The Bottom Line
Introduction
This is my fourth GeForce GTX 1070 Ti graphics card, my third custom GTX 1070 Ti graphics card, but my first GTX 1070 Ti from EVGA. EVGA has always impressed with its cards, from the FTW3 to the Hydro Copper and KINGPIN models, the company is always incredibly strong in all factors.
This includes the GPU used, which EVGA gets access to some of the best-binned GPUs from NVIDIA that overclock the most. This is why we have the KINGPIN models, but the FTW models also receive some of that GPU binning love. EVGA then uses their great ICX coolers on the GTX 10 series cards, which keeps them not just incredibly cool, but they are a nice and flush 2-slot design that looks great in any gaming PC.
We have EVGA's new GeForce GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING graphics card, which is the fastest of the four GeForce GTX 1070 Ti cards that the company sells.
EVGA is selling the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING for $499.99 on Amazon, not bad... but EVGA's own GeForce GTX 1080 FTW GAMING is only $50 more at $549, currently down from $679. So right out of the gate, you have a dilemma: do you buy the GTX 1070 Ti or pay $50 more for the GTX 1080? Ugh.
Detailed Specs
EVGA has the exact same base and boost GPU clocks as the other custom GTX 1070 Ti cards as well as NVIDIA's own GeForce GTX 1070 Ti Founders Edition, with 1607MHz and 1683MHz on the base and boost clocks, respectively.
EVGA's GeForce GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING has dual BIOS chips for OC, 8+8-pin PCIe power connectors, 10+2-phase power, RGB LEDs (woo), and a 235W TDP. EVGA also dons the GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING with its awesomely-styled backplate.
Cooling Tech: iCX
iCX Cooling: For The Win
EVGA built some of the most intricate and best-performing cooling technology with its iCX cooling, led by its nine thermal sensors which EVGA use to keep an eye on your graphics card in 9 different spots to give you the best thermal performance on-the-fly.
There are multiple MCUs on-board, with all nine sensors available in EVGA's Precision XOC software.
EVGA has asynchronous fan control on their iCX-based graphics cards, with separate left and right fan control. It might not sound like much, but the GPU and VRAM are on the left side of the graphics card, and the VRMs are on the right. There are plenty of times when the VRMs might be running much hotter than the GPU due to overclocking, so the card will intentionally keep that part of the card cooler when it needs to. Very, very cool.
All of this results in a graphics card that is almost running itself, with the GPU fan speed determined by the GPU temperature sensor. The same is applied to the power/memory, and the memory temperature. GDDR5 and GDDR5X can get quite hot when it's fully utilized, as we are breaching 11Gbps frequencies on the GTX 1080 Ti and its 11GB of GDDR5X @ 11Gbps.
You can control and monitor all of this under EVGA's Precision XOC software, with each sensor being monitored in real-time and displayed on the Precision XOC OSD. From here, you can control the GPU/power fans simultaneously, or asynchronously. Again, very cool. All of the overclocking can be done here too, and there's a lot of room to play with on the GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING, something we'll get into more in a minute.
EVGA provides some peace of mind gaming with its iCX cooling tech. How?
Optimized airflow through the L-shaped fins, with an interlaced pin fin on the baseplate. It looks funny, but it maximizes the heat dissipation with more surface area on the baseplate.
Double ball bearing fans with 4x longer lifespan? Great!
This is one of my favorite parts of EVGA's graphics cards, is the awesome diecast form fitted baseplate and backplate. It finishes the entire card off as a perfectly engineered sleek custom GeForce GTX 10 series graphics card.
Detailed Look
It's Gorgeous
Seriously... from the front, the EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING shines. It looks freaking beautiful in person, with the honeycomb mesh-like cooling shroud and EVGA badge between the fans finishing off the style with RGB LEDs that you can control through Precision XOC.
I love the panel at the top with the model from EVGA lit up, with the G/P/M on the card indicators for GPU, POWER, and MEMORY. They will change color depending on the temperature of the individual parts, and it's something else you can edit in Precision XOC.
See what I mean? Ugh. Also, the engineering that EVGA puts into their iCX cooler can be seen from the top with the beautiful heat sink and heat pipe layout.
Another shot, up close.
Test System
I've recently edited my GPU test bed, which was powered by the Intel Core i7-5960X processor, and shifted into the arms of Kaby Lake and Intel's new Core i7-7700K. GIGABYTE hooked us up with their awesome new AORUS Z270X-Gaming 9 motherboard, which is the heart and soul of my new GPU test platform.
