Gigabyte GeForce GTX980 G1 Gaming Video Card Review: Alone and SLI. Appearance and sizes

That's what I understand the optimization! Excellent FPS increase on all permissions. That's how Ideally, the SLI technology should work.

Several general moments concerning the Gigabyte bundle GeForce GTX. 980. Firstly, such a tandem turned out very powerful. So much that the RADEON R9 295X was not able to sob into the fastest gaming video card today. Secondly, let's calculate how things are at SLI with optimization. Suppose that the FPS increase in percentage ratio to 50% is an unsatisfactory result. In the interval from 50% to 70% - satisfactory. And in a context from 70% to 100% - positive. Test gaming applications in 29 modes were tested (3DMark benchmark was not taken into account). We did the following:

  • The unsatisfactory result is 7 of the coincidences (24.1% of the total number of modes).
  • Satisfactory result - 5 coincidences (17.3% of the total number of modes).
  • Good result - 17 coincidences (58.6% of the total number of modes).

As you can see, the absolute majority of modes have demonstrated a good performance increase in SLI. And it's great!

Obviously, to collect a SLI-array of high-performance video cards in order to play Full HD, meaningless. FPS in most games and so is on high level. Secondly, as has shown our testing, the speed increases, as a rule, turns out to be very low.

conclusions

It is important to understand that SLI is a technology that depends immediately from several factors. Combining two top video cards, it is necessary that the processor can "pump them". Much depends on the optimization of games, as well as drivers. Today, the application may not support SLI, and tomorrow - on the contrary.

As for performance, then, in my opinion, the meaning in installing the second (third?) GeForce GTX 980 is if you want to play a maximum in WQHD and Ultra HD. In all other cases there will be enough and one graphic adapter.

Finally, the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 video card itself left a very pleasant impression. She definitely better than reference: quieter and colder, moreover, it has a very high factory overclocking chip. In general, Must Have! Therefore, the device is awarded to the medal "Editor's Choice".

The technical characteristics of the video card Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming are shown in the table in comparison with the reference version of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980.

Name of technical characteristics Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming NVIDIAGeForce GTX 980.
Graphic processor GM204-A1 Maxwell 2.0 (TSMC)GM204-A1 Maxwell 2.0 (TSMC)
TEHPROTSESS, NM 28 (LOW-K)28 (LOW-K)
Square crystal sq.mm. 398 398
Number of transistors, million 5200 5200
Frequency graphic processor, MHTS 3D 1228 (1329 - Boost) 1126 (1216 - Boost)
2d. 135 135
The number of unified shader processors, pcs. 2048 2048
Number of textural blocks, pcs. 128 128
Number of raster operations blocks (ROPS), pcs. 64 64
Theoretical Maximum Speed \u200b\u200bof Tormary, GPIX / C 78,6 72,1
Theoretical Maximum Sampling Sample Textures, Gtex / C 157,2 144,1
Support version Pixel Shaders / Vertex Shaders 5.0 / 5.0 5.0 / 5.0
Type of supported memory GDDR5GDDR5
Bit exchange tires with memory, bit 256 256
Effective work frequency video memory, MHz 3D 7012 7012
2d. 648 648
Memory volume, MB 4096 4096
Video memory bandwidth, GB / s 224,3 224,3
Pic power consumption in 3D mode of operation, W 3D 165 165
2d. n / D.n / D.
Power Supply Power Requirements, W 600 500
Dimensions of the video card, mm (DHVCT) 298x106x40.267x100x39
Interface PCI-Express X16 (v3.0)PCI-Express X16 (v3.0)
Outputs DVI-I + DVI-D(Dual-Link),
1 HDMI V2.0, 3
DisplayPort v1.2		DVI-I (Dual-Link), 1 HDMI V2.0, 3 DisplayPort V1.2
Minimum price * depends on the regiondepends on the region

Design and Features of PCB

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming The entire front side is closed with a cooler system with three fans.

From above on the housing is visible inscription with the title of the cooling system, equipped with backlight.

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming is not equipped with one, but two DVI outputs. At the same time, the three standard for GeForce GTX 980 exit DisplayPort version 1.2 and one modern HDMI version 2.0, of course, remained in their places.



Thanks to the addition of another DVI output, the variationsight of the connection to the monitor video card increased, although the number of displays simultaneously connected to the video card remains the same - it is still four.

Instead of a pair of six-contact connections on the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming, two eight-contacts are used, which indirectly can speak about the enhanced system of nutrition and increased frequencies of the video card.


Cooling systems

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming is equipped with the flagship system of cooling the company - WindForce 3x 600W, which made all the best operations of Gigabyte engineers.


The cooling system consists of aluminum radiator With TRIANGE COOL technology and a special roiber structure on new composite heat pipes with an increased heat transfer rate, an aluminum frame with three advanced fans with an increased airflow volume and a protective perforated plate on the reverse side of the board.


In total, five copper thermal tubes with a diameter of 8 mm and a diameter of 6 mm are used in the radiator. Thin aluminum plates in contact with them by soldering are riveted on heat pipes.


