Tuesday, November 15th 2016

EVGA Finishes Issuing BIOS Updates GTX 1080/70/60 FTW Line of Cards

Just a slight update on our reported stories of overheating issues with EVGA's FTW line of NVIDIA graphics cards, with the company having finished rolling out fan-curve adjusting BIOS updates for the affected cards.

The issue affects EVGA's line of FTW graphics cards ranging through the GTX 1060, GTX 1070, and GTX 1080, sporting the ACX 3.0 solution. As a casual reminder, you can view the list of affected cards below, for which BIOS updates have been issued in a blog post, along with a small FAQ and some instructions on how to perform the update.
Source: EVGA Forums
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35 Comments on EVGA Finishes Issuing BIOS Updates GTX 1080/70/60 FTW Line of Cards

#26
Ungari
newtekie1Oh, so you watched a video, you're an expert now. No, that isn't how it works. The VRAM thermal pads that are provided with the eVGA kit are only there if you damage the pads that are already there when you remove the front plate on the card. The overheating is in the VRM section of the card.
If you like I can PM you a link to the video, then you can be an expert too!
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#27
efikkan
ssdproProduct is marketed, reviewed, and sold as X, which is faulty due to improper cooling. Card receives a BIOS update to medicate the problem with fan ramp. Card X is now card Y, a louder card that may or may not be overheating still. I would have zero confidence EVGA has patched this issue if they didn't understand or didn't care the card was overheating in the first place.

This is what they call a fail.
Calling it a failure is not nearly enough. This is utter and complete incompetence. They would have caught this giant design fault if they did proper QA on one single card in the lineup. They obviously didn't, which is completely unacceptable.

Ramping up the fans is not a solution. The VRMs will still be warmer than intended, which will affect lifespan and stability. The products are defective. Do NOT buy any of these cards with this cooling solution.
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#28
Ungari
efikkanThis is utter and complete incompetence. They would have caught this giant design fault if they did proper QA on one single card in the lineup. They obviously didn't, which is completely unacceptable.
I don't believe it was incompetence.
EVGA had to know that there were higher than normal temps but just within the margin, and their actuary determined that the vast majority of users would not have a failure before the expiration of the warranty period.
What they did not calculate was the effect the expos'e would have on the enthusiast community.
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#29
EarthDog
Well said. Everything is within tolerances. Most people's cards work just fine. I mean, how many actually borked because of this? Ive seen the same 3 pictures on the internet since this broke, LOL!
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#30
Ungari
EarthDogWell said. Everything is within tolerances. Most people's cards work just fine. I mean, how many actually borked because of this? Ive seen the same 3 pictures on the internet since this broke, LOL!
I'm sure it was determined that most of these cards would last the length of the warranty under typical use, however there is concern that the high temps over time would degrade performance and that failures would eventually occur. Since these are new products, no one has owned them for very long.
I'm sure it was also calculated that many enthusiasts at this tier would not keep a card for long before upgrading, especially with Volta on the way.
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#31
EarthDog
I think you repeated yourself, lol! I don't get where the problem is...

...the cards will last their warranty period and then some... if it doesn't, rma.
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#32
Ungari
EarthDogI think you repeated yourself, lol! I don't get where the problem is...

...the cards will last their warranty period and then some... if it doesn't, rma.
I repeated this precisely because you did not get where the problem is, so let me rephrase:

Even though many of these cards should last the warranty period, many will fail afterwards.
The problem here is that buyers of a premium product expect it to last more than 3 years regardless of whether they keep it for that long.
EVGA parts are in higher demand in the used resale market due to the Transferable Warranty, but if the lifespan of the cards are severely reduced by inadequate cooling to the VRAM, this would effect resale values if these cards had a reputation of VRAM failure shortly after warranty expiration.
In short, it was a despicable move yet several on this board see a reason to defend EVGA.
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#33
EarthDog
3 times won't do it either...I got you the first time.

They will last well past the warranty period too... watch. Sure, it may not last 10 years, maybe not even 6, but the GPUs useful lifespan will easily be handled in most situations. After the warranty expires, if my product fails sometime thereafter, well, it happens!
Posted on Reply
#34
Ungari
EarthDogI think you repeated yourself, lol! I don't get where the problem is...
I'm not sure if you need a translator, or a pair of spectacles.
Posted on Reply
#35
EarthDog
Just less demeaning posts when someone disagrees with you is a start. ;)

Its clear I have a different way of reading what you are saying. I don't have a problem with the card failing after its warranty expires. I mean, how viable is a 970 late in 2017 @ 1080p with AAA titles running Ultra and getting 60 FPS? What about a 1070 at 2560x1440 in 2019? That is how I, and many others play and use these cards. Some of course don't. I don't hang on to my GPUs until they barely play my games to my standards. But regardless of that, I would bet money says the cards last well beyond their warranty in the vast majority of cases. Really if my 5 year old midrange card dies, I'm good with that. You think it will just crap out after 3 years... I don't. I bet money most will last its useful life. ;)

Its all about perspective. The incidents happened, it appears, when running FURMARK, not playing games which is a much less stressful environment.. I think that not so subtle point is lost on a lot of people.
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