[LinusTechTips] Fury X vs. Reference 980Ti tested in a small form factor case

[SolMiester]

What I love even more about this short comparison is that finally a professional review site shows that no you do not need a 700-750W PSU to run a flagship 275W GPU on a modern i5/i7 rig. All that's needed is a high quality 500W unit.

For years I've been testing my max overclocked i5/i7 CPUs with flagship cards like GTX470, HD6950 unlocked to 6970 and 7970 max OC on my Corsair 520W and it hasn't broken a sweat even once. The FUD needs to stop that one needs a 700W+ PSU to run a 250-300W TDP GPU. High quality modern PSUs are actually rated at their stated power so if a Corsair, Enermax, EVGA, SeaSonic PSU states 550W, it's actually made to run at that power 24/7 @ 50C.

The comparison:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbONfPkwa_s

Wish they tested a lot more games but I think the results speak for themselves -- when the airflow is poor and 980Ti is running close to its max 82-83C boost threshold, it's not a better card than the Fury X.

I realize that for a mid-tower or greater or a water-cooled scenario, an after-market 980Ti + OC is the way to go but for those who don't overclock or only mildly overclock and get a reference 980Ti, this overview is a good one.

OMG...perhaps you could edit that statement, as you have purposely used this environment to make a sweeping statement based on 1 metric which is purposely detrimental to the Ti because of air flow..

Serious RS, you are stretching it abit...LOL

 

[3DVagabond]

what about hot and quiet? Don't get me wrong. I think a single Fury X in that setup is better (if its a non-whiner - I sent mine back and won't buy another for a few months till we can be sure that is fixed) as well, but its not like a 980ti blower is unworkable or something

I can't copy and paste Hardware.fr's graph, but they've been testing the big nVidia cards with increased temp limits for a long time. They call it Uber and it was done to, in their eyes, level the playing field between the two brands when Hawaii came out. At out of box settings Big Kepler and Maxwell have throttled since the first Titan.

Anyway they show a fairly sizable increase in noise because, contrary to what you believe, the blower does speed up more when the temp limit is raised. Noise goes up by ~5db (39.6 to 44.4) for the 980 ti. It's more for titan X and the 980. Meanwhile they show less than 30db for fury in their testing. Also Fury X is ~20°C cooler. They test inside of a case.

 

[RussianSensation]

OMG...perhaps you could edit that statement, as you have purposely used this environment to make a sweeping statement based on 1 metric which is purposely detrimental to the Ti because of air flow..

Serious RS, you are stretching it abit...LOL

If you had read my comments, I continue to recommend an after-market or water-cooled 980Ti over Fury X but I will not recommend a reference 980Ti over the Fury X and this review continues to highlight why that is the case. A reference 980Ti cannot maintain its boost out of the box. It is a niche case since not many gamers have an SFF case but it should be noted to those actually cross-shopping between a reference 980Ti and Fury X for a SFF PC build.

So I don't think I am stretching anything as the testing at Linus' shows the data. This review's conclusions aren't intended to be applied to say a gaming rig with EVGA Classified or Zotac AMP! Extreme 980Ti vs. Fury X. Contrary to your suggestion that I specifically used this testing environment to promote Fury X, I just subscribe to Linus' videos and found it interesting that 980Ti doesn't perform to expectations in an area where Fury X excels - SFF builds. I didn't specifically go out of my way to discredit how awesome a 980Ti is in after-market / water-cooled SKUs and I still continue to recommend an after-market 980Ti for mid-towers and greater.

Anyway they show a fairly sizable increase in noise because, contrary to what you believe, the blower does speed up more when the temp limit is raised. Noise goes up by ~5db (39.6 to 44.4) for the 980 ti. It's more for titan X and the 980. Meanwhile they show less than 30db for fury in their testing. Also Fury X is ~20°C cooler. They test inside of a case.

Computerbase shows 49.5 dBA for a reference 980 and 50.5 dBA for a reference 980Ti.

That's simply awful. Reference blower 7970, 290X, 980, 980Ti, 780Ti, Titan, Titan X can all be clumped into the same group of hot and loud videocards. I don't know why anyone keeps putting up with these compromises with hardly any benefits. If you have a great CPU cooler, the blower literally brings nothing to the table other than if you particularly just love the look of a reference blower card and hate the idea of spending $ on a great CPU cooler. For mid-towers or greater, slap a Thermalright True Spirit 140/Noctua NH-D14/U14S or similar and these CPU coolers will not care if you have even 2 max overclocked 300W GPUs in CF/SLI in there.