The radiator is cooled with three fans in a metal frame. On the blades of each of the impellers with a diameter of 77 mm there are five notches and an additional "fin" on the front end. According to the approval of the engineers of Gigabyte, the blades of such an original form allowed not only to reduce the turbulence of the airflow injected into the radiator, but also to increase its volume at once on 23 % in comparison with fan indicators with traditional shape of blades. The adjustment of the rotational speed of the fans is carried out by means of PWM modulation in the range from 1000 to 4,300 rpm.


Test configuration, toolkit and testing technique

Testing video card performance was carried out in a closed case on the following configuration system:

  • System fee: Intel Siler DX79SR (Intel X79 Express, LGA2011, BIOS 0594 from 08/06/2013);
  • CPU: Intel Core I7-3970X. Extreme Edition 3.5 / 4.0 GHz ( Sandy Bridge-E, C2, 1.1 V, 6x256 KB L2, 15 MB L3);
  • CPU cooling system: PHANTEKS PH-TC14PE (2x900 rpm);
  • Thermal interface: arctic MX-4;
  • Video cards:
    • Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming 4 GB 1228-1329 / 7012 MHz + 2-Way SLI;
    • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 4 GB of 1127-1216 / 7012 MHz;
    • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 2X2 GB 915-1020 / 6008 MHz;
    • AMD Radeon HD 7990 2x3 GB 1000/6000 MHz;
    • AMD RADEON R9 290X 4 GB 1000/5000 MHz;
  • RAM: DDR3 4x8 GB G.SKILL TRIDENTX F3-2133C9Q-32GTX (XMP 2133 MHz, 9-11-11-31, 1.6 V);
  • System disk: Intel SSD 730 480GB (SATA-III, BIOS VL2010400);
  • Disk for programs and games: Western Digital Velociraptor (SATA-II, 300 GB, 10,000 rpm, 16 MB, NCQ) in the Scythe Quiet Drive 3.5 "box;
  • Archive drive: Samsung EcoGreen F4 HD204UI (SATA-II, 2 TB, 5400 rpm, 32 MB, NCQ);
  • Sound card: Auzen X-FI HOMETHEATER HD;
  • Case: Antec Twelve Hundred (Front wall - Three NoiseBlocker NB-Multiframe S-Series MF12-S2 at 1020 rpm; rear - two NoiseBlocker NB-BlacksilentPro PL-1 for 1020 rpm; Upper - regular 200mm fan on 400 rpm);
  • Control panel and monitoring: Zalman ZM-MFC3;
  • Power supply: Corsair Ax1200i (1200 W), 120 mm fan;
  • Monitor: 27-inch SAMSUNG S27A850D (DVI-I, 2560x1440, 60 Hz).

Tests

Of course, a bunch of 2-way SLI GeForce GTX 980 in a relatively light CLOUD GATE test, it was not possible to disclose, but in all three variations of the Fire Strike scene such a configuration showed itself very promising. Its advantage over a single Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming is from 62 to 77%, which is not the maximum increase for today's testing, but in general it looks pretty good. Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming is ahead of the reference GeForce GTX 980 by 3.3%. We will especially note the result shown by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 at Ultra-settings Fire Strike is not an error and not typo, just two gigabytes of memory for this test with Ultra settings is not enough, about what the test itself warns. The two-processor AMD Radeon HD 7990, on the contrary, works here as much as well as new NVIDIA single-processor flagships.

Unigine Valley Bench.

In the semi-synthetic benchmark Unigine Valley, the efficiency of SLI also depends on the quality mode, but the performance increase in comparison with the single video card indicators can be seen even in the easiest graphic mode.



At maximum possible settings Quality 2-way SLI GeForce GTX 980 is ahead of one such video card by 87.6%. This is closer to the theoretical maximum of such a bundle. Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming is faster than the reference video card for the same 3%, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 does not fail the same as in one of the 3DMark scenes, since the requirements of Unigine Valley to the volume of video memory modest.

In relatively old, but still becoming popular game Sleeping Dogs The effect of the GeForce GTX 980 pair in the 2-way SLI is better noticeable in high-quality modes using smoothing.

When activating the smoothing tandem from the GeForce GTX 980 pair faster than a single video card by 81-92%, and if you look at the results in the resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, then who will say that such a bundle is superfluous? Just just a pair of GeForce GTX 980 can provide a comfortable level of performance with such quality and resolution settings. Taking into account the systematic filling of the market with 4K-permission monitors, the acquisition of a pair of fast GeForce GTX 980 does not look at the empty attachment.

Hitman: Absolution

The performance of video cards in the game Hitman: Absolution in modes without the use of smoothing was limited to the speed of the platform as a whole, but when activated by MSAA8X, a bunch of two GeForce GTX 980 is fully disclosed.

Compared to one video card 2-way SLI GeForce GTX 980 more productive by 83-84%, including at the minimum FPS, which is important for playing comfort. As in Sleeping Dogs, with maximum quality settings in the resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, the use of 2-way SLI GeForce GTX 980 is fully justified. In addition, in this game, we note high performance AMD Radeon HD 7990, which took the final second place after the 2nd SLI GeForce GTX 980.

