Friday, September 19th 2014
EVGA Announces its GeForce GTX 980 and GTX 970 with ACX 2.0
The EVGA GeForce GTX 980/970 are the world's most advanced GPUs. Powered by next-generation NVIDIA Maxwell architecture, it delivers incredible performance, unmatched power efficiency, and cutting-edge features like NVIDIA Super Resolution Technology. With up to twice the performance of prior-generation cards and breakthrough graphics technologies, the EVGA GeForce GTX 980/970 provides an elite gaming experience on virtual reality, HD, and ultra-resolution 4K displays.
Most graphics card manufacturers only focus on one aspect when designing their cooling solution and neglect all other aspects of the fan design and heatsink. With EVGA ACX 2.0, we focused on the details that make a real difference, not just marketing jargon. In fact, did you know that the power consumption of a fan can directly affect your overclocking ability? Modern NVIDIA graphics cards have a maximum power ceiling that takes into account the fan power consumption, meaning the lower the power consumption from the fan, the more power available for the GPU! Triple fan coolers from competitors increase power consumption, thereby lowering your maximum overclocking headroom. When it comes to graphics cards cooling, less is more!
Back to basics for improved efficiency.
We did a full redesign on the motor, from improved magnets, to changing how the internals are designed to help reduce acoustic noise from the fan. Furthermore we also increased the fan blade count, which creates higher pressure allowing the heatsink and fan to cool better without needing to increase the motor speed and increase noise levels. This will help reduce the temperatures of the card and keep the fan noise down, increasing the lifespan of the card; all of this frees up additional power for overclocking.
Fan Blade Quality
Most graphics card manufacturers only focus on one aspect when designing their cooling solution and neglect all other aspects of the fan design and heatsink. With EVGA ACX 2.0, we focused on the details that make a real difference, not just marketing jargon. In fact, did you know that the power consumption of a fan can directly affect your overclocking ability? Modern NVIDIA graphics cards have a maximum power ceiling that takes into account the fan power consumption, meaning the lower the power consumption from the fan, the more power available for the GPU! Triple fan coolers from competitors increase power consumption, thereby lowering your maximum overclocking headroom. When it comes to graphics cards cooling, less is more!
We did a full redesign on the motor, from improved magnets, to changing how the internals are designed to help reduce acoustic noise from the fan. Furthermore we also increased the fan blade count, which creates higher pressure allowing the heatsink and fan to cool better without needing to increase the motor speed and increase noise levels. This will help reduce the temperatures of the card and keep the fan noise down, increasing the lifespan of the card; all of this frees up additional power for overclocking.
Fan Blade Quality
- 11 fan blades increase CFM and static pressure
- Swept Fan Design to Reduce Fan Noise Level
- Low Profile
- Improved magnets allow for 150RPM max increase
- 3 Phase / 6 Slot Design Improves Efficiency
- Increased Silicon Steel increases magnet strength
- 26% Lower GPU Temperature
- 36% Quieter*
- 250% Lower Fan Power Consumption
- 400% Longer Lifespan
10 Comments on EVGA Announces its GeForce GTX 980 and GTX 970 with ACX 2.0
Quieter than what? There's an asterisk there but no footnotes. How can you have over 100% lower power consumption? Do these fans generate electricity? I thought we weren't just using marketing jargon, EVGA?
• 26% Lower GPU Temperature*
• 36% Quieter*
• 250% Lower Fan Power Consumption* [Math is hard for some people in marketing I guess. 37%/33% lower actual at 36dB/47dB vs reference.]
• 400% Longer Lifespan**
*vs reference cooler
**vs competitor dual fan cooling solution
EVGA's GTX 760 SC had the same exact "defect" and nobody said anything about it back then. The GTX 760 has a higher 170W TDP and the EVGA card still stayed cool while posting higher GPU overclocks than all the competitors' cards.
www.techpowerup.com/reviews/EVGA/GTX_760_SC_ACX_Cooler/5.html
GTX970 card is something as lower mid segment and almost can work without fans.
Expensive models with higher clock will came with flat surface.
1) How much better would the cooling be if all three heatpipes made full contact?
2) Would the card be less expensive if the cost of the unused heatpipe were eliminated?