EVGA updates ACX 3.0 GeForce 10X0 cards to avert overheating

[HEXUS]

Affected users can apply a VBIOS fan curve update, and get free optional thermal pads.

Read more.

[Andy14]

Interesting article. EVGA are potentially at the top of my list for the GPU in my new PC, however as one of my main criteria is noise (and these new fan speeds will create more of it) I can no longer trust any of the reviews currently out there.

[Gerrard]

I have a 1070 FTW, and this was the first I knew of this issue, so thanks for highlighting it! I must admit I have been very impressed with the noise under load, so it will be interesting to see what these new fan profiles will be like. I will also get the thermal pads as well just to be safe. It is disappointing they tried to save costs by neglecting them, but at least they are helpful in addressing the issue; once exposed and cornered!

[jigger]

Pretty much talked a friend into an EVGA 1080 because they have always been good for me. Feel a bit crap now.

[blokeinkent]

I have a 1070 FTW, and this was the first I knew of this issue, so thanks for highlighting it! I must admit I have been very impressed with the noise under load, so it will be interesting to see what these new fan profiles will be like. I will also get the thermal pads as well just to be safe. It is disappointing they tried to save costs by neglecting them, but at least they are helpful in addressing the issue; once exposed and cornered!

Ditto

[mikeo]

I have an EVGA 1070 FTW and like pretty much every graphics card that I've ever bought, I always set a more aggressive fan curve in Afterburner. EVGA's stock fan curve is WAY to passive for my liking. Fan doesn't kick in till 60C and by 70C it's only spinning at 30%! The fans on the ACX3.0 cooler are pretty much inaudible up to 60% (and that's with the side panel off). So Mine passive up to 30C, then ramps up to 50% at 60C, then up to 70% at 70C and then onto a 100%. In game temps are usually around high 50's to low 60's using this. And with ACX3.0 fans only spinning around 50%, I'll be damned if I can here then over my case fans (quiet gentle typhoons).

I'll be interested to see what EVGA's amended stock fan curve looks like.

"EVGA promises to honour warranties of cards damaged by overheating or during user installation of the optional thermal pads. "

Be interested to see where HEXUS have seen an official comment that that they will replace cards under warranty if a customer damages their card when fitting the "optional" (ha) thermal pads. Maybe I've just missed this official statement.

PS. I'll still be fitting the "optional" (ha) thermal pads on the VRMs when they turn up.
And as far as I'm aware, these wont start shipping till next week at the earliest.

PPS. I'd be amazed if EVGA "missed" the thermal pads on these cards to save money. Surely the cost saving would be minuscule. I personally think they just thought that they didn't need them.

[chinf]

Pretty much talked a friend into an EVGA 1080 because they have always been good for me. Feel a bit crap now.

You are on safer ground recommending particular products than you are whole brands, as shown countless times by major manufacturers building a reputation for good quality, and then dropping the ball - e.g. Apple's iPhone 4, IBM's 75GXP HDDs, Seagate's Barracuda ST2000DM001 HDDs, Samsung's Galaxy Note7. The trouble is you can't then recommend brand new products as you don't have any data to judge it. At least with major brands, you should see if the manufacturer acknowledges problems and supports their customers without fuss, and base your recommendation on that. I don't think EVGA are too bad on that score, but blaming their customers as a first response wasn't brilliant.

[mikeo]

You are on safer ground recommending particular products than you are whole brands, as shown countless times by major manufacturers building a reputation for good quality, and then dropping the ball - e.g. Apple's iPhone 4, IBM's 75GXP HDDs, Seagate's Barracuda ST2000DM001 HDDs, Samsung's Galaxy Note7. The trouble is you can't then recommend brand new products as you don't have any data to judge it. At least with major brands, you should see if the manufacturer acknowledges problems and supports their customers without fuss, and base your recommendation on that. I don't think EVGA are too bad on that score, but blaming their customers as a first response wasn't brilliant.

Very much agree with what you've said here. well put. And most definitely (in this particular case) agree with the highlighted sentence.

