960 4gb review: nvidia geforce gtx 960 Review

Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 Review

Verdict

Pros

Solid 1080p performance
Low power consumption and temperatures
Available in ITX and overclocked versions

Cons

Surrounded by strong AMD competition
Poor memory interface

Key Specifications

Review Price: £160.00
1,127MHz core clock
1,753MHz 2GB GDDR5 memory
2.9 billion transistors
1,024 stream processors
requires 1 x 6-pin power connector
Manufacturer: AMD

What is the Nvidia GeForce GTX 960?

The second generation of Nvidia’s Maxwell hardware arrived with the high-end GTX 980 and GTX 970 cards back in September, but it’s taken until now for mainstream parts to arrive. That’s where the GTX 960 comes in; it’s designed for 1080p gaming, and its £160 price is far more palatable than its high-end stablemates.

This card also has plenty of competition. AMD has a pair of mid-range parts that have been made more tempting because of recent price drops. There’s the Radeon R9 285, which is ten pounds cheaper than Nvidia’s latest card, and the R9 280X that now starts at £175.

SEE ALSO: The Best FPS Games

Nvidia GeForce GTX 960: Under the Hood

Maxwell is all about achieving better performance while cutting power consumption. Nvidia has done this by rearranging its stream processors – the parts that do the heavy lifting inside a GPU core.

Nvidia has long arranged these processors into blocks called streaming multiprocessors, which are then crammed inside larger structures called Graphics Processing Clusters (GPCs). Cards from Nvidia’s previous generation had 192 stream processors inside each multiprocessor, but that figure has now been cut down to 128. Each multiprocessor now has its own scheduling hardware, and the new card has double the number of geometry units when compared to last-generation GPUs.

There are four of those smaller multiprocessors inside each GPC, which allows Nvidia to delegate tasks with more precision – and, therefore, operate more frugally. It’s an improvement over the “brute force” approach used on older cards, like the GTX 760, which had two larger multiprocessors per GPC. Maxwell’s revised GPCs don’t need as much resource-sharing hardware, either, which further cuts down power draw.

Maxwell’s more precise approach means fewer stream processors are used overall. The GTX 960 has 1,024 divided across two Graphics Processing Clusters, which is down on the 1,152 installed inside the older GTX 760. That’s allowed clock speeds to increase: the GTX 960’s core runs at 1,127MHz with a maximum boost speed of 1,228MHz. The GTX 760, by contrast, was limited to 980MHz and 1,124MHz.

Nvidia’s changes result in a peak processing level of 2,308 GFLOPs. That’s a minor improvement on the 2,257 GFLOPs of the GTX 760 but it does of course come with those power saving benefits. It is, however, further below its AMD rivals, both of which offer at least 3,290 GFLOPs.

The GTX 960’s memory configuration isn’t all that impressive. Its 2GB of GDDR5 is accessed using a 128-bit wide bus, which falls behind AMD’s cards – the 280X used a 384-bit interface, while the R9 285 relies on 256-bit hardware. Nvidia’s memory is clocked to 1,753MHz, but we’re not convinced that this higher speed will make up the deficit. The GTX 960’s memory bandwidth sits at 224GB/s, which is higher than the R9 285 but lower than the R9 280X.

Evidence of Maxwell’s increased efficiency can be seen at the back of every card. The GTX 960 requires just one six-pin power connector, which compares well to AMD’s hardware – the R9 285 needs two six-pin connectors, and the R9 280X needs a six- and eight-pin plug.

How We Tested

We’ve locked and loaded five games for this GPU test. Battlefield 4, Bioshock Infinite and Crysis 3 all return from our previous reviews, and we’ve added Metro: Last Light and Batman: Arkham Origins to the mix. We’ve tested at 1,920 x 1,080, 2,560 x 1,440 and even 3,840 x 2,160 to see which card is best across single-screens – and to check if any of them can handle 4K.

We’ve used 3D Mark’s Fire Strike test and four Unigine Heaven benchmarks to test theoretical performance, and we’ve taken idle and load temperatures and power requirements to see which card is the coolest and most frugal.

Our test rig consists of an Asus X79-Deluxe motherboard, Intel Core i7-4960X processor, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB hard disk.

To get prices for each card we visited www.scan.co.uk and noted down the cheapest stock-speed card we could find, although we will be referring to the various overclocked and tweaked models available for each GPU, which will be more expensive, later on in the review.

ROUND-UP: The Greatest Gaming Laptops

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Asus GeForce GTX 960 Strix OC Edition Review

Tom’s Hardware is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s why you can trust us.

With Asus’ celebrated DirectCU II cooling, an attractive price tag and Nvidia’s GM206 GPU, the GeForce GTX 960 Strix OC Edition has all the makings of a winner.

