EVGA GTX 570HD Review
review by
snoball
Introduction
A while back EVGA released a revised model for their GTX 570 lineup. On paper this card looks amazing sporting the all important Display Port connections for you ?Monitor Enthusiasts?. The card also came in with a shrank PCB, now 9? long, the same size a the GTX 560 Ti. The revised model also features a brand new cooling method which is based on the GTX 560 Ti reference cooler. All these features make this card into a truly unique version of the 570, but can all these fancy new revisions make this card a true competitor?
Performance
Unforunataley I have no graphics for this GPU as the testing period was rather short. Despite this issue I was able to run some benchmarks.
3DMark Vantage Perfomance Preset
EVGA GTX 570 HD ? 23784 3DMarks
GTX 570 Reference ? 21932 3DMarks
Crysis Warhead Enthusiast w/ 4x AA 1440?900
EVGA GTX 570 HD ? Steady 60 FPS
GTX 570 Reference ? Steady 60 FPS
Call of Duty Black Ops Maxed Out 1440?900
Highest Locked Framerate
EVGA GTX 570 HD ? 125 FPS
GTX 570 Reference ? 125 FPS
GTA IV All High 45 View Distance
EVGA GTX 570 HD ? Average FPS of 44
GTX 570 Reference ? Average FPS of 47
Thermal Performance
This is where we find the EVGA GTX 570 HD?s true weakness as the 560 Ti style cooler just can not compete with the 570 heat output. When benchmarking sessions were occurring with the 570 HD the fan was cranked to 100% and it sounded like a jet engine inside of the test rig. With fan speeds like this temperatures are expected to be in the low 60s for a load, but this 570 HD loads at 84 C. This temperature is nearing the NVIDIA max, thus shortening the cards lifespan. A Reference 570, which we have in the test rig now for reviewing is averaging loads in the 62-67 C range with the fan running at only 60%.
Conclusion
Unfortunately for EVGA their latest version of the GTX 570 is a flop. It keeps pace with referene models in benchmarking, but thermal issues are this cards Achilles heel. EVGA has priced the GTX 570 HD at $329.99, compared to a reference cost at $309.99, you aren?t getting $20 more performance. Avoid this card if possible, the only way I would suggest purchasing this card is if you have a DP capable monitor.
Ratings