Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Factory overclocked cards worthwhile?

  1. #1
    Treasure Hunter extraordinaire herulach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Bolton
    Posts
    5,618
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked
    172 times in 159 posts
    • herulach's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z97 MPower
      • CPU:
      • i7 4790K
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB WD Blue + 250GB 840 EVo
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2* Palit GTX 970 Jetstream
      • PSU:
      • EVGA Supernova G2 850W
      • Case:
      • CM HAF Stacker 935, 2*360 Rad WC Loop w/EK blocks.
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 8.1
      • Monitor(s):
      • Crossover 290HD & LG L1980Q
      • Internet:
      • 120mb Virgin Media

    Factory overclocked cards worthwhile?

    I'm looking at a new gaming build, and will be aiming at c.£200 for the GPU. Scan currently have the GTC670 Power Edition (stock clocks) @177 and The power edition OC @ 198.

    Given that the budget is squeezed a little bit, If I could spend the £20 elsewhere it would be useful, since the cooling solution on both is the same, and both are voltage unlocked is the OC version likely to be worth it? Are they generally better binned? Or am I likely to be able to get a similar final result by OCing it myself?

  2. #2
    Senior Member Bonebreaker777's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Herts, UK
    Posts
    2,021
    Thanks
    54
    Thanked
    199 times in 184 posts
    • Bonebreaker777's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI H97I AC
      • CPU:
      • Xeon 1225 v3 + Freezer 11 L
      • Memory:
      • 2 x 4GB 1600Mhz 1T-8-8-8-20 1.35V Crucial BallistiX Tactical VLP
      • Storage:
      • 128GB CRUCIAL MX100///XPEnology server + 3 x WD Purple 3TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Intel HD 4600
      • PSU:
      • be quiet! L8 300W PSU BN220
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master Elite 120
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung SyncMaster 226BW
      • Internet:
      • Virgin 100Mb

    Re: Factory overclocked cards worthwhile?

    Can't tell how good nVidia cards OC but lately I been installing AMD cards into my builds and even regardless the cooling solution (XFX 1 FAN vs. 2 FANs) I always hit driver OC cap. The acoustic experience is the only difference between the two.
    So keep a long story short, if the cooling solution is equal and the factory OC does not exceed 7.5-10% I would not bother to buy the more expensive solution.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Posts
    329
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    32 times in 32 posts
    • teppic's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Maximus VI Gene
      • CPU:
      • i7 4770K
      • Memory:
      • 16b Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 830 256gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus 7970 DirectCU II
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 760w
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define R3
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 + Linux
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 50mbps

    Re: Factory overclocked cards worthwhile?

    It makes a big difference here - the cheaper 670s are ones that failed the overclock tests for the regular power edition. i.e. the cheaper ones are the opposite of binned.

  4. #4
    Senior Member Bonebreaker777's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Herts, UK
    Posts
    2,021
    Thanks
    54
    Thanked
    199 times in 184 posts
    • Bonebreaker777's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI H97I AC
      • CPU:
      • Xeon 1225 v3 + Freezer 11 L
      • Memory:
      • 2 x 4GB 1600Mhz 1T-8-8-8-20 1.35V Crucial BallistiX Tactical VLP
      • Storage:
      • 128GB CRUCIAL MX100///XPEnology server + 3 x WD Purple 3TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Intel HD 4600
      • PSU:
      • be quiet! L8 300W PSU BN220
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master Elite 120
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung SyncMaster 226BW
      • Internet:
      • Virgin 100Mb

    Re: Factory overclocked cards worthwhile?

    Cheap ones are the equal of binned I think (sorry if not).

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Posts
    329
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    32 times in 32 posts
    • teppic's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Maximus VI Gene
      • CPU:
      • i7 4770K
      • Memory:
      • 16b Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 830 256gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus 7970 DirectCU II
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 760w
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define R3
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 + Linux
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 50mbps

    Re: Factory overclocked cards worthwhile?

    The cheap ones are the lowest binned, if you want to put it another way. The power edition cards that couldn't reach a decent overclock. These are cards that are worse than average 670s.

  6. #6
    Treasure Hunter extraordinaire herulach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Bolton
    Posts
    5,618
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked
    172 times in 159 posts
    • herulach's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z97 MPower
      • CPU:
      • i7 4790K
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB WD Blue + 250GB 840 EVo
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2* Palit GTX 970 Jetstream
      • PSU:
      • EVGA Supernova G2 850W
      • Case:
      • CM HAF Stacker 935, 2*360 Rad WC Loop w/EK blocks.
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 8.1
      • Monitor(s):
      • Crossover 290HD & LG L1980Q
      • Internet:
      • 120mb Virgin Media

    Re: Factory overclocked cards worthwhile?

    Thats a fair point I hadn't thought of. £20 doesn't seem like too much of a stretch, but will take me over the £450 budget I had said, which I've been desperately trying to avoid doing (mostly because I'm the worlds biggest sucker for 'its only an extra £20', then before you know it the spec has gone from FX6300 + 7870 to i7 & twin Titans.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Posts
    329
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    32 times in 32 posts
    • teppic's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Maximus VI Gene
      • CPU:
      • i7 4770K
      • Memory:
      • 16b Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 830 256gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus 7970 DirectCU II
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 760w
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define R3
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 + Linux
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 50mbps

    Re: Factory overclocked cards worthwhile?