Despite almost two years, which have passed since the release of Crysis 3, it is still a very resource-intensive game and is able to uncover the performance of the 2-way SLI GeForce GTX 980 even with the most modest graphics quality settings.

Here, the efficiency of SLI on the GeForce GTX 980 is at least 81%, and at best, it reaches 88%. The minimum FPS increases simultaneously with the average, so that in general in Crysis 3 we received some of the best performance growth rates for all testing. A pair of two-processor video cards NVIDIA and AMD demonstrates in this game almost the same performance. Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming is ahead of the reference video card by 4-7%.

Metro: Last Light

First, the results with ADVANCED PHYSX activated technology.

And then it is turned off.

In both cases, we received the same performance increase of the 2-way SLI GeForce GTX 980 relative to a single video card, and it turned out to be lower than on the test on testing, only from 45 to 69%. Otherwise, the differences in the ratio of the results we did not reveal.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Here, the effectiveness of the 2-way SLI GeForce GTX 980 is low - only 52-68% depending on the quality mode and permission. There are problems and with a minimum frame number per second. However, you should not forget that Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is a fairly fresh game: the updates go under it and, most importantly, drivers continue to optimize, so it is quite possible to hope for further growth in the performance of multiprocessor ligaments.

Thief-Agra, more sympathetic "red", so it was not worth expecting from the 2-way SLI GeForce GTX 980 of impressive achievements. So came out.


At best, it will be possible to get an additional 54% of performance to the results of a single GeForce GTX 980. But four-year-baby GeForce GTX 980 provide high minimum FPS With any quality settings, that the two-processor GeForce GTX 690 with two gigabytes of memory per core is incapable. Interestingly, the two-processing Radeon HD 7990 also does not give an expressive advantage over the union of R9 290x.

Energy consumption

Measuring the power consumption of a system with various video cards was carried out using the Zalman ZM-MFC3 multifunction panel, which shows the consumption of the system "from the outlet" as a whole (excluding the monitor). The measurement was carried out in 2D mode, with normal operation in Microsoft Word or Internet surfing, as well as in 3D mode. In the latter case, the load was created using four consecutive switchgear of the Swamp level from the Crysis 3 game in the resolution of 2560x1440 pixels at maximum graphics quality settings, but without using MSAA smoothing. Let's compare the energy consumption level of systems with video cards tested today.


If we compare power consumption of systems with one Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming and with a bundle of two GeForce GTX 980, then we can conclude that it has increased by 165 watts in the load peak. This surprisingly coincides with the state-stated NVIDIA power consumption level for one reference GeForce GTX 980. Although, of course, in our case, it must be somewhat higher, because the single video card, and the SLI tandem was tested at elevated graphics processor frequencies. Compared to the power consumption of two-processor video cards Configuration with the 2-way SLI GeForce GTX 980 consumes 14 watts less than AMD Radeon HD 7990, but at the same time on 44 watts more than the system with GeForce GTX 690. Add the original Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming Consumes 20 watts more than the reference GeForce GTX 980, and yet it is noticeably less than the configuration with the reference AMD RADEON R9 290X. Well, the most economical system in today's testing was the configuration with the reference NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980, which requires less than 500 watts in the peak of the load.

Conclusion

To begin with - about the video card itself: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming is one of the most interesting original versions of GeForce GTX 980 on the market. Despite high cost, Gigabyte offers a potential buyer very high graphics processor frequencies obtained thanks to the GPU GAUNTLET GPU Crystal Single System. To coupled with a high-quality element base built on durable components on the Ultra Durable VGA concept, this allowed us to achieve even higher frequencies during acceleration and noticeably increase the performance of the already fast video card. It is impossible not to say about the highly efficient cooling system windforce 3x 600W, which even provides such a high-frequency video card comfortable temperature. At the same time, the noise level of the cooler, as shown by our tests, can be reduced to a minimum. So if you have occurred a choice of very fast video cards and efficient cooling with noise level for you matter, then Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming is ideal for this role.

About 2-way SLI: This technology on the GeForce GTX 980 pair demonstrates more than 80- or even 90 percent performance increase in comparison with the parameters of a single video card. It should be understood that we are talking about the most resource-intensive games and their modes using the most "hard" smoothing algorithms in permission not lower than 2560x1440 pixels. Only in such conditions, this bunch of ourselves is entirely justified: enough to look at the results of Hitman: Absolution, Crysis 3, Metro: Last Light, Company of Heroes 2 or Sniper Elite III.

In this regard, our expectations from the intended release of two-processor GeForce GTX 990 are very high. Yes, there are still problems in individual games, drivers developers do not immediately release the corresponding SLI profile, and high heat dissipation with power consumption should not be discounted. However, in ideal conditions, the 2-way SLI GeForce GTX 980 is an irreterable car for grinding any graphic engines.