Early Verdict

Asus has put together an undeniably good product once again. The Geforce GTX 960 STRIX OC is one of the coolest running graphics cards money can buy today, and by extension it’s also one of the quietest. The already overclocked GPU and memory perform very well out of the box. Anyone with a GTX 960 on their short-list would be wise to consider this card heavily.

Pros

+
Build quality • Cooling performance • Included back-plate • Nearly silent even at load • Overclocked memory • Price • Shroud design

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Introduction And Specifications

Asus has been a top name in computer hardware for more than two decades, and for good reason. Its engineers often create products that are unique and stick out from the competition. Most of the cards the company releases are overclocked in some way, as is this one.

Today we’re looking at the Asus GeForce GTX 960 Strix OC. This is a custom-designed graphics card based on the Maxwell architecture. With an MSRP of $210, a factory overclock and the tried-and-tested DirectCU II cooling solution, we’re keen to see if Asus’ latest lives up to the company’s reputation.

Asus Geforce GTX 960 STRIX OC

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MORE: All Graphics Articles
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Kevin Carbotte is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware who primarily covers VR and AR hardware. He has been writing for us for more than four years.

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EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SC GAMING GECID.com review and test. Page 1

::>Video cards
>2015
> EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SC GAMING

12/24/2015

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 9 Video Accelerator60 has been on the market for a long time, being one of the best price-performance solutions for mid-range gaming systems. You can find its main characteristics in the Inno3D GeForce GTX 960 iChill Ultra review, but in the meantime, we will move on to get acquainted with the modification from EVGA, namely the EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SC GAMING (04 G — P 4-1962- KR ) . It differs not only in factory overclocking and a proprietary cooling system, but also in the amount of video memory increased to 4 GB.

EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SC GAMING specification:

Model	EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SC GAMING (04G-P4-1962 — KR)
Graphics core	NVIDIA GM206-300 (Maxwell)
Number of CUDA cores	1024
Base / dynamic frequency of the graphics core, MHz	1216 / 1279
Memory frequency (effective), MHz	1753 (7010)
Memory size, GB	4
Memory type	GDDR5
Memory bus width, bit	128
Memory bandwidth, GB/s	112. 2
Tire type	PCI Express 3.0 x16
Image output interfaces	1 x DVI-I 1 x DVI-D 1 x HDMI 1 x DisplayPort
Minimum power supply unit, W	400
Additional PCIe power connectors	1 x 6-pin
Dimensions from the official website (according to measurements in our test laboratory), mm	173 x 111 (193 x 112)
Supported APIs and Technologies	DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.4, NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0, NVIDIA TXAA, NVIDIA FXAA, NVIDIA MFAA, NVIDIA Adaptive Vertical Sync, NVIDIA Surround, NVIDIA 3D Vision, NVIDIA SLI, NVIDIA GameWorks, NVIDIA GameStream
Drivers	Latest drivers can be downloaded from the EVGA website or the GPU manufacturer’s website
Manufacturer website	EVGA

The tested modification of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 compares favorably with factory overclocking of the graphics core from the standard 1126 to 1216 MHz. Also, do not forget about the NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0 technology, taking into account which the GPU operates on average at a frequency of 1279MHz instead of the recommended 1178 MHz.

Packing and contents

The EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SC GAMING video card comes in a fairly large box made of thick cardboard and decorated with original printing in light colors. In addition to the name of the manufacturer and the model of the device, we note the mention of support for NVIDIA G-SYNC, NVIDIA GameWorks, NVIDIA GameStream and DirectX 12 technologies. The new product belongs to the line of factory-overclocked Superclocked solutions and the use of the proprietary ACX 2.0 cooling system.

The list of system requirements for the computer where you plan to install the graphics adapter is located on one of the sides of the box. Based on the recommendations, the power supply should be at least 400W and support a 6-pin PCIe power cable.

The EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SC GAMING comes with a quick start guide, a CD with drivers and utilities, as well as nice bonuses in the form of a power adapter, a DVI to D-Sub adapter and a poster.

The tested novelty has the following set of interfaces for image output:

1 x DVI-I;
1 x DVI-D;
1 x HDMI;
1 x DisplayPort.

The following resolutions are supported:

digital — up to 4096 x 2160;
analog — up to 2048 x 1536.

Appearance and element base

Model EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SC GAMING is built on a compact black PCB with a reference layout. Two of the four video memory chips are soldered around the GPU, while the power subsystem components are located on its left side.

The novelty is powered according to a quite standard five-phase scheme, where four phases are responsible for powering the graphics core, and one is for the video memory subsystem.

The GPU power subsystem is based on the NCP81174 digital PWM controller manufactured by ON Semiconductor. According to the documentation, it is equipped with short circuit protection and is characterized by increased efficiency due to the support of the power saving function (PSI). However, it can control a maximum of 4 phases.

