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MSI Teases New GTX 970 Graphics Card

By - Source: MSI Facebook UK | B 26 comments

MSI is teasing its new GTX 970 graphics card.

While we're not sure about any specific launch dates, we are expecting the GTX 980 and GTX 970 to launch very soon. The latest clue is that MSI is teasing the design of its GTX 970 on Facebook. Teases of this caliber usually only happen close to the launch.

The card is definitely recognizable as an MSI card, as it follows all the design cues of previous cards. Note, though, that this card is carrying the new TwinFrozr V cooler, which has a number of small improvements over the older design. We can't be sure about all the changes yet, but the cooler does have a large fin array, heat pipes, and two 100 mm fans.

The GTX 970 is expected to carry 1664 CUDA cores, along with 4 GB of memory accessible over a 256-bit memory interface. (We're speculating a bit here though, so take these specs with a grain of salt.) What is almost certain is that the GTX 970 will be based on the new Maxwell architecture, which will allow it to provide more performance per watt. If you look carefully at this card, you can also see two six-pin PCI-Express power connectors, which is a little less than the 6-pin + 8-pin design on the GTX 770.

Stay tuned for the actual launch.

Follow Niels Broekhuijsen @NBroekhuijsen. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

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  • 6 Hide
    Blaise170 , September 11, 2014 9:43 AM
    From the specs I've seen of the Maxwell cards so far, color me unimpressed. The prospective efficiency is neat, but otherwise seems like Nvidia is holding back.
  • 8 Hide
    TechyInAZ , September 11, 2014 9:44 AM
    Huh? What happened to the 800 series? Did Nvidia just jump a generation like intel did from X79 to X99?
  • 9 Hide
    Blaise170 , September 11, 2014 9:49 AM
    Quote:
    Huh? What happened to the 800 series? Did Nvidia just jump a generation like intel did from X79 to X99?


    They didn't want people to get confused since they released the 800M series for laptops along with the 700 series of desktop cards. So to keep consistency, they decided to skip 800 and go straight to 900 and 900M.
  • Add your comment Display all 26 comments.
  • 2 Hide
    dovah-chan , September 11, 2014 9:49 AM
    The reason I assume why they are using the 900 series nomenclature is so as to not get people confused with the 800M series (which is kepler based).
  • 2 Hide
    TechyInAZ , September 11, 2014 9:51 AM
    Still weird to me since all the mobile GPUs have a M at the end. But thx for the info.
  • -1 Hide
    dgingeri , September 11, 2014 9:51 AM
    I know I must have missed something. What happened to the 800 series?
  • 4 Hide
    hardcore_player , September 11, 2014 10:18 AM
    we're not going to see a huge performance leap till Pascal architecture hit the shelve in 2016 .
    Pascal is NVIDIA’s latest GPU architecture and is being introduced in between Maxwell and Volta . In the process it has absorbed old Maxwell’s unified virtual memory support and old Volta’s on-package DRAM.
    Pascal will have a 3D memory and NV-link which will greatly improve performance and consume less power .
    i wounder what would they call the Pascal GPU's .....definitely not GTX 1080 and GTX 1070 ......
  • -3 Hide
    Jeffrey Barone , September 11, 2014 10:23 AM
    Ah shucks I was going to buy one for my laptop good thing for the model numbers lol like seriously if the model numbers confuse people they are just stupid
  • -7 Hide
    Jeffrey Barone , September 11, 2014 10:31 AM
    Ah shucks I was going to buy one for my laptop good thing for the model numbers lol like seriously if the model numbers confuse people they are just stupid
  • 2 Hide
    B4vB5 , September 11, 2014 10:32 AM
    Niels, would like to know whether or not the 970/980s will have HDMi 2.0 ports?

    Kinda hoping but not holding my breath, sadly...
  • 0 Hide
    N.Broekhuijsen , September 11, 2014 10:44 AM
    Quote:
    Niels, would like to know whether or not the 970/980s will have HDMi 2.0 ports?

    Kinda hoping but not holding my breath, sadly...
    I haven't seen any mention of HDMI 2.0 yet, although given that there are already HDMI 2.0 monitors on the market it wouldn't surprise me all too much if the cards do end up having it. That said, there's always DisplayPort to get 4K@60Hz, which most 4K desktop monitors will have. For TVs...
  • 0 Hide
    oxiide , September 11, 2014 11:07 AM
    Quote:
    From the specs I've seen of the Maxwell cards so far, color me unimpressed. The prospective efficiency is neat, but otherwise seems like Nvidia is holding back.

    Word on the street is they've had trouble getting their 20 nm node into a state where it can be used in a product. The first Maxwell cards will apparently be 28 nm, like the 750/750 Ti. I wouldn't say they're holding back; for the competitive edge it would give them I'm sure they'd be releasing it if they had it.

