My thoughts on the GTX 480... Now with video

[lavaheadache]

I can fully believe the launch cards are loud as hell and equally hot. However, I highly doubt the 2 480s I got are the worlds quietest 480s and nobody else has quiet and cool cards. I use the term cool loosely as we are talking about cards that consume as much power as entire PC's from not that long ago. I remember 7800 gtx's crossed the threshold into the 70s and I was blown away how hot mine got.

Keep in mind that my reference 580 is quieter than my 480 and rarely gets much above 74c. You really have to work the card to get it there.

 

[goobernoodles]

I just want to confirm... it's not a problem running MSI Afterburner with a non-MSI (Galaxy) card, right?

I'm asking because my GTX480 was essentially DOA. Replacement is sitting next to me about to be installed this evening.

 

[toyota]

I just want to confirm... it's not a problem running MSI Afterburner with a non-MSI (Galaxy) card, right?

I'm asking because my GTX480 was essentially DOA. Replacement is sitting next to me about to be installed this evening.

the make of card does not matter

 

[lavaheadache]

I just want to confirm... it's not a problem running MSI Afterburner with a non-MSI (Galaxy) card, right?
I'm asking because my GTX480 was essentially DOA. Replacement is sitting next to me about to be installed this evening.

That was a fast rma

 

[goobernoodles]

That was a fast rma

Called up Newegg yesterday and they offered an "advance RMA" I believe. They took my credit card on file, sent a new 480 w/ next day shipping. Got it this morning. It was about a 24 hour turnaround actually.

About to eat the $200, RMA the original card back to Galaxy, and SLI these bitches. LOL

 

[lavaheadache]

Called up Newegg yesterday and they offered an "advance RMA" I believe. They took my credit card on file, sent a new 480 w/ next day shipping. Got it this morning. It was about a 24 hour turnaround actually.

About to eat the $200, RMA the original card back to Galaxy, and SLI these bitches. LOL

Nice! However, I don't like dual gpu but to each their own.

How is the new card? What make is it since the galaxy has been deactivated?

 

[goobernoodles]

Nice! However, I don't like dual gpu but to each their own.

How is the new card? What make is it since the galaxy has been deactivated?

It's another Galaxy. Still at work, haven't installed it. And coming from CF'd 4890's I'm not going to do SLI/CF again. I swear to christ even at the same or lower FPS, the 480 felt soooo much smoother than the 4890's. Microstutter ftl.

 

[toyota]

It's another Galaxy. Still at work, haven't installed it. And coming from CF'd 4890's I'm not going to do SLI/CF again. I swear to christ even at the same or lower FPS, the 480 felt soooo much smoother than the 4890's. Microstutter ftl.

you just said you were going to SLI them though...

 

[lavaheadache]

It's another Galaxy. Still at work, haven't installed it. And coming from CF'd 4890's I'm not going to do SLI/CF again. I swear to christ even at the same or lower FPS, the 480 felt soooo much smoother than the 4890's. Microstutter ftl.

My thoughts exactly

 

[lavaheadache]

I got my back plates on the way. Buying them for protection mainly

 

[Hypertag]

Why is $375 a smoking deal with the GTX 570 literally performs better than the GTX 480 for less money?

Edit: Okay, two GTX 570s for $375.

 

[RussianSensation]

Why is $375 a smoking deal with the GTX 570 literally performs better than the GTX 480 for less money?

Edit: Okay, two GTX 570s for $375.

Where can you find 2x GTX570s for $375? :sneaky:

 

[lavaheadache]

Why is $375 a smoking deal with the GTX 570 literally performs better than the GTX 480 for less money?

Edit: Okay, two GTX 570s for $375.

Its amazing how many keep chiming to say things like this.

Read the OP people

 

[lavaheadache]

I just want to point out that the temps I reported in the op were from when the card was in my antec 900 with excellent cross flow going on not the case and setup in the video

 

[Puffnstuff]

The only way that stock fan cooled 480's could be considered quiet is if you were sititng on an active carrier flight deck when you tested them. The stock fans are the reason I went to water in a hurry with them.

 

[amenx]

I will never go with a ref cooled Nvidia card again (had a 470), will always go with non-ref cooling from now on (ie, Gigabyte windforce, MSI TF, etc).

 

[lavaheadache]

The only way that stock fan cooled 480's could be considered quiet is if you were sititng on an active carrier flight deck when you tested them. The stock fans are the reason I went to water in a hurry with them.

Thanks for the great advice. If you are going to come in here and take the time to post maybe you should have taken the time to watch the video which backs up my claims. Oh, and I wasn't on an aircraft carrier when I took the video

 

[goobernoodles]

Yeah, the 480 really isn't that loud compared to other video cards I've had. It's pretty damn quiet compared to the 4890's I had in crossfire previously.

 

[RussianSensation]

The only way that stock fan cooled 480's could be considered quiet is if you were sititng on an active carrier flight deck when you tested them. The stock fans are the reason I went to water in a hurry with them.

Did you watch the video made my lavaheadache? Did you miss the part where earlier GTX480s were much hotter and louder than later samples?

I can tell you my 6950 is much louder than the tested GTX480 in that video. And my HD4890 was way louder than my GTX470 or the 6950.

 

[Cookie Monster]

lavaheadache have you tried undervolting the 2d voltage? I think its worth it since you can shave 3~4C at idle and maybe a ~5W or so watts at idle. I have mine at .88V instead of the 0.925V stock. The lowest it can go down is ~0.81V (accoding to GPUZ even if one forces it down to 0.7V which I had originally).

I really find it weird how these cards were once compared to dust buster. Even at my OCed settings it doesn't break 80C at all and thats at fan speeds of 63~68%.

 

[BFG10K]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4-Bhiha-3w&feature=related

Even under idle you can hear the whine from the GTX480 compared to GTX580; at load there’s just no comparison. That’s pretty much how they sounded inside my closed case.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Really I dont here any whine from mine? I wonder if that is because of how the fan on the GTX480 could potentially vibrate against the enclosure since the GTX580 has a ring around the fan to prevent this from happening. Guess I got lucky

 

[bunnyfubbles]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4-Bhiha-3w&feature=related

Even under idle you can hear the whine from the GTX480 compared to GTX580; at load there’s just no comparison. That’s pretty much how they sounded inside my closed case.

what a depressing video, as it reminded me its been an entire year and we're still stuck with the 580 as the fastest GPU, which is really only the fixed version of the 480 which debuted in April of 2010, so really its more like a year and a half.

and the worst part is the most current rumors place the next gen GPUs (at least the higher end parts) in Q2 of 2012

 

[lopri]

I thought my 580 was pretty loud under load. I guess noise is really that subjective.

 

[lavaheadache]

lavaheadache have you tried undervolting the 2d voltage? I think its worth it since you can shave 3~4C at idle and maybe a ~5W or so watts at idle. I have mine at .88V instead of the 0.925V stock. The lowest it can go down is ~0.81V (accoding to GPUZ even if one forces it down to 0.7V which I had originally).

I really find it weird how these cards were once compared to dust buster. Even at my OCed settings it doesn't break 80C at all and thats at fan speeds of 63~68%.

nah, I haven't tried undervolting. I'm really not trying to save every last little wasted watt nor am I concerned with temps.

I may do it out of boredom though =)