Gigabyte GeForce GTX 570 Super Overclock Review

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Taking Image Quality to the Next Level

Taking Image Quality to the Next Level

In this section we take a number of games we have tested previously in this review and bring things to the next level by pushing the in-game settings to the highest possible level. All other methodologies remain the same.

Crysis 2

Dirt 3

Metro 2033

Shogun 2: Total War

The Witcher 2

 

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Overclocking Results

Overclocking Results

By using a number of tools including Gigabyte’s own OC Guru software, these Super Overclock cards have always been decent candidates for further increased frequencies and the GTX 570 version was no different. With a minimal amount of additional voltage, we were able to push the core speed to 944Mhz while the memory was bumped all the way up to 4104Mhz with full stability.

In order to see what would have happened if Gigabyte had chosen to pre-overclock their GDDR5 modules, we also decided to test our final memory speed with the Super Overclock’s default core clock. As you can see below, the results really do speak for themselves.

Core Clock: 944 MHz
Engine Clock: 1888 MHz
Memory Clock: 4184 MHz (QDR)

 

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Temperatures & Acoustics / Power Consumption

Temperature Analysis

For all temperature testing, the cards were placed on an open test bench with a single 120mm 1200RPM fan placed ~8” away from the heatsink. The ambient temperature was kept at a constant 22°C (+/- 0.5°C). If the ambient temperatures rose above 23°C at any time throughout the test, all benchmarking was stopped. For this test we use the 3DMark Batch Size test at its highest triangle count with 4xAA and 16xAF enabled and looped it for one hour to determine the peak load temperature as measured by GPU-Z.

For Idle tests, we let the system idle at the Windows 7 desktop for 15 minutes and recorded the peak temperature.

Were you expecting anything else? With a huge vapor chamber equipped heatsink and a trio of high performance fans, the Super Overclock naturally posts some downright incredible temperature results.

Acoustical Testing

What you see below are the baseline idle dB(A) results attained for a relatively quiet open-case system (specs are in the Methodology section) sans GPU along with the attained results for each individual card in idle and load scenarios. The meter we use has been calibrated and is placed at seated ear-level exactly 12” away from the GPU’s fan. For the load scenarios, a loop of Unigine Heave 2.5 is used in order to generate a constant load on the GPU(s) over the course of 20 minutes.

The mark of a good heatsink is a combination of cooling efficiency coupled with a low acoustical profile and that’s exactly what Gigabyte has accomplished here. The three fans barely need to speed up in order to cool off the overclocked core and GDDR5 memory. We can almost guarantee you that the Super Overclock will likely be the quietest component in your system.

System Power Consumption

For this test we hooked up our power supply to a UPM power meter that will log the power consumption of the whole system twice every second. In order to stress the GPU as much as possible we once again use the Batch Render test in 3DMark06 and let it run for 30 minutes to determine the peak power consumption while letting the card sit at a stable Windows desktop for 30 minutes to determine the peak idle power consumption. We have also included several other tests as well.

Please note that after extensive testing, we have found that simply plugging in a power meter to a wall outlet or UPS will NOT give you accurate power consumption numbers due to slight changes in the input voltage. Thus we use a Tripp-Lite 1800W line conditioner between the 120V outlet and the power meter.

Due to the ability of the WindForce 3x heatsink to keep the core at an optimal temperature and some careful component choices on Gigabyte’s part, power consumption is below that of a reference GTX 570. It really is interesting to see a pre-overclocked card come out ahead here but if you are looking for lower power consumption, look no further than the Super Overclock.

 

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Conclusion

Conclusion

Usually at this point in a graphics architecture’s life, phrases like “long in the tooth” and “insufficient for today’s games” are the first words out of a reviewer’s mouth. However, even though we are using a whole new stable of applications (with the exception of 3DMark 11 and Metro 2033), it is almost impossible to lay any criticism at the GTX 570 Super Overclock’s feet. This card has what it takes to deliver playable framerates in some of today’s most demanding games without breaking a sweat. Whether or not that says anything about the state of today’s in-game graphics is beside the point since it proves that the GTX 570 is just as relevant now as it was at launch.

In terms of overall performance, the higher core clock of Gigabyte’s Super Overclock does result in higher framerates than a reference version and allows it to come close to a GTX 580….at least sometimes that is. Unfortunately, the bewildering lack of any change in this card’s default memory speed means the performance increases are generally good but not great. It really seems like Gigabyte held this card back so it didn’t compete with their higher end offerings. As we saw, overclocking the GDDR5 by only 10% allowed the Super Overclock to really stretch its legs and deliver some impressive results.

While we can’t speak to the efficacy of Gigabyte’s 14-phase PWM or “Ultra Durable” component choices, the Windforce 3x cooler remains the primary reason you’ll likely be interested in a Super Overclock card. It effectively cools down the core while boasting one of the quietest fan speed profiles we have come across. This means higher clock speeds can be achieved without an increase in power consumption, heat and noise. Speaking of which, it really is amazing to see a pre-overclocked card being almost as efficient as the reference version.

These days $50 is a hefty premium to pay for an overclocked, custom cooled card but in many ways we feel this premium is somewhat justified for Gigabyte's card. Sure, the cut down GF110 core architecture means the Super Overclock fights an uphill battle against the GTX 580 in areas where rendering horsepower is at a premium but we have to remember: Gigabyte’s card goes for $370 while the least expensive GTX 580 will run $460 without mail in rebates. To us this card hits a sweet spot and with a bit of additional overclocking, can easily go head to head against NVIDIA’s flagship in non-bandwidth limited situations. If you are looking for near silent computing, great performance and high efficiency without breaking the bank, look no further than the Super Overclock.