SPCR

In brief: high end 1080p / low 1440p card, 125W TDP. HDMI 2.0 supported for 1440p/60Hz, Display Port 1.2. H.265 hardware acceleration. Requires one PCIe Graphics power connector. Some designs use one 6-pin and some use one 8-pin. Performance is between the GTX 760 and GTX 770 and similar to R9 285. $200-220 intro price. Dimensions stated as: a" x b" x c" are from mfgr websites - others are from reviews.

SPCR tests the Asus GTX 960 STRIX

Nvidia reference design @ The Tech Report (plus roundup power and temp data)

Roundups:
Tom's Hardware
Hardwareluxx
Computer Base
Expanded roundup at Computer Base
Hardware Info

Reviews with acoustic testing:

Asus GTX 960 STRIX OC 2GB (8.47" x 4.77" x 1.61"), 6-pin, passive idle):
Techpowerup
Guru3D (includes SLI data)
KitGuru
Hexus
Ocaholic
Tom's Hardware
Tech Report
Computer Base
Computer Base
Hardwareluxx
Hardware Info

MSI GTX 960 Gaming OC 2GB (10.51" x 5.47 x 1.42", 8-pin, passive idle):
Techpowerup
Guru3D
HT4U
Hardwareluxx
Tech Report
Computer Base
Computer Base
Hardware Info
Kitguru

EVGA GTX 960 SSC 2GB (10.1" x 4.38" x ??, 8-pin, passive idle - also has dual bios switch for active idle):
Techpowerup
Tom's Hardware
Hardwareluxx
Tech Report
Computer Base
Computer Base
Hardware Info
Hardwareluxx - 4GB model

Gigabyte GTX 960 G1 Gaming 2GB (11.25-11.73" length, 4.45" height, dual 6-pin, passive idle, 3 DP 1.2(eDP 1.4), 1 HDMI 2.0, 2 DVI:
Guru3D
Kitguru
Ocaholic
Tom's Hardware
Tech Report
Hexus
Hardware Info
Guru 3D 4GB (has one 6- and one 8-pin PEG connector)

Gigabyte GTX 960 Windforce OC 2GB (9.69-10" length, 4.17" height, dual 6-pin, passive idle):
Tom's Hardware
Tech Report
Guru3D

KFA2/Galaxy GTX 960 EX OC 2GB (10.67" x 4.89" x 1.63", 8-pin, passive idle):
Guru3D
Tom's Hardware
Hexus


Gainward GTX 960 Phantom OC 2GB (9.72" x 4.41" x ? (2.5 slot), 6-pin, active idle):
Tom's Hardware
Computer Base

Inno3D GTX 960 iChill 2GB (11.81" x 4.37" x "3-slot", dual 6-pin, passive idle):
Tom's Hardware
Hardwareluxx
Hardware Info

Inno3D GTX 960 X3 Air Boss 2GB (12"L , "3 slot", dual 6-pin, passive idle):
Computer Base
KitGuru


Palit GTX 960 Super Jetstream 2GB (9.72" x 4.96" x "2.5-slot", two 6-pin, passive idle):
Tom's Hardware
Techpowerup
Hexus
Hardwareluxx
Computer Base
Computer Base
Guru3D
Kitguru

Palit GTX 960 OC 2GB (9.65", "2-slot" reference design, 6-pin, 1 fan active idle):
Computer Base

Zotac GTX 960 Amp! Edition 2GB (7.76" length, 4.49" height, 6-pin, passive idle):
Hardwareluxx
Computer Base
Hardware Info

I'm all fidgety as well!

Let the reviews begin..... =)

Looks to be good value for money.

A lot of empty space on the MSI PCB. Asus sized theirs down. Hmm, with 22cm length this will fit into some quite compact cases.

I have two concerns with the Asus according to Tom's Hardware:
1) Power consumption spikes
2) Hidden VRM temps of 95°C

Otherwise it may be the most quiet of the brands they reviewed.

yakuman wrote:I have two concerns with the Asus according to Tom's Hardware:
1) Power consumption spikes
2) Hidden VRM temps of 95°C

Otherwise it may be the most quiet of the brands they reviewed.

Set aside it's difficult to me to agree with THG on anything, btw, with reference to TPU findings all those quiet cards (but the Palit) should be very close if not identical noise-wise, and with reference to THG's VRM temps it wouldn't seem ASUS is actually worse than competition.

quest_for_silence wrote:Set aside it's difficult to me to agree with THG on anything, btw, with reference to TPU findings all those quiet cards (but the Palit) should be very close if not identical noise-wise, and with reference to THG's VRM temps it wouldn't seem ASUS is actually worse than competition.

Something is up with THG's review because their page 2 (Partner Card Launch Round-Up) lists EVGA, but it's missing in their benchmarks.