    Besides, everything eventually comes back to power efficiency. You could use that efficiency to release a cooler and quieter card than the last generation, but more efficiency also allows a greater performance ceiling at a similar power draw.
  • -2 Hide
    TechyInAZ , September 11, 2014 11:10 AM
    Quote:
    Quote:
    From the specs I've seen of the Maxwell cards so far, color me unimpressed. The prospective efficiency is neat, but otherwise seems like Nvidia is holding back.

    Word on the street is they've had trouble getting their 20 nm node into a state where it can be used in a product. The first Maxwell cards will apparently be 28 nm, like the 750/750 Ti. I wouldn't say they're holding back; for the competitive edge it would give them I'm sure they'd be releasing it if they had it.

    Besides, everything eventually comes back to power efficiency. You could use that efficiency to release a cooler and quieter card than the last generation, but more efficiency also allows a greater performance ceiling at a similar power draw.


    It's nice that they are targeting efficiency, since I prefer a lower power draw over better performance.
  • 3 Hide
    RCguitarist , September 11, 2014 11:29 AM
    And now you'll be able to get 85FPS as opposed to the measly 70fps the 780 can provide in modern games. Whoop-Dee-do!
  • 4 Hide
    dovah-chan , September 11, 2014 12:03 PM
    Quote:
    And now you'll be able to get 85FPS as opposed to the measly 70fps the 780 can provide in modern games. Whoop-Dee-do!


    Captain Planet frowns upon thee

  • 0 Hide
    B4vB5 , September 11, 2014 12:20 PM
    Quote:
    Quote:
    Niels, would like to know whether or not the 970/980s will have HDMi 2.0 ports?

    Kinda hoping but not holding my breath, sadly...
    I haven't seen any mention of HDMI 2.0 yet, although given that there are already HDMI 2.0 monitors on the market it wouldn't surprise me all too much if the cards do end up having it. That said, there's always DisplayPort to get 4K@60Hz, which most 4K desktop monitors will have. For TVs...


    Thanks for the answer Niels, please keep us posted if you hear of ANY gfx card with HDMi 2.0 out ports!

    There are indeed DP1.2+ ports for 4k@60 which is what I am after without the 4:2:0 solution. But the monitors so far are either too small (Samsung U28D590D / Asus PB287Q, both at 28) or too expensive (Dell 32UP14 at 32+IPS), so I am going for the HDMi TV's. And I don't need gaming, just desktop real estate to replace 2x27's at 1080p each.

    Sadly with DP1.2 port, there is only the Panasonic TX-50AXW804(50 inch, comes in 65 too at the price of a car), which are twice as expensive for a 50 inch as a 55 inch Samsung UE55HU6900 with HDMi 2.0 port.

    And those 1100 euros saved can easily pay for the very nice gfx card or even two good ones in SLI/Xfire with the HDMi 2.0 ports needed!
  • 1 Hide
    SkyBill40 , September 11, 2014 2:05 PM
    I've always been a fan of MSI and have built three rigs with their equipment without a single issue. Despite my 660Ti OC 2GB Power Edition card still going strong and allowing me to play almost everything maxed out, it may be time to consider replacing it with something else. I'd thought about the 780 Lightning but, seeing that the new stuff is just around the bend, will likely wait and see what shapes out.

    This looks like a solid card and the lower wattage, coupled with the 4GB of RAM, makes for a nice combination. It's all just a matter of at what price.
  • 4 Hide
    SchizoFrog , September 11, 2014 3:37 PM
    I don't get what the moaning is about. Early test figures and estimates point to the 970 performing between the 780 and the 780Ti and should cost about the same as current 770 GPUs. That seems pretty good value to me however things get even better when you factor in that these early scores will be based on STOCK performance and not potential overclocks. Maxwell has already shown that not only is it very efficient but that it overclocks extremely well so we could possibly have a GPU for £250 that matches or even beats a £470 GPU? I would be impressed with that.
  • -1 Hide
    ferooxidan , September 11, 2014 8:58 PM
    I understand if the reason was to avoid confusion for the customer because the notebooks already have 800M series, but logically if Nvidia launch their new gpu as 800 series then average customer would think "oh, there you are 800 series for desktop". By leaping the number can only means they wanted to upgrade notebook gpu with 900 series with the same new feature and tech as the desktop version. That can only mean....... thank God i held back and didn't buy the gorgeous MSI GS60 Ghost Pro! Haha it would be sucks when Nvidia update the notebook series with "newer" Maxwell.
    On the bad side, since 800M powered notebook's price still exensive, when 900M is released then it will be even more epensive! darn
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