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Started by U6b36ef | | 18 answers
Asus Strix 970 0dB cooling - what about the video RAM
I keep thinking about getting the Asus 970. With fans not spinning up until 65'C on the core, I wonder how the video RAM is being cooled until then. Well it isn't.

The video card RAM would need the fans turning to pass cool air through the fins to cool it. I wonder as others have mentioned, I think I'd prefer the fans turning slowly even if I was light gaming. Does it mean that GDDR5 vRAM doesn't get hot enough to worry about? I assumed it does. GDDR3 is very hot stuff.
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a b Ĉ ASUS
October 20, 2014 6:01:50 AM

as long as your happy and satisfied that's all that matters so enjoy your new card and good luck..
October 19, 2014 10:32:29 AM

Yep Asus GTX 970 here and installed. I am happy to report it clocks higher with no overclocking from me than Asus specify. (In fact I never overclock anything.)

Normal specs:
Base clock 1114Mhz
Boost clock 1253MHz

Actual clock:
Actual boosts to clock 1329MHz

My Gigabyte GTX 650 Ti Boost did that too. I guess the Gigabyte GTX 970 will boost over its specced 1320MHz boost and go higher.


NB: The heatsink does not sit over the RAM modules. I will add a photo if I can work out how.
a b Ĉ ASUS
October 19, 2014 6:16:24 AM

you don't have to just let it go and toms will pick one ay random for you in like 6 months weather it s the best one or not
good luck
October 18, 2014 5:10:35 PM

Still don't know how to pick one post for a solution here. Most folk had wisdom to add.

Asus have an outstanding reputation in motherboards so I am looking at their GPU because of it. (Only behind Gigabyte last time I checked.) My new motherboard is Asus and is fine so far. GTX 970 on route now anyway so I am going to stick with this order. I wish they had released the 960 when they said, but demand for the chip in 970 was too high. I read they are quiet when the fans spin, and one eight-pin is nice and neat. Fingers crossed I get a good one, and the RAM is fine. I think we concluded it will be, so thankyou. Nice meeting you all.

EDIT:
@ junkeymonkey, I have to say that was wise council from you to wait if not sure. True often prices go down, and the GTX 960 might shake up pricing anyway. However the Asus GTX 970 arrived this morning dispatched that fast I had no chance to reconsider. I think I'll use it. It will give me Crysis 3 max. Plus more importantly to me at the moment I am half way though Tomb Raider 20113. While my GTX 650 Ti Boost runs the game mostly OK all maxed, many of the cut scenes struggle terribly. I have seen 12fps a few times.
a b Ĉ ASUS
October 15, 2014 1:04:54 PM

if your not in a hurry for a card it may pay to wait it out some

that's how i'm looking at it right now

as for me the only brand I won't conceder is asus.. I pretty much washed my hands of them [opinion] there not the asus I grew up with anymore
October 15, 2014 12:59:33 PM

Yep I read that about Afterburner. Coincidentally I just downloaded it tonight because I am trying to get an FPS counter working. Fraps they say slows PC performance. Shadowplay is meant to have and FPS counter but it just isn't there in my install. Others had this issue.

I guess Speedfan would do it too. Possibly my Asus motherboard fan control 2+ thingy, might run it also.

I don't blame you for wanting to EVGA and save a few bucks. I think the Asus 970 is pricey, and yet it's way cheaper than the 700 series. I think overall I'd prefer the 960 as it will be lighter and less risk of sag. Also cheaper to run, and most likely still max Crysis 3 and Metro at 1080p.
a b Ĉ ASUS
October 15, 2014 9:56:11 AM

Bear in mind that when the card is heavily loaded the fans will cut in.---

I seen it can be adjusted with something like afterburner on the fan curve thing [???]

@ junkeymonkey, I'm wary of the EVGA--- I with you on that but its a late release card and they may have made the adjustments for it [???]] we'll see

like with all this stuff you get what you find you want use it and se if it neets your expectations if it don't you know better next time

don't thuink we got nice stuff and found it was not really all that nice of fell short in some way its the chance we all take with these things
October 15, 2014 9:48:13 AM

RobCrezz said:
Bear in mind that when the card is heavily loaded the fans will cut in.


Ah yep this is where I got to when I gave up trying to work it out on my own. That's why I posted on Tom's finally as I'd had the idea for a while. Then I wondered the last case scenario. What will happen if you are playing a game light on the core but heavy on memory. No fans and RAM working hard.

Anyway if GDDR5 is cool running then that fact fairly makes the case for RAM being safe on the Asus 970. Coupled with the fact some of my current vRAM GDDR5 is not cooled it seems fairly solid. The only outstanding issue is that they have clocked this RAM higher so it will operate hotter.

Either way we will see if the design is OK by how many cards get RMA'd. Bit risky when you've got one ordered like I have. Personally I would prefer a 960 but apparently the release of that has been delayed because of 970/980 demand. I don't know if I want to wait until next year for that. Ideally I'd prefer also to wait for the next gen of cards when they are released in 20nm tech, but I digress.

@ junkeymonkey, I'm wary of the EVGA. Lots of opinion is avoid their current Maxwell's. I read lots in newegg reviews of it that the cooling systems have high numbers of noisy examples. People knocking eggs off for it. It's getting mentioned in plenty of forums. Something about ver 1.0 and 2.0 coolers.

a b Ĉ ASUS
October 15, 2014 9:39:08 AM

the best thing you need to do is what YOU feel is best for you

if you like the asus then good deal your the one buying it and using it and you did the home work on then and made a chaise as we all do i'm sure it will work out and you can enjoy it
good luck

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