MSI GTX 780 Lightning 3 GB

W1zzard · Aug 30, 2013

MSI's new GTX 780 Lightning is built to provide a ton of overclocking features for enthusiasts and record breakers. Its large overclock out of the box makes this card faster than the GTX Titan, yet it still has more headroom inside, as our manual overclock yielded another hefty 14% performance increase.

Show full review

Random Murderer · Aug 30, 2013

Great review as always, W1zz!
Disappointing that such a well-thought-out card is held back by Elpida chips...

W1zzard · Aug 30, 2013

Random Murderer said:
Disappointing that such a well-thought-out card is held back by Elpida chips...

the difference is small, probably not worth it for most users, but people hunting world records need every little bit of performance

radrok · Aug 30, 2013

Thank you for the review.

Only issue I have with the card apart the Elpida memory is the fact that this should have had a Titan core instead of a 780.

This is to blame Nvidia ofc, not MSI.

:toast:

BigMack70 · Aug 30, 2013

I just have a hard time understanding what makes this card worth a $70 price premium over the evga classified or the galaxy HOF... I mean I know value is sort of not a consideration anyways for the 780 but still... 10% price hike for?????

Thanks for the review!

Yeoman · Aug 30, 2013

Nice review.

I'm curious though, how much of an improvement is the 'tri frozr' cooler over the new 'twin frozr'? The 780 Gaming is somewhat quieter and cooler (although I know the Lightning has a higher 'stock' clock), for all the 3 fans, and 7? heat pipes, it doesn't seem to have made an impression really.

Assimilator · Aug 30, 2013

BigMack70 said:
I just have a hard time understanding what makes this card worth a $70 price premium over the evga classified or the galaxy HOF... I mean I know value is sort of not a consideration anyways for the 780 but still... 10% price hike for?????

Especially since many Galaxy 780 HoF samples seem to hit 1.3GHz+ core with standard cooling. This card is 20% slower for 10% more money... just not worth it.

haswrong · Aug 31, 2013

i had expected the lightning to hit at least 60fps @2560x1600 a bit better in hitman or far cry3. maybe titan lightning..? well.. elpida? meh.. w/e. thanks for the review. :toast:

Amrael · Aug 31, 2013

Why haven't you guys reviewed the EVGA GTX 780 Classified? It's been around for a while and it would be amazing to see a triple header Classified, HoF and Lightning review. Pros and cons of each just to give us more perspective. Personally I went for the Classified because I could extend the warranty to 10 years and because it clocks higher with less effort than the lightning. Given, it looks like an aesthetically ugly brick but performance wise it is something else. Would you guys consider reviewing those cards?

Wastedslayer · Aug 31, 2013

Amrael said:
Why haven't you guys reviewed the EVGA GTX 780 Classified? It's been around for a while and it would be amazing to see a triple header Classified, HoF and Lightning review. Pros and cons of each just to give us more perspective. Personally I went for the Classified because I could extend the warranty to 10 years and because it clocks higher with less effort than the lightning. Given, it looks like an aesthetically ugly brick but performance wise it is something else. Would you guys consider reviewing those cards?

Show me a Heaven run, I dont like Furmark for testing stability. Just to show the Lightning isnt anything to scoff at (minus the elpida memory) here's what Im running at right now on air.

Heaven stable (extreme preset 1920x1080) with no funny business going on. I got crap for memory OC, but thats a mighty fine looking core I'm running and its boosting into the 1300's.

Amrael · Aug 31, 2013

Wastedslayer said:
Show me a Heaven run, I dont like Furmark for testing stability. Just to show the Lightning isnt anything to scoff at (minus the elpida memory) here's what Im running at right now on air.

http://img.techpowerup.org/130831/ceb93.jpg

Heaven stable (extreme preset 1920x1080) with no funny business going on. I got crap for memory OC, but thats a mighty fine looking core I'm running and its boosting into the 1300's.

Thats what I got, mine doesn't overclock too much farther than this but I still would love to see a triple header review just to set the record straight. BTW I don't really know which memory mine's got. How do I find out?

Wastedslayer · Aug 31, 2013

I think the Classifieds also have Elpida memory since Samsung and Hynix are in mega short supply. Only real way to tell is to take the heatsink off and look at the physical chips

Amrael · Aug 31, 2013

Wastedslayer said:
I think the Classifieds also have Elpida memory since Samsung and Hynix are in mega short supply. Only real way to tell is to take the heatsink off and look at the physical chips

Why is your Lightning clocking @ 863 Stock, are you using the regular bios? What's your boost core?

