Is the Founder's Edition REALLY that bad?

[Canonical]

Over the past few months I have heard some bad things about the GTX 1080 Founder's Editions. Like: they run super hot, thermally throttle all the time, are 5-10% slower than, say, a FTW 1080 from EVGA, suck at overclocking, are super loud, don't last as long, and some have even said picking up a FE when you can get a FTW or G1 is like buying a Prius over a Lamborghini!

So is any of that true? Is a card like the FTW Edition really that superior to a FE, if at all? I have been considering buying a FE over a FTW to use in my custom built case with tons of space and airflow, so the only real selling point I have heard for the FE (blower cooler for small cases) isn't really relevant here. I prefer the looks of the Founder's over the FTW by a bit but I definitely don't hate the FTW. I definitely wouldn't mind the RGB lighting in the FTW model 

Just for the record I can get a Founder's Edition over a FTW for about $10 more at my local NCIX so price isn't really a factor.

 

Thanks!

[MoonlightSylv]

They do run hotter and OC worse, I would get a FTW

[Mira Yurizaki]

They're not entirely bad, they were just overpriced.

 

Don't buy an FTW card unless you plan on pushing its clocks because that's what its tier and above are for.

[i_build_nanosuits]

7 minutes ago, Canonical said:

Over the past few months I have heard some bad things about the GTX 1080 Founder's Editions.

the cooling is loud and nowhere near as good as any of the open air cooler...so yes, imho it's pretty bad. it's a bad design for a high power graphics card.

[ARikozuM]

It depends hugely on the use case. If you're using the GPU in a tight case, whether it's slim or compact (like a desktop or HTPC), the FE will do much better than a fan design. I've got a FE 1080 in my Vive HTPC (Node 202) that does marvelously with only 30% fan speed.

 

Anyone who blankets a blower as bad has very little experience with the advantages of each design.

 

@Canonical What case do you intend to use?

[RS2007GOD]

If u need a rear exhausted card it's fine if not there's not much point getting one IMO unless you just plain want it

[Antilia0]

They will run hot and oc worse then other board cards. One of the main reasons you would get a FE card is for SFF cases like the Dan Case A4SFX or the Sentry. There are heaps of videos out on this subject and what to go with in certain situations.

[Canonical]

16 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

It depends hugely on the use case. If you're using the GPU in a tight case, whether it's slim or compact (like a desktop or HTPC), the FE will do much better than a fan design. I've got a FE 1080 in my Vive HTPC (Node 202) that does marvelously with only 30% fan speed.

 

Anyone who blankets a blower as bad has very little experience with the advantages of each design.

 

@Canonical What case do you intend to use?

My case is an S340 with an ATX mobo and 2 cases fans, although I plan to max out my slots with two 140mm intakes and one 120mm and one 140mm for exhaust, so plenty of airflow and a decently large case. I will overclock if it provides a decent benefit, ie more than just a couple FPS. I really like the aesthetics of the FE so that's why I'm strongly considering it but if it's as bad as people say it is then I probably will just opt for a FTW. If it's only slightly hotter (<10 degrees C) or slightly slower somehow (within a few FPS) then I'll opt for an FE.

Also I'm not buying any cards till Christmas so hopefully EVGA fixes the issues with those cards by then.

[Mick Naughty]

Id always buy the good looking blower over any card. always have. Did buy an open air cooler only because they didn't have any blowers that weren't pny and zotac. Put a water block on it so I don't care how many fans it has.

 

Most use default fan profiles and don't care how hot their card runs. They can run at the same temps, they can make the same amount of noise. I prefer that everything runs as cool as it can, not just the graphic card. Especially as I always sli and blower is better.

[ARikozuM]

9 minutes ago, Canonical said:

My case is an S340

I would recommend the EVGA FTW since there's enough airflow to help the cooler out. If you decide on the FE, you'll get similar performance and overclocks will be similar. Stock performance is the main difference (among others) between the different cards .

 

9 minutes ago, Canonical said:

Also I'm not buying any cards till Christmas so hopefully EVGA fixes the issues with those cards by then.

If you buy from EVGA, the pads are pre-installed.

[Canonical]

1 hour ago, ARikozuM said:

I would recommend the EVGA FTW since there's enough airflow to help the cooler out. If you decide on the FE, you'll get similar performance and overclocks will be similar. Stock performance is the main difference (among others) between the different cards .

 

If you buy from EVGA, the pads are pre-installed.

Okay, thanks! So say I pick up a Founder's Edition - I should not be expecting much of a difference in terms of performance?

 

Thanks for the tips

[ARikozuM]

Just now, Canonical said:

Okay, thanks! So say I pick up a Founder's Edition - I should not be expecting much of a difference in terms of performance?

Not as much as people would lead you to believe. The GPU core itself will stop the OC at the same points no matter what the brand or cooler is. If you want to buy a FE, EVGA's "buy-up" policy may apply to their stock in case you don't like the performance (within 30 days I think) and want to go for the FTW.

Just now, Canonical said:

Thanks for the tips

Any time.

