Which GTX 670 ????

Computer crazy

New member
Hi,

Following on from my motherboard thread, I am equally undecided about which GTX 670 to buy. I have spend much time looking into different brands and coolers.

I am not a fan of the reference design I personally think the PCB is to small and doesn't look right with the power connectors coming out the middle of the card. I plan on water cooling the card later and I want the card to look like something when the air cooling system is removed, so no reference GTX 670 designs please. As they personally don't have a large enough PCB with the stock cooler removed.

This means I am looking at either a reference GTX 680 PCB design or the Asus DCUII design for watercooling compatibility.

This kind of limits me to a number of cards I have to choose from. I am a big fan of how my rig looks so preferably a black PCB, but I will probably put a backplate on the card so maybe this is less important. I am after a quiet design when running idle and a under load if possible. I would like a good performance card, I know the stock GTX 670 performs very well at stock but I would like something that performs around stock GTX 680 performance or higher on factory clocks, but this isn't very important.

I am also after a brand that has good aftercare support and a reasonable warranty period 2/3yrs+.

Below is a list of cards that I think would do:

- Gigabyte GTX 670 Windforce - Believe these have a blue PCB or can you get them with a black PCB? I understand these use the GTX 680 reference PCB? Quiet?

- EVGA GTX 670 FTW - Good brand, heard good things about EVGA and there customer support. Uses the stock GTX 680 cooler which is beefier than the stock GTX 670 cooler. Will it be noisy? Uses reference GTX 680 PCB?

- Asus GTX 670 DCUII - Not sure about there customer support. Black PCB with backplate, looks very nice. Seems a good performance cooler and can be watercooled using EK blocks but I think this is the only brand that is doing blocks for these cards? Quiet?

I have looked at the KFA2 after market cards but don't believe they can be watercooled?

I am after peoples opinions on the cards? If you owns one how are you getting on with it? Any other brands I should look at?

Probably after 2GB cards, unless there is a really good deal on a 4GB card. Obviously the cost is larger on the Asus card but a backplate is included as standard opposed to the other cards mentioned.

Bit of a large post, any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance :)
 
I'd probably go for the EVGA FTW. You dont want to be limited to just EK blocks to watercool with in the future.

The gigabyte ones dont use a 680 PCB, they use their own custom PCB, as I was told in a thread a while ago by TTL :) Got a nice slap for it.

So just because of the future watercooling side, you've limited your choices to just the ASUS and the EVGA. And I've heard some horror stories about using EK blocks and the plating corroding away, so I wouldnt want to be limited to just an EK block - removing the choice for the ASUS
 
I'd probably go for the EVGA FTW. You dont want to be limited to just EK blocks to watercool with in the future.

The gigabyte ones dont use a 680 PCB, they use their own custom PCB, as I was told in a thread a while ago by TTL :) Got a nice slap for it.

So just because of the future watercooling side, you've limited your choices to just the ASUS and the EVGA. And I've heard some horror stories about using EK blocks and the plating corroding away, so I wouldnt want to be limited to just an EK block - removing the choice for the ASUS

Cheers, you are reassuring my thoughts. The EVGA FTW card seems very popular and has good aftercare/warranty period and can be watercooled easily. This has been my preference from the start. Again I really didn't want to be limited just to EK obviously with there plating issues and other manufacturers produce some nice performing blocks as well, it allows you to shop around. Shame EVGA have stopped there 10yr warranty on some of there new cards or there would have been no question.

Interesting about the Gigabyte PCB there seems a lot of confusion about this around, so cheers for clearing that up, good job I asked. The Gigabyte card didn't look like it was a possibility due to the blue PCB anyway, would much rather have a black PCB and backplate.

Isn't the plating issue only on the EK nickel blocks though so I believe the copper is ok?

Anybody got any other opinions either way? :)
 
^^Cheers, looking like it may be the EVGA FTW card then. :)

Can anybody comment on how noisy the reference 680 cooler is underload?

Does anybody know if the MSI GTX 670 power edition uses a custom PCB design and is worth looking into ?

No other manufacturers make full cover blocks for the Asus DCUII cards?
 
