EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming Review | 118 Data compared

summary of the EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Hybrid Gaming video card review: Review Summary The EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Hybrid Gaming (04G-P4-1976-KR) features an Asetek closed-loop "all-in-one" water cooling solution designed to drastically lower GPU operating temperatures. It is powered by NVIDIA's GM204 "Maxwell" GPU, packing 1664 CUDA cores and 4GB of GDDR5 memory. Pros of this card include its robust hybrid design, where a 120mm liquid radiator cools the GPU while a standard blower fan handles the VRM and memory components. It also features a solid factory overclock, running at an 1140 MHz base and 1279 MHz boost clock, which is 8.6% faster than reference speeds and delivers reliable 60 FPS performance for 1080p gaming. Additionally, removing the fan shroud easily shrinks the card's physical length from 10.5 inches down to just 6.75 inches. However, the card suffers from a few notable drawbacks. Cons include its high price tag of $399.99, making it a tough sell since it is clocked lower than alternative air-cooled models like the EVGA SSC and FTW, which cost up to $75 less. The 4GB...

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 is highlighted as a disruptive, game-changing graphics card that significantly reshapes the price-to-performance ratio in the high-end GPU market. Retailing at £260, it delivers raw performance that challenges or exceeds much more expensive hardware, effectively making older competing products like AMD’s R9 290 series and Nvidia’s own GTX 780 legacy models obsolete. Built on Nvidia’s Maxwell architecture, the card features 1664 CUDA cores, a 1178MHz boost clock, and 4GB of GDDR5 memory. It serves as an exceptional performer for targeted 1080p and 1440p gaming configurations. Testing demonstrates it handles intense frame-rate dips smoothly in demanding titles like Crysis 3. Furthermore, its low 145W thermal design power (TDP) results in outstanding energy efficiency compared to previous-generation architectures. Despite its high praise, the review identifies several notable flaws and limitations. A major underlying issue is a marketing controversy regarding incorrect specifications that triggered a lawsuit, specifically involving a split memory bandwidth design (3.5GB running at high speeds and 512MB running much slower). In terms of pure performance, the GPU struggles significantly when pushing native 4K resolutions, often...

The TechPowerUp review of the EVGA GTX 970 SC ACX 4 GB highlights the card as a high-performance, Maxwell-based solution featuring a significant factory overclock and excellent power efficiency. It provides immense value at $350, outperforming the R9 290X while supporting modern features like HDMI 2.0 and showing high overclocking potential. However, the ACX cooler, while effective at keeping the card at 73°C under load, is notably loud and lacks the fan-off capabilities found in competing models. Additional drawbacks include higher power consumption compared to a reference 980 and the lack of a backplate on retail units.

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 remains surprisingly capable of running modern 2024 releases, provided players compromise heavily on visual settings. In benchmarks utilizing an Intel Core i9-13900K test rig at 1080p resolution with low settings, the 10-year-old GPU successfully delivers highly playable frame rates across multiple genres. Notably, it achieves an impressive 95 fps in Total War: Warhammer 3, 85 fps in Hitman 3, and 72 fps during Halo Infinite multiplayer matches. Furthermore, it holds up reasonably well in demanding RPGs, averaging 58 fps in Baldur's Gate 3. Aside from competitive frame rates in specific titles, a major pro for this specific EVGA model is its cooling efficiency, as it consistently maintains temperatures at or below a safe 70°C even under full load. However, the card faces severe performance bottlenecks and technological limitations when confronting today's most demanding titles. The most prominent con is its struggle with heavily optimized next-gen games; for instance, Cyberpunk 2077 drops to a lackluster 40 fps even on the lowest settings, accompanied by major visual degradation. Demanding environments also trigger noticeable micro-stuttering during flashy combat...

The MSI GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 4G is a dual-slot graphics card featuring a factory-overclocked base clock of 1,140MHz, a boost frequency of 1,279MHz, and standard 7GHz memory. A major standout feature is the Twin Frozr V cooling system, which uses a massive nickel-plated copper baseplate, four advanced heat pipes, and dual 100mm Torx fans. This configuration includes "Zero Frozr" technology for silent, semi-passive operation under 50–60°C, and "Hybrid Frozr," allowing independent fan speed control via MSI's Gaming App. Additionally, the card boasts a robust 6 power delivery phase utilizing Military Class 4 components (like Super Ferrite Chokes and Solid CAPs) designed to enhance overclocking stability and longevity. In terms of advantages, the card offers a competitive UK price of £281.99—the lowest among the reviewed trio—and ships with a free mouse pad and a 6-pin to 8-pin power adaptor. Its custom-engineered PCB components offer high durability, while the slightly under-dual-slot height helps maximize airflow in multi-GPU SLI setups. On the downside, the graphics card completely lacks a backplate, leaving four of its memory chips entirely exposed on the rear of...

