EVGA Gives Away ''Free Performance Boost'' to its GTX 460 Users

[btarunr]

The GeForce GTX 460 broke the mold set by older GF100-based graphics cards (such as GTX 465, GTX 470, GTX 480), by offering decent overclocking potential for its core and shader clock domains. This allowed partners to pack their factory-overclocked models with generously high clock speeds compared to the reference design model. Apparently EVGA fell a little behind with slightly conservative clock speed boosts on their models, that they decided to give away what they call a "Free Performance Boost" to all owners of their GeForce GTX 460 graphics cards.

The Free Performance Boost is basically a graphics card BIOS update. The new BIOS packs increased clock speeds - 720 MHz for the core (vs. 675 MHz reference), and 1,440 MHz for the shader or CUDA core domain (vs. 1,350 MHz reference). The fan-speed upper limited has been increased to 100%, which was earlier restricted to 70%. The update comes in the form of an update executable that takes care of the entire update process from within Windows. You can get the executable specific to your EVGA GTX 460 model here.

[HillBeast]

Oh EVGA you're so kind by giving your users an overclock they SHOULD HAVE HAD IN THE FIRST PLACE.

The users most likely who will care would have already used EVGA Precision to get the extra speed they want.

[Rakesh95]

I on the other hand, call it a BIOS update, like Im sure most of us will..

[Papahyooie]

Originally Posted by HillBeast

Oh EVGA you're so kind by giving your users an overclock they SHOULD HAVE HAD IN THE FIRST PLACE.

The users most likely who will care would have already used EVGA Precision to get the extra speed they want.

What rule entitles anyone to higher stock clocks? So they were conservative on the clock speeds and then found out they could get away with a bit more. So what? At least they took the time to release the bios update. They could have left well enough alone and not cared about thier less overclocking-savvy users.

[HillBeast]

Originally Posted by Papahyooie

What rule entitles anyone to higher stock clocks? So they were conservative on the clock speeds and then found out they could get away with a bit more. So what? At least they took the time to release the bios update. They could have left well enough alone and not cared about thier less overclocking-savvy users.

My point wasn't that they broke some kind of obligation or something, I was trying to point out that they are saying it's a "Free Performance Boost", but it's in the form of a BIOS update. Anyone knowledgeable to be wanting the BIOS update would have Nibitored their BIOS already or used EVGA Precision (or whatever overclocking utility they liked) to get the extra speed.

The thing is, EVGA are trusting every core they have put out so far is capable of the new speed the BIOS provides (I can't even be bothered looking at what it is). They should have given the customers that speed at the start because if they did that they won't run the risk of someone with a core that can't handle it downloading it and toasting their card.

They should have just given them a special EVGA Precision with the new speeds built in. The thing is people are going to think EVGA are giving out free stuff, but they're not, they're just overclocking your card.

[PVTCaboose1337]

Clever to put the bios updater and the bios in one package so n00bs can correctly patch the card!

[Steevo]

100% fan speed and this is a improvement eh?

[alucasa]

Originally Posted by Papahyooie

What rule entitles anyone to higher stock clocks? So they were conservative on the clock speeds and then found out they could get away with a bit more. So what? At least they took the time to release the bios update. They could have left well enough alone and not cared about thier less overclocking-savvy users.

Well, it's impossible to please some.

[RejZoR]

Originally Posted by Steevo

100% fan speed and this is a improvement eh?

It doesn't say they changed the fan sped to 100%, they just removed hard cap at only 70% fan speed. So if card for some reason overheats more than usual, it will be able to speed up to 100%. Where with factory default BIOS, it could only go up to 70% even if the core was at 5000°C.

[newtekie1]

Originally Posted by HillBeast

My point wasn't that they broke some kind of obligation or something, I was trying to point out that they are saying it's a "Free Performance Boost", but it's in the form of a BIOS update. Anyone knowledgeable to be wanting the BIOS update would have Nibitored their BIOS already or used EVGA Precision (or whatever overclocking utility they liked) to get the extra speed.