If your going to watercool the EVGA 670 FTW is the perfect 670. The 680 cooler is a tad noisy, but a lot better than the reference AMD cards. Tbh though i wouldn't worry about it too much seeing as you will be watercooling it at some point.
 
I also want to ask the same question "which GTX670".
It seems like if going to water cooling, EVGA 670 FTW is the best.
I would like to have 670 FTW, but in Malaysia dont have EVGA distributors or resellers.
I might get ASUS GTX 670DCii. maybe drop the thought of water cooling it. :-(
 
If your going to watercool the EVGA 670 FTW is the perfect 670. The 680 cooler is a tad noisy, but a lot better than the reference AMD cards. Tbh though i wouldn't worry about it too much seeing as you will be watercooling it at some point.

Thanks, EVGA GTX 670 FTW it is then, it was the card I was going to purchase originally but figured it does no harm to check to see if there is anything better and that the purchase is a good one. :)

I also want to ask the same question "which GTX670".
It seems like if going to water cooling, EVGA 670 FTW is the best.
I would like to have 670 FTW, but in Malaysia dont have EVGA distributors or resellers.
I might get ASUS GTX 670DCii. maybe drop the thought of water cooling it. :-(

There is so many reference designs, however the after market designs lack the ability to water cool. I have had my eye on the EVGA GTX 670 FTW since it was first released, but have since read many things about other cards e.g. DCUII, windforce etc.

I honestly don't think anybody would be un-happy with either of the 3 cards listed above and the Asus DCUII is a good card and can be watercooled but only by using EK blocks as far as I am aware.

The DCUII card has a good cooler on it but does restrict your waterblock block choice, hence why I am going for the FTW card as there is more waterblock choice and seems a popular choice on here. It maybe worth contacting your local retailers and asking if they would be able to order you one in??? :)
 
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Maybe i try to contact EVGA asn ask the shipping fee if i want to order from their website and ship to me.
BTW, i just saw GTX 640 on market and found that GTX 660 is going to release in mid-Aug.
My plan of upgrade will on hold until see some reviews on 660.
Sorry for off-topic.
 
I'd probably go for the EVGA FTW. You dont want to be limited to just EK blocks to watercool with in the future.

The gigabyte ones dont use a 680 PCB, they use their own custom PCB, as I was told in a thread a while ago by TTL :) Got a nice slap for it.

So just because of the future watercooling side, you've limited your choices to just the ASUS and the EVGA. And I've heard some horror stories about using EK blocks and the plating corroding away, so I wouldnt want to be limited to just an EK block - removing the choice for the ASUS

Gigabyte GTX 670 OC:

NDLbd.jpg



Reference GTX 680:

l2a8j.jpg



According to the EK Cooling Configurator their 680 blocks will fit the Gigabyte GTX 670 card.

Edit: another option is the Zotac GTX 670 AMP!

4PslE.jpg
 
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Here you can see both versions of the GTX 680 reference PCB + where the block makes contact with the card. You can clearly see that the Gigabyte will work perfectly so I have no idea why Tom thinks it won't fit.

uDIPj.jpg
 
I'd probably go for the EVGA FTW. You dont want to be limited to just EK blocks to watercool with in the future.

This. I think the Zotac card also has a 680 PCB, but i am not sure.


Gigabyte GTX 670 OC:

NDLbd.jpg



Reference GTX 680:

l2a8j.jpg



According to the EK Cooling Configurator their 680 blocks will fit the Gigabyte GTX 670 card.


I don't think it will fit because of the power connectors, i dunno maybe some blocks will fit the Gigabyte card.
 
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If you want to be 100% sure get the EVGA FTW:

8oP5Q.png


As you can see the Gigabyte should work also with the Heatkiller but it's possible there are blocks that won't fit.

If anyone has a problem please let us know then we won't make the same mistake haha :lol:
 
I just watched tom video on GTX680 watercooling block fitting guide XSPC razor.
So, I wonder if this XSPC Razor can fit to ASUS GTX670 DCii, since GTX670 use full PCB.
opinion and advice?
thanks.
 
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