Detailed Tech Specs
- CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K
- Cooler: Nocua U12S
- MB: AORUS Z270X-Gaming 9
- RAM: 16GB (2x8GB) G.SKILL Trident Z 4000MHz DDR4
- SSD: 1TB OCZ RD400 NVMe M.2
- PSU: Corsair AX1500i
- Chassis: In Win X-Frame
Detailed Look
A larger article on our 7700K system is available right here.
Here are some shots I've taken of the new system in action:
Benchmarks - Synthetic
3DMark Fire Strike - 1080p
3DMark has been a staple benchmark for years now, all the way back to when The Matrix was released and Futuremark had bullet time inspired benchmarks. 3DMark is the perfect tool to see if your system - most important, your CPU and GPU - is performing as it should. You can search results for your GPU, to see if it falls in line with other systems based on similar hardware.
3DMark Fire Strike - 1440p
3DMark has been a staple benchmark for years now, all the way back to when The Matrix was released and Futuremark had bullet time inspired benchmarks. 3DMark is the perfect tool to see if your system - most important, your CPU and GPU - is performing as it should. You can search results for your GPU, to see if it falls in line with other systems based on similar hardware.
3DMark Fire Strike - 4K
3DMark has been a staple benchmark for years now, all the way back to when The Matrix was released and Futuremark had bullet time inspired benchmarks. 3DMark is the perfect tool to see if your system - most important, your CPU and GPU - is performing as it should. You can search results for your GPU, to see if it falls in line with other systems based on similar hardware.
Heaven - 1080p
Heaven is an intensive GPU benchmark that really pushes your silicon to its limits. It's another favorite of ours as it has some great scaling for multi-GPU testing, and it's great for getting your GPU to 100% for power and noise testing.
Heaven - 1440p
Heaven - 4K
Heaven - 3440x1440
Benchmarks - 1080p
1080p Benchmarks
Rise of the Tomb Raider is one of the best looking games on the market, a truly gorgeous game - and a wonder to benchmark. The team at Crystal Dynamics made a very scalable PC game that plays really well testing graphics cards. We've got DX11 and DX12 results in one here, showing the slight strengths of running DX12 mode.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a sequel to the popular Shadow of Mordor, which was powered by the Lithtech engine. When cranked up to maximum detail, it will chew through your GPU and its VRAM like it's nothing.
You can buy Middle-earth: Shadow of War at Amazon.
Metro: Last Light Redux comes from developer 4A Games, making the Redux version of Metro: Last Light the 'definitive' version of the game. Redux had a fresh coat of paint on the already impressive 4A Engine, and it really pushes our GPUs to their limits.
You can buy Metro: Last Light Redux at Amazon.
Benchmarks - 1440p
1440p Benchmarks
Rise of the Tomb Raider is one of the best looking games on the market, a truly gorgeous game - and a wonder to benchmark. The team at Crystal Dynamics made a very scalable PC game that plays really well testing graphics cards. We've got DX11 and DX12 results in one here, showing the slight strengths of running DX12 mode.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a sequel to the popular Shadow of Mordor, which was powered by the Lithtech engine. When cranked up to maximum detail, it will chew through your GPU and its VRAM like it's nothing.
You can buy Middle-earth: Shadow of War at Amazon.
Metro: Last Light Redux comes from developer 4A Games, making the Redux version of Metro: Last Light the 'definitive' version of the game. Redux had a fresh coat of paint on the already impressive 4A Engine, and it really pushes our GPUs to their limits.
You can buy Metro: Last Light Redux at Amazon.
Benchmarks - 4K
4K Benchmarks
Rise of the Tomb Raider is one of the best looking games on the market, a truly gorgeous game - and a wonder to benchmark. The team at Crystal Dynamics made a very scalable PC game that plays really well testing graphics cards. We've got DX11 and DX12 results in one here, showing the slight strengths of running DX12 mode.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a sequel to the popular Shadow of Mordor, which was powered by the Lithtech engine. When cranked up to maximum detail, it will chew through your GPU and its VRAM like it's nothing.
You can buy Middle-earth: Shadow of War at Amazon.
Metro: Last Light Redux comes from developer 4A Games, making the Redux version of Metro: Last Light the 'definitive' version of the game. Redux had a fresh coat of paint on the already impressive 4A Engine, and it really pushes our GPUs to their limits.
You can buy Metro: Last Light Redux at Amazon.
Benchmarks - 3440x1440
3440x1440 Benchmarks
Rise of the Tomb Raider is one of the best looking games on the market, a truly gorgeous game - and a wonder to benchmark. The team at Crystal Dynamics made a very scalable PC game that plays really well testing graphics cards. We've got DX11 and DX12 results in one here, showing the slight strengths of running DX12 mode.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a sequel to the popular Shadow of Mordor, which was powered by the Lithtech engine. When cranked up to maximum detail, it will chew through your GPU and its VRAM like it's nothing.
