Choosing the Best PSU for Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 960 GPU
Learn how to choose a power supply for Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 960 GPU based on power consumption and other factors.
In this article, I’ll go over the things you should consider when choosing a power supply for your computer with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 graphics card.
Check out my Recommended Power Supplies for GTX 960 GPUs below.
Best 650–1000 Watt PSU
EVGA SuperNOVA G5 Series Fully Modular Power Supply (220-G5-0650-X1)
Check Price on Amazon
Amazon Affiliate Link
How to Choose a Power Supply for the GTX 960 GPU
The main job of a power supply is to convert the alternating current (AC) from your wall outlet into the direct current (DC) needed by the components inside your computer.
Power Output
An important factor when buying a PSU is the supported wattage.
You will need to add up the power consumption of each computer component to determine the total output power requirements for your power supply.
The peak power consumption of Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 960 GPU is 120 W.
You can estimate your power requirements by using the following chart.
| Component | Peak Power Usage |
|---|---|
| GTX 960 GPU | 120 W |
| Top-Tier CPU (e.g., Intel Core i9 13900K) | 253 W |
| Mid-Tier CPU (e.g., Intel Core i5 13600K) | 181 W |
| Motherboard | 80 W |
| Optical Drive | 30 W |
| 3.5″ Hard Drive | 9 W |
| M.2 or 2.5″ SSD | 9 W |
| 140 mm Case/CPU Fan | 6 W |
| 120 mm Case/CPU Fan | 6 W |
| 80 mm Case/CPU Fan | 3 W |
By adding up these numbers, you can estimate peak power usage. Check out the top-tier and mid-tier example builds below.
It’s generally a good idea to add a 100–150 W buffer to your expected usage. This buffer will give you some flexibility in case of miscalculations and will allow you to add more drives, fans, or add-in cards in the future.
In most cases, buying a little more wattage than you need is a safer choice for ensuring system stability.
Don’t forget to account for the additional power required for overclocking if you intend to overclock your CPU or GPU. Overclocking could require roughly an extra 50–100 W, depending on how much you overclock these devices.
Check another Nvidia GPU:
GeForce RTX 4090 GeForce RTX 4080 GeForce RTX 4070 Ti GeForce RTX 3090 Ti GeForce RTX 3090 GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GeForce RTX 3080 GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GeForce RTX 3070 GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GeForce RTX 3060 GeForce RTX 3050 TITAN RTX GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GeForce RTX 2080 Super GeForce RTX 2080 GeForce RTX 2070 Super GeForce RTX 2070 GeForce RTX 2060 Super GeForce RTX 2060 GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GeForce GTX 1660 Super GeForce GTX 1650 Super GeForce GTX 1650 TITAN X Pascal TITAN Xp GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GeForce GTX 1080 GeForce GTX 1070 Ti GeForce GTX 1070 GeForce GTX 1060 GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GeForce GTX 1050 GeForce GT 1030 GeForce GTX TITAN X GeForce GTX 980 Ti GeForce GTX 980 GeForce GTX 970 GeForce GTX 960 GeForce GTX 950 GeForce GTX TITAN Z GeForce GTX TITAN Black GeForce GTX TITAN GeForce GTX 780 Ti GeForce GTX 780 GeForce GTX 770 GeForce GTX 760 Ti GeForce GTX 760 GeForce GTX 760 192-bit GeForce GTX 750 Ti GeForce GTX 750
Top-Tier Estimate:
| Top-Tier Components | Peak Power Consumption |
|---|---|
| GTX 960 GPU | 120 watts |
Top-Tier CPU (e. g., Intel Core i9 13900K) |
253 watts |
| Motherboard | 80 watts |
| 4 M.2 or 2.5″ SSDs | 36 watts |
| 3 Case Fans (120 mm) | 18 watts |
| 2 CPU Fans (120 mm) | 12 watts |
| Total Estimate: | 519 watts |
| Recommended Power Supply Wattage: | 650 watts |
Check the latest price of the 450–750 watt Corsair SF Power Supplies on Amazon (affiliate link).
Check out my Recommended Power Supplies for GTX 960 GPUs below.
