MSI GTX 780 Ti Gaming 3 GB

[VulkanBros]

 

[Balanar]

Here are the PCB's,

MSI is top. Looks like the VRM area has a slight difference but I think the 780Ti block would fit regardless (just dont buy the XL version if they have one).

Hi thanks for the comparison! I'm a noob so I'm not sure which part of it you are referring to when you mention the different VRMs? I'm planning to use the Bitspower fullcover block for the reference card.

 

[W1zzard]

View attachment 53807

if you look closely you can see that the big black components (NVidia pcb) have been replaced with two smaller ones (msi pcb)

The components on MSI are same height or lower, so shouldn't interfere with a waterblock.

Good eye btw, I missed them.

 

[Shadyqwerty]

Would really love to see fan RPMs for these cards.

 

[THE_EGG]

Just a $10 premium over the reference model for a better cooled, quieter and better performing card?!?! Wow seriously nice work by MSI. Great review as always too.

 

[Shadyqwerty]

Not for me. Newegg had her for $699.99 + $3.99 2 day shipping on Tuesday. Today...today is Battlefield day.

 

[KneelbfZod]

Question: You show your Core Clock as 1020MHz and Boost at 1085MHz. I just got this card, and the Core Clock is 980Mhz with Boost at 1046MHz. It's only 1020Mhz Core if I enable the "OC" Mode in the MSI Gaming App. Is that what you did? Or was your review sample already set to 1020 Core without using the MSI Gaming App? Thanks and GREAT review. Literally made me order it on the spot!

 

[Shadyqwerty]

Got mine too. Same dealio, but Afterburner claims as high as 1111 boost wo/ touching power/temp targets. I saw it mostly @ 1085 during Firestrike. GPU-Z didn't read my Asus DC2 780 vanilla's boost right either. Is that right or am I off my rocker Wiz?

 

[KneelbfZod]

Got mine too. Same dealio, but Afterburner claims as high as 1111 boost wo/ touching power/temp targets. I saw it mostly @ 1085 during Firestrike. GPU-Z didn't read my Asus DC2 780 vanilla's boost right either. Is that right or am I off my rocker Wiz?

On stock (980/1046) actual in game speed is 1097MHz. On OC Mode (using the Gaming App), actual in game is speed 40MHz higher than than that, which is 1137Mhz. I wonder if Wiz just has a different BIOS that run the card at that speed by default? Of course I could always just OC it myself up to that level since MSI seems to endorse it with their app. Stock 980 speed is still a nice jump from the Stock 780 Ti too.

 

[Shadyqwerty]

I'm also trying to find out whether or not that little sticker on one of our 4 screws means no TIM reapplique or heatsink swap.

I hope I'm not crossing a line here, but my impressions are on OCN: http://www.overclock.net/t/1438886/official-nvidia-gtx-780-ti-owners-club/6060_30#post_21551535

One question for you. Do you have coil whine during the WinSAT test or 3DMark 2013 tests? Mine is...not so great.

EDIT: You're right. My BIOS is 2C and his is 30. Does that mean his card is newer? I also noticed it says revision A1 for both his and my GPU's. But the pic of the die on his GPU is clearly a B1. I wonder what the different BIOS does...also, I have the OC version, maybe his was somehow different?

 

[W1zzard]

was your review sample already set to 1020 Core without using the MSI Gaming App?

thats correct. I didn't install any MSI software and had those clocks out of the box.

http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/150488/msi-gtx780ti-3072-131203.html
that's my bios.

upload yours before flashing the card

bios 30 is newer than 2C (hex numbers)

I also noticed it says revision A1 for both his and my GPU's.

It seems NVIDIA didn't increase the revision field in the GPU

 

[WozzaAndersen]

What is the asic quality of this card.

 

[W1zzard]

What is the asic quality of this card.

Within 0.3% of the ASUS 780 Ti I reviewed earlier. Don't remember the exact number

 

[WozzaAndersen]

So it was a pretty good asic quality score is that what you mean. I'm deciding between 2 cards one is the Inno 3d ichill gtx 770 HerculeZ X3 Ultra and the other msi gtx 780 ti gaming how would these go in SLI I wonder.