You can buy Middle-earth: Shadow of War at Amazon.
Metro: Last Light Redux comes from developer 4A Games, making the Redux version of Metro: Last Light the 'definitive' version of the game. Redux had a fresh coat of paint on the already impressive 4A Engine, and it really pushes our GPUs to their limits.
You can buy Metro: Last Light Redux at Amazon.
Power & Temps
Temperature wise, our EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING was running at nothing over 60C with the fans at 100%. If we dipped the fans to 70-80%, the temperatures would only rise a few percentage points up to somewhere in the 63-65C range.
Power consumption topped out at 315W in our testing of Metro Last Light Redux at 2560x1440, while Heaven and 3DMark testing at 1440p saw power consumption for our entire 7700K/GIGABYTE Z270 GAMING 7 testbed hover between 275W and 315W.
Damn good if you ask me, especially given the performance increase from the OC being a great chunk of free performance.
Overclocking = Breaking The 2.1GHz Barrier
Overclocking
EVGA's new GeForce GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING is the first custom GTX 1070 Ti that I've been able to push past 2037MHz, with the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1070 Ti AMP! Extreme Edition hitting a ceiling of 2037MHz. EVGA's card, on the other hand, I was able to push to 2088-2112MHz or so, completely stable.
I did notice that if I pushed the 8GB of GDDR5 past 9Gbps, it wasn't stable. At anything over 4485MHz or so, the card would become unstable. Even if the GPU clocks were lowered to less than 2GHz, having the VRAM at 4485MHz or higher would result in the card crashing. It didn't matter if I cranked the voltage or the fans, I couldn't get the VRAM past 9Gbps.
But, having the GPU reach 2100MHz was a massive milestone for the GTX 1070 Ti. It allowed the EVGA GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING card to beat out NVIDIA's own GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition, and bridge the gap between the GTX 1080 FE and the GTX 1080 Ti FE.
All of this was made possible by cranking the voltage to 100%, and even with the fans at 100% the GPU stayed in the 60C zone which is incredible. Even at 3500RPM, the fans weren't that audible, and then when we were in games, they weren't audible at all thanks to the speakers or headphones we're using while gaming.
Overclocking Performance
3DMark Fire Strike - 1080p
3DMark has been a staple benchmark for years now, all the way back to when The Matrix was released and Futuremark had bullet time inspired benchmarks. 3DMark is the perfect tool to see if your system - most important, your CPU and GPU - is performing as it should. You can search results for your GPU, to see if it falls in line with other systems based on similar hardware.
3DMark Fire Strike - 1440p
3DMark Fire Strike - 4K
Heaven - 1080p
Heaven is an intensive GPU benchmark that really pushes your silicon to its limits. It's another favorite of ours as it has some great scaling for multi-GPU testing, and it's great for getting your GPU to 100% for power and noise testing.
Heaven - 1440p
Heaven - 4K
Metro Last Light - 1080p
Metro: Last Light Redux comes from developer 4A Games, making the Redux version of Metro: Last Light the 'definitive' version of the game. Redux had a fresh coat of paint on the already impressive 4A Engine, and it really pushes our GPUs to their limits.
You can buy Metro: Last Light Redux at Amazon.
Metro Last Light - 1440p
Metro Last Light - 4K
Performance Analysis
Just like the previous GeForce GTX 1070 Ti cards I've reviewed, performance falls right into the same camp with 1080p and 1440p gaming at 60FPS+ easily achievable with the EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING.
EVGA's new GeForce GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING handled everything we could throw at it, including 3440x1440 and 4K gaming if you turn the right visual details down. Even Battlegrounds was super-smooth on it at 3440x1440 with the right adjustments made, easily hitting 60-75FPS average.
Final Thoughts
EVGA has impressed us yet again, with their iCX cooler keeping the GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING nice and cool under load but more importantly, virtually silent. Even when I was going through our GPU stress test benchmarks and had the fans at 100%, the iCX handled it like a boss.
With the introduction of the GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING, EVGA continues to expand its impressive family of custom GTX 10 series graphics cards. The story is the same as the other GTX 1070 Ti models, so I'm still recommending the EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING to anyone running a 1080p or 1440p display. You might want to take a deeper look if you own an enthusiast-level 120/144/165Hz display, but for the most part in games like CS:GO, League of Legends, and others, you'll be fine.
If you're a Battlegrounds addict like me, the EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING is a beast: great performance, massive overclocking headroom, and near-silent operation under full 100% loads. I even put it through its paces mining Ethereum and the GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING held its own, with the right performance but it was the thermals and noise that impressed the most.
All-in-all, EVGA has yet another great custom GTX 10 series card to add to its continuously expanding stack with the introduction of the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti FTW2 GAMING.