Gigabyte's Acutal Custom 7970 on the Egg

[utahraptor]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125413

Why are there no reviews and only one preview on major sites?

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/01/09/gigabyte_radeon_hd_7970_oc_exclusive_first_look/

 

[blackened23]

Looks nice, but 610$? Hmm...

 

[Golgatha]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125413

Why are there no reviews and only one preview on major sites?

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/01/09/gigabyte_radeon_hd_7970_oc_exclusive_first_look/

Here's one - http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/33697-gigabyte-radeon-hd-7970-oc-gv-r797oc-3gd/

 

[Quantos]

Looks nice, but 610$? Hmm...

Isn't it kind of expected for a custom product? I'd rather pay $610 for that than $600 for a reference Asus.

Here's one - http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/33697-gigabyte-radeon-hd-7970-oc-gv-r797oc-3gd/

Meh, they only push it to 1125MHz. That's kind of a wasted review. The whole point is to see how it does further than that! It's seems so far so good, though. It's much cooler than the reference.

 

[thilanliyan]

From the Hexus link, it doesn't look like a custom card...just a reference card with a different heatsink, so components are probably reference.

 

[utahraptor]

From the Hexus link, it doesn't look like a custom card...just a reference card with a different heatsink, so components are probably reference.

Apparently it is a custom PCB using higher end parts. Also according to the hexen review this will not be the Gigabyte top dog, that will be the SOC (super overclock) and will likely have a higher core as well as OCed RAM.

Taken from Gigabyte Site: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4102#ov

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%.

 

[Quantos]

The PCB in that review is black, and the one on Newegg is blue. Different card?

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

I'd love to see the clocks this cooler can produce.

 

[ader098]

The PCB in that review is black, and the one on Newegg is blue. Different card?

PCB in Hexus review is 100% reference.
PCB in Newegg is different color but still is using reference design/components.
PCB is not a Gigabyte Ultra Durable, or else it will say so on the packaging.

The PCB is still using reference design but is manufactured from Gigabyte's sources. My guess is Gigabyte will release a custom "ultra durable" pcb on a updated revision of this card.

 

[Kenmitch]

PCB in Hexus review is 100% reference.
PCB in Newegg is different color but still is using reference design/components.
PCB is not a Gigabyte Ultra Durable, or else it will say so on the packaging.

The PCB is still using reference design but is manufactured from Gigabyte's sources. My guess is Gigabyte will release a custom "ultra durable" pcb on a updated revision of this card.

Wonder if it's the alternate budget PCB without the AMD logo pictured here? http://twitarmy.com/community/showthread.php/439-AMD-Radeon-HD-7900-PCB-Pictures-Leak-To-Web

 

[ader098]

Wonder if it's the alternate budget PCB without the AMD logo pictured here? http://twitarmy.com/community/showthread.php/439-AMD-Radeon-HD-7900-PCB-Pictures-Leak-To-Web

It doesn't look like Gigabyte is using the budget pcb.
If you look at the hsf mounting holes on the end of the pcb near the power connectors you'll notice that the Gigabyte card matches the reference pcb and not the "budget" pcb.
The budget pcb only has two mounting holes at the very end of the pcb while the reference has four.

Gigabyte 7970 pcb

7970 refrenece pcb

7970 budget pcb

 

[RavenSEAL]

I'd love to see the clocks this cooler can produce.

Don't expect too much, Gigabyte's cooling solutions for GPUs tend to be noisy garbage.

 

[lavaheadache]

reference cards or bust, unless we are talking MSI Ligtning's/twin frozr and Asus DC series cards

 

[Golgatha]

Going to give team read the college try again. Really worried about the quality of AMD's drivers still, but I'm not going to use Crossfire so here's to hoping everything works out. I am kinda miffed that I can't use PhysX now though.

 

[AtenRa]

Wonder if it's the alternate budget PCB without the AMD logo pictured here? http://twitarmy.com/community/showthread.php/439-AMD-Radeon-HD-7900-PCB-Pictures-Leak-To-Web

I believe the Blue PCB cost more to manufacture than the PCB AMD used in the first cards and it could be better due to more VRMs. It also has dual DVI links when the reference design has a single DVI.

I could be wrong.

Edit: Image from http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_7970/4.html

 

[blackened23]

From the Hexus link, it doesn't look like a custom card...just a reference card with a different heatsink, so components are probably reference.

Presumably it has a beefed up VRm and obviously the improved cooler. I understand that non reference cards are more expensive, but I don't think i'd get anything less than TF3 msi lightning for a pre built aftermarket cooler. Also you must consider that if you go out and buy an aftermarket cooler on your own, it generally costs 70-100$. So you're saving money with the pre-attached cooler.

Anyway, I'm not saying the windforce or asus DC2 are bad, they're both great, but TF3 remains my favorite. Customer loyalty I suppose?