Wastedslayer · Aug 31, 2013

Amrael said:
Why is your Lightning clocking @ 863 Stock, are you using the regular bios? What's your boost core?

I'm using the LN2 bios since it supposedly has a little more OC headroom. Based on what afterburner is telling me during my runs I'm boosting right around 1333. I think it could go maybe a little higher with more power, but I honestly don't think a few more Mhz is going to make the difference.

Edit: Im also starting to wonder if I need to re-install the drivers versus just slapping the card in and ripping my 670 out. GPU-Z is saying I dont have PhysX support as well lol.

radrok · Aug 31, 2013

Could you both post some scores here?

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=183712&page=10

Wanna see what those 780s are capable of

Thanks

Wastedslayer · Aug 31, 2013

radrok said:
Could you both post some scores here?

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=183712&page=10

Wanna see what those 780s are capable of

Thanks

Ill get on it here soon, I'm realizing now that just putting in my 780 after having the 670 is causing some....issues. Going to do a fresh install of Windows and the nVidia drivers after which Ill post some more results.

Amrael · Aug 31, 2013

radrok said:
Could you both post some scores here?

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=183712&page=10

Wanna see what those 780s are capable of

Thanks

Downloading valley now

radrok · Sep 1, 2013

Thank you both

dj-electric · Sep 1, 2013

Amrael said:
Why haven't you guys reviewed the EVGA GTX 780 Classified? It's been around for a while and it would be amazing to see a triple header Classified, HoF and Lightning review. Pros and cons of each just to give us more perspective. Personally I went for the Classified because I could extend the warranty to 10 years and because it clocks higher with less effort than the lightning. Given, it looks like an aesthetically ugly brick but performance wise it is something else. Would you guys consider reviewing those cards?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1149243_523692254378184_884533210_o.jpg

Reviewing cards goes like this:
Reviewer ask a card from the local PR >> PR checks for review sample and retrieve an answer. if Positive - a card is sent, if negative or no answer at all = no review.

Sometimes a reviewer decides that some type of products had enough exposure. Sometimes PRs' are out of review samples and getting new ones may take a while.

The hardware industry isn't always an open buffet as some people might think, even for the most popular of websites. Pardon w1zz and the stuff for off-topic'ing.

Footman · Sep 1, 2013

Jacob at EVGA told me that early Classifieds had Samsung memory, but there is a shortage of Sansung and Hynix memory currently so all GTX 7 series cards will have Elpida memory moving forward.
I can't see the shortage lasting for ever, so at some stage I expect that they will swap back.

From my testing core overclocking makes more difference to performance than memory, so having a 100mhz lower overclock on the memory is meaningless unless you are trying to break records...

I too would look forward to a comparison review of the HOF, Classified and Lightning, however I realize that as a reviewer it is not always possible to test everything as often review samples are provided FOC for testing saving the reviewer the burden of purchasing review samples.

I like your reviews Wizzard, keep up the good work.

radrok · Sep 1, 2013

FYI guys

W1zzard said:
yes, lightning should arrive today, evga will be shipped soon

Spaceman Spiff · Sep 9, 2013

So does this mean that it is essentially a 4 slot card with the GPU reactor taking up part of the slot above it and the cooler going past the limit of the 2 slot bracket on the other side??

Amrael · Sep 10, 2013

Spaceman Spiff said:
So does this mean that it is essentially a 4 slot card with the GPU reactor taking up part of the slot above it and the cooler going past the limit of the 2 slot bracket on the other side??

Yup basically, but in all honesty my Classified is better at keeping the space tidy but its really similar in performance to the MSI. Unless you destroy the chances of getting warranty you wont get anything too spectacular out of it. Welcome to the age of uniformed overclocking.

Spaceman Spiff · Sep 10, 2013

....I already hate 3 slot cards.....

Now this one makes 4 unusable??? No thanks MSI. I may get a classy when/if price drops come amd 9xxx release.

Amrael · Sep 10, 2013

Which other 3?

