Gigabyte vs Asus GTX 670

[TheAstrohaut]

The core clock for the gigabytes version of the 670 is 980Mhz, and the core clock of the ASUS gtx 670 is 915Mhz. But the gigbyte version costs less than the Asus version. WTF? WHY?

Gigabyte: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvn670oc2gd

ASUS: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gtx670dc22gd5

 

[Don Karnage]

Grab the Asus

http://www.jr.com/asus/pe/ASU_GTX670...Jb*x8KbogB*xmw

 

[Phishy714]

probably because Asus demands a higher premium than Gigabyte.. Its like buying designer clothes - you are paying more for the label than the actual materials are worth.

 

[IlllI]

i would say they are virtually tied. asus, more expensive and slightly quieter. gigabyte, less expensive but louder. i would not mind either one.

 

[lopri]

Related: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2245950

ASUS DirectCU -> Custom PCB + Custom cooler, BIOS normally optimized for quiet operation
Gigabyte Windforce -> Reference PCB + Custom cooler, BIOS normally optimized for low temperatures

A few members who had used both responded DirectCU's build quality is somwhat better than Windforce's.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

Related: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2245950

ASUS DirectCU -> Custom PCB + Custom cooler, BIOS normally optimized for quiet operation
Gigabyte Windforce -> Reference PCB + Custom cooler, BIOS normally optimized for low temperatures

A few members who had used both responded DirectCU's build quality is somwhat better than Windforce's.

Not true. If the Gigabyte had the reference PCB then it would be short. In the pictures on Newegg it clearly shows a full length PCB.

 

[lopri]

I wasn't talking about 670 specifically. More like DirectCU v. Windforce in general. Windforce 670 borrows 680 PCB, iirc. ASUS designs its own PCBs for most of their DirectCU line cards. (not always successful perhaps) Gigabyte does, too, but it seems like for ultra high-end they go with the reference PCB. (i.e. designed by AMD/NV)

Edit: BTW I didn't mean to somehow imply Custom PCBs > Reference PCBs. Not at all. Often times AMD/NV's AIB partners will cut corners in their custom designs, usually sometime after the initial launch. You have to give each design individual look.

 

[toyota]

I wasn't talking about 670 specifically. More like DirectCU v. Windforce in general. Windforce 670 borrows 680 PCB, iirc. ASUS designs its own PCBs for most of their DirectCU line cards. (not always successful perhaps) Gigabyte does, too, but it seems like for ultra high-end they go with the reference PCB. (i.e. designed by AMD/NV)

the Gigabyte Windforce 670 looks to use the 680 pcb but with an additional phase and 8/6 pin connectors.

 

[lehtv]

Too bad they paint it blue. Such a waste of a good PCB

 

[The_Golden_Man]

I helped a friend with his new computer here the other day. I had ordered all his components for him. I chose the Gigabyte Windforce GTX 670 3x. The build quality looks fine, and the card is cool and not very noisy.

Had to disable PCI-E 3.0 and use 2.0 in the bios of his ASUS P8Z77-V because of some kind of bug making the system totally unstable at PCI-E 3.0. Heard of others with other brand motherboards having the same bug when using the Gigabyte GTX 670 Windforce 3x.

I also built his brothers system. And he has that same motherboard, only he has a Gainward reference GTX 670. No problems with PCI-E 3.0 there.

Yesterday I got my two ASUS GTX 670 Direct CU II 'Non TOP'. I must say they look and feel even better than the Gigabyte card. Two green LED diodes lighting up when PCI-E cables are plugged in, and a nice black backplate with the ASUS logo. Also, the DC II cooler with it's heatpipes are looking very nice. They are very silent with the standard fan profile. This card has a 6 phase power delivery system when compared to Gigabyte's 5 phase. I don't know why Gigabyte chose to use one 6+8 pin PCI-E power instead of 6+6. 6+8 can deliver 300w, 6+6 can deliver 225w. These cards have a tdp at 170w, however in general gaming the use around 140w. So the cards will never even get close to the 6+6 pin, 225w, so why Gigabyte put 6+8 on there, I don't know.

I had to change the profile, due to running SLI. The upper card gets 10C hotter than the lower. However, I manage to keep the upper card at around 70C at full load. According to my Custom MSI Afterburner fanprofile, the fan is running at 75% when reaching 70c. It's audible at that rpm, but not annoying in any way. Just a nice wooshh...

Also, as a note.... Gigabyte GTX 670 are said to be 28.5cm (I measured it to 27.5cm) and the ASUS GTX 670 is said to be 27.2cm (I measured it to 27cm).

Edit: Also, There are very little/to none Coil whine from my ASUS cards. Only a little bit when on menus in games with V-sync disabled. I believe the Gigabyte Windforce also to have little coil whine when comapared to many reference GTX 670 cards, like my reference MSI GTX 670, which has a terrible coil whine. I don't even wanna talk about the reference fan and cooler. It's terrible and have this humming noise from the fan, even at idle. This is due to the plastic shrouding the fan is installed in.