GIGABYTE Launches the GeForce GTX 980 WaterForce Graphics Card

[btarunr]

GIGABYTE, the world's leading premium gaming hardware manufacturer, today announced the GeForce GTX 980 WATERFORCE (GV-N980WAOC-4GD) that comes with an all-In-one, closed-loop liquid cooler. Built on the performance-proven GTX 980 Maxwell GPU, the GTX 980 WATERFORCE combines GIGABYTE exclusive technologies, high-quality components, and innovations to deliver the smooth gaming at ultimate 4K resolutions in a virtually silent operation compared to conventional air cooling. Through GPU Gauntlet Sorting, the graphics card is forged with only the top-notch GPU cores to bring out the maximum processing power for going super overclock.

With the pre-installed water cooling unit and radiator connected with a pair of SFP tubes, the GTX 980 WATERFORCE can be easily fitted in most chassis without the hassle of complicated installation or maintenance. The full-coverage cooling module covers not only the GPU, but also the VRAM and MOSFET to actively dissipate all the heat in an efficient manner, while requiring no additional fan like other competitions for a much enhanced acoustic performance.



The 45 cm robust SFP tubes can effectively prevent the leak and fare a lower coolant evaporation rate. Coupled with the 120 mm silent fan and the low-noise pump, the GTX 980 WATERFORCE is able to perform up to 38.8% cooler than the reference cooling in operating temperature for ultra-stable gaming in near silence.

Super Overclock - GPU Gauntlet Sorting
The GTX 980 WATERFORCE is fitted with only the top-performing GPU core through the very own GPU Gauntlet Sorting technology that guarantees superior overclocking capabilities in terms of excellent power switching and thermal efficiency. Only the strongest processors survived can be qualified for the GTX 980 WATERFORCE, which can fulfill both gaming enthusiasts' and overclockers' expectations with greater overclocking headroom, and higher, stable boost clocks under heavy load.

More Experience-Optimizing Features
GIGABYTE takes multi-display further by utilizing its patented technology to provide dual DVI support in addition to the 3 DisplayPort and 1 HDMI. Compared to the reference, the GTX 980 WATERFORCE offers more flexible output connectivity options. Gamers could optimize their gaming experience at ultra high resolutions with extended flexibility in arranging multiple-monitor configurations and making future system upgrade extremely easy.

The GTX 980 WATERFORCE features eye-catching LED illuminated GIGABYTE logo to create a gaming ambience for any gaming rigs. A microfiber gaming mouse pad is also included in the package free of charge to get gamers ready for battles right away.

The GTX 980 WATERFORCE supports GIGABYTE OC GURU II to provide gamers with an unlimited OC capability through an intuitive interface. Users can easily perform precise control on the graphics card include core clock adjustment, fan speed control and setup the power or temperature target. These main features not only increase the overclocking ability but also deliver superior performance to let gamers enjoy the amazing gaming experience.

For more information, visit the product page.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[raptori]

Now !!! and wc ... desperate gigabyte .

 

[the54thvoid]

Given how much the other GTX980 hybrids are (£470-£500), you'd be crazy not to just get a Fury X instead.

 

[HumanSmoke]

Given how much the other GTX980 hybrids are (£470-£500), you'd be crazy not to just get a Fury X instead.

I'm inclined to agree. Price difference locally is pretty much the same- £650 for the EVGA Hybrid, £600 for the Fury X. If you think UK pricing is extortionate, try being a hardware enthusiast in New Zealand!
(used the 980Ti because NZ hasn't been graced with any 980 model hybrids)

 

[john_]

Given how much the other GTX980 hybrids are (£470-£500), you'd be crazy not to just get a Fury X instead.

Yes but this is loooooooooooooonger than Fury X
(it does remind the Fury X)

 

[Basard]

Looks horrible... Would have probably been better leaving that shroud off. But then, it looks pretty bad under there from what I can see.

And I'm not usually one to complain about looks.

I guess it's not that it looks "bad"... it just looks CHEAP.

 

[RejZoR]

Is there a hidden fan inside the graphic card shroud, or they routed the cooling over VRM elements as well like on Fury X ?

 

[john_]

Is there a hidden fan inside the graphic card shroud, or they routed the cooling over VRM elements as well like on Fury X ?

Based on the PR "covers not only the GPU, but also the VRAM and MOSFET"

 

[GhostRyder]

Seems a bit late to me, at this point there are already plenty of variants of this card out there including hybrids and most of the people have already bought this card if they were going to (By that I mean missed the rush). Looks good, but a bit unnecessary and probably should have done it on the GTX 980ti.

 

[iO]

Is there a hidden fan inside the graphic card shroud, or they routed the cooling over VRM elements as well like on Fury X ?

Looks like an interesting and cost-efficient "gets-the-job-done" solution

 

[RejZoR]

Heatpipe. That's a bit lazy hack...

 

[peche]

crapy tubing.... no thanks... i hate those weak corrugated tubes... once failed on a alienware loop so never again !!!

Regards,

 

[Casecutter]

Looks like an interesting and cost-efficient "gets-the-job-done" solution

Thanks for this, and from that picture it appears not to exhibit any elegant engineering. It seems that the H-P is for the MOSFET's without a direct path to the cooler/pump assembly. Is it me, or does that MOSFET H-P look to be transferring its heat over to what's probably the memory chip area.

