Thursday, June 16th 2016
MSI and ASUS Send VGA Review Samples with Higher Clocks than Retail Cards
MSI and ASUS have been sending us review samples for their graphics cards with higher clock speeds out of the box, than what consumers get out of the box. The cards TechPowerUp has been receiving run at a higher software-defined clock speed profile than what consumers get out of the box. Consumers have access to the higher clock speed profile, too, but only if they install a custom app by the companies, and enable that profile. This, we feel, is not 100% representative of retail cards, and is questionable tactics by the two companies. This BIOS tweaking could also open the door to more elaborate changes like a quieter fan profile or different power management.
MSI's factory-overclocked GeForce GTX 1080 Gaming X graphics card comes with three software-defined clock-speed profiles, beginning with the "Gaming Mode," which is what the card runs at, out of the box, the faster "OC mode," and the slower "Silent mode," which runs the card at reference clock speeds. To select between the modes, you're expected to install the MSI Gaming software from the driver DVD, and use that software to apply clock speeds of your desired mode. Turns out, that while the retail cards (the cards you find in the stores) run in "Gaming mode" out of the box, the review samples MSI has been sending out, run at "OC mode" out of the box. If the OC mode is how the card is intended to be used, then why make OC mode the default for reviewers only, and not your own customers?
Above, you see two GPU-Z screenshots, one of the TPU review sample, next to the retail board (provided by Nizzen). Flashing the retail BIOS onto our review sample changed the clocks to match exactly what is shown on the GPU-Z retail screenshot.
In case of the GTX 1080 Gaming X, the "Gaming mode" runs the card at 1683 MHz core and 1822 MHz GPU Boost; and the "OC mode" runs it at 1708 MHz core and 1847 MHz GPU Boost. The cards consumers buy will run in the "Gaming mode" out of the box, which presumably is the default factory-overclock of these cards, since they're branded under the "Gaming series."
The "OC Mode" is just there so consumers can overclock it a little further at the push of a button, without having any knowledge of overclocking. Now if the OC mode is enabled for review samples of one company and not for the others, this means that potential customers comparing reviews will think one card performs better than the other, even if it's just 1%, people do base their buying decision on such small differences.
With the case of the GTX 1080 at hand, we started looking back at our previous reviews and were shocked to realize that this practice has been going on for years in MSI's case. It looks like ASUS has just adopted it, probably because their competitor does it, too, "so it must be ok."
It's also interesting to see that not all cards are affected, whether this is elaborate or by accident is unknown.
While we don't have any statements of the companies yet, the most likely explanation is that reviewers usually don't install any software bundled with the graphics card, yet the companies want the cards to be tested in OC mode, which provides higher performance numbers, beating their competitors. That's probably how this whole thing started, nobody noticed and the practice became standard for reviews moving forward.
This issue could affect upcoming custom GeForce GTX 1070 review samples too, we will be on the lookout.
MSI's factory-overclocked GeForce GTX 1080 Gaming X graphics card comes with three software-defined clock-speed profiles, beginning with the "Gaming Mode," which is what the card runs at, out of the box, the faster "OC mode," and the slower "Silent mode," which runs the card at reference clock speeds. To select between the modes, you're expected to install the MSI Gaming software from the driver DVD, and use that software to apply clock speeds of your desired mode. Turns out, that while the retail cards (the cards you find in the stores) run in "Gaming mode" out of the box, the review samples MSI has been sending out, run at "OC mode" out of the box. If the OC mode is how the card is intended to be used, then why make OC mode the default for reviewers only, and not your own customers?
In case of the GTX 1080 Gaming X, the "Gaming mode" runs the card at 1683 MHz core and 1822 MHz GPU Boost; and the "OC mode" runs it at 1708 MHz core and 1847 MHz GPU Boost. The cards consumers buy will run in the "Gaming mode" out of the box, which presumably is the default factory-overclock of these cards, since they're branded under the "Gaming series."
With the case of the GTX 1080 at hand, we started looking back at our previous reviews and were shocked to realize that this practice has been going on for years in MSI's case. It looks like ASUS has just adopted it, probably because their competitor does it, too, "so it must be ok."
While we don't have any statements of the companies yet, the most likely explanation is that reviewers usually don't install any software bundled with the graphics card, yet the companies want the cards to be tested in OC mode, which provides higher performance numbers, beating their competitors. That's probably how this whole thing started, nobody noticed and the practice became standard for reviews moving forward.