I am just glad to see that AMD took the first risky/bold move to make their reference cards with AIO CLC and I truly hope NV follows through with Pascal. I know a lot of PC gamers are reluctant to change, which is why videos like Linus' are very educational for this crowd.

 

[Pariah]

This was like the furmark of environmental testing. A somewhat interesting talking point, but useless in the real world.

From the video:

"Please note, that I consider this testing to be pretty much a worst case scenario for all hardware involved. Since the ambient temperatures are significantly over 30C in here."

I'm sure many of you will line up to say your gaming room is typically over 90F, but for everyone else who is not a liar, or didn't spend their air conditioning money on a video card, this test is completely unrealistic. Drop the ambient temperature by 20F to a more palpable 70-75F and you're not going to see the 980Ti losing boost very often.

 

[Pariah]

I continue to recommend an after-market or water-cooled 980Ti over Fury X but I will not recommend a reference 980Ti over the Fury X and this review continues to highlight why that is the case.

Really? Why? Do you and your friends game in rooms that are 90-100F all the time?

 

[NotAgOat]

I like how Linus always films in his kitchen.

 

[casiofx]

Seriously, did you even watch the video and listen to what he was doing?

Look at 3:32, 87C on the Fury X with the GPU not under load? 4:30 61C on the motherboard?

6:05 - Crysis 3 62-66 FPS.

Congrats, you've turned a Fury X and 980 Ti into a GTX 980. Stock 980 Ti normally gets 80+ fps.

Then you've got the screen blanking out from CPU overheating with the solution to reverse the fan. But then you're heading up the GPU with the CPU's heat. Then there's the big long explanation about how a gamer won't use all 4 cores, so it's ok to blow heat into the case. In other words, you get to choose to overheat your GPU or you CPU.

And all the guy did was run Crysis 3? Are you freaking kidding me? He has absolutely no clue if this rig is stable - or maybe he does, and doesn't want to make note of a $1500 fail.

Talk about hypocrite, did you watch the video properly?

He reversed the direction of the airflow on the Fury X radiator after the second half of the video so it blows out of the front case instead of being an intake, and no more high temperature problems.

 

[3DVagabond]

This was like the furmark of environmental testing. A somewhat interesting talking point, but useless in the real world.

From the video:

"Please note, that I consider this testing to be pretty much a worst case scenario for all hardware involved. Since the ambient temperatures are significantly over 30C in here."

I'm sure many of you will line up to say your gaming room is typically over 90F, but for everyone else who is not a liar, or didn't spend their air conditioning money on a video card, this test is completely unrealistic. Drop the ambient temperature by 20F to a more palpable 70-75F and you're not going to see the 980Ti losing boost very often.

Again, back to Hardware.fr. They run the cards until temps stabilize and then run the benches. Most sites run 30-60 sec benches. They show ~10% performance increase with Uber settings (removing the temp throttle limits).
http://www.hardware.fr/articles/935-6/benchmark-anno-2070.html
There ambient is 26°

 

[casiofx]

This was like the furmark of environmental testing. A somewhat interesting talking point, but useless in the real world.

From the video:

"Please note, that I consider this testing to be pretty much a worst case scenario for all hardware involved. Since the ambient temperatures are significantly over 30C in here."

I'm sure many of you will line up to say your gaming room is typically over 90F, but for everyone else who is not a liar, or didn't spend their air conditioning money on a video card, this test is completely unrealistic. Drop the ambient temperature by 20F to a more palpable 70-75F and you're not going to see the 980Ti losing boost very often.

Do you think the whole world is at ambient 70-75F temp?
So those people living at the equator doesn't use high end video cards?
My ambient temp is exactly the same as his. Stop those nonsense *unrealistic* talks.

 

[Piroko]

...
I'm sure many of you will line up to say your gaming room is typically over 90F, but for everyone else who is not a liar, or didn't spend their air conditioning money on a video card, this test is completely unrealistic. ...

Oh, that's rich. Calling everyone a liar that doesn't have AirCon to keep the room temperature at exactly 21°C or below. I've seen 33°C / 91.4°F in my gaming room last week (mainland europe, unusually hot for early july but not uncommon in august). The proper solution to these temperatures is a fan, because aircon is a waste of money for 340 days of the year here.
My PC ran hot, but didn't crash, despite being in a case with dampening material and most ventilation holes closed. Doesn't even take anything special to keep a PC running in these temperatures, apart from some common sense.

