Tuesday, November 1st 2016
EVGA GTX 1070/1080 Overheating Issues Update - New BIOS Revision To Be Released
After reports of EVGA cards overheating and sometimes becoming non-operational, which we covered right here on TPU, the company has now issued a statement further clarifying the steps it's taking towards solving the issues. Though it was first reported that only the GTX 1070/1080 FTW series of cards were having issues, the company has also extended its efforts towards the GTX 1060 cards, in both 3 GB and 6 GB flavors, which may point to either underlying problems with those cards as well, or simply EVGA extending that bit of extra support to their customers.
While at first it seemed that the company-distributed, free-of-charge thermal pads (which EVGA stressed were optional in nature) would be enough to fix any and all issues, the company is also issuing a BIOS revision in a few days, which "adjusts the fan speed curve" to "ensure sufficient cooling of all components across all operating temperatures".
While this is sure to mar the company's sterling reputation, and users will probably have to deal with higher operating noise due to the cards' revised fan profiles with the upcoming BIOS update, the company must still be commended for tackling the issues with brevity and decisiveness.
Read the company's statement regarding these issues below:
"Recently, it was reported from several sources, that the EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 FTW PWM and memory temperature is running warmer than expected during Furmark (an extreme stress utility). EVGA has investigated these reports and after extensive testing, below are our findings:
To resolve this, EVGA will be offering a VBIOS update, which adjusts the fan-speed curve to ensure sufficient cooling of all components across all operating temperatures. This VBIOS will be released in the next few days and users can download it and update their cards directly. This update resolves the potential thermal issues that have been reported, and ensures the card maintains safe operating temperatures.
For those users who want additional cooling beyond the VBIOS update, EVGA has optional thermal pads available. This update is not required, however; EVGA will make it available free of charge to any customer who is interested. To request the thermal pad kit, please visit www.evga.com/thermalmod.
Any customer who is not comfortable performing the recommended VBIOS update, may request a warranty cross-shipment to exchange the product to EVGA for an updated replacement.
All graphics cards shipped from EVGA after 11/1/2016 will have the VBIOS update applied."
The company also presented a FAQ regarding these issues, as well as the graphics card models involved, so make sure to check the images below for more clarification.
While at first it seemed that the company-distributed, free-of-charge thermal pads (which EVGA stressed were optional in nature) would be enough to fix any and all issues, the company is also issuing a BIOS revision in a few days, which "adjusts the fan speed curve" to "ensure sufficient cooling of all components across all operating temperatures".
Read the company's statement regarding these issues below:
"Recently, it was reported from several sources, that the EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 FTW PWM and memory temperature is running warmer than expected during Furmark (an extreme stress utility). EVGA has investigated these reports and after extensive testing, below are our findings:
- On ACX 3.0, EVGA focused on GPU temperature and the lowest acoustic levels possible. Running Furmark, the GPU is around 70C +/- and the fan speed is running approximately 30% duty cycle or lower.
- However, during recent testing, the thermal temperature of the PWM and memory, in extreme circumstances, was marginally within spec and needed to be addressed.
To resolve this, EVGA will be offering a VBIOS update, which adjusts the fan-speed curve to ensure sufficient cooling of all components across all operating temperatures. This VBIOS will be released in the next few days and users can download it and update their cards directly. This update resolves the potential thermal issues that have been reported, and ensures the card maintains safe operating temperatures.
For those users who want additional cooling beyond the VBIOS update, EVGA has optional thermal pads available. This update is not required, however; EVGA will make it available free of charge to any customer who is interested. To request the thermal pad kit, please visit www.evga.com/thermalmod.
Any customer who is not comfortable performing the recommended VBIOS update, may request a warranty cross-shipment to exchange the product to EVGA for an updated replacement.
All graphics cards shipped from EVGA after 11/1/2016 will have the VBIOS update applied."
The company also presented a FAQ regarding these issues, as well as the graphics card models involved, so make sure to check the images below for more clarification.
78 Comments on EVGA GTX 1070/1080 Overheating Issues Update - New BIOS Revision To Be Released
Fascinating.
Learn the difference between clock speeds and boost speeds.
Yes, I have never owned EVGA and never will spend money on them.
Let's see what Brands have I owned. Asus, MSI, Gigabyte maybe even Sapphire second hand, but can't remember correctly.
And I was using for two years reference MSI HD 6970 ONLY with 40% max fan speed. While GPU temp. where all the time around 90°C no problems in GTA V for gaming sesions like 5/6 hours straight. GTA V, WoW, CS:GO, Arma 3 no problems at all.
And then there comes EVGA with custom everything and struggle is real :D. So yeah. Right now I my self have Gainward Phoenix 1070 testing this brand, so far so good.
It's the reason I went with the EVGA card after I swapped out my MSi, I got my Samsung memory alrighty, but now this... hehehe
I've already built a machine with an EVGA GTX 1060, which has excellent noise levels. But "upgrading" the BIOS with a noisy fan profile to cool the VRMs is out of the question. I was planning to put a GTX 1070 and the upcoming "GTX 1080 Ti" in a couple of machines. The ACX coolers from EVGA has been my top choice, but when they manage to do these major design faults I wouldn't consider them again until they release a redesigned cooler. This is not a minor oversight, it's a major engineering fault and they couldn't have done proper QA on a single card. Amateurs!
Some even don't appropriately cool the VRM array :laugh:
Why this is crap ... there are already thermal pads over the VRM as you can see on the picture
... and evga instructs to slap some more ... wait for it ... over the fucking chokes and behind to use the backplate for additional cooling ...
... bad vrm array is bad ... the fact it has 10 phases means nothing if mosfets operate near their rated temps and end up in thermal runaway :shadedshu:
For rock solid VRM look at Palit GTX 1080 GameRock, with 8 power-stage phases rated way over the top ... as it should be :respect:
Frequency improvement is confirmed by the fact that GTA V 1440p @ ultra settings without MSAA is 100% silky smooth at 60+ fps, and that GPU-Z readings don't look like serrated blades; previously, dense urban areas caused a lot of framerate dips into the 40 fps range. All while the card is as quiet if not quieter than before, and GPU core is more than 10 degrees cooler.
So I'd say you're pretty safe. You're covered by EVGA warranty anyways. It's the warranty that matters to me. The other companies often trade fan quality for overengineered VRMs and when those fans go bad, some of those RMA procedures can be quite the hassle or utterly nonfunctional.
EVGA website says that from November onwards the affected cards will ship with the new BIOS, but I don't know what this means for stock that's already sitting around at retailers.
Some of these cocksure members shitting all over EVGA should probably go ahead and buy an ACX 3.0 1070 and compare the old and new BIOS before considering themselves qualified to talk about it like they own it.
Concerned that the BIOS profile will make your fans louder? Why don't you download the BIOS instead of spouting speculation? You've got the card and it's covered by EVGA's signature warranty.