Featured 750 Watt PSUs ›
Amazon Affiliate Links
Corsair RMX Series (2021), RM750x, 750 Watt, Gold, Fully Modular Power Supply
Check Price on Amazon
EVGA 750 N1, 750W, 2 Year Warranty, Power Supply 100-N1-0750-L1
Check Price on Amazon
Mid-Tier Estimate:
| Mid-Tier Components | Peak Power Consumption |
|---|---|
| GTX 960 GPU | 120 watts |
Mid-Tier CPU (e. g., Intel Core i5 13600K) |
181 watts |
| Motherboard | 80 watts |
| 2 M.2 or 2.5″ SSDs | 18 watts |
| 2 Case Fans (120 mm) | 12 watts |
| 2 CPU Fans (120 mm) | 12 watts |
| Total Estimate: | 423 watts |
| Recommended Power Supply Wattage: | 550 watts |
Check the latest price of the 450–750 watt Corsair SF Power Supplies on Amazon (affiliate link).
Check out my Recommended Power Supplies for GTX 960 GPUs below.
Power Efficiency
PSUs with higher efficiency ratings use less energy and produce less heat, improving their reliability and reducing noise.
The 80 PLUS certification program for power supplies helps to promote energy efficiency by indicating its efficiency rating.
Higher efficiency power supplies may have a higher upfront cost. However, they could potentially save you money on electricity in the long run.
Lower wattage PSUs will be more power-efficient even when idle. For this reason, you may be able to save more on electricity by getting the correct wattage of PSU than by getting the one with the best 80 PLUS rating.
| Certification Level | 10% Load | 20% Load | 50% Load | 100% Load |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 Plus | 80% | 80% | 80% | |
| 80 Plus Bronze | 82% | 85% | 82% | |
| 80 Plus Silver | 85% | 88% | 85% | |
| 80 Plus Gold | 87% | 90% | 87% | |
| 80 Plus Platinum | 90% | 92% | 89% | |
| 80 Plus Titanium | 90% | 92% | 94% | 90% |
Cables
Connectors
Make sure your PSU has the correct connectors to support the hardware in your system.
Cheaper PSUs may cut costs on connectors and cables by offering fewer options and shorter lengths.
Check with your motherboard and graphics card documentation to determine which connector types are needed. Buy a popular, recently-released PSU; it will likely have the necessary connectors for a new PC build. However, if you use old components or an old power supply, you may find some incompatibilities.
Here are some common connector types that power supplies support:
- 24-pin connector for the motherboard
- 4/8-pin connector for the CPU
- 6/8/16-pin connectors for graphics cards
- SATA Power connector for each SATA HDD or SDD storage device
The latest graphics cards and ATX 3.0 PSUs support a new 16-pin PCIe 5.0 connector that replaces multiple 8-pin connectors.
Modular Cables
Typical power supplies come with various cables to connect your components. However, extra unused power cables can work against you by interrupting airflow.
In comparison, modular and semi-modular power supplies allow for attaching only the cables you need. As the name implies, semi-modular power supplies have some wires soldered on, while you can optionally connect others.
Cable Lengths
Most power supplies will have cables long enough to support mid-sized towers comfortably. If you have a full-size tower, you may want to check reviews and documentation to ensure that the cables are long enough to allow good cable management.
Power Supply Form Factors
Various form factors are available for power supplies. However, a standard-size desktop PC build will use an ATX power supply.
Small form factor PSUs allow for usage in many computer case shapes, including mini-PCs.
Power Supply Features
Overvoltage protection and short circuit protection can help to save your components in the case of a surge or accident.
LED lighting is another feature you might consider, depending on your PC goals.
Choosing a Cost-Effective Power Supply for the GTX 960
Perhaps you live in a dorm or a family member’s house and don’t pay the power bill. Or maybe you don’t expect the computer to have heavy daily usage. In those cases, the lower upfront cost of a less efficient PSU may be the better choice.
On the other hand, if you care more about the electric bill or the environment and plan to maintain higher CPU or GPU usage, then a more efficient PSU may be better.
Don’t go too far over 150 W above your expected power needs. Rightsizing your power supply will keep electricity costs to a minimum, as higher wattage PSUs will consume some additional power, even when idle.
Recommended 750-1650 Watt ATX 3.0 PSU
- The Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 ATX 3.0 Power Supply on Amazon (affiliate link) is our recommended 750-1650 watt ATX 3.0 PSU.
- GOLD 80 PLUS efficiency ratings.
- ATX 3.0 standard for supporting newer graphics cards.