Graphic processor GM204-A1 Maxwell 2.0 (TSMC) GM204-A1 Maxwell 2.0 (TSMC) TEHPROTSESS, NM 28 (LOW-K) 28 (LOW-K) Square crystal sq.mm. 398 398 Number of transistors, million 5200 5200 Graphic Processor Frequency, MHz 3D 1228 (1329 - Boost) 1126 (1216 - Boost) 2d. 135 135 The number of unified shader processors, pcs. 2048 2048 Number of textural blocks, pcs. 128 128 Number of raster operations blocks (ROPS), pcs. 64 64 Theoretical Maximum Speed \u200b\u200bof Tormary, GPIX / C 78,6 72,1 Theoretical Maximum Sampling Sample Textures, Gtex / C 157,2 144,1 Support version Pixel Shaders / Vertex Shaders 5.0 / 5.0 5.0 / 5.0 Type of supported memory GDDR5 GDDR5 Bit exchange tires with memory, bit 256 256 Effective work frequency video memory, MHz 3D 7012 7012 2d. 648 648 Memory volume, MB 4096 4096 Video memory bandwidth, GB / s 224,3 224,3 Pic power consumption in 3D mode of operation, W 3D 165 165 2d. n / D. n / D. Power Supply Power Requirements, W 600 500 Dimensions of the video card, mm (DHVCT) 298x106x40. 267x100x39 Interface PCI-Express X16 (v3.0) PCI-Express X16 (v3.0) Outputs DVI-I + DVI-D (Dual-Link),
1 HDMI V2.0, 3
DisplayPort v1.2 DVI-I (Dual-Link), 1 HDMI V2.0, 3 DisplayPort V1.2 Minimum retail cost *, rub. 30 720 26 200

* According to Yandex.Market for 11/16/2014.

Packaging and equipment

The video card is sealed into a relatively large cardboard box, the design of which is quite typical for the company's products. On its face, you can find the name of the video card model, the series, the corporate cooling system and the list of supported graphic technologies NVIDIA.

The reverse side of the box is traditionally informative - here it is described about the design of the cooling system and its features, accessories of the video card to the Super Over CLOCK series, video outputs and the capabilities of the video card with four monitors simultaneously using Flex Display technology.

The reliability of the packaging does not occupy, because inside the colored shell is another box - from thick cardboard, and in it, in turn, the insert of the foamed polyethylene is located in the center of which and the video card is fixed. But the equipment is very poor: it includes only two cables for connecting additional nutrition - and nothing more.

It remains to hope that only samples for the press are equipped with such a scant set of components.

A video card is produced in China, and a three-year warranty is provided with it. IN russian stores this model At the time of the preparation of the article could be purchased at least 28,290 rubles. By the time of publication, it has risen up to 30,720. Nedlyozy, straight to say. Well, let's see, for which the buyer gives such money.

Design and Features of PCB

The cooling system consists of an aluminum radiator with a TRIANGLE COOL technology and a special structure of the roiber on new composite heat pipes with an increased heat transfer rate, an aluminum frame with three advanced fans with an increased volume of air flow and a protective perforated plate on the reverse side of the board.

In total, five copper thermal tubes with a diameter of 8 mm and a diameter of 6 mm are used in the radiator. Thin aluminum plates in contact with them by soldering are riveted on heat pipes.

One section of the radiator is evenly permeated with eight-millionth thermal tubes, while the second of the same tubes are part of the base, and the sixmillimeter permeates the upper face of this section of the radiator.

We particularly note that composite heat pipes are used in the design of the WINDFORCE 3X 600W, in which the capillaries due to the additional layer are provided with a more speed and efficient heat exchange between the components of the radiator.

At the height and quality of the radiator assembly, and the tightness of the heat pipes to the plates, and the quality of the treatment of the plates themselves.

The copper base of the radiator is in contact with the graphics processor through a thin layer of thick gray thermal papers, and thermal staples are applied to contact with memory chips and power elements.

The radiator is cooled with three fans in a metal frame.

On the blades of each of the impeller with a diameter of 77 mm there are five notches and an additional "fin" on the front end.

According to the company's engineers, the blades of such an original form made it possible not only to reduce the turbulence of the air flow injected into the radiator, but also increase its volume at once by 23% compared with the fans with the traditional shape of the blades. The adjustment of the rotational speed of the fans is carried out by means of PWM modulation in the range from 1000 to 4,300 rpm.

In addition, the cooling system windforce 3x 600w is equipped with a blue backlight on the top of the casing.

To check the temperature mode of the video card G1 Gaming as a load, we used five test cycles. Very resource-intensive game Aliens VS. Predator (2010) With the maximum quality of graphics in the resolution of 2560x1440 pixels with an anisotropic filtering level 16x and MSAA-smoothing degree 4X.

To monitor temperatures and all other parameters applied mSI program Afterburner version 4.0.0 and the GPU-Z utility version 0.8.0. All tests were carried out in a closed case. system Blockwhose configuration you can see in the next section of the article, at a medium room temperature 23 Degree Celsius.

Testing the efficiency of the cooling system G1 Gaming We have traditionally begun when automatic adjustment Fan speeds.

