unit.

DDR3-2133 memory modules worked in normal mode without any problems. Support X.M.P. greatly simplifies the settings.

The System Information Viewer application is used to configure the operation of the cooling system and monitor various system parameters (voltage, temperature, fan speed). In the System Alerts section, you can set criteria upon reaching which notifications will appear on the screen when temperatures or rotation speeds go beyond the established limits.

In the general set of auxiliary applications, there is a V-Tuner utility that allows you to experiment with overclocking a video card. Of course, for serious tuning, specialized software is more likely to be needed, but the attached utility is also useful for express tuning.

GeForce GTX 970 and GTX 980 differ primarily in the number of active computing units of the GM204 chip. The dies allocated to the GTX 970 have 3 out of 16 MMX disabled. Therefore, from 2048 CUDA cores and 128 texture units remained in service only 1664 and 104, respectively. The differences in GPU front-end configuration are significant. In addition, the GTX 970 has reduced clock speeds: from 1126/1216 to 1050/1178 (base clock and Boost Clock, respectively).

Block diagram of the GM204 as part of the GeForce GTX 970

But the back-end of the processor was not affected. 64 ROPs and four 64-bit memory controllers are still active. The effective RAM frequency according to the reference specifications is 7 GHz, the volume is 4 GB.

Model

GPU

video memory

Input bus/ output

TDP, W

code name

Number of transistors, million

Process technology, nm

Clock frequency, MHz: High State/Boost State

Number of shader stream processors

Number of texture units

Number of ROPs

Bus width, bit

Chip type

Clock frequency: real (effective), MHz

Volume, MB

PCI-Express 3.0 x16

GeForce GTX 970

PCI-Express 3.0 x16

PCI-Express 3.0 x16

PCI-Express 3.0 x16

PCI-Express 3.0 x16

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming Specs, Package Contents, Price

The launch of the GeForce GTX 970 is not accompanied by the release of a reference device - NVIDIA has outsourced the design directly to video card manufacturers. So instead of a reference that does not exist, we will get acquainted with new position in the line of NVIDIA consumer video adapters on the example of GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming (GV-N970G1 GAMING-4GD) - cards original design.

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming Packaging and Contents

The GPU in the device operates at an increased frequency, chosen in a curious way. If in the reference specifications of the GTX 970 Boost Clock is 1178 MHz, then for the GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming this is the base frequency, and the Boost Clock is 1329 MHz. The manufacturer did not overclock the graphics memory, leaving it to work at a frequency of 7012 MHz. The volume is standard - 4 GB.

Peculiarity GIGABYTE boards- a large set of video outputs: three DisplayPort connectors, two DVI and one HDMI. But only four monitors can be used at the same time.

It was not possible to find this model in Russian online stores, but on the American site newegg.com it costs $ 369 - more than the recommended price, but after all specifications it is higher than the reference.

⇡ GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming: Construction

The device includes an original design board, the components of which are cooled by a large open design cooler - WINDFORCE 3X. The radiator is served by three fans with an unusually large number of blades - 11. The elegant casing of the cooling system minimally interferes with the passage of air.

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming: Cooling design masks its massive size

The back surface of the printed circuit board is covered with a thin protective plate with numerous slots. A luminous WINDFORCE logo is mounted on the end of the video card. The heatsink extends far beyond the board area, so the length of the device is considerable, despite the compact PCB. However, due to the fact that the thickness of the cooler completely fits into two slots, as well as the openwork design of the CO, the video card does not look bulky, but, on the contrary, light and elegant.

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming: bottom reinforcement plate makes the card significantly longer

The radiator consists of three parts connected by heat pipes. In the block belonging to the GPU, the tubes are flattened, located close to each other and form a base that removes heat from the chip. Another block is used for cooling powerful transistors in the power system. The third is a branch of the GPU block, suspended on the same heat pipes above the edge of the PCB.

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming Triple Cooler

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming PCB is much shorter than the cooling system

⇡ Pay

Thanks to the 256-bit memory bus, the board has a fairly simple layout. 4 GB of DRAM are typed in Samsung K4G41325FC-HC28 chips with an effective frequency of 7 GHz.

The power supply system is built according to the 6 + 1 + 1 scheme (the number of phases for powering the GPU, memory chips and PLL, respectively). Six- and eight-pin auxiliary power connectors are used.