- Fully modular cabling allows you to optimize airflow and minimize clutter.
- Ultra quiet design.
- 10-year warranty.
- This series of power supplies comes in power outputs including 750, 850, 1000, 1200, 1350 and 1650 watts.
Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 Series 80+ Gold Full Modular ATX 3.0 PCIe Gen 5 Power Supply
Check Price on Amazon
Amazon Affiliate Link
Recommended 650–1000 Watt PSU
- The Corsair SF Series Power Supply on Amazon (affiliate link) is our recommended 650–1000 watt PSU.
- Gold 80 PLUS efficiency ratings.
- Fully modular cabling allows you to optimize airflow and minimize clutter.
- Near silent during low usage.
- 10-year warranty.
- This series of power supplies comes in power outputs including 650, 750, 850, and 1000 watts.
EVGA SuperNOVA G5 Series Fully Modular Power Supply (220-G5-0650-X1)
Check Price on Amazon
Amazon Affiliate Link
Other Considerations When Building a PC
Want to brush up on other new technologies to consider when building a computer? Check out these articles:
- Cases:
- How to Choose the Best PC Case
- CPUs:
- The Best CPUs for Gaming
- Which Intel and AMD CPUs Support PCIe 5.
0? - Which Intel and AMD CPUs Support PCIe 4.0?
- LGA 1700 CPU List
- LGA 1200 CPU List
- Look up an Intel or AMD CPU on TechReviewer for related recommendations:
- CPU Coolers:
- What is the Best Type of CPU cooler for a Gaming PC?
- How to Choose a CPU Cooler for Your PC
- Best LGA 1700 CPU Cooler for Intel’s 12th Gen Core Processors
- Best AM4 CPU Cooler for AMD Processors
- Storage:
- Can an SSD Improve PC Gaming Performance? and Does an SSD Increase FPS for PC Gaming?
- Storage Type Comparison: M.2, U.2, NVMe, SATA, SSDs, HDDs
- Memory:
- How to Choose the Best RAM for Your PC
- How Much RAM Do You Need for Gaming? and Is 32 GB of RAM Worth It for Gaming?
- DDR4 vs. DDR5? Which You Should Buy
- Is DDR5 Worth It? The Benefits of DDR5 and What Is DDR5?
- Which Intel and AMD CPUs Support DDR5?
- PCI-Express:
- Is PCIe 5.
0 Worth It?
- Is PCIe 5.
- Motherboards:
- Which Motherboards Support PCIe 5.0?
- Which Motherboards Support PCIe 4.0?
- Which Motherboard Should You Buy for Intel’s 13th Gen CPUs?
- Which Motherboard Should You Buy for Intel’s 12th Gen CPUs?
- Graphics Cards:
- Which Graphics Cards Support PCIe 4.0?
- Power Supplies:
- How to Choose the Best Power Supply for a Gaming PC
- How to Choose a PC Power Supply
- Keyboards:
- Best Mechanical Keyboard for Gaming
- Monitors:
- How to Choose a Gaming Monitor
Have a suggestion or correction for this article? Send us an email at:
You can also contact the author at:
graphics card — Will A EVGA 500W Power Supply Power a GTX 960?
Asked
Modified
7 years, 3 months ago
Viewed
11k times
I am thinking of getting this graphics card for my PC:
http://www.
amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Whisper-Graphics-02G-P4-2966-KR/dp/B00SC6HAS4
I am not sure if my 500W power supply can handle this card:
http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=100-W1-0500-KR
The graphics card has a recommended PSU of anything above 400W, but will my card have the proper connectors to actually connect to the card, and will this power supply be able to handle running this card?
I am sure this isn’t the best power supply for the GTX 960, but I would like to be able to keep my current power supply if I get this card. (GPUs already cost enough by themselves.)
- graphics-card
- power-supply
- power
1
I am sure this isn’t the best power supply for the GTX 960
No, it isn’t. But it’s still enough.
Using the eXtreme Power Supply Calculator with the following settings:
- Motherboard: Desktop
- CPU: Intel — LGA 2011-3 — Core i7-5960X
- CPU Utilization: 100% TDP
- Memory: 4x 8GB DDR3 Module
- Video Card — Set 1: NVIDIA — GeForce GTX 960
- Storage: 4 x SATA 7200 RPM HDD’s
- Other Devices: 2 x USB 2.