Processor	Ryzen 7 5700X
Memory	48 GB
Video Card(s)	RTX 4080
Storage	2x HDD RAID 1, 3x M.2 NVMe
Display(s)	30" 2560x1600 + 19" 1280x1024
Software	Windows 10 64-bit

System Name	TOO MUCH RADIATOR! \| The TV Box a.k.a. The Shoebox
Processor	Core i7 4930K @ 4.5GHz \| Core i5 6600K @ 4.5GHz
Motherboard	Asus X79 Rampage IV Extreme \| Asus Z170i Pro Gaming
Cooling	Custom water on CPU and GPU, dual 360mm radiators \| Corsair H80i
Memory	4x 8GB G.Skill TridentX DDR3-1600 \| 2x 4GB G.Skill RipJaws 4 DDR4-3000
Video Card(s)	Sapphire AMD R9 295x2 \| PowerColor AMD HD7970
Storage	Samsung SSD 830 256GB, various others \| 2x 1TB Seagate Barracudas in RAID1
Display(s)	Dell U2713HM 2560x1440 IPS \| Panasonic TC-L32E5 1080p IPS TV
Case	Thermaltake Suppressor F51 (stripped down to hold two radiators) \| Cooler Master Elite 130
Audio Device(s)	RM-DAC -> Xiang Sheng 708b -> Sennheiser HD650 \| HDMI sound device on 7970
Power Supply	LEPA G1600-MA 1600W \| Corsair CX750M 750W
Software	Win 10 64
Benchmark Scores	over 9000 BungholioMarks, "Bitchin' Fast"

Processor	Ryzen 7 5700X
Memory	48 GB
Video Card(s)	RTX 4080
Storage	2x HDD RAID 1, 3x M.2 NVMe
Display(s)	30" 2560x1600 + 19" 1280x1024
Software	Windows 10 64-bit

Processor	8700k Intel
Motherboard	z370 MSI Godlike Gaming
Cooling	Triple Aquacomputer AMS Copper 840 with D5
Memory	TridentZ RGB G.Skill C16 3600MHz
Video Card(s)	GTX 1080 Ti
Storage	Crucial MX SSDs
Display(s)	Dell U3011 2560x1600 + Dell 2408WFP 1200x1920 (Portrait)
Case	Core P5 Thermaltake
Audio Device(s)	Essence STX
Power Supply	AX 1500i
Mouse	Logitech
Keyboard	Corsair
Software	Win10

Processor	Intel i9-9900KS @ 5.2 GHz
Motherboard	Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Master
Cooling	Corsair H150i Elite
Memory	32GB Viper Steel Series DDR4-4000
Video Card(s)	RTX 3090 Founders Edition
Storage	2TB Sabrent Rocket NVMe + 2TB Intel 960p NVMe + 512GB Samsung 970 Evo NVMe + 4TB WD Black HDD
Display(s)	65" LG C9 OLED
Case	Lian Li O11D-XL
Audio Device(s)	Audeze Mobius headset, Logitech Z906 speakers
Power Supply	Corsair AX1000 Titanium

MSI GTX 780 Lightning 3 GB

W1zzard

Administrator

Random Murderer

The Anti-Midas

W1zzard

Administrator

radrok

BigMack70

Yeoman

Assimilator

haswrong

Amrael

Wastedslayer

Amrael

Wastedslayer

Amrael

Wastedslayer

radrok

Wastedslayer

Amrael

radrok

dj-electric

Footman

radrok

Spaceman Spiff

Amrael

Spaceman Spiff

Amrael

System Name	Firelance.
Processor	Threadripper 3960X
Motherboard	ROG Strix TRX40-E Gaming
Cooling	IceGem 360 + 6x Arctic Cooling P12
Memory	8x 16GB Patriot Viper DDR4-3200 CL16
Video Card(s)	MSI GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Ventus 2X OC
Storage	2TB WD SN850X (boot), 4TB Crucial P3 (data)
Display(s)	3x AOC Q32E2N (32" 2560x1440 75Hz)
Case	Enthoo Pro II Server Edition (Closed Panel) + 6 fans
Power Supply	Fractal Design Ion+ 2 Platinum 760W
Mouse	Logitech G602
Keyboard	Razer Pro Type Ultra
Software	Windows 10 Professional x64