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming: memory is soldered on both the front and rear surfaces of the board

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming: 4 empty DRAM slots visible, meaning in theory the memory could be upgraded to 8 GB

⇡ Test stand, testing methodology

Test stand configuration
CPU	Intel Core i7-3960X @ 4.6 GHz (100x46)	Intel Core i7-3970X @ 4.6 GHz (100x46)
Motherboard	ASUS P9X79 Pro
RAM	DDR3 Kingston HyperX 4x2 GB @ 1600 MHz, CL9
ROM	Intel SSD 520 240 GB
Power Supply	Corsair AX1200i 1200W	Seasonic Platinum-1000, 1000 W
CPU cooling	Thermalright Archon
Frame	CoolerMaster Test Bench V1.0
Operating system	Windows 7 Ultimate X64 Service Pack 1
AMD GPU software	AMD Catalyst 13.4
NVIDIA GPU software	344.07

To measure the power of the system, a stand with a Corsair AX1200i power supply is used. Power-saving CPU technologies are disabled in all tests. PCI-Express bus works in 3.0 mode. To activate PCI-E 3.0 on GeForce 600 and 700 series video cards in a system based on the X79 chipset, a patch from NVIDIA is applied.

In settings NVIDIA drivers the CPU is always selected as the processor for the PhysX calculation. For AMD cards always the Tesselation setting is moved from the AMD Optimized state to Use application settings. In CrossFire configurations, the Frame Pacing option remains enabled.

Benchmarks: synthetic
Program	API	Settings		Permission
3D Mark 2011	DirectX 11	Extreme Profile
3DMark	DirectX 11	Fire Strike test (not Extreme)
TessMark	DirectX 11	Set 4 (2048x2048), tessellation x8/x16/x32/x64	AF Off	1920x1080
Unigine Heaven 4	DirectX 11	DirectX 11 max. quality, tessellation in Extreme mode	AF 16x, MSAA 4x	2560x1440 / 3840x2160

Benchmarks: games
Program	API	Settings	Anisotropic filtering, full-screen anti-aliasing	Permission
Far Cry 3 + FRAPS	DirectX 11	DirectX 11 max. quality, HDAO. Beginning of the Secure the Outpost mission	AF, MSAA 4x	2560x1440 / 3840x2160
Tomb Raider. Built-in benchmark	DirectX 11	Max. quality	AF 16x, SSAA 4x	2560x1440 / 3840x2160
Bioshock Infinite. Built-in benchmark	DirectX 11	Max. quality. Postprocessing: Normal	AF 16x, FXAA	2560x1440 / 3840x2160
Crysis 3 + FRAPS	DirectX 11	Max. quality. Beginning of the Post Human mission	AF 16x, MSAA 4x	2560x1440 / 3840x2160
Metro: Last Light. Built-in benchmark	DirectX 11	Max. quality	AF 16x, SSAA 4x	2560x1440 / 3840x2160
Company of Heroes 2. Built-in benchmark	DirectX 11	Max. quality	AF, SSAA 4x	2560x1440 / 3840x2160
Batman: Arkham Origins. Built-in benchmark	DirectX 11	Max. quality	AF, MSAA 4x	2560x1440 / 3840x2160
Battlefield 4 + FRAPS	DirectX 11	Max. quality. The start of the Tashgar mission	AF 16x, MSAA 4x + FXAA	2560x1440 / 3840x2160
Thief. Built-in benchmark	DirectX 11	Max. quality	AF 16x, SSAA 4x + FXAA	2560x1440 / 3840x2160

⇡ Test participants

The following video cards took part in performance testing:

• AMD Radeon R9 280 (918/5500 MHz, 2 GB)
• GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming (1050/7012MHz, 4GB)

⇡ Clock speeds, power consumption, temperature, overclocking

Although the GTX 970 has a lower base frequency compared to the GTX 980, in fact it turned out to have a higher GPU Boost range. In games, the GPU reaches frequencies up to 1213 MHz (163 MHz higher than the base), and therefore, in this regard, it is not far behind the GTX 980 (1253 MHz). The GTX 970 is slightly limited in voltage, which does not exceed 1.212 V, while the GTX 980 reaches 1.225 V.

As for the GIGABYTE video card, at stock settings, the graphics processor operates at frequencies from 1178 MHz (Base Clock) to 1342 MHz (the maximum value observed under load).

The BIOS allows an increase in the power limit and GPU temperature to 112% and 91 °C, respectively. You can also raise the maximum voltage on the GPU to 1.256 V. At the same time, the frequency range is increased by several steps. We managed to overclock our copy to 1278 MHz of the base frequency, and frequencies up to 1467 MHz were observed in dynamics. Video memory added 1 GHz of effective frequency without any problems.