0 Devices & 2 x USB 3.0 Devices - 1 x Standard Keyboard, 1 x Standard Mouse
- Fans: 2 x 80mm, 2x 120mm
- Computer Utilization: Always On (24/7)
I got the following result:
I used these settings to get a result that’s probably higher than you would need.
However it’s important to remember that a calculator like this isn’t 100% accurate (which is partly why I went «overboard»). If the recommended PSU wattage on your GTX 960 is 400W, then there should be no problem in using a 500W PSU, assuming there aren’t any other components that require a higher wattage PSU.
3
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MSI GeForce GTX 960 GAMING 4G video card review GECID.
com. Page 1
::>Video cards
>2015
> MSI GTX 960 GAMING 4G
08-09-2015
Page 1
Page 2
One page
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 has been on the market for a long time, being one of the best solutions in terms of price and performance for building mid-range gaming systems. You can find its main characteristics in the review of Inno3D GeForce GTX 960 iChill Ultra, as well as in a separate article on the NVIDIA Maxwell microarchitecture. We will proceed to an express review of the version MSI GeForce GTX 960 GAMING 4G , which differs not only in the presence of factory overclocking, a traditionally high-quality element base and a proprietary cooling system, but also in the amount of video memory increased to 4 GB.
MSI GeForce GTX 960 GAMING 4G Specification:
|
Model |
MSI GeForce GTX 960 GAMING 4G |
|
|
Graphics core |
NVIDIA GM206 (Maxwell) |
|
|
Number of CUDA cores |
1024 |
|
|
Supported APIs and Technologies |
DirectX 12, OpenGL 4. |
|
|
Base / dynamic frequency of the graphics core, MHz |
Silent mode |
1127 / 1178 |
|
Gaming mode |
1190 / 1253 |
|
|
«OC» mode |
1241 / 1304 |
|
|
Memory frequency (effective), MHz |
1753 (7010) |
|
|
Memory size, GB |
4 |
|
|
Memory type |
GDDR5 |
|
|
Memory bus width, bit |
128 |
|
|
Memory bandwidth, GB/s |
115. |
|
|
Tire type |
PCI Express 3.0 x16 |
|
|
Maximum resolution |
Digital — up to 4096 x 2160 Analog — up to 2048 x 1536 |
|
|
Image output interfaces |
1 x DVI-I 1 x HDMI 3 x DisplayPort |
|
|
Support for HDCP and HD video decoding |
Yes |
|
|
Minimum power supply unit, W |
400 |
|
|
Additional PCIe power connectors |
1 x 8-pin |
|
|
Dimensions from the official website (according to measurements in our test laboratory), mm |
267 x 139 x 40 (279 x 140) |
|
|
Drivers |
Latest drivers can be downloaded from MSI website or GPU manufacturer website |
|
|
Manufacturer website |
MSI |
|
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 
4 MSI paid a lot of attention to improving the reference video card, because, in fact, the new product inherited from the reference solution only the graphics core and video memory subsystem.
Judge for yourself, it includes: an original printed circuit board, a proprietary cooler and a rather interesting ability to switch between three operating modes, which will allow you to flexibly manage performance and power consumption depending on current tasks.
Packaging and Contents
The packaging of the MSI GeForce GTX 960 GAMING 4G is designed in the typical MSI GAMING series design: red and black colors predominate, as well as the series logo (stylized dragon). In addition to the name of the video card and the manufacturer, it is worth noting the presence of the “OC Edition” logo, which indicates the factory overclocking of key parameters.
All important information is on the back of the box. Most of the free space is occupied by a description of the key advantages of the video card, namely:
- Gaming App — a proprietary software is supplied with the graphics adapter, with the help of which the function of quickly switching between three different operating modes is implemented: «Silent», «Gaming» and «OC».
Each of them will be relevant depending on the current tasks of the user. - Torx Fan – new fan design to replace the Propeller Blade. It delivers 19% more airflow, greater durability, and less noise. The design uses two rows of blades with different designs, thanks to which it was possible to achieve such impressive results.
- SuperSU Pipe — The use of three well-placed copper heat pipes improves heat dissipation efficiency.
- Zero Frozr – Cooling fans stop spinning at GPU temperatures below 60°C, eliminating even the slightest noise level during idle or under low loads, as well as significantly extending the life of the turntables.
