GeForce GTX 570 (video card): description, testing, reviews

The legendary representative of the High-End market of video adapters - GeForce GTX 570 from Nvidia - is not in vain awarded high awards and universal recognition. This is the only chip manufacturer, which in the circles of gamers received the title "the best video card of the decade." A detailed description, testing and feedback from the owners will reveal to the reader a secret that will help him in the future to determine the choice of video device for his own gaming computer.

Oddities in the market of video adapters

According to the manufacturer, the modification of the GTX 570 was to become the younger model of the flagship of this series GeForce GTX 580, but, as they say, something went wrong. If you pay attention to the reviews of IT professionals in the field of the game industry, then the manufacturer Nvidia made a big mistake by building a lightweight video adapter on the same core that is used to create the flagship. Reducing clock speeds, changing the memory configuration and reducing the cores of CUDA are not comparable to the high performance and low cost that the novelty in the computer market received.

As a result, Nvidia has created a problem for itself, because most users are not interested in comparing the new GeForce GTX 570 video card with a top-end device. The buyer is interested in affordable price, high performance in games and a decent overclocking potential for the future.

Technical characteristics of the chipset

Since the novelty is the younger model of the famous flagship GTX 580, it is not difficult to guess that the graphics core of the GTX 570 is identical - GF 110. So, the two video cards have more similar than differences. So, for the new GeForce GTX 570, the characteristics look like this:

• The number of CUDA cores is 480 pieces (32 units less than the 580 model);
• Accordingly, the number of streaming multiprocessors decreased by one unit, and is 15 pieces;
• Textural units - 60 (against 64 at the flagship);
• The frequency of the graphics core decreased to 732 MHz (from 772 MHz), but, as the owners note in their reviews, it is possible to catch up the lost performance by usual overclocking;
• A decrease in the memory frequency from 4000 MHz (1000 MHz to 4 streams), up to 3800 MHz, is noticed, but this is also estimated by many owners as a marketing move by the manufacturer;
• The amount of video memory is 1280 MB (instead of 1535 MB for GeForce GTX 580) - the memory module was just dropped out;
• The memory bus began to pass 320 bits, instead of the standard for the flagship 384 bits;
• The heat release is 219 watts (in the 580 model this figure is 244 watts).

A frightening appearance

According to marketers Nvidia, the video adapter was destined to become a kind of guide to the "Matrix" for fans of games, but the appearance of the video card was perceived quite differently. Buyers for some reason recalled the terrible-looking GTX 280 device, and in their reviews on the Internet, they called the video card a "gloomy crypt". The same strange design of the gadget: a completely closed circuit board with a plastic black casing of the cooling system, with dilution of color in thin green strips. At the back of the video card Nvidia GeForce GTX 570 is a huge turbofan.

Naturally, as you would expect from a High-End video adapter, the device takes two units to install and claims free space on the third unit for good air intake. It's impossible to find fault with the cooling system, since it does perfectly well with maintaining the low temperature of the chipset.

Features of the cooling system

It is worth noting that the performance of graphics cards that have a graphic core GF 110, directly depends on the proprietary cooling system. So, the manufacturer Nvidia introduced a new technology, which consists in the fact that between the printed circuit board and the radiator plate creates a sealed space without air - vacuum. This innovation allowed more efficient removal of heat from the heating elements. Therefore, it is very important that the board does not have any mechanical defects that are able to pass air.

Many owners of the original video card from Nvidia have noticed that the screws holding the radiator system to the board are sealed. This is done for safety reasons of the cooling system. Having once broken the tight connection in the GeForce GTX 570, the user is unlikely to be able to restore the factory system. It is worth noting that there is no dust in vacuum, and there is nothing to climb there.

Also, the manufacturer supplied its device with a voltage monitoring system. The limit is set exactly at 12 V. Any jump in the power system will equalize to the permissible voltage, or the video card will simply shut down. This is done in order to protect the device from improper operation of low-quality power supplies.

Start is given

The first video card to enter the world market was Gigabyte GeForce GTX 570. The manufacturer presented two video cards to the public at once. The first device was more aimed at the lower segment of the High-End class, because in the priority it had a price that was available to all users. No modifications were made by the manufacturer, the changes only affected the appearance - the gloomy coloring of Nvidia was replaced by a very attractive sticker in the form of a huge green eye in the middle of the video adapter. Also, the cooler succumbed to the modification. As a result, the appearance of the video card clearly looked like the face of Terminator.

But the second copy received in its name SuperOverclock for good reason. The manufacturer Gigabyte overclocked the graphics core to 845 MHz and increased the frequency of the work of the computational units to 1464 MHz. Naturally, the cooling system has undergone significant changes. A branded cooler with three huge fans was installed. Also the manufacturer has modified the printed circuit board:

• Installed memory chips Hynix, capable of operating at 1250 (5000) MHz. As the test of the video card shows, the potential of the chips is much larger (up to 1300 MHz without failures);
• Completely reworked the power system, replacing the capacitors with solid capacitors.