	Base clock, MHz	Max. Boost Clock, MHz	Base Clock, MHz (overclocking)	Max. registered Boost Clock, MHz (overclocking)
GeForce GTX 980	1127	1253 (+126)	1387	1526 (+139)
GeForce GTX 970	1050	1213 (+163)	1278	1467 (+189)
GeForce GTX TITAN Black	889	1032 (+143)	1100	1262 (+162)
GeForce GTX TITAN	836	1006 (+145)	966	1150 (+184)
GeForce GTX 780 Ti	876	1020 (+144)	986	1130 (+144)
GeForce GTX 780	863	1006 (+143)	1053	1215 (+162)
GeForce GTX 770	1046	1176 (+130)	1190	1333 (+143)

At reference frequencies, the GeForce GTX 970 practically does not differ in power from its flagship counterpart when loaded in games. It's also slightly more economical than the GeForce GTX 780, although the GTX 770 is less powerful. The GTX 970 also looks incomparably better than any AMD graphics card, from the R9 280X to the R9 290X.

With the help of FurMark, we managed to catch a slight difference between the GTX 970 and GTX 980, and the GTX 970 and GTX 770 ratio shifted in favor of the new one. AMD's top graphics cards are still much more power hungry, but the Radeon R9 280X is paradoxically underpowered in FurMark than in the gaming test.

The GIGABYTE board has plenty of headroom for overclocking. After increasing the frequencies, power consumption in both tests increased by about 30 watts compared to the results of the card at the reference frequencies for the GTX 970.

The cooling system of the GIGABYTE card is so efficient that the board with a large advantage over the rest of the test participants took first place with the lowest GPU temperatures under load. However, we can't keep silent about the unfortunate shortcoming of the cooler: in idle time, the fans constantly accelerate to high speeds, then subside. Apparently this annoying behavior is the result of unsuccessful firmware our test instance. After all, this is one of the first samples of the board.

⇡ Performance: synthetic benchmarks

• The gap between the flagship card, the GTX 980, and the GTX 970 is quite large.
• However, the novelty left behind both the GeForce GTX 780 and its main rival, the Radeon R9 290.

• The GTX 970 is still far behind the GTX 980, but not that far behind the GeForce GTX 780 Ti.
• AMD's top-end graphics cards were left behind by the GTX 970, though the R9 290X was beaten by a marginal margin.

TessMark

• The disabling of three SMMs in the GM204, coupled with a decrease in GPU clock speeds, affected performance in a predominantly geometric load. The GTX 970 is slightly slower compared to the GeForce GTX 980 and GTX 780 Ti.
• And yet, even in this form, the GTX 970 left behind all competing AMD video adapters along with the GeForce GTX 770.

Unigine Heaven 4

• The GTX 980 is again much faster than the second most senior graphics card.
• GTX 970 and Radeon R9 290 are almost equal in terms of results.
• The GTX 780 has a tiny advantage over the GTX 970 at Ultra HD resolution, and vice versa in WQHD.

⇡ Performance: gaming

Far Cry 3

• The difference between the GTX 970 and GTX 980 is significant in WQHD mode, but not so noticeable in Ultra HD.
• The GTX 970 equals AMD's flagship Radeon R9 290X at Ultra HD resolution and even slightly outperforms it at WQHD. The same applies to the GeForce GTX 780.

tomb raider

• The gap between the GTX 970 and the GTX 980 is impossible to miss at both resolutions.
• The GTX 970 and GTX 780 are equivalent at Ultra HD resolution, but WQHD is significantly faster.
• The GTX 970 also rivaled the R9 290X in Ultra HD and even got a little more FPS at the lower resolution.

Bioshock Infinite

• The GTX 970 is again a far cry from the GTX 980.
• But you can fix the confident victory of new items over the GTX 780 and Radeon R9 290X.

Crysis 3

• Due to the low frame rate, the difference between the GTX 980 and GTX 970 is not striking.
• The novelty also practically does not differ in performance from the GTX 780 and Radeon R9 290X.

Metro: Last Light

• As in the previous test, there is a difference between the GTX 970 and GTX 980, but from a practical point of view, it is small.
• The GTX 970 also outperforms the GTX 780 by a close margin and close in on the heels of the Radeon R9 290X.

Company of Heroes 2

• The GTX 980 noticeably outperforms the GTX 970 only at WHQD resolution, in Ultra HD mode the distance decreases.
• The GTX 970 is also slightly faster compared to the GTX 780.
• And here are the top two AMD video cards gone ahead, although the gap between the GTX 970 and R9 290 is minimal.

Batman: Arkham Origins

• The GeForce GTX 970 is significantly different from its older comrade.
• The GTX 780 has only a minimal advantage over the GTX 970, and then only in WQHD mode.
• The new product is almost as good as AMD's flagship.

Battlefield 4

• There is a huge difference between the GTX 970 and GTX 980.
• The GTX 970 isn't much better than the GTX 780, but it's about the same behind the Radeon R9 290.

• The advantage of the NVIDIA flagship over the GTX 970 is more pronounced at WQHD resolution. In 4K, the difference is not so noticeable due to the low frame rate.

Sony Vegas Pro 13

• The first places are held by AMD video adapters, including the Radeon R9 280X on a rather old Tahiti GPU.
• The GTX 970, narrowly behind the GTX 780, was in second place from the bottom.