In addition to the PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot, the tested graphics adapter is powered by one 6-pin PCIe connector. Due to the good location, the cooler does not interfere in any way with the disconnection of the PCIe cable.

The NVIDIA SLI technology on the EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SC GAMING uses a single connector to connect the corresponding bridge. It allows you to combine two video accelerators for joint calculation of graphic effects. Recall that with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 9 performance testing60 in 2-Way NVIDIA SLI mode you can find in the GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 960 WINDFORCE OC review.

The reverse side of the novelty is remarkable not only for the PWM controller mentioned above, but also for a number of electrical components, two of the four video memory chips and cooling system mounting screws.

The tested model is based on the NVIDIA GM206-300 (Maxwell) graphics chip manufactured using the 28-nm process technology. It includes 1024 CUDA cores, 32 raster units and 64 texture units. As we have already said, the video card is distinguished by factory overclocking of the graphics core, the operating frequencies of which were 1216 and 1279MHz for nominal and dynamic modes, respectively.

EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SC GAMING memory, total 4 GB, built using 4 Samsung K4G80325FB-HC28 chips, 8 Gb each. According to the documentation, their effective frequency is 7 GHz. The exchange of data between the GPU and memory is carried out through a 128-bit bus, which is capable of passing 112.2 GB of information per second.

Cooling system

ACX 2.0 proprietary cooling system has a discreet design and fairly compact dimensions. The video card with CO installed occupies two expansion slots and has a total length of 193mm (measured in our test lab).

The cooler itself consists of an all-metal radiator with fins, one axial fan with a blade diameter of 87 mm, and a plastic casing that covers the entire structure from above.

The spinner uses Power Logic PLA09215B12H, based on a long life double ball bearing. The nominal voltage of its operation is 12 V, and the current strength is 0.55 A, which results in a power of 6.6 watts.

For uniform heat distribution over the entire area of the radiator, two copper heat pipes with a diameter of 8 mm are used, which are not covered with a layer of nickel.

With automatic regulation of the fan blades speed, in the maximum load mode, the graphics core heated up to 72°C, and the cooler, judging by the monitoring readings, worked at 25% of its maximum power. The noise level at the same time was quiet and absolutely comfortable.

In the maximum fan speed mode, the temperature of the GPU dropped to 48°C. The noise emitted at the same time exceeded the average level and was quite uncomfortable.

In the absence of load, the frequencies of the graphics core and memory were automatically reduced, which led to their lower power consumption and heat dissipation. The fan stopped spinning altogether, switching the cooler to a completely passive mode of operation. GPU temperature reached 49°C.

All in all, the ACX 2.0 cooling system does its job well and doesn’t bother you with high noise levels during everyday use.

Review and testing of the video card ASUS GeForce GTX 960 STRIX DirectCU II OC (STRIX-GTX960-DC2OC-4GD5) GECID.com. Page 1

::>Video cards
>2015
> ASUS STRIX-GTX960-DC2OC-4GD5

03-07-2015

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A few months ago, most manufacturers expanded their video card lines of the popular NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 series with models with 4 GB of video memory. ASUS did not stand aside either. She released version ASUS GeForce GTX 960 STRIX DirectCU II OC (STRIX-GTX960-DC2OC-4GD5) , which boasts a number of additional advantages.

Among them, we should highlight a significant factory overclocking, a productive DirectCU II proprietary cooling system with support for the passive operating mode «0dB FAN» and a high-quality element base. Also, the novelty has a good set of interface panel connectors and support for functional software.

Specification:

Model		ASUS GeForce GTX 960 STRIX DirectCU II OC (STRIX-GTX960-DC2OC-4GD5)
Graphics core		NVIDIA GM206 (Maxwell)
Technical process, nm		28
Number of universal shader processors (CUDA cores)		1024
Technology and API support		DirectX 12, OpenGL 4. 4, NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0, NVIDIA TXAA, NVIDIA FXAA, NVIDIA MFAA, NVIDIA Adaptive Vertical Sync, NVIDIA Surround, NVIDIA PhysX, NVIDIA 3D Vision, NVIDIA SLI, NVIDIA CUDA, NVIDIA GameWorks, NVIDIA GameStream
Rated / dynamic frequency of the graphics core, MHz	«Gaming»	1228 / 1291
	«OC»	1253 / 1317
Memory size, GB		4
Memory type		GDDR5
Rated / effective frequency of video memory, MHz		1753 / 7010
Memory bus width, bit		128
Memory bandwidth, GB/s		112.2
Internal interface type		PCI Express 3. 0 x16
Image output interfaces		1 x HDMI 2.0 3 x DisplayPort 1 x DVI-I
Minimum power supply, W		400
Dimensions (measured in our test lab), mm		215 x 121 x 41 (227 x 122)
Drivers		Latest drivers can be downloaded from the ASUS website or the GPU manufacturer’s website
Manufacturer website		ASUS

Packing and contents

The video card is supplied in a cardboard box with high-quality color printing. On its front side there is a logo of the manufacturer and the ASUS STRIX series. Below is an image of the DirectCU II proprietary cooling system, which is 30% more productive than the reference model, judging by the inscription next to it. Also here is a mark about the presence of factory overclocking and the amount of video memory.