[mikeo]

I stand corrected with my statement

"Be interested to see where HEXUS have seen an official comment that that they will replace cards under warranty if a customer damages their card when fitting the "optional" (ha) thermal pads. Maybe I've just missed this official statement."

EVGA added yet another sticky on their forum regarding the "apparent" heat issues. And this says the following:

Q. What happens if my card is accidentally damaged during the optional thermal pad installation?
A. EVGA will stand behind its customers with full warranty and cross-shipment.

Good on EVGA. So nothing really to loose if anyone wnats to try modding their card with the "optional" thermal pads.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The problem is people get too invested into brands,so don't use caution before buying their products and they need to judge products on a case by case basis. EVGA is a very good brand,but I would be hesitant to buy a graphics card before it had a proper review.

[mikeo]

The problem is people get too invested into brands,so don't use caution before buying their products and they need to judge products on a case by case basis. EVGA is a very good brand,but I would be hesitant to buy a graphics card before it had a proper review.

Totally agree.

But when I bought my 1070 FTW, there were several reviews out and they seemed to love the card. No talk of thermal issues at that point in time.
For example:
http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphi...gaming-acx-30/

My last five graphics cards were MSI. Only decided to change brand, as the MSI ones at that point in time had shot up in price. So decided to give EVGA a try. Especially as everyone keeps (kept?) going on about their top quality transferable warranty and top Customer Service.

Don't regret my purchase. As my card (with decent fan profile) has run faultlessly and if it goes BOOM, I have a 3 year warranty.
Though I shall be fitting the "optional" thermal pads when they turn up.
Fitting guide here:
http://www.evga.com/thermalmod/therm...tion_guide.pdf

[jonathan_phang]

I do wonder if this will affect second hand prices though... Its a long way away from being redundant, but I guess I will see. Just been having a look at the instructions and apart from the LED/fan connectors, looks like a standard install (famous last words). Need to get some new TIM though, only have a relatively old tube of MX4 hanging about. And some TIM cleaner too.

Life goes on.

EDIT. MikeO. Is that the MikeO on the 'other' thread lol?

[mikeo]

I do wonder if this will affect second hand prices though... Its a long way away from being redundant, but I guess I will see. Just been having a look at the instructions and apart from the LED/fan connectors, looks like a standard install (famous last words). Need to get some new TIM though, only have a relatively old tube of MX4 hanging about. And some TIM cleaner too.

Life goes on.

EDIT. MikeO. Is that the MikeO on the 'other' thread lol?

Indeed it is me. Also me on the EVGA thread/s. Starting to think that I should unsubscribe from the EVGA threads though, as the constant repeated questions and outright RAGE/HATE is starting to drive me crazy

While I accept that the situation has been handled far from well and ideally it should not have happened in the first place. As I'm want to say "sh*t happens". And it's not worth while working yourself up into a heart attack.
As you say "life goes on".

PS. EVGA are going to be supplying some "thermal grease". But like you, I shall order up some decent stuff of my own.
Think I shall do things in slightly a different order to what they suggest. As applying the thermal paste "after" applying the thermal pad might be a better idea. And I still reckon attaching the two fiddly PCB connectors may well be easier "after" re attaching the cooler. TBC

[mikeo]

For anyone interested
Decent vid showing the fitment of the "optional" thermal pads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DQYP0SN_Kk

[jonathan_phang]

Another video with general information and fitting guide from Jay Two Cents
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URyG1OP8p8I

[mikeo]

I've updated to the new VBIOS that EVGA have just released for my card. And the new fan curve is a bit more aggressive than the old one. Hits 45% fan speed at 70, where it was 30% before. Not sure above this, as that's as high as my temps got.

Fans are inaudible up to 60% (well to me they are). So still a very quiet card.

Just need someone with some decent thermal test equipment to see what this has done to the VRM temps.

I though shall stick to my slightly more aggressive custom Afterburner fan curve. As I've tuned it to suit my system/environment.

All I now need are the "optional" thermal pads.