The list of system requirements for the computer in which you plan to install the MSI GeForce GTX 960 GAMING 4G is also located on the back of the package. Based on these guidelines, the power supply must be at least 400W and support an 8-pin PCIe power cable.
In the box with the video card, we found not only the usual manual and CD with software, but also adapters for power supply and for connecting an analog monitor.
The following set of video outputs is provided for displaying images on the graphics adapter:
- 1 x DVI-I;
- 1 x HDMI;
- 3 x DisplayPort.
The following resolutions are supported:
- digital — up to 4096 x 2160;
- analog — up to 2048 x 1536.
Appearance and cooling system
The new product is made in the traditional MSI GAMING style, with a predominance of black and red colors in the design.
In addition to the PCI Express x16 slot, it is powered through an additional 8-pin connector. Note that the cooler does not make it difficult to disconnect the power cable.
NVIDIA SLI technology on MSI GeForce GTX 960 GAMING 4G uses one connector to connect the corresponding bridge.
It allows you to combine a pair of video accelerators for joint calculation of graphic effects. Recall that you can see the results of testing NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 in 2-Way NVIDIA SLI mode in GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 960 WINDFORCE OC review.
The reverse side of the graphics adapter is covered with a massive metal base plate, which significantly increases the reliability of the design and prevents damage to the printed circuit board under the weight of the cooling system.
The tested model is based on the NVIDIA GM206-300-A1 (Maxwell) graphics chip manufactured using the 28-nm process technology. It includes 1024 CUDA cores, 32 ROPs and 64 texture units. As we have already said, the video card is distinguished by factory overclocking of the graphics core, the maximum operating frequencies of which were 1241 and 1304 MHz.
Also, the new product features increased to 4 GB of video memory, recruited using chips from Samsung, which operate at an effective frequency of 7012 MHz.
The exchange of data between the GPU and memory is carried out through a 128-bit bus, which is capable of passing 115.4 GB of information per second.
The cooling system is not oversized. The video card with installed CO occupies two expansion slots and has a total length of 267 mm according to the official website of MSI (279mm as measured by our test lab).
The cooler itself consists of a heatsink, three nickel-plated copper heat pipes, and two axial fans with blades 95 mm in diameter, mounted on a plastic casing.
With automatic regulation of the fan blades rotation speed, in the maximum load mode, the graphics core heated up to 64°C, and the cooler, judging by the monitoring readings, worked almost silently at 40% of its maximum power.
In the maximum fan speed mode, the temperature of the GPU dropped to 52°C. The noise generated by this increased to an average level, but remained quite comfortable for long-term use.
In the absence of load, the frequencies of the graphics core and memory were automatically reduced, allowing to reduce power consumption and heat dissipation of the video accelerator as a whole.
In this mode, the GPU temperature did not exceed 45°C, since the fans stopped spinning altogether and the cooling system went into a completely passive mode. This is where the aforementioned MSI Zero Frozr technology comes into play, which ensures that the video card works silently at low loads.
Overall, the MSI Twin Frozr V cooling system performed well, not only providing comfortable temperatures, but also showing very low noise levels both during everyday use and at maximum fan speeds.
GeForce GTX 960 Video Card Review
New mid-range graphics cards are always the focus of attention. A good price / performance ratio is one of the most important parameters for rational users who are not ready to buy graphics adapters for all the money, preferring optimal solutions that adequately cope with current games. NVIDIA today introduced graphics card GeForce GTX 960 is a long-awaited addition to the manufacturer’s line of discrete graphics.
The novelty should become a kind of «golden mean» with a good ratio of cost and features.
The manufacturer repeatedly uses this term when describing the advantages of the GeForce GTX 960, and it really has a lot of them. Let’s see if this will help the video card become a worthy successor to the series. It should be noted that for several generations, the “sixties” with the GTX x60 index have consistently been among the most popular and massive solutions among fairly active gamers.
For example, the GeForce GTX 760 is currently one of the most likely purchase contenders when assembling an optimal gaming system. She replaced the GeForce GTX 660 in this position, and a few years ago, the GeForce GTX 560 and GTX 460 shone in this category.
What to expect from the new representative of the dynasty? So, for the GeForce GTX 960, the GM206-300 graphics processor with the Maxwell architecture is used. This chip was specifically designed for mid-range solutions and is produced using a 28-nanometer process technology.