On the back of the package there is a layout of the interface panel connectors and a more detailed description of the ASUS STRIX-GTX960-DC2OC-4GD5 features:

load;
element base corresponds to the Super Alloy Power proprietary concept and includes solid capacitors with a 2.5 times longer service life, ferrite core chokes and improved field-effect transistors;
proprietary overclocking and monitoring software (GPU Tweak) and a free 1-year license for the XSplit Gamecaster game streaming software are included in the package.

The side face lists the minimum system requirements that the manufacturer recommends to adhere to for the full operation of the video card. So, the power of the power supply should not be lower than 400 W, and the load capacity of the + 12V channel should be 38 A or higher. It is also desirable to have at least one 6-pin PCIe connector.

Inside the box, the graphics accelerator is securely fixed with a foam mold and an antistatic bag. This design will protect fragile electronics from damage during transportation.

ASUS GeForce GTX 960 STRIX DirectCU II OC package includes:

DVI-I ↔ D-Sub adapter;
discs with software and drivers;
computer case stickers;
quick start guide.

DVI-I ↔ D-Sub adapter is a nice bonus. It will allow you to connect an analog monitor.

The new interface panel contains the following set of connectors:

1 x HDMI 2.0;
3 x DisplayPort;
1 x DVI-I.

The following resolutions are supported:

digital — up to 4096 x 2160;
analog — up to 2048 x 1536.

Appearance and element base

ASUS STRIX-GTX960-DC2OC-4GD5 is made on a compact printed circuit board. The total length of the graphics accelerator is only 227 mm, which will allow you to comfortably place it even in small cases.

The video card’s power subsystem uses a 5-phase design: four phases are dedicated to the GPU and one is dedicated to the memory chips. The PWM controller is the uP1608TK chip from uPI Semiconductor.

For the full operation of the graphics accelerator, in addition to the PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot, you need to connect another additional 6-pin PCIe connector. Nothing prevents its connection, since the textolite has a special protrusion for the connector latch.

On the reverse side of the printed circuit board there is a metal plate, which not only protects the textolite from damage, but also participates in the heat exchange process. We also note that one of the four screws that secure the cooling system has a protective seal. This means that dismantling the CO is not desirable and will void the warranty.

In the upper right corner you can see the NVIDIA SLI bridge connector. It makes it possible to combine the computing power of two GPUs for joint graphics processing.

The ASUS STRIX-GTX960-DC2OC-4GD5 graphics card is based on the 28nm NVIDIA GM206-300-A1 (Maxwell) GPU. It consists of 1024 universal shader processors, 64 texture units and 32 rasterization units.

The graphics core operates in two modes. In the first case (“Gaming” mode), its nominal frequency is 1228 MHz, and the dynamic frequency is 1291 MHz. When the «OC» profile is activated, these values will be 1253 and 1317 MHz, respectively.

The memory of the novelty with a total capacity of 4 GB is assembled using 8 Samsung K4G41325FC-HC28 chips with a capacity of 4 Gb each. They operate at an effective frequency of 7010 MHz, and a 128-bit bus with a bandwidth of 112.2 GB / s is used to communicate with the graphics core.

Cooling system

The video card is equipped with a proprietary cooling system that occupies two slots for expansion cards. Its outer part is covered with a plastic casing, decorated with original decorative elements.

Four nickel-plated heatpipes are used to dissipate heat from the GPU. Two of them have a diameter of 8 mm, and two more — 6 mm. They are characterized by direct contact with the surface of the GPU to accelerate heat dissipation.

Two axial fans FirstDo FD7010h22S (12 V; 0.35 A) with a blade diameter of 75 mm are used for blowing. They are based on plain bearings.

Now let’s study the efficiency of the proprietary cooler under load. In the automatic mode of operation of the cooling system, the temperature of the GPU did not exceed 70 ° C at maximum load. The fans at the same time worked very quietly (the first rotated at a speed of 1730 rpm, and the second at 1700 rpm) and were almost indistinguishable from other components.

After running the spinners at maximum speed (the first rotated at 3300 rpm and the second at 3280 rpm), the GPU temperature dropped to 59°C. Even in this mode, the noise was at an average level and was comfortable enough for long-term use.