On a side note, why would one get an AIO only to dump its ventilation heat into the case? This may get you ~2°C lower temperatures in the waterloop, but it's a terrible idea for everything else. I would think that the fan direction on an AIO is an absolute no-brainer in a case with so few fans.

 

[Silverforce11]

Why would he even use the radiator as intake? LOL

That basically turns Fury X into an open air card that dumps all the heat in the case.

No surprise when its reversed and used as exhaust, temps improved.

 

[Piroko]

I'd say it's worse than that, they turned it into an open air card with the only case fan running at very low speed - because it doesn't have to run faster to keep the card itself cool.
Meanwhile, the motherboard screams for help because it can't increase airflow on any relevant fans despite knowing much more about internal temperature distribution. Turning the fan around doesn't solve that problem, but it takes some 200W out of the equation at least.

On a second sidenote, I believe you couldn't even mount it pulling air into the case the way LinusTech did without turning the fan around in the first place. Unless they didn't fasten it to the case.

 

[Silverforce11]

If you use the rad as an exhaust, it acts as 2 in 1, ie. natural case exhaust airflow and 2, dumps all that GPU thermals out. Its the proper way.

Basically what Linus did is stupid.

ps. They noted they turned the fan around, so when they reversed it (exhaust) it was better, its towards the end of the vid.

 

[n0x1ous]

I can't copy and paste Hardware.fr's graph, but they've been testing the big nVidia cards with increased temp limits for a long time. They call it Uber and it was done to, in their eyes, level the playing field between the two brands when Hawaii came out. At out of box settings Big Kepler and Maxwell have throttled since the first Titan.



Anyway they show a fairly sizable increase in noise because, contrary to what you believe, the blower does speed up more when the temp limit is raised. Noise goes up by ~5db (39.6 to 44.4) for the 980 ti. It's more for titan X and the 980. Meanwhile they show less than 30db for fury in their testing. Also Fury X is ~20°C cooler. They test inside of a case.

Contrary to what I believe ay? Coming from someone who only buys AMD cards that's pretty rich. I've owned plenty of these cards and I can tell you from first hand experience that decibel numbers aren't the be all end all of noise testing. I think the fury x pump noise proved that. Yes the fury x is quieter than a blower of course but you guys act like the reference nvidia blower is some ear splitting demon. It's sound profile is very unobtrusive even up to 50% and is miles better than junk Hawaii blower. Of course it's not as good as aftermarket cards but it's also pretty impressive for what it is and the amount of heat it can deal with. I have a 980ti reference that will be going under water soon so Ultimately I don't care about the ref cooler ie this isn't me defending my purchase so I've had time to play with the blower in the meantime and with a temp target of 86 it's never dropped below 1400mhz or gone over 55% fan speed.

 

[3DVagabond]

Contrary to what I believe ay? Coming from someone who only buys AMD cards that's pretty rich. I've owned plenty of these cards and I can tell you from first hand experience that decibel numbers aren't the be all end all of noise testing. I think the fury x pump noise proved that. Yes the fury x is quieter than a blower of course but you guys act like the reference nvidia blower is some ear splitting demon. It's sound profile is very unobtrusive even up to 50% and is miles better than junk Hawaii blower. Of course it's not as good as aftermarket cards but it's also pretty impressive for what it is and the amount of heat it can deal with. I have a 980ti reference that will be going under water soon so Ultimately I don't care about the ref cooler ie this isn't me defending my purchase so I've had time to play with the blower in the meantime and with a temp target of 86 it's never dropped below 1400mhz or gone over 55% fan speed.

I'm not acting like anything. I'm just trying to report facts. Sorry if they don't agree with what you claim.

And you have no idea what I've owned. Not that it matters to what I've posted anyway.

 

[n0x1ous]

And you have no idea what I've owned. Not that it matters to what I've posted anyway

what was the last high end nvidia card you've had then?

 

[shady28]

Talk about hypocrite, did you watch the video properly?

He reversed the direction of the airflow on the Fury X radiator after the second half of the video so it blows out of the front case instead of being an intake, and no more high temperature problems.

Talk about lack of reading comprehension, I already said he did that. I also noted that he didn't do benchmarks afterwards. He spent like 1/3 of that video talking about the pros and cons of having a hot GPU vs hot CPU. If you reverse the airflow, it makes the GPU hotter because you're pulling hot case air over the GPU cooler on Fury. No benchmarks with the fan done way. So as I already said, and you either ignored it or just didn't understand it, you get to choose - hot GPU or hot CPU.