Processor	Core i5-3350P @3.5GHz
Motherboard	MSI Z77MA-G45 (uATX)
Cooling	Stock Intel
Memory	2x4GB Crucial Ballistix Tactical DDR3 1600
Video Card(s)	\|Ξ \/ G /\ GeForce GTX 670 FTW+ 4GB w/Backplate, Part Number: 04G-P4-3673-KR, ASIC 68.5%
Storage	some cheap seagates and one wd green
Display(s)	Dell UltraSharp U2412M
Case	some cheap old eurocase, black, with integrated cheap lit lcd for basic monitoring
Audio Device(s)	Realtek ALC892
Power Supply	Enermax Triathlor 550W ETA550AWT bronze, non-modular, airflow audible over 300W power draw
Mouse	PMSG1G
Keyboard	oldschool membrane Keytronic 104 Key PS/2 (big enter, right part of right shift broken into "\" key)

System Name	Minipoc
Processor	Intel i5 3770k@4.6 Ghz
Motherboard	ASUS Z77 Sabertooth
Cooling	Thermaltake Water 2.0 Extreme
Memory	16GB Patriot Viper Xtreme DDR3 2400@2200 10-11-11-28
Video Card(s)	EVGA GTX 780 Classified 3GB@1306 Core 6504 Mem
Storage	Adata SX900 256GB SSD/3x1TB WD Caviar Black Storage
Display(s)	Samsung ToC 26" LCD 1920x1200
Case	Fractal Designs Arc Midi
Audio Device(s)	On board
Power Supply	Kingwin Lazer Platinum1000Watt
Software	Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit
Benchmark Scores	35,566 3DMark 06 x5,765 3Dmark 11 3dmark Fire Strike 10447 3dmark Fire Strike Extreme 5411

System Name	GRAYSCALE\Butterfly
Processor	Intel Core i7 8700k @ 5.2Ghz\Intel 4690k
Motherboard	ASUS Maximus X Hero \Asus Z97 Maximus Hero VI
Cooling	Custom Water\Stock
Memory	2x8GB G.Skill RGB DDR4-3200 \2x8GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3-1600
Video Card(s)	NVidia Titan Xp w/ EK Block \ MSI Reference GTX 780
Storage	512GB Samsung 960 PRO (M.2)\128GB OCZ Vertex 4 + 500GB WD Black
Display(s)	Asus PG278Q ROG Swift\Acer x213h 21.3'' 1920x1080 LCD
Case	Thermaltake P3 Core\NZXT S340
Audio Device(s)	Integrated w/ AKG K702 65th Anny's\Integrated
Power Supply	Corsair HXi 1000 \Corsair HX850
Mouse	Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum\2014 Razer Naga
Keyboard	Ducky One TKL RGB
Software	Windows 10 Pro (x64)\Windows 10 Pro (x64)

System Name	Intel 2023
Processor	Intel Core i5 13600KF
Motherboard	Gigabyte B660M Aourus Pro
Cooling	Custom water cooling loop
Memory	2x16gb Adata PC 3600
Video Card(s)	AMD 6950XT
Storage	2TB Corsair MP600
Display(s)	Nixeus 27 EDG
Case	Phanteks P600
Audio Device(s)	Topping DX3 Pro +
Power Supply	Corsair RM850
Mouse	Razer Basilisk
Keyboard	Womier K87 with Tecsee Purple Panda switches
Software	Win 11 Pro 64bit
Benchmark Scores	Unfortunately no time anymore to benchmark....

Processor	i9 9900k @ 4.8 Ghz
Motherboard	Asrock Z370 Taichi
Cooling	Xspc raystorm direct die, 2x 480 swiftech rads + 2x 120 block ice rads D5, Monsoon Dualbay Res
Memory	32gb G.Skill DDR4 3200mhz CL14
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte Aorus 3080 Ti Waterforce WB shunt mod
Storage	Samsung Evo 860 500gb, Samsung Evo 860 1Tb x2, WD White 12tb x2
Display(s)	Acer xb270hu 144hz 2560x1440
Case	Enthoo Primo
Audio Device(s)	Schiit Modi Multibit/Magni3 - M1060 (fuzzor+LQi cable+Eikon suede)/ATH-W1000X (Purrin's mod+suede)
Power Supply	EVGA SuperNova 1300w
Mouse	Razer Orochi
Keyboard	Tesoro
Software	TeamOS W10 Pro/W7 Pro