should i exchange GTX 1070 FTW for GTX 1070 FTW2?

[DougEFresh333]

i recently purchased a GTX 1070 FTW, and i am still within the timeframe to return it Amazon for a full refund. JUST YESTERDAY, i received an email from EVGA stating that the new FTW2 is being released, and is now available. it's a little bit more money, but, is not an issue for me. i am still probably considered a "noob", but i know enough at this point i think. my intent is to upgrade all of my components over time, and stated with the GPU. my 1070 FTW was ordered recently, so it has ACX 3.0 cooling (with thermal pads already installed i think). so my question is, would it be worth it to return this FTW for a full refund, and order the FTW2? i have had no issues with this current GPU...

Thanks!

 

[LucaFire]

The main difference is just the temperatures and the monitors on the card. You won't get any performance boost considering the GPUs are exactly the same.

I must emphasize, several tech reports have shown that no significant increased overclock has been achieved - all that occurs is you have a cooler card and heat sensors on the memory, power, and GPU for more accurate readings. There are also some customization that you can get.

I personally don't think you should turn your card in just for that little update.

 

[Computers Taste Like Metal]

It's up to you, deal with shipping it back and waiting for the refund, or just use the 1070 FTW, which, by itself, is an awesome card.

 

[chef7734]

I was thinking of trading them in to evga, but I just dont think it is worth it right now. I think it will be about a 100.00 difference in price. I know thats what evga will charge for the upgrade.

 

[Computers Taste Like Metal]

Performance wise the cards are about the same. If the card is shipped and on it's way to you it's probably not worth the hassle and extra dollary-doos spent to exchange it.

 

[DougEFresh333]

ok, that's kind of what i was thinking. there is no better performance, and slightly better cooling with some additional readings, which is cool and all, but, is it worth it in the end? i already had to return one to Amazon, because the one i ordered was not brand new (it had already been opened, and returned). so, i'm not sure that i want to deal with returning it, waiting for the refund, then ordering the new one, when i have not had any issues with this one yet. and i've been playing GTA V and Fallout 4 with no overheating issues (it's gotten to about 65 degrees, tops, i think).

it just that i JUST bought this one, and 3 weeks later, i see this newly released FTW2, so, it kinda made me mad. up until yesterday, i have not even HEARD of the FTW2, and i did quite a bit of research before i bought my FTW. i saw that they were overheating, but the newer versions that were shipping after November 2016 had the thermal pads already installed, and the updated BIOS (which i have yet to even fiddle with. the Master/Slave BIOS, i have no idea how what i'd need to do with that), so i was not worried about purchasing it. but now that the FTW2 is being released, it makes me think that they have lost their faith in the ACX 3.0 cooling... idk, that's why i thought to ask on here!

so, bottom line, as compared to the Post-November released FTWs, FTW2 has SLIGHTLY better cooling, and a few more readings you can watch. i think, as long as my current FTW does not start to reach temps above 75 degrees, i shouldn't have to worry about the power temp or memory temp overheating, right?

Thanks for the answers guys!

 

[chef7734]

85c is about normal for a gtx 1070

 

[DougEFresh333]

The main difference is just the temperatures and the monitors on the card. You won't get any performance boost considering the GPUs are exactly the same.

I must emphasize, several tech reports have shown that no significant increased overclock has been achieved - all that occurs is you have a cooler card and heat sensors on the memory, power, and GPU for more accurate readings. There are also some customization that you can get.

I personally don't think you should turn your card in just for that little update.

do you think that over time, the FTW2 will actually be better for temperatures? i mean, i bought this FTW to be my GPU for the next couple of years, so, that was the only real reason i considered exchanging them. think the FTW2 will get a longer life than the FTW? i have not fiddled with any overclocking options on mine yet either...but my plan was to try overclocking when i upgrade my CPU (and motherboard, and RAM) sometime in the next year.

 

[chef7734]

The main difference is just the temperatures and the monitors on the card. You won't get any performance boost considering the GPUs are exactly the same.

I must emphasize, several tech reports have shown that no significant increased overclock has been achieved - all that occurs is you have a cooler card and heat sensors on the memory, power, and GPU for more accurate readings. There are also some customization that you can get.

I personally don't think you should turn your card in just for that little update.

do you think that over time, the FTW2 will actually be better for temperatures? i mean, i bought this FTW to be my GPU for the next couple of years, so, that was the only real reason i considered exchanging them. think the FTW2 will get a longer life than the FTW? i have not fiddled with any overclocking options on mine yet either...but my plan was to try overclocking when i upgrade my CPU (and motherboard, and RAM) sometime in the next year.

Your card is already overclocked quite a bit. You really wont see any real world difference doing much more and without going to liquid cooling, there really is not that much more headroom.

 

[Math Geek]

overclocking net's literally no performance gain anyway so not worth going out of your way to do. reviews have shown that the SC card matches the FTW almost fps for fps!! all you're really getting is an extra 50+w of power used for the same fps.

the price difference new is $30 for the FTW2. buying now, it may be worth considering cause the ICX cooler is pretty neat. but not worth $100 to exchange it from what i have seen. considering the price difference of the FTW is already not worth it over the SC card which is only a reference design, another $100 on top of that is really not worth it.

 

[DougEFresh333]

overclocking net's literally no performance gain anyway so not worth going out of your way to do. reviews have shown that the SC card matches the FTW almost fps for fps!! all you're really getting is an extra 50+w of power used for the same fps.

the price difference new is $30 for the FTW2. buying now, it may be worth considering cause the ICX cooler is pretty neat. but not worth $100 to exchange it from what i have seen. considering the price difference of the FTW is already not worth it over the SC card which is only a reference design, another $100 on top of that is really not worth it.

yeah, if i were to get the FTW2, i'd have to return the FTW i already have for a full refund, then purchase the new FTW2 separately. the ICX cooling does look pretty cool, but in the end, would it be worth the extra effort (the returns, then purchasing, then waiting), if the FTW i have should last a while? well, i'd actually BUY the new one first, then when it gets delivered, i'd take the FTW out, and put the FTW2 in, and then return the FTW. i have until Feb 24th to return it for a full refund...

 

[Math Geek]

the worth of the effort is up to you. i personally would not do it. but if having the ICX cooler is worth it to you, then go for it. just go into it knowing you get no extra performance and the temps were not that much better than the FTW. you're doing it mainly for that extra 1/2 inch of e-penis!!!

 

[chef7734]

Seems like you are trying to get us to talk you into it. To us its not worth it, but you seem to really want it.

 

[DougEFresh333]

the worth of the effort is up to you. i personally would not do it. but if having the ICX cooler is worth it to you, then go for it. just go into it knowing you get no extra performance and the temps were not that much better than the FTW. you're doing it mainly for that extra 1/2 inch of e-penis!!!

HAHAHAHA! OMG i literally am "LOL"ing right now... e-penis... haha!!

but, yeah, it's probably really worth the effort.

my point of this was to ask around, and see what people thought about the FTW2, and it seems the general consensus is to keep the FTW, since there is no real performance upgrade. slightly cooler temps and additional readings are probably not worth the effort in the end. i just wanted to see what people thought, since, right now, i have the option to get a full refund on the FTW i am currently using. if it was worth it to get the FTW2, i would, but based on what everyone is saying, i think i'll keep what i have, and hopefully it lasts a few years. until i need to upgrade again to the GTX 3000 FTW 6 with AICXXX 16.0 and has 800 temperature readings and costs $2000. haha! but seriously, i hope it lasts a few years. PC components are expensive for the new stuff... i am looking at Z270 MBs and the latest Intel CPUs, plus the RAM will need to be upgraded go DDR4 if i get the new MB. jeez. it's fun to work on, but it gets pricey real quick. i am new to building BTW.

Thanks for all the input everyone!

 

[Math Geek]

your welcome. half the fun is designing the system. well for me is more than half the fun. i intended on doing some new builds for my house over the holidays but did not find the time so i'm still in the design phases as well.

i had all but decided on the FTW myself despite knowing it performs the same as the much cheaper SC card. but i wanted it anyway. i'll likely drop the cash on the FTW2 since i don't have anything yet just cause.

for me how long it lasts is not an issue since i don't mind lowering settings and 1080p is fine for me. a 1070 at 1080p is easily going to last years with that in mind. but if you have to have max settings and all that to enjoy the game, then yah you'll be upgrading sooner. i'm currently using an r9-280 at 1080p and not complaining at all. so a 1070 would be such a huge jump i won't know what to do with all the eye candy.

 

[chef7734]

It will last a few years fine. You will probably get 3-5 years out of it with no problem before really needing to upgrading. My last gpu was purchased in 2010 (gtx 580) and just within the past few month was I having to run current games on other than ultra and high settings. I only upgraded to move to 1440.

 

[DougEFresh333]

It will last a few years fine. You will probably get 3-5 years out of it with no problem before really needing to upgrading. My last gpu was purchased in 2010 (gtx 580) and just within the past few month was I having to run current games on other than ultra and high settings. I only upgraded to move to 1440.

ok. cool. thanks for all the info fellas! i only have a 1080p 21.5" monitor right now anyway, so i won't be going all 4k just yet. i am running GTA V and Fallout 4 on (mostly) ultra (High Grass settings) now though, and getting some decent temps, so until things start to jump up to higher temps, i'm ok with how it currently is.

you guys rock! also, i love Tom's Hardware. it's full of useful info from some pretty knowledgeable people...

 

[DougEFresh333]

It will last a few years fine. You will probably get 3-5 years out of it with no problem before really needing to upgrading. My last gpu was purchased in 2010 (gtx 580) and just within the past few month was I having to run current games on other than ultra and high settings. I only upgraded to move to 1440.

so, here is some NEW information. i went to the EVGA website and checked the status of my EVGA device, and entered the serial number of my GTX 1070 FTW to determine if it actually has the new thermal pads included (and the BIOS), and it says:

Based on your Serial Number (161083627XXXXXX), we recommend the following:

VBIOS Update
Optional Thermal Pad Kit


So, apparently, my new 1070 FTW does NOT have the thermal pads installed.

i have not had any real issues with this card, but it makes me nervous that it's just a matter of time that i will have issues, and the Temperatures i'm seeing on it now are worthless, since other parts may be overheating without my knowledge... i mean, i COULD always have them send me the thermal pad kit and do that, but if i'm going to do that, i might as well just return this card, and get the brand new one with ICX cooling. i am SO pissed right now. i thought for SURE i had the newer version with nothing to worry about. i bought this card through Amazon, and it was shipped January 23rd, so why WOULDN"T it be the newer version. i don't want to get beat down the road with this card...

based on this new information, would you still suggest i keep this card? or, since it is NOT the new version, should i exchange it? and i'm not asking this again be i am so desperate to get the new FTW2, i just don't want to have my card fail down the road, and say "man i really should have exchanged it while i had the chance". know what i mean? these things are not cheap, and i want to get the best deal for my money.

Thanks guys!

 

[madmatt30]

I'd return it then mate if its old stock & doesn't have the pads fitted .

I don't see for any reason why you should have to to ghetto fit the pads & flash a bios that completely removes the silent fan mode of the card.

I have 2 friends whose ftw cards have died within 6 weeks of purchase so return it while you're still within Amazon's timeframe

 

[DougEFresh333]

I'd return it then mate if its old stock & doesn't have the pads fitted .

I don't see for any reason why you should have to to ghetto fit the pads & flash a bios that completely removes the silent fan mode of the card.

I have 2 friends whose ftw cards have died within 6 weeks of purchase so return it while you're still within Amazon's timeframe

this is what i'm thinking i should do. i mean, it's total BS that i didn't get the updated version of this card. i am considering purchasing the FTW2 off EVGA website, because it's cheaper, AND it's in stock right now, on Amazon, it is not in stock. i just figured since i purchased this card in late january, it would be the updated version. i have not had any issues with the card at all yet though, and i haven't seen much info or reviews on the FTW2. i hope it does not come with any bugs or anything. i want to order it today, so i can get it by Friday, then i have until Feb 24th to return the one i have to amazon...

 

[Squall_Rinoa86]

Going to tell you honestly. If your worried about it blowing up, return the ACX 1070 FTW for the ICX FTW2.

If your going to argue you didn't know about it...the news first broke of the ICX January 6th. It was known it was in development with a TBD Release date after CES of 1/2Q 2017.

http://segmentnext.com/2017/01/06/evga-gtx-1080-ftw2/

As far as performance goes. The cooler the card, Boost will let the overclock kick in and stay with GPU Boost 3.0.

ICX stays quite cool even with gaming. max I have been able to get my 1070 FTW2 to peak was 63'C doing Benchmark stress testing with Time Spy.

In actual game scenario's it never hits 60'C with aggressive profile.

Worth it? For the peace of mind.. absolutely.

Performance? On the fence. Both of my 1070 FTW2's came with Micron RAM which absolutely is garbage for overclocking. I can only do an additional +23 to the Ram clock. I can get 115 on the GPU it self.

and Yes.. I own 2 1070 FTW2's Speaking from experience. I purposely waited for EVGA to release these to upgrade from 2 970 FTW's.