CompuBench CL: Ocean Surface Simulation

• The GTX 970 doesn't do well in this task either. If even the GTX 980 cannot compete on equal terms with products based on the GK110, then the GTX 970 is inferior even to the GeForce GTX 770.
• The tops of the Radeon R9 290 and R9 290X are completely out of reach for the GTX 970, and only the R9 280X has comparable performance.



CompuBench CL: Particle Simulation

• In the next test, the GM204 processor is in the lead. GeForce GTX 970 is second only to its brother, leaving behind all video adapters based on GK110.
• The AMD team is ranked way down the chart.
conclusions

In its price niche, the GeForce GTX 970 is an even more spectacular card than the GTX 980. The main merit of the latter is that it returned prices to the flagship gaming NVIDIA video adapter to the usual level - $ 549. The GTX 970, on the one hand, is very different from the flagship in terms of specifications and performance. On the other hand, this time the discount is unusually large for NVIDIA. If earlier for the second oldest video card you could expect a price in the region of $400, now you can get a top-end GPU of the Maxwell architecture, albeit in a pretty cut form, for only $329.

And the most remarkable thing in this situation is that - despite the loss of a good part of the GPU computing units and lower frequencies - the GeForce GTX 970 is generally not inferior in performance to the GeForce GTX 980 and, most offensively for AMD, not only successfully competes with the Radeon R9 290 , but often not inferior to the Radeon R9 290X. At the same time, the power consumption of the GeForce GTX 970 is simply incomparable with the appetites of AMD's top adapters.

A few words about the GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 G1 Gaming video card. The device has a very efficient system open cooling. Factory overclocking does not give it a practical advantage over the GeForce GTX 970 running at reference frequencies, but using a good potential for further overclocking, you can achieve even more impressive results.

We have already published, but later our test lab received another video card - Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1.Gaming. It is aimed at high performance, so the graphics card is equipped with a powerful WindForce cooler capable of dissipating up to 450W of heat. In our review, we will see if Gigabyte's new product can be called the fastest video card, how efficient the cooling system works, and whether the GPU efficiency has been lost due to excessive overclocking.

Gigabyte is now offering three GeForce GTX 970 graphics cards. In addition to the standard GeForce GTX 970 WindForce 3X, Gigabyte is targeting compact cases. We tested the GeForce GTX 970 G1.Gaming, which has the highest clock speeds.

NVIDIA partners for video cards based on Maxwell GPUs received a fairly decent headroom in frequencies, which made it possible to present models with significant factory overclocking. Theoretically, the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1.Gaming video card is one of the fastest models. In our article, we will see if this is enough to provide performance leadership in practice.

Architecture Information

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1.Gaming (GV-N970G1 GAMING-4GD)
Retail price	about 20.3 thousand rubles in Russia from 360 euros in Europe
Products webpage	Official Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1.Gaming page
Technical information
GPU	Maxwell (GM204)
Process technology	28 nm
Number of transistors	5.2 billion
GPU clock speed (base)	1.178 MHz
GPU Clock Speed ​​(Boost)	1.329 MHz
Memory frequency	1.750 MHz
Memory type	GDDR5
Memory size	4.096 MB
Memory bus width	256 bit
Memory Bandwidth	224.4 GB/s
DirectX Version	12
Stream Processors	1.664
texture blocks	104
Raster Operations Pipelines (ROPs)	64
Pixel Fill Rate	75.4 Gpixel/s
SLI/CrossFire	SLI

For the reference video card GeForce GTX 970, NVIDIA set the base frequency to 1.050 MHz. Gigabyte increased it to 1.178 MHz. The Boost frequency has been increased from 1.178 MHz to 1.329 MHz. That is, Gigabyte for the GeForce GTX 970 G1.Gaming set the base frequency at a level that corresponds to the minimum Boost bar of the reference video card. We got overclocked by almost 13 percent. Gigabyte decided not to change the frequencies of the memory, which operates at the previous 1.750 MHz.

Typically for the GeForce GTX 970 we get a memory configuration of 4.096 MB, it is connected via a 256-bit bus and runs at 1.750 MHz. Like all other GeForce GTX 970 graphics cards, we get 1,664 stream processors, 104 texture units, and 64 ROP pipelines.

GPU-Z screenshot confirms technical specifications and also allows you to know additional characteristics video cards.

The Boost frequency of 1.329 MHz is only the minimum bar for Gigabyte, if the temperature and power consumption allow, the frequency in practice will be even higher. As our tests have shown, the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1.Gaming frequency in practice is 1.418 MHz, which is much higher than the minimum bar. This is partly due to the very low temperature of the GPU, which did not get hotter than 56°C. At least on our test configuration, the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 G1.Gaming video card was able to reach its potential.