    Have you considered the 7950s? There's a very good HIS one for under £190 at ocuk.

  8. #8
    Treasure Hunter extraordinaire herulach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Bolton
    Posts
    5,618
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked
    172 times in 159 posts
    • herulach's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z97 MPower
      • CPU:
      • i7 4790K
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB WD Blue + 250GB 840 EVo
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2* Palit GTX 970 Jetstream
      • PSU:
      • EVGA Supernova G2 850W
      • Case:
      • CM HAF Stacker 935, 2*360 Rad WC Loop w/EK blocks.
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 8.1
      • Monitor(s):
      • Crossover 290HD & LG L1980Q
      • Internet:
      • 120mb Virgin Media

    Re: Factory overclocked cards worthwhile?

    Quote Originally Posted by teppic View Post
    Have you considered the 7950s? There's a very good HIS one for under £190 at ocuk.
    Yes, and that was my original plan, I wouldn't use any of the bundle (despite it being 'better' I'd only be playing stuff because it's free, whereas batman would be a definite buy) and I have the option of phsyx/shield

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    2,567
    Thanks
    39
    Thanked
    179 times in 134 posts

    Re: Factory overclocked cards worthwhile?

    scan have gtx 670 oc (not power edition) for £186 - and they are fully overclocked cards - 985 stock clocks.

  10. #10
    Ninja Noxvayl's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    In the shadows
    Posts
    2,451
    Thanks
    748
    Thanked
    215 times in 173 posts
    • Noxvayl's system
      • Motherboard:
      • GigabyteZ87X-UD4H-CF
      • CPU:
      • Intel i7 4770K
      • Memory:
      • 16GB Corsair Vengaence LPX + 8GB Kingston HyperX Beast
      • Storage:
      • 120GB Snadisk + 256GB Crucial SSDs
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 4GB Sapphire R9 380
      • PSU:
      • ENermax Platimax 750W
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define S
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • ATMT + Dell 1024x1280
      • Internet:
      • Sky Fibre

    Re: Factory overclocked cards worthwhile?

    With £200 to spend on a new card with nVidia as a preference I would go for this: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/2gb-z...es-1344-plusfr

    I prefer cards that have custom heatsink designs because they tend to be quieter.

  11. #11
    Treasure Hunter extraordinaire herulach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Bolton
    Posts
    5,618
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked
    172 times in 159 posts
    • herulach's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z97 MPower
      • CPU:
      • i7 4790K
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB WD Blue + 250GB 840 EVo
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2* Palit GTX 970 Jetstream
      • PSU:
      • EVGA Supernova G2 850W
      • Case:
      • CM HAF Stacker 935, 2*360 Rad WC Loop w/EK blocks.
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 8.1
      • Monitor(s):
      • Crossover 290HD & LG L1980Q
      • Internet:
      • 120mb Virgin Media

    Re: Factory overclocked cards worthwhile?

    They do, but that card isn't clocked as high, doesn't have unlocked voltage, and most importantly has the reference cooler. I'm not after silent, but not sounding like a tornado would be good.

    Edit : noxvayl, that's also a contender, but i couldn't find any reviews of the am edition cooler, where as the frozr iv is pretty well regarded.
    Last edited by herulach; 09-09-2013 at 11:05 AM.

  12. #12
    Ninja Noxvayl's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    In the shadows
    Posts
    2,451
    Thanks
    748
    Thanked
    215 times in 173 posts
    • Noxvayl's system
      • Motherboard:
      • GigabyteZ87X-UD4H-CF
      • CPU:
      • Intel i7 4770K
      • Memory:
      • 16GB Corsair Vengaence LPX + 8GB Kingston HyperX Beast
      • Storage:
      • 120GB Snadisk + 256GB Crucial SSDs
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 4GB Sapphire R9 380
      • PSU:
      • ENermax Platimax 750W
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define S
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • ATMT + Dell 1024x1280
      • Internet:
      • Sky Fibre

    Re: Factory overclocked cards worthwhile?

    Here is a review: http://www.hardwareheaven.com/review...roduction.html

    Very good cooling considering the high factory overclock it has.

  13. #13
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    22
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    • brutallink's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z77A-G41
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i5-3570K @ 3.8Ghz [Cooler: Corsair H80i - Akasa Viper Fans]
      • Memory:
      • Hitachi 16GB
      • Storage:
      • Sandisk SSD Extreme 240GB / Hitatchi HDD 7200rpm 1TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • MSI Geforce GTX 760 (2GB) Twin Frozr OC
      • PSU:
      • Corsair CX750M
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master Elite 430 Black
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 8 Pro w/ Media Center
      • Monitor(s):
      • 2x Acer G246HL 24" LED Screens

    Re: Factory overclocked cards worthwhile?

    I got the GTX760 Twin Frozr OC for £200 on scan, generally the advantages I've found are that it's less power consuming under load than my old non-OC'd card and much quieter thanks to the non-reference design.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •