GeForce GTX 590 Review Thread

[Rollo]

Originally Posted by Madpistol

Same. Still loving my 5870 @ 1920x1200 res. It's still a fantastic gaming card.

That's nice. However, as this thread is about the GTX590, so I thought I'd link to some information about that:

http://techreport.com/discussions.x/20677

[Madpistol]

Originally Posted by Rollo

That's nice. However, as this thread is about the GTX590, so I thought I'd link to some information about that:

http://techreport.com/discussions.x/20677

Thanks for the info.

Unfortunately, there are videos on youtube to prove the issue. This problem is very real, regardless of what you may think.

Originally Posted by The Tech Report

Such rumors are also an intriguing source of information because so many of 'em seem to be planted by a major, engineering-focused organization—you know, a competing firm.

That statement alone is enough to make me discredit this article. Insinuating such a practice is unprofessional by a review site. If you're going to make such an accusation, have good hard evidence to back it up. In this case, there is no evidence of foul play, and therefore, there is no reason to believe that AMD is behind this messy rumor. The death of several GTX 590s so far is, well and truly, Nvidia's fault, and as such, the consumers have every right to balk about it.

Also, the fact that this happened early is not a good sign. It means that if somebody screws up a driver release, just one time, a few GTX 590's will go up in smoke. That's a scary thought for me. It simply proves that improper software can KILL your $700 video card. Does that mean some devious little code monkey on the internet can write a virus that will result in the same outcome as nvidia's botched drivers? I'm no programmer, but if Nvidia can do it accidentally, I would bet that someone out there is smart enough to do it intentionally.

All I know is I won't be recommending the GTX 590 for any reason. The risk, while low, is still there, and that is enough for me to dismiss the card completely. Remember, this isn't the first time that Nvidia has bricked their cards due to a botched driver.

I'm sounding a lot like an AMD fanboy, I know. I don't usually pick sides, but this issue with the GTX 590 is making me a little angry. It would have been passable if the issue had only happened on one card and was the result of a minor hardware defect. Mistakes happen, and computer hardware is far from perfect (I've had to RMA 7 different parts over the last 4 years.) AMD is also imperfect, as my 5870 just got back from RMA. But seriously, Nvidia REALLY needs to get the quality of their drivers under control. AMD may write a few bad drivers that have performance issues, but NONE of them have ever bricked their cards. Nvidia now has 2 drivers floating around on the internet that kill cards. Personally, I'm very unhappy about this.

[Rollo]

Originally Posted by Madpistol

Thanks for the info.

Unfortunately, there are videos on youtube to prove the issue. This problem is very real, regardless of what you may think.



That statement alone is enough to make me discredit this article. Insinuating such a practice is unprofessional by a review site. If you're going to make such an accusation, have good hard evidence to back it up. In this case, there is no evidence of foul play, and therefore, there is no reason to believe that AMD is behind this messy rumor. The death of several GTX 590s so far is, well and truly, Nvidia's fault, and as such, the consumers have every right to balk about it.

Also, the fact that this happened early is not a good sign. It means that if somebody screws up a driver release, just one time, a few GTX 590's will go up in smoke. That's a scary thought for me. It simply proves that improper software can KILL your $700 video card. Does that mean some devious little code monkey on the internet can write a virus that will result in the same outcome as nvidia's botched drivers? I'm no programmer, but if Nvidia can do it accidentally, I would bet that someone out there is smart enough to do it intentionally.

All I know is I won't be recommending the GTX 590 for any reason. The risk, while low, is still there, and that is enough for me to dismiss the card completely. Remember, this isn't the first time that Nvidia has bricked their cards due to a botched driver.

I'm sounding a lot like an AMD fanboy, I know. I don't usually pick sides, but this issue with the GTX 590 is making me a little angry. It would have been passable if the issue had only happened on one card and was the result of a minor hardware defect. Mistakes happen, and computer hardware is far from perfect (I've had to RMA 7 different parts over the last 4 years.) AMD is also imperfect, as my 5870 just got back from RMA. But seriously, Nvidia REALLY needs to get the quality of their drivers under control. AMD may write a few bad drivers that have performance issues, but NONE of them have ever bricked their cards. Nvidia now has 2 drivers floating around on the internet that kill cards. Personally, I'm very unhappy about this.

http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Ha...tilles/18.html

the HD 6990 died on us. At the time of it's demise the card was set at the stock 830MHz setting and the BIOS switch was in the default position. The fact that it died could have been that we tested the graphics card at both the 375W and 450W settings, but since the review we have left the settings at default level.

Presently this leaves Neoseeker without a HD 6990 for future testing. AMD will not warranty the card so we are left with no choice but to reach out to their partners to see if we can get a sample.

Apparently the 6990 has some issues surviving the overvolting switch ATi put on the card, but will void your warranty for using.

As far as Scott Wasson goes, check out his blog on the site in regard to the GTX480. Back then I was the "corporate influence" he was referring to on the forums, he ended up banning me from his forums. He didn't ban me for violating TOS, he banned me for my association with NVIDIA. Point being Wasson isn't a NVIDIA fanboy out to make them look good at any cost, he says and does plenty I disagree with. However, I've always thought Tech Report was one of the best review sites on the web.

Here's his "anti ATi" conclusion in the 6990 review:

http://techreport.com/articles.x/20537/12

Of course, both of these changes benefit the Radeon HD 6990, which has no equal in a single-card package. This is the planet's fastest single video card, supplanting the Radeon HD 5970 that came before it.

At present, in the suite of games we tested, AMD looks to have a performance advantage at several key price points.

In short, I don't think Wasson is working on NVIDIA's behalf as you imply.

Last, NVIDIA has literally sold 1000s of GTX590s. They're selling out at vendors like newegg as fast as they can be supplied. Yes, a handful of reviewers managed to destroy their review copy with pre-release drivers and high levels of overvolting. I just linked to a reviewer who apparently destroyed their 6990 by overvolting it. It's a fact of life cards can be damaged by running more power through them than they are designed for. That's why AMD vendors don't warranty card the AUSUM switch has been used on.

[Madpistol]

Originally Posted by Rollo

Apparently the 6990 has some issues surviving the overvolting switch ATi put on the card, but will void your warranty for using.

That's why you buy XFX which gives you a lifetime warranty AND lets you flip the switch under warranty. Also, nothing can protect a video card from gross negligence. However, AMD has not bricked any video cards based on faulty drivers.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I would not purchase the GTX 590 because overall, it's slower and there's a chance that it will die from faulty drivers. Also, I won't purchase the HD 6990 either due to the noise pollution it produces. So in my opinion, neither card wins.

[Roadhog]

Nvidia admits there is a problem...

http://www.kitguru.net/components/gr...ir-reputation/

[Fotis]

When Nvidia does not warranty overvolting its cards I fail to see the problem.

[Rollo]

Originally Posted by Fotis

When Nvidia does not warranty overvolting its cards I fail to see the problem.

You are correct.

The SWEClocker guys/others hacked the registry to allow higher overvoltage than would have been allowed by the cards, and did not use anything to compensate for higher temps like water cooling.

Then they post videos "Look- we're the world's worst OCers and managed to blow up this card!"

newegg sells 8 brands of 6990s, and you can buy seven of them right now if you like- all of the brands that will not warrant the overvoltage OC flipping the AUSUM switch provides. So basically XFX is figuring they'll take the higher sales and hope returns of burned cards won't exceed profits.

7/8 ATi vendors won't warranty you overvolting their card either, mainly because it damages cards.

[Roadhog]

At least you can buy the 6990's. I don't see the problem with the warranty. Those 7/8 more than likely won't cover a card if you kill it from overclocking either. It's the same as the older GTR's launch control switch. You use it, warranty void.

EVGA/ASUS also don't warranty 590's either if you adjust the voltage out of spec.

Also, the sweclockers 590 was only at.. "GPU VCore @ 1,025 V". It's obvious right now that any voltage change in the 590 will kill it. Which is kind of pathetic that the power regulation is running right at the very limit. Nvidia says that the max voltage you can add is 25mv... Which is pretty much nothing.

Keep digging Rollo, you might hit solid ground eventually.

also, LOL
http://fudzilla.com/graphics/item/22...ood-no-changes

[Rollo]

TBH Roadie, it doesn't really matter what you or I say.

I spoke to some friends at NVIDIA about the 590s and they're selling 1000s, literally all they can make.

Guess people aren't as concerned about the fact some guys were able to destroy their cards as you seem to think.

Better luck next time.

[Roadhog]

I spoke with some friends at the Fukushima plant and they said the reactors were actually powered by 590's.

[Rollo]

Originally Posted by Roadhog

I spoke with some friends at the Fukushima plant and they said the reactors were actually powered by 590's.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4248/i...590-microatx/4

This still isn't comparable to the whine of a screaming Radeon HD 6990

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4239/n...e-card-king/16

The GTX 590 simply embarrasses the 6990 here; it’s not even a contest. Make no mistake: 57.9dB is not a quiet card; we’re still looking at a dual-GPU monster, but it’s not the roaring monster that the 6990 is.

(notice how the 6990 is a whopping 6db louder than the GTX480 ATi fans spent last year complaining about in this link?)


http://techreport.com/articles.x/20629/12

The GTX 590's cooler is vastly quieter than the boisterous blower on the Radeon HD 6990.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...0,2898-19.html

Nevertheless, in a comparison between GeForce GTX 590 versus Radeon HD 6990, Nvidia wins.

And it wins because I can put a GeForce GTX 590 in my workstation, which doubles as my gaming machine, and not hear it. It’s quiet enough to use. And that’s a requisite.

My guess is this is why the 590s are selling out and the 6990s gather dust, beyond the comparable performance and far superior feature set anyway.

[Viral]

I'm not sure why but the average price of the 590 over here is around $100 more than the 6990 on average. On newegg the 590 is cheaper than the 6990... it doesn't appear to be a lack of supply as many places have had them in stock since launch. Very strange price gouging.