 

[Sabrewings]

People way over estimate PSU requirements. It's done to protect from the crap PSU's.

This is with a highly O/C'd CPU (3770 @ 4.8GHz).

That's how I did it. I had the idea to add a second 250w GPU one day, but as it sits right now my current system pulls less from the wall than my old one with a Q6600 and a GTX 275 did. All I had on that system was a 550w power supply from 2008, which is still running today.

 

[tviceman]

I have a GTX 980 Ti ACX 2.0 SC+ with backplate in my SG10 and I want to keep it around 75 degrees Celsius and it won't stay their even with my custom fan curve.

Not only are EVGA's generally less effective at cooling per db than MSI or Gigabyte, but you also have a bad case. Downward facing graphics card in the bottom of a cramped case? The genius behind that design needs a Darwinian award. I know that case came out within the last few years so there are no excuses for it's poor design decisions. Graphics cards are most often the most power hungry part of a complete setup these days. Case designers need to put the card on the side, a la SG05 or Fractal Node 304, or flip a vertical slotted motherboard around so the graphics card is on top and hot air can more easily exhaust out that way.

Have you tried updating the TIM by chance? I always do that with each card I get and generally get 2-3 C lower temps at the same fan speed.

 

[tviceman]

Not sure how that's relevant since at no point will a 980 air cooled overclocked i5/i7 Z97 system will draw anywhere near 500W of power.

It's relevant in the general discussion of PSU's and power draws from various set ups. I rained on someone attempt to thrash the GTX 980 as having a "power explosion" when overclocked by quoting my system's OC'd power draw numbers. My 450 watt PSU breaks no sweat at all running an OC'd 980 and OC'd 4770k.

 

[Stuka87]

Heck my last system was a complete power hog, and my 520W supply handled it fine. A Phenom II 965BE at 4GHz and a 7950 at 1100MHz draws a fair amount of juice (~420W peak during load tests).

My current system is WAY below that. It just comes down to people using quality power supplies.

I am happy somebody did a SFF review. Since I have a SFF case, its of interest to me. I am actually a bit annoyed the Sapphire Fury (air cooled) won't fit in my case as its a full 12" card.

 

[casiofx]

Talk about lack of reading comprehension, I already said he did that. I also noted that he didn't do benchmarks afterwards. He spent like 1/3 of that video talking about the pros and cons of having a hot GPU vs hot CPU. If you reverse the airflow, it makes the GPU hotter because you're pulling hot case air over the GPU cooler on Fury. No benchmarks with the fan done way. So as I already said, and you either ignored it or just didn't understand it, you get to choose - hot GPU or hot CPU.

What's the problem? How hot can the GPU be anyways? A single 120m rad can cool a freakin 500w 295X2 *facepalm*

 

[tential]

OMG...perhaps you could edit that statement, as you have purposely used this environment to make a sweeping statement based on 1 metric which is purposely detrimental to the Ti because of air flow..

Serious RS, you are stretching it abit...LOL

Talk about such a selective quote it hurts.
The full quote reads "when the airflow is poor and 980Ti is running close to its max 82-83C boost threshold, it's not a better card than the Fury X.".
Notice that qualifier of "when the airflow is floor" blah blah blah.

Lol this forum is a joke when it comes to reading comprehension

 

[coercitiv]

If you reverse the airflow, it makes the GPU hotter because you're pulling hot case air over the GPU cooler on Fury.

Yet when hot air is poured into the case, everything inside that case is exposed to considerably more heat (including card+liquid), meaning the water cooler has a tougher task ahead even if it gets cooler air.

 

[iiiankiii]

Talk about lack of reading comprehension, I already said he did that. I also noted that he didn't do benchmarks afterwards. He spent like 1/3 of that video talking about the pros and cons of having a hot GPU vs hot CPU. If you reverse the airflow, it makes the GPU hotter because you're pulling hot case air over the GPU cooler on Fury. No benchmarks with the fan done way. So as I already said, and you either ignored it or just didn't understand it, you get to choose - hot GPU or hot CPU.

It's non-throttled vs throttled. That's the key difference; regardless if the fan is exhausting or intaking air. Although, exhausting hot air is the logical way to do it. Who intakes hot air into a tiny case without any other means to exhaust that hot air?