Which one would you recommend based on reviews so far?

yakuman wrote:Which one would you recommend based on reviews so far?

I havent read all of the websites reviews yet, mostly the Guru3d, the two that got Top Picks were the MSI and Gigabyte, i would probably consider all 3 with MSI, Gigabyte and Asus, check idle temps, starting fan profiles and load noise, and work from there. Another thing is at the beggining is hard to get a hold of any card.... so things might change if you really want one.

My own recent experiences showed me that the MSI / ASUS sound different, and they certainly don't have the same noise levels as seen in the TechPowerUp and Guru3D reviews. Something is wrong with those two review sites, for 970 and 980 series they list all semi-passive cards having the same noise level in load which is clearly not the case. I'd say don't trust the noise measurements on TPU/Guru3d that much.

Updated dimensions from mfgr websites - where available. Zotac didn't provide product dimensions, Gigabyte sites failed to resolve.

bbalex wrote:Something is wrong with those two review sites

It's notorious: a too much high noise floor mask the differences below that level.

yakuman wrote:Which one would you recommend based on reviews so far?

Frankly no one particularly.

If I were in the market for a GTX 960 here (EU), I would order it from a retailer like Amazon EU, starting from the card with the longest warranty or the lowest price.
Then I will return that graphics in case I weren't satisfied, replacing it by ordering a different brand, and reiterating the process until either I get what I'm looking for, or the alternatives are over.

Here the Asus Strix 960 is 260-270 euros. FML!

Lucky Luciano wrote:Here the Asus Strix 960 is 260-270 euros. FML!

Then in case order from Germany, if pricing were substantially better there (I think Romania is in EU, so you shouldn't have any customs duties).

Added MSI Gaming @ HT4U. Pretty impressive.

bbalex wrote:My own recent experiences showed me that the MSI / ASUS sound different, and they certainly don't have the same noise levels as seen in the TechPowerUp and Guru3D reviews. Something is wrong with those two review sites, for 970 and 980 series they list all semi-passive cards having the same noise level in load which is clearly not the case. I'd say don't trust the noise measurements on TPU/Guru3d that much.

I came across this video in my searching and thought this might interest you guys-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReO8uVQa9qE

The difference between the two is pretty shocking. HardOCP also noted 780 rpm at full load on the MSI which is awesome.

Another interesting video from the same uploader-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBaY8BCIQ2g

Spulenfiepen = coil whine

That video worries me but Asus is advertising buzz free operation so maybe that video doesn't represent it accurately. It's also interesting how much quieter the Asus is in that video compared to the other video. Not sure what's going on there.

Newegg has $25 off with VISA checkout that ends tomorrow and a $10 rebate so I may take the plunge on the MSI.

Oh and hi!

So the Zotac ones. They've got a standard one and an "AMP! Edition".

Is there much real world difference between them? Especially when it comes to noise.

Thanks.

wywywywy wrote:Especially when it comes to noise.

As far as I know, right now on the web there's no answer/info about.

Added

Hardwareluxx roundup: MSI, EVGA, PAlit, Zotac, Inno3D

Palit @ Hexus.

Asus @ SPCR added.

Hrm, prices are still a bit high for the 960, in particular considering that used 670ies are sold for ~100 quid. And those are probably still faster.

Cistron wrote:Hrm, prices are still a bit high for the 960, in particular considering that used 670ies are sold for ~100 quid. And those are probably still faster.

I guess if you are comfortable with used gfx cards, and prefer to save ~70 quid over power and noise, then sure. The stock '670 is a tad slower than the stock '760.

CA_Steve wrote:I guess if you are comfortable with used gfx cards, and prefer to save ~70 quid over power and noise, then sure. The stock '670 is a tad slower than the stock '760.

Thanks for the links. Yes, I'm a bit of penny pincher ( ), but I also like the idea of recycling equipment.

yakuman wrote:I have two concerns with the Asus according to Tom's Hardware:
1) Power consumption spikes
2) Hidden VRM temps of 95°C

Otherwise it may be the most quiet of the brands they reviewed.

I would say - these are pretty common issues with GTX 9** series:
- poor VRM cooling (Gigabyte is exception)
- coil whine/buzzling on medium FPS

Computerbase.de has similar videos on GTX 970 & GTX 980 lineup review, with aftermarket coolers. Although one cant make decision based purely on sound recorded on video, still you can tell - buzzling/coil whine is happen more than often on different brands, different coolers.

Added KFA2 @ Hexus.

thanks for another nice roundup Steve.

keif wrote:Oh and hi!

WELCOME TO SPCR!!!

Added Gigabyte Windforce 2x @ Guru3D.

Added roundup at Computer Base (Asus, MSI, Palit, and EVGA).