Reference GPUs - Do all OEMs use the same components?

[Sexy Vanilla Freshness]

I know the design of the PCB and power circuitry is reference as designed by Nvidia or AMD, but I'm wondering if the difference partners maybe use different capacitors and stuff like that in their reference design cards.

If I buy and EVGA 980,and an MSI 980 for instance, are the actual components such as vrms and caps on the card the exact same parts or are board partners allowed to choose their own from different sources as long as they follow the design?

[Oshino Shinobu]

Reference cards are all the same, just with different stickers. Maybe an overclock with SC versions. 

[rambi36]

AFAIK, I think all the reference models are the same. Just with different brand labels

[Sexy Vanilla Freshness]

Reference cards are all the same, just with different stickers. Maybe an overclock with SC versions.

I don't think they are, my MSI 670 reference has a brown PCB.

[Virgule]

The box is different.

[Oshino Shinobu]

I don't think they are, my MSI 670 reference has a brown PCB.

They're called reference because they're the base model from Nvidia. They're not changed apart from branding. 

[ivhyn]

I think they can use different memory chips, but I'll look it up.

[GzeroD]

Reference design cards are just that; reference design. the partners are allowed to use whatever components they want as long as they fit the min spec given by the designer (electronic specs as well as physical specs they need to fit on the same size board with the same cooler.)
)

[Altecice]

They're called reference because they're the base model from Nvidia. They're not changed apart from branding. 

 

Not quite true. They can use differing manufactures for chips.

Asus 290x's used Elpida memory chips while sapphire ones used Hynix.

[Sexy Vanilla Freshness]

Reference design cards are just that; reference design. the partners are allowed to use whatever components they want as long as they fit the min spec given by the designer (electronic specs as well as physical specs they need to fit on the same size board with the same cooler.)

)

 

Not quite true. They can use differing manufactures for chips.

Asus 290x's used Elpida memory chips while sapphire ones used Hynix.

 

 

Thank you, this exactly the kind of information I was looking for.

 

Who do you think uses the best components? My MSI 670 has a section on the box about the fact they use capacitors with a long lifespan, I always assumed they were used by all board partners but now I'm questioning it as I see my card has a brown PCB and the EVGA model does not, so of course I have to speculate that they are manufactured differently.

 

Is there a board partner who tends to skimp on components and go for the minimum spec, and is there one that excels?

[Sexy Vanilla Freshness]

Reference cards are all the same, just with different stickers. Maybe an overclock with SC versions. 

AFAIK, I think all the reference models are the same. Just with different brand labels

The box is different.

They're called reference because they're the base model from Nvidia. They're not changed apart from branding. 

I think they can use different memory chips, but I'll look it up.

 

I found an actual vendor answer to this.