Auto mode

By AMD today will perform a two-processor Radeon HD 7990 and the reference AMD RADEON R9 290X.

We add that the value of Power Limit on all video cards was put up per maximum.

To reduce the dependence of the performance of video cards from the platform speed 32-nm, a six-core processor with a multiplier 48, a support frequency of 100 MHz and the activated Load-Line Calibration function was overclocked to 4.8 GHz with raising voltage in Bios maternal boards up to 1,380 V.

Hyper-Threading technology activated. At the same time 32 GB random access memory Functioned at a frequency of 2.133 GHz with timings 9-11-11-20_CR1 at a voltage of 1,6125 V.

Testing started on October 26, 2014 was conducted under operating system Microsoft Windows. 7 Ultimate X64 SP1 with all critical updates to the specified date and with the installation of the following drivers:

  • chipset Maternal intel boards CHIPSET DRIVERS - 10.0.22 WHQL dated 05.08.2014;
  • libraries DirectX End-User Runtimes, release date - November 30, 2010;
  • video card drivers on NVIDIA graphics processors - 344.48 WHQL of 10/22/2014.
  • video Card Drivers on AMD Graphic Processors - AMD Catalyst. 14.9.2 Beta (14.301.1006.0) of 10/24/2014.

The performance of video cards was tested in two permissions: 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 pixels. For tests, two graph quality quality modes were used: Quality + AF16X - the quality of textures in the default drivers with the inclusion of anisotropic filtering level 16x and Quality + AF16X + MSAA 4x (8x) with the inclusion of anisotropic filtering level 16x and full-screen smoothing of degree 4x or 8x, in cases When the average personnel per second remained high enough for a comfortable game. In some games, due to the specifics of their gaming engines, other smoothing algorithms were used, which will be referred further in the technique and in diagrams. The inclusion of anisotropic filtering and full-screen smoothing was performed directly in the game settings. If these settings in the games were absent, then the parameters changed in the Catalyst Driver Control Panel or. There was also forcibly disabled vertical synchronization (V-SYNC). In addition to the specified, no additional changes in the driver settings were made.

The video cards were tested in two graphic tests and fourteentham games updated to the latest versions on the start of the preparation of the material. However, in addition to the standard update of games, there were changes in the most test set. The oldest games are excluded Total War: SHOGUN 2 - Fall of the Samurai and Sniper Elite V2, and their place was taken by Sniper Elite III and Middle-Earth in June and September of the current year: Shadow of Mordor. Here is what the list of test applications looks like (games are located in the order of their official output):

  • 3DMark (2013) (DirectX 9/11) - version 1.4.780, Testing in the scenes Cloud Gate, Fire Strike, Fire Strike Extreme and Fire Strike Ultra;
  • Unigine Valley Bench. (DirectX 11) - version 1.0, maximum quality settings, AF16X and (or) MSAA 8X, resolution 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 pixels;
  • Sleeping Dogs. (DirectX 11) - version 1.5, was used by Adrenaline Action Benchmark Tool v1.0.2.1, maximum graphics quality settings for all items, Hi-Res Textures Pack installed, FPS Limiter and V-SYNC are disabled, double test test test with total smoothing on Normal level and EXTREME level;
  • Hitman: Absolution(DirectX 11) - version 1.0.447.0, built-in test when setting up the quality of graphics at ULTRA, Tessellation, FXAA and global lighting are included;
  • Crysis 3. (DirectX 11) - version 1.2.0.1000, all graphics quality settings to maximum, the degree of blur - average, glare included, modes with FXAA and with MSAA4X smoothing, double sequential passage of the scene from the beginning of the SWAMP mission duration of 110 seconds;
  • TOMB RAIDER (2013) (DirectX 11) - version 1.1.748.0, used ADRENALINE ACTION BENCHMARK TOOL, Quality settings at Ultra level, V-SYNS is disabled, modes with FXAA and 2xSSAA-smoothing, TESSFX technology is activated, double sequential passage of the dough firmware;
  • BIOSHOCK INFINITE. (DirectX 11) - version 1.1.25.5165, used ADRENALINE ACTION BENCHMARK TOOL with Ultra and Ultra + DOF quality settings, double run-in dough game;
  • Metro: Last Light (DirectX 11) - Version 1.0.0.15, used built into the game test, graphics quality settings and tessellation at the level of Very High, Advanced PhysX technology is included, tests with SSAA smoothing and without it, a double sequential passage of the D6 scene;
  • COMPANY OF HEROES 2(DirectX 11) - version 3.0.0.16116, double sequential run of the built-in test game at maximum graphics quality settings and physical effects;
  • Total War: Rome II (DirectX 11) - version 2.0.0.0, quality settings at the EXTREME level, V-SYNS is disabled, SSAA smoothing is activated, double sequential passage of the test game;
  • Batman: Arkham Origins (DirectX 11) - Version 1.0 (UPDATE 8), Quality Settings at Ultra level, V-SYNS disabled, All effects are activated, all DX11 functions Enhanced are involved, Hardware Accelerated PHYSX \u003d NORMAL, double serial passage of the dough game;
  • Battlefield 4. (DirectX 11) - version 111433, all graphic quality settings on ULTRA, double serial passage of a scroll scene from the beginning of the Tashgar mission duration of 110 seconds (for video cards on AMD GPU used API MANTLE);
  • Thief. (DirectX 11) - version 1.6 Build 4158.14, graphic quality settings for the maximum level, Paralax Occlusion Mapping and Tessellation technology activated, double sequential passage built into the Benchmarck game (for video cards on the AMD GPU used API MANTLE);
  • Grid AutoSport. (DirectX 11) - Version 1.0.103.1840, used the integrated test on the San Francisco highway (ten cars), graphics quality settings for the maximum level over all items, tests with MSAA8X smoothing and without it;
  • Sniper Elite III (DirectX 11) - version 1.14, quality settings at the Ultra level, V-SYNS is disabled, tessellation and all effects are activated, tests with 4XSSAA-smoothing and without it, a double serial passage of the built-in Benchmarck game (for video cards on the AMD GPU used API MANTLE );
  • Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor(DirectX 11) - version v1636.29, all quality settings manually are set to the maximum and ultra-level, tessellation and depth of field are activated, at least two consecutive passages of the firmware Benchmarck.

