Gigabyte - non-reference GTX 680 - good/bad?

[nine9s]

I just found one on New Egg. Order is not verified so I can still cancel it. I want to find out if Gigabyte cards, especially non-reference, are good.

Anyone here have experience with Gigabyte Nvidia cards.

Here is the card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125422

Reviewers indicate it is a very cool card (like 20 degrees lower than reference.) Only negative was that it puts a little exhaust into the computer case.

I am worried because I have never had a Gigabyte product and worried about non reference design - is this non-reference design risky?


Although, on the plus, Gigabyte's site states that it has better/more reliable components - I am not sure if this is hype or real:


Ultra Durable VGA™

Features & Benefits
GPU Temperature 5%~10% down
Ultra Durable VGA board provides dramatic cooling effect on lowering both GPU and memory temperature by doubling the copper inner layer of PCB. GIGABYTE Ultra Durable VGA can lower GPU temperature by 5% to 10%.
Overclocking Capability 10%~30% Up
Ultra Durable VGA board reduces voltage ripples in normal and transient state, thus effectively lowers noises and ensures higher overclocking capability. GIGABYTE Ultra Durable VGA graphic accelerators improve overclocking capability by 10% to 30%.
Power Switching Loss 10%~30% Down
Ultra Durable VGA board allows more bandwidth for electron passage and reduces circuit impedance. The less circuit impedance, the more stable flow of current and can effectively improve power efficiency. GIGABYTE Ultra Durable VGA can lower power switching loss by 10% to 30%.



I find no contact information on Gigabyte website - seems it is all email/web base contact. Anyone here have experience with Gigabyte customer service/warranty service? Quick to respond? Good/bad?



Anyone know how long the warranty would be - I cannot even find that on Gigabyte site.

 

[blackened23]

You're good to go, that is a good card. Warranty is 3 years. I've heard nothing but good things about gigabye's aftermarket cooled cards.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Good: Good factory OC for basicly no extra price.
Bad: 3 fans.

Else I wouldnt worry.

 

[nine9s]

Bad: 3 fans.

What is the negative about 3 fans?

 

[SickBeast]

The only bad thing I hear about those Gigabyte cards is that the fans rattle if you ramp them up near 100% speed.

 

[ShintaiDK]

What is the negative about 3 fans?

Noise and increased chance of one failing.

 

[ramj70]

I have a Gigabyte 580 superclocked and it has the same 3 fan cooling. At almost 100% fan speed the noise isn't that bad and I do not notice it while playing any games. It's much quieter and cooler than my 480. The fans also do not rattle. I also had a Gigabyte GTX275 super overclock and it was a great card. I have not had a problem with their cards at all. Their warranty is for 3 years. I have not had to contact them about any issues so I can't answer that.

 

[chimaxi83]

Noise and increased chance of one failing.

Increased chance of one failing? Lol I've never seen 3 fans be described in that negative tone. Anyway, this is a Windforce model, it's pretty quiet. Read some reviews.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Increased chance of one failing? Lol I've never seen 3 fans be described in that negative tone. Anyway, this is a Windforce model, it's pretty quiet. Read some reviews.

Friend of mine got a GTX460 with 2. And he had to replace the cooler due to a fan.

But its not something I would worry about. However I would note it in my consideration. Including the more noise they naturally produce.

 

[nine9s]

Nice. I found this review of the actual card: http://www.guru3d.com/article/gigabyte-geforce-gtx-680-oc-edition-review/10

That tester* found that the Gigabyte OC 680 is 10 degree cooler at idle (29 vs 39) and 16 degree cooler (63 vs 79) at load than a reference 680. That is consistent with what reviewers posted on New Egg for the card.

* The temperatures were not average readings but the high readings - the tester noted: "The temperature under heavy game stress for the card stabilized at roughly 63 Degrees C. We note down the hottest GPU reading, not the average."

Noise is same, with it 1 dB less at load than reference: http://www.guru3d.com/article/gigabyte-geforce-gtx-680-oc-edition-review/11

So sounds like good design, so crossing fingers that Gigabyte has good customer service on warranty issues and/or better yet, I never need to find out.

 

[mple]

Sounds like you've got a great card. It's only $25 over the reference design with a better cooler

 

[SolMiester]

I installed a wind force Gtx580 at Xmas, quietest card I never heard....Fcs, there's some BS posted in this forum

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

I would have gotten a reference card but that is a great card. With the supply of GTX 680s the way they are it is best to just grab whatever you can get.

(or just get a 7970)

 

[VirtualLarry]

I've had good luck with a pair of Gigabyte WindForce GTX460 1GB OC cards.

 

[JBT]

I had a Gigabyte 560 Ti Wind Force it was awesome.

 

[nine9s]

Thanks for all the replies. Made me feel confident about the purchase.

 

[3DVagabond]

I've never owned a Gigabyte card, but the reviews of the Windforce III are all excellent. Cool, quiet, O/C's well... I personally wouldn't hesitate to buy it.

Hopefully, you won't get a "just kidding" we don't have any notice from Newegg.

 

[nine9s]

I've never owned a Gigabyte card, but the reviews of the Windforce III are all excellent. Cool, quiet, O/C's well... I personally wouldn't hesitate to buy it.

Hopefully, you won't get a "just kidding" we don't have any notice from Newegg.

How long should New Egg take to confirm? I am waiting on ordering other components and already missed a good deal on a CPU because I want to get confirmation the 680 shipped.

 

[mple]

Newegg has always been pretty fast for me. I've ordered from the business website and the usually pack and ship the same day I order. For the regular newegg site, I usually have my stuff shipped the following business day.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Sounds like you've got a great card. It's only $25 over the reference design with a better cooler

Buy it

 

[jacktesterson]

You're good to go, that is a good card. Warranty is 3 years. I've heard nothing but good things about gigabye's aftermarket cooled cards.

Should read up on Gigabytes Dual Fan 7850.

Cheapest cooler available on the 7850s.

All suppliers will have good and bad cards. Most are usually average/comparable though.

 

[thilanliyan]

I had a Windforce GTX460 but I watercooled it immediately so can't comment on the cooler. In terms of warranty, I had to RMA a motherboard once and it went fairly smoothly.

 

[xp0c]

Better than a reference card with the Arctic Cooling Accelero Xtreme Plus installed.

Go for it!