The thing is, EVGA are trusting every core they have put out so far is capable of the new speed the BIOS provides (I can't even be bothered looking at what it is). They should have given the customers that speed at the start because if they did that they won't run the risk of someone with a core that can't handle it downloading it and toasting their card.

They should have just given them a special EVGA Precision with the new speeds built in. The thing is people are going to think EVGA are giving out free stuff, but they're not, they're just overclocking your card.

They could have done that, but this is far better. They package the entire BIOS flash into one easy to use, n00b friendly, installer that permanantly give them the free performance boost as opposed to only temperarily with an eVGA precision implementation. Now the n00b users get a free performance boost whenever they use the card, with not extra program to install every time they want the performance. And this is more for those that don't want to overclock their card, this is eVGA saying "it isn't overclocking, its a free performance boost that we say is OK to use".

And by the clock speeds they've set, every core will be able to handle the new speeds, I've yet to see a gTX460 that couldn't, and I'm guessing there might even be a small core voltage increase built into the new BIOS to make sure of it(which I guess is why the max fan speed was raised to 100%, just in case).

[erocker]

Free overclocks approved and warranteed by the company making the cards in an easy to use executable is win. Great idea and it will keep their customers happy.

[fullinfusion]

Originally Posted by PVTCaboose1337

Clever to put the bios updater and the bios in one package so n00bs can correctly patch the card!

I wish Sapphire did the same thing so this nO0b can run his 5970 the way it should be ran!

[a_ump]

yea def don't bash on em lol what other company has EVER done this? never heard of it done personally

[newconroer]

Originally Posted by a_ump

yea def don't bash on em lol what other company has EVER done this? never heard of it done personally

That's what people used to think and say about pre-flashed/clocked cards when they first appeared on the market several years ago.

And look how much of an utter gimmick that turned out to be?


Here, let me go make a custom/slimmed down Windows services registry file. Then all you do is simply double-click it, select 'yes' when prompted and voila, you now have a free performance boost!

This is the same thing; EVGA isn't doing anyone any favors - they're only perpetuating consumer ignorance and gullibility, and that's never good.

[scaminatrix]

Originally Posted by newconroer

Here, let me go make a custom/slimmed down Windows services registry file. Then all you do is simply double-click it, select 'yes' when prompted and voila, you now have a free performance boost!

This is the same thing;

I don't think it's the same thing. with this bios update you never have to double-click anything for your speeds. After updating, if you re-install OS or put GFX card into another rig, the new speeds stay with you.
Takes the hassle out of setting overclocks/profiles every time you install OS, etc. and some of us re-install OS more times than we care to admit.
I think they would be perpetuating consumer ignorance and gullibility, if they DIDN'T release the BIOS update or any other fix; and instead ignore the issue or try to convince us that an underclocked card is best.
Just my opinion.

[vagxtr]

Originally Posted by HillBeast

The thing is, EVGA are trusting every core they have put out so far is capable of the new speed the BIOS provides (I can't even be bothered looking at what it is). They should have given the customers that speed at the start because if they did that they won't run the risk of someone with a core that can't handle it downloading it and toasting their card.

They probably figure out these card wont burn fast enough as predicted for nVidias chips 2-3yrs time just after warranty expire so they try to do that now It will be interesting if many shops around globe void warranty if that official BIOS upgrade went down south

Anyway why even bothering doing upgrade when there's riva tuner evga precision and tools like that. I'd certainly void that upgrade without watt meter in my hand to see how much more fuel it will cost me after unnecessary voltage bump. I wouldnt be too much surprised if the real thing they forgot was voltages they oblige to follow by some nVidia gpu reseller guidelines, and nVidia was worried that chips would suffer from hypothermia and wouldn't be killed soon enough for next upgrade.

[newtekie1]

Originally Posted by vagxtr

They probably figure out these card wont burn fast enough as predicted for nVidias chips 2-3yrs time just after warranty expire so they try to do that now It will be interesting if many shops around globe void warranty if that official BIOS upgrade went down south

The 1GB version has a Lifetime warranty, and it is provided by eVGA not the shop that sold the card.

[Rakesh95]

Well at least they didn't keep silent right?