Performance Gigabyte

As the owners say in their reviews, the manufacturer has taken quite an interesting step towards its customers - when upgrading the power system, it concluded on two memory chips. If you buy and install two 128 MB chips, the amount of Gigabyte video card will increase from 1280 to 1536 MB, and also the width of the bus to 320 bits. And as the amateurs note "to work with a soldering iron", the scheme is working, but requires skill and caution.

The second feature after the completion was the possibility of overclocking with less heat release. The graphics core stably accelerates to 920 MHz, while the cooling system works without any tears. However, after the power system has been modified to start the video card, it is necessary to supply power through the 8-pin and 6-pin connectors (Nvidia had 6 + 6).

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 570 from Gigabyte comes with a proprietary overclocking utility that can bypass the graphics core temperature monitoring system, which means that if there is overheating, there will not be any automatic discharges, and the user can achieve tremendous results in overclocking (at his own peril And risk).

The many-faced dragon

To get two video cards on one chipset, MSI also hurried. The manufacturer also decided to occupy an inexpensive segment and compete on performance for leadership with expensive devices. The MSI GeForce GTX 570 video card with an affordable price is presented, as well as an inexpensive version of Gigabyte, with a regular cooling system Nvidia. The gloomy color of the manufacturer was replaced by a strange colored sticker, on top of which flaunts a huge white inscription indicating the manufacturer and model of the chip. Quite a strange solution still liked the economical users.

But over the second copy of the video card worked fairly, because the company's cooling system MSI Twin Frozr III is installed only on decent video adapters. The manufacturer provided the PCB with a backup BIOS, apparently hinting to the extremals that overclocking can be done safely to burn the device. Changed the power system slightly, but all the power chips still were made on the back of the board - during testing this affected the uniform heat release. The video card test shows that heating the power components does not raise the temperature near the graphics core.

In the dry balance

The MSI GeForce GTX 570 video card is considered the most energy-efficient among competitors. A brand new innovation in the form of a controller, which, in the absence of a load, resets the clock frequencies of the graphics core to 270 MHz, will obviously appeal to economical users. However, judging by the responses of the owners, it's still not a laptop where you need to save a charge, so many users regard this move as negative.

Factory overclocking by the manufacturer MSI is quite strange - 770 MHz on the graphics core looks poor. However, in the tests, the graphics adapter shows good performance at 920 MHz for the core and 4500 MHz for memory, but above this value the cooling system of the video card starts to emit a terrible rumble of fans - an obvious overheating. As it turned out, the whole problem is hidden behind the Samsung memory chips, which are not designed for such loads. Experts say that for overclockers this video adapter will not work, but for fans of games in silence, the cooling system of MSI Twin Frozr III will create maximum convenience.

The Conqueror of Hearts

Who would have thought that the Taiwan manufacturer of consumer goods, the company ASUS, will decide on this step and make a mega-interesting offer to all fans of productive games and fans of quality overclocking - overclockers! First, like other manufacturers, ASUS presented the market with an inexpensive solution without any modifications with the original cooling system from Nvidia - this is probably a new tradition from all suppliers.

But the second novelty will obviously be of interest to a potential buyer. As video card Asus GeForce GTX 570 DirectCU II claims for 3 units in the case - this is a three-story monster. Only the appearance of the device causes respect. In the reviews posted in the media, the owners note that the Nvidia product has been completely modified - this is a brand new graphics card on the 570 GTX graphics core.

ASUS represents

In the video adapter GeForce GTX 570 the technologists of the manufacturer ASUS completely replaced the power system:

• Installed chokes with ferrite cores, as well as solid-state and tantalum capacitors ;
• The power supply of the board for the phase diagram 7 + 1 (6-pin and 8-pin connectors) was re-equipped;
• PWM controller Super Hybrid Engine;
• Replaced memory chips with new high-tech from Samsung, with access time 0.4 nanoseconds.

Such significant changes have perfectly affected the overclocking potential of the video card: 950 MHz for the graphics core and 5000 MHz for memory is considered to be a weighty argument for all future owners.

Do not doubt the user and the cooling system, because the manufacturer did not for the sake of beauty made it so large. The aluminum substrate is installed at the bottom of the PCB and draws to the graphics core and memory chips a massive aluminum radiator, which is permeated through with copper tubes, which are reduced to the core of the pad, which is in contact with the graphic core. On top is an aluminum casing with two huge fans. The design is very heavy, apparently, so the manufacturer made a video card for mounting in three slots.

Favorite overlocker

It's no secret that the majority of overclockers prefer Zotac products. The manufacturer has traditionally produced two modifications of its devices for this chip. Only, unlike competitors, he acted in a very unexpected way. An inexpensive solution Zotac GeForce GTX 570 went on sale with a factory cooler manufacturer, which is installed on all devices of a budget class. Apparently, in the laboratories Zotac felt that the turbofan from Nvidia can freeze the video card.

But the modification of the 570 GTX AMP looks like the original product with all its appearance. The same turbo cooler in the back of the board and a huge protective cover over the radiator. Not without changes in the power supply system. It was slightly modified, but it did not affect the look, when compared with the Nvidia board. The manufacturer produced factory overclocking: 780 MHz for the core and 1000 MHz for memory. As a result, as the owners note in their reviews, there is no question of any overclocking potential. Quite a strange approach from the market leader Zotac to his customers.

In pursuit of noiselessness

But the device Inno3D iChill GeForce GTX 570, reviews of which are largely positive, very pleased with the innovative cooling system. It almost silently works, because cooling the graphics core and memory chips is responsible for water cooling. It is worth noting that the manufacturer Inno3D is known to customers on a budget class: decent performance and low price is the prerogative of the company. And here - the device of High-End-class, also with water cooling!

Bribes in the first place the appearance and size of the video card - the device takes only one slot, and you can install the video adapter in any system unit, not being afraid of the fact that the basket with hard disks will be blocked. It's funny that the manufacturer installed a water pump on the video card, and a water block with an air cooler was led out by communicating tubes half a meter out. At the Inno3D, the device was broken up to 780 MHz in the core, however, as users note, the graphics accelerator can be raised to 860 MHz. At the same time, in tests, when compared with competitors, there can not be any talk about noise measurements. Excellent approach to the buyer.

How to sit on two chairs?

The notorious Gainward brand also pleased its fans with two devices. The proprietary cooling system from a well-known manufacturer always had the highest ratings when tested with competitors, so the designers of the company did not trust such a question to the Nvidia plant and created two video adapters using their own cooling systems.

The first product - GeForce GTX 570 1280Mb - has a standard cooler, which the manufacturer is peculiar to install on all devices of top models. A large aluminum radiator, copper pipes and a contact pad and two huge fans - there's nothing to surprise the fans, the standard is. The expert utility Expert Tool, supplied in the kit, easily overclocks the graphics core to 850 MHz, showing excellent stability and performance in all tests.

The second copy of the GTX 570 Phantom is aimed at the market of noiseless devices. For this, there are three small coolers that are installed between the aluminum radiators. Their task is to easily blow the plates. In fact, this is a conventional passive cooling system, which for reliability has an influx of cold air in the form of three coolers. With overclocking, full order: 850 MHz is far from the limit, and the temperature of the graphics core depends on the correct cooling system in the computer case itself.

Leader in the market

The Palit GeForce GTX 570 will be more interesting for ordinary users, because its uniqueness lies in the fact that the manufacturer, having installed a powerful cooling system, endowed the graphics card with a decent factory overclock. The graphics core operates in normal mode at 800 MHz. Overclocking can be performed up to 900 MHz, but it will be fixed in the BIOS of the video card, and the device will lose the manufacturer's warranty. This is an interesting step for Palit.

As for the cooling system, it is borrowed from the video card Gainward (a well-known fact - one plant will present two brands). Accordingly, with the removal of heat from the memory chips and the graphics core, this device has full order. Here, only the fans on the device are installed quite noisy, obviously own development, so when overclocking the device, the owner should be ready for a loud buzz in the system unit.

Double tariff

Any testing for video card performance is not without the representative of EVGA. It is worth noting that the manufacturer has always tried to bypass its competitors by introducing such technologies that the rest can not boast. With the EVX GTX 570, the company managed to impress its fans. To improve the work with graphics, video and technology, the 3D device has 2560 MB of memory on board. There is something to think about not to fans of games, but to office employees and creative personalities who have to work with video editors - there is hardly a video filter that can take 2.5 GB of video memory.

Naturally, with the overclocking potential of the novelty things are worse. The manufacturer did not change the technical specifications of the video card, leaving Nvidia's default settings, but the cooling system still replaced. As experts note in their reviews, when overclocking the graphics core over 800 MHz, there is a significant heating of the chipset (85-90 degrees Celsius). This indicates that the device is not ready for overclocking.

Finally

It is worth noting that the GeForce GTX 570 chipset reviews are more positive, because for the device in the price category 400 u. The overclocking performance is quite attractive. Many owners note that the graphic core of the GF 110 is capable of much, the main thing is to provide decent cooling not only with the help of a powerful cooler, but inside the PC case.

A potential buyer will find on the market the device he needs, according to the requirements. Need a noiseless device? Gainward Phantom or Inno3D iChill will provide silence in the room during games. Good potential for overclocking - Gigabyte, ASUS or Palit. Even for creativity, there is a video card, good in the laboratories EVGA worried about it.