If the games implemented the possibility of fixing the minimum frame number per second, it also reflected in diagrams. Each test was performed twice, the final result was made the best of the two values \u200b\u200bobtained, but only if the difference between them did not exceed 1%. If the deviations of the tests exceeded 1%, the testing was repeated at least once to get a reliable result.

Results of performance tests

In diagrams, the results of two single-processor video cards on NVIDIA graphics processors - NVIDIA and G1 Gaming - reflected light green lines, and on graphic aMD processor - Radeon R9 290X - habitual red. Dual-processor NVIDIA GTX 690 and a bunch of pairs are highlighted timno-turquoise Color, and the results of the two-processor AMD Radeon HD 7990 - lilavapouring.

Study and analysis of results will begin with semi-synthetic benchmarks.

  • 3DMark (2013)

  • Crysis 3.

Despite almost two years, which have passed since CRYSIS 3, it is still a very resource-intensive game and is able to uncover the performance of the 2-way SLI even with the most modest graphics quality settings.

A very low minimum FPS is not a feature of SLI, because in this test it is peculiar to all video cards on NVIDIA graphics processors. G1 Gaming faster than the reference video card by 3-6%, and NVIDIA GTX 690 and AMD Radeon HD 7990 are again equal to performance.

  • Metro: Last Light

First, the results with ADVANCED PHYSX activated technology.

And then - when it is turned off.

In both cases, we received the same 2-way SLI performance increase relative to a single video card, and it turned out to be lower than an average of testing, only from 45 to 69%. Otherwise, the differences in the ratio of the results we did not reveal.

  • COMPANY OF HEROES 2

In Company of Heroes 2, the greatest effect of adding the second is achieved with MSAA8X smoothing in a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels.

Much depends not only from the specific game and correct support to it SLI technology, but also from the quality mode or permission. As a rule, when activating smoothing and choosing the maximum possible permission of 2-way SLI works noticeably more efficiently. For example, if on average for all tests in the resolution of 1920x1080 pixels without the use of smoothing productivity growth amounted to only 41%, then in the resolution of 2560x1440 pixels with smoothing - already 75.3%! As they say, feel the difference. However, each of you is probably so understands that the purchase of two such expensive video cards is obviously not caused by the desire to play them on the monitor with maximum resolution 1920x1080 pixels ...

GeForce GTX 990 2x4 GB on average for all other tests may be faster than GTX 690 by size from 46 to 77%, but in some games the difference exceeds 90%. So, with a lower heat dissipation and not too increased energy consumption of the GTX 990 is very interesting. If only the price for her NVIDIA did not overdo it.

Energy consumption

Measuring the power consumption of a system with various video cards was carried out using the Zalman ZM-MFC3 multifunction panel, which shows the consumption of the system "from the outlet" as a whole (excluding the monitor). The measurement was carried out in 2D mode, with normal operation in Microsoft Word or Internet surfing, as well as in 3D mode. In the latter case, the load was created using four consecutive switchgear of the Swamp level from the Crysis 3 game in the resolution of 2560x1440 pixels at maximum graphics quality settings, but without using MSAA smoothing.

GeForce, which requires less than 500 watts in the peak of the load.

Conclusion

To begin with - about the video card itself: G1 Gaming is one of the most interesting original versions of the GTX 980 on the market. Despite the high cost, offers a potential buyer very high graphics processor frequencies obtained thanks to the GPU Gauntlet Crystal Sampling System. To coupled with a high-quality element base built on durable components on the Ultra Durable VGA concept, this allowed us to achieve even higher frequencies during acceleration and noticeably increase the performance of the already fast video card. It is impossible not to say about the highly efficient cooling system windforce 3x 600W, which even provides such a high-frequency video card comfortable temperature. At the same time, the noise level of the cooler, as shown by our tests, can be reduced to a minimum. So if you have collected a choice of very fast video cards and efficient cooling with noise level for you matter, then G1 Gaming is ideal for this role.