This issue could affect upcoming custom GeForce GTX 1070 review samples too, we will be on the lookout.
162 Comments on MSI and ASUS Send VGA Review Samples with Higher Clocks than Retail Cards
OR, you can risk borking the only BIOS by flashing it. Sounds like a GREAT thing for n00bs to flash a single BIOS... stick with the software greenhorns, stay away from BIOS mods/updates unless you have a dual BIOS. In reality the risk is low, but the return on that flash is even lower than the risk.
Seriously it's getting lol some of the lengths people are going to to try and make it look like MSI did nothing wrong. They spent three years shipping out cards that were lower clocked than the ones they were sending reviewers, the amount of sales they gained through this dodgy practice is unfathomable. People should have received cards with equal performance to the cards reviewers did it's that simple.
I will admit, before I knew I was getting substandard performance from my card I didn't care, but that didn't mean I still shouldn't care after finding out about MSI's scam. I was straight on the TPU BIOS database and downloading the review card BIOS to unlock my cards true performance (without the need to install bloatware).
I'm not saying they didn't do anything wrong. I'm only saying its not a big deal. I 100% disagree with you that the "sales they gained" is unfathomable. The difference is barely noticeable and only noticeable in a review. But that 1-2% is also a known variance/margin of error between different systems. Now, if this was a 100 MHz jump, I think all the bitching and moaning may be worth it. But 24 Mhz on the core in the 1070 when compared to 1600 Mhz as a base clock almost literally yields nothing. Would you like me to post a test for you between gaming mode and OC mode to see? I am thinking it may not be much more than 1% after thinking about it...
People have the same performance in their hands. They just need to enable it with software that most consumers use in the first place. I wonder if people are pissed when they buy a tesla and smash the gas but it doesn't go 0-60 in 3s... oh crap, they have to hit a button for insane mode..... LOLOLOLOL! (yeah yeah, they don't have to install the button, I know!)
EDIT: 3DM Fire Strike Extreme showed 8429 in Gaming Mode and 8468 in OC Mode (.5% difference).
Testing other games in our suite now... :)
Above all else, it was a very, very stupid thing to do and it raises concerns about the IQ of the people that did it.
I have to seriously doubt that the majority of people who buy these enthusiast grade cards would not have understood that there are BIOS options that are available for the user to select at will.
The multiple BIOS Modes is featured as a reason to purchase these cards over others, for users who do not wish to manually overclock.
This is simply an unbelievable amount of outrage over absolutely nothing.
Even if a customer would still have chosen the MSI card knowing they were padding their review numbers the should still have been an option to download the review sample BIOS in order to flash the card for true performance (MSI have now released these for the 1070/1080, and you can get the 900/700/600 series ones from the TPU BIOS database).
Anyway, I won't sidetrack anymore.
3DM FS Extreme - 8,429 Gaming to 8,463 OC Mode (.5%)
Dirt: Rally - 82.38 Gaming to 83.01 OC Mode (.8%)
ME:SOM - 120.38 Gaming to 121.07 OC Mode (.6%)
Metro:LL - 78.64 Gaming to 78.97 OC Mode (.5%)
Not even 1% difference in this small sample... and you think its "UNFATHOMABLE" how many more sales they got because of THAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oy.Power setings for what? As I said, I stayed the hell out of that debacle of a thread after I tried to assist that clueless clown. LOL!
We will agree to disagree on GFE vs Gaming App. Though to be fair, I don't use either outside of reviews so my experience is quite limited.
...I digress in the OT though. :)
Shame on all the reviewers that were surprised by this because they did not even check to see what clock speeds were selected, nor did they bother to test the preset mode options!
I must disagree with this whole concept of solely testing a default setting "Out of the box". These cards are designed to allow users to define which preset mode they choose, this choice is available as soon as one installs the card "Out of the box".
Just because some reviewers or retail customers choose not to avail themselves of these factory preset modes does not mean there was any dishonesty on the part of these companies, rather they wanted to showcase the highest factory OC preset as well they should.
I agree with your point about there being only one BIOS that is flashed, and that is a huge detraction for these cards, as I also prefer cards with a physical BIOS switch.
Anyhoooooooooooooooooooo................ :)
@rtwjunkie - I was mistaking. It happens to me as well in W10. If Gaming App isn't open, it will change. If its open, it will not allow me to select performance profile. That said, I don't think it changes anything as my clocks are all still stable at my overclock... just doens't allow you to select it?????