 

[W1zzard]

So it was a pretty good asic quality score is that what you mean

It was in the typical range for 780 Ti, so nothing special

 

[KneelbfZod]

thats correct. I didn't install any MSI software and had those clocks out of the box.

http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/150488/msi-gtx780ti-3072-131203.html
that's my bios.

upload yours before flashing the card

bios 30 is newer than 2C (hex numbers)

My BIOS is the 2C. I tried to upload it but it said it was already in the Database. Oddly I don't see the 2C BIOS in the database for this card. I'd love to have the 30 BIOS however so I will update it tonight using NV Flash. I wonder why MSI shipped it with the 2C BIOS? Perhaps the sample you have is what they sent to reviewers only? Thanks for replying!

 

[KneelbfZod]

Ok so I tried to update the BIOS to the .30 version. Here is the message I got from NV Flash.

WARNING: Firmware image PCI Subsystem ID (1462.2985)
does not match adapter PCI Subsystem ID (1462.2983).

ERROR: PCI subsystem ID mismatch

I guess MSI just shipped that BIOS to reviewers, while consumers get the 2C version with the 980MHz Core.

 

[W1zzard]

Ok so I tried to update the BIOS to the .30 version. Here is the message I got from NV Flash.

I guess MSI just shipped that BIOS to reviewers, while consumers get the 2C version with the 980MHz Core.

are you sure you have the same card?

 

[THE_EGG]

Ok so I tried to update the BIOS to the .30 version. Here is the message I got from NV Flash.



I guess MSI just shipped that BIOS to reviewers, while consumers get the 2C version with the 980MHz Core.

I'm guessing that maybe you might be in a different region and different BIOSes might used in different regions, I can only guess though. Some car companies do this with their cars where the output power can vary depending on the country/region - and thus the BIOS version can be different.

 

[KneelbfZod]

are you sure you have the same card?

Yep. MSI Gaming Twin Frozr GTX 780 Ti 3GB. Got it at Newegg.com. I am in the US. Like I said I bought it because of your article

Someone else above has the 2C BIOS also. So perhaps that .30 BIOS was only for review samples and 2C is what shipped to consumers? Makes sense maybe MSI wanted the highest clocks available for reviewers. Not a huge deal, I can always over clock, but odd there was a subsystem mismatch. And I tired to upload my BIOS and it fails. Says it's already in the database.

I can can post GPU-Z screenshots if you like. Thanks again!

 

[KneelbfZod]

I'm guessing that maybe you might be in a different region and different BIOSes might used in different regions, I can only guess though. Some car companies do this with their cars where the output power can vary depending on the country/region - and thus the BIOS version can be different.

Good point. I just realized that Techpowerup.com isn't located in the US. Is that right? Perhaps we ARE talking about regional differences?

 

[W1zzard]

I can can post GPU-Z screenshots if you like

yes, and upload the bios

 

[KneelbfZod]

Note the "BIOS is already part of our collection" statement in Number 2.

 

[JBVertexx]

I'm really liking MSI's GPU lineup this year. Last year I wouldn't have touched anything from MSI, but they have really nailed it this year with their Gaming GPU series. So far I have their 270x and 280x. Looking to pull the trigger on either the 780ti or 290x. Any chance well see their 290x up for review sometime soon?

 

[7950 Flex]

Hi. I really like this 9.9 rating and all the praise you gave this card. I have 2 7950s in Crossfire at the moment and I play on 1080p for now. I want to order one massive GPU to replace these two 7950s. I will also add a second one when funds allow.
I've had AMD for the last 6 or so years and I want to try Nvidia. I really like the look of the reference cooler on those high end Nvidia cards but I won't compromise performance for it. I have two cards in mind.

1. The MSI 780 ti Gaming. I also have the MSI G45 z87 gaming Mobo. Probably not a significant factor but should go nicely together.

2. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202079 this thing. Looks like the only aftermarket cooler out that can keep the temps of the 290x in check. It also has some dust repelling bearings and some other stuff.
Also, this article on tomshardware... http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/648-2-best-of-ces-2014-award.html.

I'll probably end up getting the MSI 780 ti. But I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on the matter.

I've read the review on here about the R9 290X in Crossfire and how it's only a 47% upscale over one 290x. I plan on doing SLI or Crossfire so the multi-gpu performance is very important to me. Would you say the 780 ti in SLI is better than the R9 290X in Crossfire?

I'm looking for the smoothest gameplay experience I can get. And I do play some of the most demanding games.

Thanks for the awesome review