evGA GTX 670 vs 670 FTW - is FTW edition worth the extra $20?

[dsc106]

The title says it all. Does the extra $20 get you a chip that was fabbed better and should over clock more reliably, or add any better cooling? Or is that just $20 that's simply wasted? Also, any reason to skip the eVGA and their reputation/lifetime warranty/etc. to go for the Gigabyte with all the extra fans?

 

[jacktesterson]

I had a 670 FTW fan die on me with barely any use. Sent it back to Newegg for a refund. Im pretty sure it was just a fluke since nobody else seems to have had that.

I personally think I would go with the FTW for the 680 PCB. The Asus DC II's are also on a 680 PCB.

 

[dsc106]

What exactly is a 680 PCB and how does that differ from non-FTW? What are the benefits?

 

[Termie]

Pay the extra $20. You may get higher overclocks, perhaps on the order of 1-2%, but that's not why you should buy it. It's for the quieter heatsink/fan.

 

[digitaldurandal]

The 680 ipcb has an extra power phase. It means the card will be a bit more stable at OC. If you do not overclock it doesn't mean much.

 

[Rvenger]

I am pretty sure they both have 4 power phases. The Ref 680 PCB is more robust, everything is not so clustered together like on the smaller 670 PCB which allows for much better cooling to the RAM and VRMs.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I've got FTW 670 and love it. Not sure if it's worth the extra $20, but I haven't had any problems with my card at all. I'm sure I could OC it more, but I have no need other than to tinker with it. I'd go SLI if I had the coin.

 

[WiseUp216]

I definitely would have paid the extra $20.00 for the FTW version but it was OOS at the local Microcenter.

That being said, I don't feel slighted because I ended up with the vanilla version.

 

[Destiny]

I would've paid the extra $20 for the FTW card... but they were sold out and I was impatient so I got the windforce instead.

 

[toyota]

What exactly is a 680 PCB and how does that differ from non-FTW? What are the benefits?

lol, so we have to do all the research for you?

the gtx670 pcb and cooler is a cheaply made pos that has no business being on a $400 card. most people complain about the noise of the cooler especially at idle.

the gtx670 ftw comes with the 680 pcb and cooler which has more capacitors and larger heatsink that covers all the memory. that 680 cooler is much quieter while keeping the card cooler. the gtx670 ftw card also come with the high flow bracket that comes on the gtx680 SC sig and ftw cards.

 

[Pneumothorax]

lol, so we have to do all the research for you?

the gtx670 pcb and cooler is a cheaply made pos that has no business being on a $400 card. most people complain about the noise of the cooler especially at idle.

the gtx670 ftw comes with the 680 pcb and cooler which has more capacitors and larger heatsink that covers all the memory. that 680 cooler is much quieter while keeping the card cooler. the gtx670 ftw card also come with the high flow bracket that comes on the gtx680 SC sig and ftw cards.

I can second Toyota on this as I returned a vanilla galaxy 670 for this reason alone. My EVGA FTW is a much quieter card.

 

[dsc106]

Thanks for the help guys. I ordered the EVGA GTX 670 FTW from Newegg and will return my unopened vanilla evga 670 to the local store here.