O 2-WAY SLI: This technology on a pair demonstrates more than 80- or even 90 percent performance increase in comparison with the parameters of a single video card. It should be understood that we are talking about the most resource-intensive games and their modes using the most "hard" smoothing algorithms in permission not lower than 2560x1440 pixels. Only in such conditions, this bunch of ourselves is entirely justified: enough to look at the results of Hitman: Absolution, Crysis 3, Metro: Last Light, Company of Heroes 2 or Sniper Elite III.

In this regard, our expectations from the intended release of a two-processor GeForce

  • Details about Monster Gigabyte GeForce GTX680 SOC

    • Finally, all manufacturers have released their own versions of GeForce GTX 970 and GTX 980 video cards based on a new graphic processor. Of course, in most cases, users encounter reference circuit boards and original cooling systems.

    This statement applies mainly to the older model, the youngest was initially deprived of a reference circuit board, or rather NVIDIA recommended using the GeForce GTX 980 fee. But, as you understand, it is expensive and unattractive, if you can save on wiring and components. Therefore, manufacturers began to develop the design of the GTX 970 on their own, sometimes borrowing the GTX 980 cooling system.

    Recently, several graphic accelerators GeForce GTX 970 and GTX 980 visited our laboratory, now it's time to introduce our readers with them. And first we will look at the model Gigabyte Series G1 Gaming.

    Gigabyte GV-N970G1 Gaming-4GD and GV-N980G1 GAMING-4GD Overview

    Appearance and sizes

    Model A
    mM.    		 B,
    mM.    		 C,
    mM.    		 D,
    mM.    		 A1,
    mM.    		 B1,
    mM.    		 C1
    mM.
    270 98 35 77 298 99 42
    255 98 35 77 298 99 42
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / GTX 980 267 98 36 64 267 98 40

    BUT - The length of the printed circuit board, without taking into account the cooling system and plank ports of video outputs.
    IN - the width of the printed circuit board, without taking into account PCI-E contacts and the cooling system.
    FROM - Height from the horizontal plane of the printed circuit board to the level of the upper surface of the cooling system.
    D. - Diameter of the fan / s for external radius.

    A1. - The length of the printed circuit board, taking into account the cooling system (if it goes beyond the printed circuit board) to the plank ports of the video outputs.
    IN 1 - the width of the printed circuit board, without taking into account PCI-E contacts, but with the measurement of the cooling system (if it goes beyond the printed circuit board).
    C1. - height, taking into account the rear plate (if any) / radiator mounting screws to the level of the upper surface of the cooling system. If it is below the height of the back of the video output ports, then the height is measured to the top point of the plank.

    Gigabyte GV-N970G1 Gaming-4GD

    Despite the fact that Gigabyte GV-N970G1 Gaming-4GD has already visited the hands of one of our authors, in this review she fell not by chance, since the similarity of its cooling system with a GV-N980G1 Gaming-4GD cooler can play a cruel joke with the buyer.

    Behind the appearance (or rather, the casing) is hiding big differences, and you should not succumb to this trick. Gigabyte was so skillfully used this approach that even the reverse side casing applies almost identical design. Otherwise, these are copies: pair DVI outputs (DVI-I / DVI-D), one HDMI and three DisplayPort. Moreover, HDMI is initially declared NVIDIA as supporting standard 2.0 (i.e. compatible with TVs and monitors 4K @ 60Hz). But what was the disappointment of the first buyers, when only selective compatibility was found.

    To blame here, in my opinion, both sides: TV manufacturers, stating the HDMI 2.0 standard, did not bother checking hardware compatibility, and NVIDIA has implemented this in the release of a new video card according to the new version not yet adopted. As a result, everything is suffering.

    Gigabyte GV-N980G1 Gaming-4GD

    Externally, it is copied to the smallest detail GV-N970G1 Gaming-4GD, but its mass is much harder. The departure lies in a more dense placement of the edges of the cooling system and the greater the heat pipes. And the printed circuit board itself is comparable to the size of the reference version of NVIDIA. In particular, it repeats the basic placement of the elements, but some of them are replaced by branded.

    However, it did not make Gigabyte GV-N980G1 Gaming-4GD become completely silent. Yes, the eternal and beaten the theme of the pickels touched the senior Maxwell solutions fully.

    Printed circuit board

    Gigabyte GV-N970G1 Gaming-4GD

    Personal vision of Gigabyte engineers expressed in the desire to create an exclusive pCB, not similar to the reference GeForce GTX 980. Of the advantages immediately note the large supply for nutrition (6 + 8 PIN) and power connectors deployed in reverse sideSo that the radiator does not interfere when connected.

    The main part of the VRM is moved forward a video card.

    The power of the graphics processor corresponds to six phases, which is more than enough for serious overclocking.

    Gigabyte engineers are constantly recycled and modified, and therefore often use proven components. Alas, but from the high-frequency pic of throtters, their measures did not save neither GeForce GTX 970, nor GTX 980. The only solution is still activating V-SYNC.

