GPU Dilemma.

[Bodo]

So, I got my EVGA GTX560 Ti 448 Core and I'm currently trying to decide whether to take it back and get an MSI of the same range.

 

I've hooked it up and I'm fairly happy with performance, however, the fans are pretty loud.

Even at idle they're quite audible. When upping the fans to around 50% they start getting uncomfortably loud.

 

Now, I can deal with that, to an extent but, I'm wondering whether I shouldn't get my money back and get the MSI version with dual fans. This also seems to be a known issue and thus EVGA have released an Ultra version with more RAM and an updated Heatsink design. There are some lengthy discussions about this over on their site.

 

The reason it's not so cut and dry is because EVGA offer a step up option where I can upgrade to one of the typical reference designed cards in the near future ( 6 series) and send my current card back, as long as the card desired is released within the next 90 days or so as that's the restiriction on time for when I'm eligible to take part in the step up plan and of course I pay the difference in cost, not a bad deal...

 

Now, the problem there is if it's not one of the better 'Ultra' or 'Classified' cards I may still be stuck with a rather poor example of an heatsink/fan design and so will still be dealing with somewhat, in my opinion, excessive fan noise, even when idle even after an upgrade. I'd probably be content with a 560 448 for some time so an upgrade my be the unnecessary carrott in front of me, the donkey.

 

What would you do, please?:doh:

 

EtherealN, if you catch this thread, I noticed you had an MSI that I'd want to get, what are the fans like? What case do you have and, when running BS, is it a fairly loud card in your experience?

 

THanks all, I ca send my current card back as long as it gets there by Monday next week so I need to make a snappy decision...:huh:

[EtherealN]

Err, no, I don't have an MSI card, I run with ASUS. BS and DCS doesn't make it very loud, but the few cases where it does have to go up a couple notches in fan speed it is definitely audible. But I don't know how good I am to review noise levels since I'm very used to high noise levels so what I consider barely noticeable at all might actually be loud as hell to someone else. :P (I once slept next to a hydraulic motor with no problem. :P ) Also note that my card is a "standard" 560Ti as far as the silicon goes, while the 448 is actually completely different silicon (it's a partially locked GF110, same as in the GTX580) so I wouldn't dare say anything about how effective a particular cooling solution that works well on a 114 chip works on a 110.

[Bodo]

Ahh, shit sorry, EtherealN, I could have sworn I saw you using the MSI Twin Frozr thingymajig..

 

Excuse me, soo, thanks for the reply mate, well, hmm, coming from someone who slept next to an hydraulic motor doesn't fill me with confidence you'd be best placed to advise me on loud fans, then!! :)

 

 

Ok, well, I think I'll have to live with it, guess I can always turn up the volume of whatever I'd playing. The thing is I make music so I'll have to look into turning the fans right down somehow. Also, I'm looking into getting a 550D corsair case soon so my Antec P180 might be allowing me to hear the card more than I may be able to once changing cases.

 

I'll sleep on it, make a decision. It's such a petty niggle really and going through an RMA is a pain in the arse but I got the impression, after reading up about the fan issue on this particular classified EVGA model, that others are also a little annoyed, especially since EVGA said they're releasing the ultra version with an updated heatsink/fan design

 

Makes me wonder, whether they knew it or not that the fan/heatsink/card itself weren't as best as could be, that it leaves me with a card that I could be more satisfied with, with another brand/model.

 

 

I think I'll send it back and get a refund. Been without a card for so long now I guess another few days to make the right decision is wise.

[EtherealN]

You might have seen a post where I mentioned that the Twin Frozr is similar in most respects to ASUS DirectCUII solution which is what I have. I have a vague memory of having spoken on that topic sometime.

[Bodo]

Hey, right well that's pretty much convinced me to send mine back. Not long it seems for the next nVidia range to release so think I'm better of getting me moneys backs.

 

Thank you, both, for your help!