[Canonical]

4 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

Not as much as people would lead you to believe. The GPU core itself will stop the OC at the same points no matter what the brand or cooler is. If you want to buy a FE, EVGA's "buy-up" policy may apply to their stock in case you don't like the performance (within 30 days I think) and want to go for the FTW.

Any time.

Sounds good! I think I'll pick up an FE and if I decide a FTW would be better I'll exchange it  Thanks!

One more thing, what should I expect in temperature differences? That sounds like it'll be pretty much the only difference between the two

[i_build_nanosuits]

16 minutes ago, Canonical said:

Sounds good! I think I'll pick up an FE and if I decide a FTW would be better I'll exchange it  Thanks!

One more thing, what should I expect in temperature differences? That sounds like it'll be pretty much the only difference between the two

yeah a FTW 1080 in an s340 will run much cooler...the FE will reach max temps and will trottle especially if you overclock it...FE is also a lot louder...

[Canonical]

Just now, i_build_nanosuits said:

yeah a FTW 1070 in an s340 will run much cooler...the FE will reach max temps and will trottle especially if you overclock it...FE is also a lot louder...

I have heard the FE is not very loud, although that's only from YouTube videos. Also I have read about the fan curve on the FE as well, apparently you can set up a fan curve in EVGA PrecisionX (if I'm remembering the name correctly) and you can set the fan to go a bit higher so it doesn't throttle 

 

[ARikozuM]

19 minutes ago, Canonical said:

Sounds good! I think I'll pick up an FE and if I decide a FTW would be better I'll exchange it  Thanks!

One more thing, what should I expect in temperature differences? That sounds like it'll be pretty much the only difference between the two

I'm a Jersey boy in Florida (dead of winter about 70F here and I'm still wearing jeans and a short-sleeve shirt), so if heat bothers you, go with the FTW since the air will stay in the case for a little longer whereas the blower puts it straight into your space.

5 minutes ago, i_build_nanosuits said:

yeah a FTW 1070 in an s340 will run much cooler...

Agreed, but not so much that performance will be affected as the blower pushes air over the core and out the case while a fan blows onto the core and puts the heat into the case.

Quote

the FE will reach max temps and will throttle especially if you overclock it...

No. Just no. There's a fan profile for a reason and GPU Boost 3.0 will use whatever headroom there is.

Quote

FE is also a lot louder...

The new FE blower is MUCH quieter thanks to improvements in every detail.

[i_build_nanosuits]

3 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

I'm a Jersey boy in Florida (dead of winter about 70F here and I'm still wearing jeans and a short-sleeve shirt), so if heat bothers you, go with the FTW since the air will stay in the case for a little longer whereas the blower puts it straight into your space.

Agreed, but not so much that performance will be affected as the blower pushes air over the core and out the case while a fan blows onto the core and puts the heat into the case.

No. Just no. There's a fan profile for a reason and GPU Boost 3.0 will use whatever headroom there is.

The new FE blower is MUCH quieter thanks to improvements in every detail.

oh come on

[Mick Naughty]

Seems as though most don't own the card thensevles or don't get the concept of a fan. Just because youtube people who use auto profiles get cards to throttle doesn't mean actual people let their components bake and make the compromise. Use what's offered and it will perform. 

[ARikozuM]

1 minute ago, Mick Naughty said:

Seems as though most don't own the card thensevles or don't get the concept of a fan. Just because youtube people who use auto profiles get cards to throttle doesn't mean actual people let their components bake and make the compromise. Use what's offered and it will perform. 

I've used many of both (mostly the green team) and performance is similar this generation in nearly every aspect.

[i_build_nanosuits]

9 minutes ago, Mick Naughty said:

Seems as though most don't own the card thensevles or don't get the concept of a fan. Just because youtube people who use auto profiles get cards to throttle doesn't mean actual people let their components bake and make the compromise. Use what's offered and it will perform. 

 

6 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

I've used many of both (mostly the green team) and performance is similar this generation in nearly every aspect.

 

 

FTW:

 

[ARikozuM]

3 minutes ago, i_build_nanosuits said:

snip

You do realize that Jay uses an open-air test bench to test the GPU, right? Least appropriate use of a blower cooler.

[i_build_nanosuits]

Just now, ARikozuM said:

You do realize that Jay uses an open-air test bench to test the GPU, right? Least appropriate use of a blower cooler.

You can deny the truth all day long son, but it is what it is:

 

 

[ARikozuM]

1 minute ago, i_build_nanosuits said:

You can deny the truth all day long son, but it is what it is:

snip

Mind posting Paul's test bench?

[i_build_nanosuits]

2 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

Mind posting Paul's test bench?

http://www.wikinfo.org/English/index.php/Post-purchase_rationalization

[ARikozuM]

2 minutes ago, i_build_nanosuits said:

http://www.wikinfo.org/English/index.php/Post-purchase_rationalization

And you're parroting what others say. Your point?

 

Also, I have a 1080 FTW so I don't see how this is relevant.