In the GeForce GTX 960 configuration, the processor includes two graphics clusters containing 8 streaming multiprocessors each.
Each SMM has 128 CUDA cores and an independent scheduler and instruction buffer. At the same time, the multiprocessor has a total L2 cache of 96 KB and 48 KB of L1 cache (24+24 KB).
Note that the GK206-300 has a total of 1024 compute units, 32 raster units and 64 texture units. Compared with the performance characteristics of the GTX 760 video card, the latter has more CUDA cores — 1152, ROPs also 32, and texture units — 96. However, to evaluate quantitative indicators without taking into account architectural changes is a hopeless occupation. The Maxwell architecture has already proven its effectiveness and superiority over Kepler, as we saw with the GTX 750/750 Ti and GTX 970/980. Therefore, we will not jump to conclusions.
The base frequency of the GPU is set high enough. In the case of the reference model, the GPU runs at 1127 MHz, with an average GPU Boost of 1178 MHz.
Long before the announcement of the GeForce GTX 960, enthusiasts were very interested in the configuration of the memory subsystem of this adapter. In fact, the novelty has a 128-bit highway between the GPU and local RAM. In the base version, the GeForce GTX 960 will be equipped with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory operating at a frequency of 7010 MHz. In this combination, the bus bandwidth is 112.2 GB / s. This figure does not look very convincing against the background of 192.3 GB / s for the GeForce GTX 760, which has a 256-bit memory bus.
In this case, NVIDIA focuses on the fact that solutions based on the Maxwell architecture have an improved third-generation color compression engine that allows more efficient use of the available bandwidth of the memory subsystem.
One way or another, rather modest capabilities of the memory subsystem will affect the results of the GeForce GTX 960, especially at high resolutions. How critical the influence will be, we will evaluate in the practical part of the material.
Functionally GeForce GTX 960 supports all the graphics technologies introduced with the announcement of the GTX 970/980, including Dynamic Super Resolution (DSR) and Multi-Frame Anti-Aliasing (MFAA). The graphics card is also ready to work with DirectX 12, support for which will appear in Windows 10.
It is noteworthy that the GTX 960 received an improved video processing engine. In particular, GM206 supports H.265 (HEVC), allowing you to encode and decode video of this format. While the GTX 970/980 only have hardware support for encoding.
Good energy efficiency has become the hallmark of Maxwell architecture devices. The declared TDP level of 120 W for the GeForce GTX 960 was a pleasant, although already quite expected indicator. In this case, only one 6-pin connector is provided for connecting additional power. PSU power requirements are very moderate — from 450 watts. For this reason, it is unlikely that you will need to change the existing unit.
The GeForce GTX 960 is positioned by the manufacturer as a solution that allows you to get fairly good performance at a resolution of 1920×1080.
At the same time, using even a fairly high quality graphics, the video card in this mode should provide about 60 frames / s. Nominally, the manufacturer offers the GeForce GTX 960 as an upgrade for the GTX 660 and slower adapters. That is, solutions that were extremely popular in their time, but no longer have enough power to provide a good level of playability.
The recommended price for the GeForce GTX 960 in the US market is $199. The price tag is very tempting, but in Ukraine the cost of devices will certainly be much higher. +30-40% to the indicated price looks like a rather optimistic scenario.
The reference model GeForce GTX 960 is visually very similar to that of the GTX 760. The manufacturer did not reinvent the wheel, not least because many manufacturers will offer their own adapter options. Using one of the alternative video cards as an example, we will get acquainted with the capabilities of the GeForce GTX 960.0254
- 5.1 The video card for testing was provided by MSI, ua.
msi.com
MSI GTX 960 GAMING 2G
MSI offers several variants of GeForce GTX 960 at once. belonging to the gaming series — MSI GTX 960 GAMING 2G. The expected retail price of this model in Ukraine is $280.
The graphics processor received a faster frequency formula. Base frequency increased to 1216 MHz and average boost increased to 1279MHz.
At the time of writing, the GPU-Z utility did not yet fully allow us to determine the technical characteristics of the device.
The video card is equipped with a Twin Frozr V cooling system. In the version for the GTX 960, the cooler has a fairly large radiator block and three heat pipes. One of them has a diameter of 8 mm, another pair — 6 mm.
The structure is ventilated by a pair of 100mm fans equipped with specially shaped (Torx) blades to increase airflow.