It's looks pretty hokey, more like someone tried to create it in their garage with some old salvaged H-P's from other coolers, some copper sheet, and a AIO cooler.

 

[peche]

Thanks for this, and from that picture it appears not to exhibit any elegant engineering. It seems that the H-P is for the MOSFET's with direct path to the cooler/pump assembly. Is it me, or does that MOSFET H-P look to be transferring its heat over to what's probably the memory chip area.

It's looks pretty hokey, more like someone tried to create it in their garage with some old salvaged H-P's from other coolers, some copper sheet, and a AIO cooler.

agreed, they could do more for that block, could also make a custom PCB with a different distibution of VRM and mosfets also a better place for a block that could take GPI Die and also the other parts that got hot when usage is insane, or laos they could do something like the hybrid coolers that Asus and EVGa have, but not, is the first time that Gigabyte really is disappointing me this much...

the worst thing...
that cheap tubes... i cant believe it...

 

[Frick]

So, uh, not even a Ti? This is weird.

 

[john_]

Maybe Nvidia had dropped the prices considerably on GTX 980 GPUs and manufacturers can make more money by selling 980 cards compared to cards based on other GPUs like 970 or 980Ti. Maybe that's why all these love to GTX 980.

 

[Dave65]

That thing is butt ugly

 

[peche]

Maybe Nvidia had dropped the prices considerably on GTX 980 GPUs and manufacturers can make more money by selling 980 cards compared to cards based on other GPUs like 970 or 980Ti. Maybe that's why all these love to GTX 980.

maybe sales on 980 are lower compared all the 970 chips they probably sold already so they need to get rig of 980 chips, doing bargains to other manufacturers.... seems legit for me...

 

[Ruru]

Looks like that they just put the cheapest Cooler Master 120mm AIO on it.

 

[Dan848]

When the R9 Fury X was released many Nvidia [fan boy] review sites hammered the Fury X because it had a water cooler. Now there is a GTX 980 with water cooling and all is good?

 

[HumanSmoke]

When the R9 Fury X was released many Nvidia [fan boy] review sites hammered the Fury X because it had a water cooler. Now there is a GTX 980 with water cooling and all is good?

Maybe you should read through the comments. If you did you would find that the overwhelming sentiment is negative. 41 comments in six years - I certainly hope the other 40 make more sense.

 

[john_]

maybe sales on 980 are lower compared all the 970 chips they probably sold already so they need to get rig of 980 chips, doing bargains to other manufacturers.... seems legit for me...

970 and 980 are almost identical as chips and I guess the cards have also identical costs to make. That gives Nvidia and it's partners probably high profit margins on the 980 chips. I don't think 980 doesn't sell. I think it sells better than expected. If 980 wasn't selling because for example all the fuss about DX12 and Async compute, plus the excellent performance and much lower price of the 390X, we would have seen a big price drop targeting the final consumer. Here I think we might have a price drop from Nvidia for the chip, that is intended for it's partners.

 

[peche]

Looks like that they just put the cheapest Cooler Master 120mm AIO on it.

agreed !

When the R9 Fury X was released many Nvidia [fan boy] review sites hammered the Fury X because it had a water cooler. Now there is a GTX 980 with water cooling and all is good?

there was a waterforce sli before... now they are selling them individual....

970 and 980 are almost identical as chips and I guess the cards have also identical costs to make. That gives Nvidia and it's partners probably high profit margins on the 980 chips. I don't think 980 doesn't sell. I think it sells better than expected. If 980 wasn't selling because for example all the fuss about DX12 and Async compute, plus the excellent performance and much lower price of the 390X, we would have seen a big price drop targeting the final consumer. Here I think we might have a price drop from Nvidia for the chip, that is intended for it's partners.

im not saying that chips aren't being sold .... im just saying that nvidia may need to sell moar... or the sales aren't the way they expected so probably need to do something for sell moar...

Regards,

 

[Casecutter]

there was a waterforce sli before... now they are selling them individual....

Your right... I never really looked at that WaterForce 3X... I guess I always thought Gigabyte had placed a single pump in that "dog house" they have you bolt on top of your chassis. But, nope these in every practical sense are just one of those cards, as each card had a dedicated pump.

 

[ShockG]

Sometimes I think forum folk or in general internet folk are too harsh on products, that they would have never bought regardless of how well made they were, could not afford or generally have no interest in them at all.

Does the cooling solution look cheap? Most certainly and there's a great argument to be made about that.
Is it s cost effective solution? Most certainly, or they would not be making it at all.
In terms of the GTX 980, does it help performance or overclocking? From all indication no it doesn't. At the very least though, it isn't any worse than the previous best effort from GIGABYTE.

Maxwell, has stepped overclocking abilities that are so dependent on temperature more than anything else.
One 980 here will do 1555MHz with the default 980 cooler and on water 1563MHz. It needs chilled water to reach 1640MHz. From 1555MHz however to 1640MHz, temp had to fall by 46'C so max load temps in Unigine Heaven Xtreme are around 22'C. The truth is regardless of what cooler or water block GIGABYTE had used, the max clock for this GPU would have been exactly the same. The difference between this block and the best on the market from EKWB for instance is around 6'C which is significant, but meaningless in clock speeds.

Out of interest from 1640MHz to 1700MHz needed a max temp of -15'C.
From a design perspective this card is not pleasing at all. Build quality is lacking, but performance is precisely where it should be. 980 is easier to build right now and still worthwhile because Pascal is still a while away.