The EVGA GeForce GTX 970 FTW ACX 2.0 stands out as one of the fastest pre-overclocked GTX 970 graphics cards on the market, featuring exceptionally high out-of-the-box base and Boost frequencies that allowed the core to maintain a rock-solid, sustained clock speed of 1430MHz during testing. A major pro of this card is its compact 9.5-inch design paired with the second-generation ACX 2.0 cooler, which delivers excellent thermal management well below NVIDIA's throttling thresholds while remaining quiet enough to blend in with standard case fans. Additionally, EVGA successfully resolved early launch bugs by rolling out a new BIOS to fix aggressive idle fan noise and updating manufacturing processes to address notorious coil whine issues. For enthusiasts looking to push limits, the card demonstrated impressive manual core overclocking headroom, setting a forum record by hitting a stable 1518MHz. However, these extreme speeds introduce several notable cons, starting with a steep $380 price point that demands a hefty $50 premium over reference models. Despite this premium, EVGA surprisingly omitted a backplate, leaving the rear memory modules entirely exposed without secondary heatsink protection....

The EVGA GTX 970 FTW is a highly impressive, heavily factory-overclocked card featuring the GM204 GPU, 4GB GDDR5, and a whisper-quiet ACX 2.0 cooler that outperforms competitors. Its custom PCB includes an upgraded VRM design, delivering stable power and achieving real-world boost clocks over 1390 MHz out of the box. However, the card is limited by an awkward, microscopic BIOS switch and non-standard 6-pin connector placement, alongside a strict 110% power target that restricts further manual overclocking. Additionally, the I/O layout lacks the multiple DisplayPorts found on reference models, limiting simultaneous 4K60 display capabilities.

The EVGA GeForce GTX 970 FTW offers an excellent value proposition by utilizing Nvidia’s efficient 28nm Maxwell architecture to deliver impressive performance at a competitive price point. Despite having its core composition cut to 1,664 cores and 104 texture units compared to the flagship GTX 980, architectural upgrades like an improved SMM scheduler, expanded L2 cache, and a new compression engine allow it to outperform previous-generation GPUs. A major pro of this specific card is its high efficiency, operating on a low 145W TDP while retaining a full 4GB GDDR5 frame buffer on a 256-bit bus. Furthermore, its launch price of $329 makes it a standout choice, offering a massive 40 per cent savings over the top-tier model. On the downside, the card suffers from a 21 per cent decrease in peak GFLOPS performance (3,920 GFLOPS compared to the GTX 980's 4,981 GFLOPS) due to the removal of three SM units and slightly lower base and boost clock speeds. On paper, these specifications can initially look like a backward step when compared directly to older, raw-power cards like the aging...

The bit-tech review of the EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SC ACX2 evaluates a heavily factory-overclocked graphics card priced competitively at £287.99 (including VAT). Known as the "SuperClocked" variant, it features an impressive 11 percent out-of-the-box core speed boost, pushing the base clock up to 1,165MHz and the boost clock to 1,317MHz while keeping the 4GB of Samsung GDDR5 memory at stock speeds. Architecturally, EVGA builds upon the reference hardware by implementing a 4 phase power design alongside dual 6-pin power connectors. Physically, the card features an understated, compact form factor measuring just 241mm long and 111mm tall, allowing it to easily fit within standard PCI bracket dimensions. The core selling point is the ACX 2.0 cooling technology, which uses 11 "Swept" fan blades, double ball bearings, and highly efficient motors to push more air with less power draw and a longer lifespan. Pros and Cons Breakdown: Pros: The card offers exceptional out-of-the-box performance via its 11 percent factory overclock, providing premium speeds at a mid-tier price point. It features a compact physical design that increases compatibility across various cases, robust...

The EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Super Superclocked (SSC) ACX 2.0+ (model 04G-P4-3975-KR) is an upgraded, more widely available version of its limited predecessor that delivers an impressive out-of-the-box factory overclock. Priced competitively at $349.99, the card stands out due to its redesigned ACX 2.0+ cooling system, which features straight-across horizontal heatpipes and a full-coverage memory and MOSFET cooling plate (MMCP). This design significantly improves heat dispersal, lowering memory temperatures by 14 percent and power delivery components (VRMs) by 48 percent compared to older designs. Performance enthusiasts will also appreciate the inclusion of a dual BIOS setup that allows a choice between a completely silent zero-fan mode under 60°C or a more aggressive profile tailored for heavy overclocking. Furthermore, EVGA expanded the card's visual outputs by adding two extra DisplayPort 1.2 connections, bolstering its multi-monitor utility. Despite its excellent cooling performance, premium build quality, and a generous transferable three-year warranty, the card does have a few distinct drawbacks. A notable aesthetic and structural omission is the lack of a strengthening backplate, which is standard on many of its premier market competitors....

summary of the EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0+ review: The EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0+ is a redesigned, relatively compact 257mm graphics card featuring a substantial factory overclock with a base clock of 1,190MHz and a rated boost clock of 1,342MHz (a 13% increase over reference speeds). Built on a standard PCB with upgraded 6 power circuitry and fueled by an 8-pin/6-pin PCI-E configuration, the card delivers premium hardware additions including high-quality individually braided power adapter cables, a dual BIOS switch, and a modern Nvidia video output selection with three DisplayPorts, one HDMI 2.0, and one DVI-I connection. The cooling infrastructure has been fundamentally re-engineered to include a full-cover cooling plate for the MOSFETs and memory chips, straight heat pipes, and a copper baseplate for optimized thermal distribution. The card boasts several major pros, including a massive out-of-the-box factory overclock making it one of the fastest GTX 970 variants available, as well as a highly efficient ACX 2.0+ cooling design with semi-passive dBi technology that keeps the dual 85mm fans silent until the GPU hits 60°C....