    The PHIM controller remained the same - NCP81174, it is also installed on all GeForce GTX 980. To universal sadness, control voltage on video cards, as well as the energy consumption threshold, it became very difficult. More precisely, if it remains possible at all.

    Now a part of the code in the drivers actively monitors the energy consumption of the video card and counteracts the overestimation of parameters above a certain value. Treatment methods are immediately two: BIOS modification and hardware voltmode; do well software method More can not. Although NVIDIA itself has significantly expanded the corridor of permissible frequencies, stresses and power consumption.

    In general, for ordinary users, the situation is seriously complicated, and for the overclocker enthusiasts to work the soldering iron over the printed circuit board - the case is ordinary.

    Eight samsung production microcircuits are planted on both sides. They are calculated on the frequency of up to 1750 MHz (effective frequency of 7000 MHz), the width of the tire is 256 bits.

    The combination of the microcircuits of the South Korean manufacturer and competent engineering always brought its fruits. So, the memory on GeForce GTX 970 and GTX 980 video cards excellently accelerates to 1900-2000 MHz.

    Maxwell's graphics core released in 2014. As usual, the marking uses a secondary number, denoting the GPU class (100-200-400), and the higher it is older decision. The "200" number is assigned GeForce GTX 970, "400" means GTX 980.

    Gigabyte GV-N970G1 Gaming-4GD video card rated frequencies are 1178 MHz for GPU (GPU Boost to 1329 MHz) and 1750 MHz for memory. The characteristics are impressive, let's see a little later, as the BOOST frequency is withstanding in reality.

    Gigabyte GV-N980G1 Gaming-4GD

    The power system "4 + 1" reference version of GeForce GTX 980 has become "8 + 2" on Gigabyte GV-N980G1 Gaming-4GD. Two 8Pin power connector used, and for the output to monitors there was a place for special keys (visible on the left side of the video card).

    Personally for GV-N980G1 Gaming-4GD developers Gigabyte completely revised the design, nothing remains from the reference.

    Even for memory two phases are assigned. Perhaps this will help the video card in acceleration? We will definitely check, but there should be no doubt. With such facilities would not let the BIOS image. And it turns out that they have gone for a long time, but in the end they did not go fast.

    From manufacturers, no one risked replacing the standard NCP PWM controller. And it is indicative migrates from one graphic accelerator to another. The reason lies in the support of voltage table drivers. If you specify the goal of installing a more advanced PWM controller, you will have to certify it from NVIDIA.

    What GeForce GTX 970 is that GTX 980 in the denomination should be equipped with a frequency chips with a frequency of at least 7000 MHz, so we will often encounter identical memory on video cards. Is that there eight samsung production chips are planned from the front side.

    The graphics processor released at the 32nd week 2014. The index "400" tells us about accessories for the senior version of Maxwell.

    The nominal frequencies of the Gigabyte GV-N980G1 GAMING-4GD video card are 1228 MHz for GPU (GPU Boost up to 1329 MHz) and 1750 MHz for memory. The base frequency is even greater than the GV-N970G1 Gaming-4GD, the boost is the same. But we know how the situation in reality may change.

    Cooling system

    Gigabyte GV-N970G1 Gaming-4GD

    Differences lies in the details - they play an essential role. Subjectively in front of us are two similar video cards. The external length is the same, size and type of fans - the same, rear protective plate - the same, then what items are we talking about?

    The inner structure of the cooling system GV-N970G1 Gaming-4GD is seriously simplified. Four heat pipes, widely spaced ribs, direct contact, the overall connection of the graphics core and the power system - all this is characteristic of the younger model. Thanks to the intercostal distance, one can judge the smaller air resistance (and as a result - a smaller level of noise), but let's see if engineers were able to benefit from geometry or not.

    While you can say only one thing - dismantling and disassembling CO do not pull on a high rating due to certain difficulties. To remove the main radiator, you need to unscrew not only the four screws, but also a couple more, passed through the casing. And only then you can get to the attachment of the protective plate. But to the fans get it easier.

    I would like to introduce some subjective assessment, like if IFIXIT, so that we can compare the thoughtful cooling systems of various manufacturers. So, the cooler Gigabyte GV-N970G1 Gaming-4GD deserves six points out of ten. And be careful with heat-conducting ribbons, their thickness is too small to withstand with a dozen disassembly.

    Gigabyte GV-N980G1 Gaming-4GD

    This model repeats the general design rule, but does not copy the insides. Before us with albeit without a cherry (and with a cherry, you can call the evaporative chamber, once used in Gigabyte video cards), but well-designed quite competently.

    Six heat pipes, five of which are 8 mm in diameter, maximally use the radiator area. For contact S. graphic core A single and large plate of copper is involved. With it in contact and memory chips. And again there are questions to the quality of heat transfer materials. Gaskets are very thin! IN unified system Cooling with GPU combined and power system. It is worth noting that the distance between the edges is critical, there is a chance that the fans do not have enough strength to blow them.

    And to shoot and disassemble the system is still hard. Therefore, the overall assessment of the design is only eight points out of ten.