Support for Zero Frozr technology implies the use of a hybrid cooler operation mode. At minimum load, the cooling system fans stop, spinning up only when the GPU heats up to a certain temperature.
MSI GTX 960 GAMING 2G has an original printed circuit board with a noticeably increased length. The power stabilizer system includes 4 phases, while the power elements are located on the side of the interface panel and are additionally cooled using a finned aluminum radiator.
The video card uses Samsung K4G41325FC-HC28 memory chips. To get the required volume and bit width of the bus, you need only four chips. In this case, two of them are located on the reverse side of the PCB. The 128-bit memory bus greatly simplifies PCB layout and layout.
In this case, one 8-pin connector is provided for connecting additional power, instead of 6-pin. The manufacturer recommends using a power supply unit with a power of 400 W or more (it’s funny, for the reference in the requirements — 450 W), which is capable of delivering up to 42 A current through the 12 V line.
Features an illuminated gaming series logo on the top hem. Yes, stylistic visual decor, but why not.
The interface panel has a familiar set of video outputs — DVI-I, HDMI 2.0 and three full-length DisplayPort 1.2. A quarter of the plug is given under the duct grate. In the stowed position, all connectors are covered with plastic caps.
The video card comes with a quick installation guide, a small booklet with information about the features of the gaming series products, a driver disk, a 6-pin to 8-pin power adapter, and a DVI-VGA adapter that allows you to connect a monitor via an analog channel.
In progress
The hybrid graphics card cooling system is a boon for those who like to listen to silence, especially if other system components allow it.
At minimum load, the fans do not rotate. The temperature of the GPU in this case will largely depend on the external conditions inside the case, as well as the period of time that has elapsed since the active work of the GPU.
Under open bench conditions, after 15 minutes after the end of the combat session, the GPU temperature dropped to 41 C.
Under load, the chip warmed up to 63 degrees, while the fan speed increased to only 800 rpm. Therefore, even with a serious combat, the video card worked very quietly. Note that GPU Boost forced the clock frequency of the chip to 1367 MHz.
Having tried to further overclock the video card, we managed to increase the base clock frequency of the GPU to 1401 MHz without additional increase in the supply voltage, and increase the memory frequency to 7812 MHz. In this mode, the GPU accelerated to 1552 MHz under load.
Performance
When evaluating the performance of the GeForce GTX 960, we took the results of the GeForce GTX 760 as a starting point. According to the manufacturer’s plans, the new product comes to replace this particular model. The capabilities of devices based on the GK106 have already been well studied, and their position in the existing hierarchy of graphic solutions has been determined.
In general, the results of the GeForce GTX 960 and GTX 760 are quite close.
At a resolution of 1920 × 1080, the novelty has some advantage. However, given the architectural difference and technical features of both models, there is a certain scatter of results. If we try to average the difference, we get about 10% with a “+” sign for the GeForce GTX 960.
Memory bandwidth limitations, of course, do not go unnoticed. What can be observed, for example, in the Valley Benchmark test. However, in general, there is no particular reason for panic. At least at Full HD resolution, the available bus width is enough to get good results. In real games, the GeForce GTX 960 looks very convincing.
Factory afterburner MSI GTX 960 GAMING 2G brings 3-5% additional performance boost to the graphics card. However, it should be borne in mind here that the reference video card in this case was modeled by lowering the base clock frequency to the recommended value. At the same time, an efficient cooler made it possible to boost the GPU to the maximum within the allotted range.
On the stock model, the efficiency of the cooling system may not allow you to stably maintain peak frequencies.
Additional overclocking brings good results. This is especially true for increasing the clock frequency of the memory. Any increase in the throughput of this subsystem brings the much-desired additional frames/s, which can no longer be obtained by processor megahertz.
We also tested the GTX 960 vs. GTX 760 power-to-weight ratio by upscaling gaming resolutions to 2560×1440. In this case, the advantage of the novelty with the Maxwell architecture decreased, but still remained. And this is a very revealing moment. Another thing is that video cards of this class are obviously not designed for comfortable gaming at such a resolution, at least with high graphics quality. For such conditions, more guns are needed.
The most likely opponents of the GeForce GTX 960 and the camp of the main competitor will be the Radeon R9 280 and Radeon R9 285. Both models have their advantages and disadvantages, but in the rankings they are very close to the new product on the GM206.
Power Consumption
The GeForce GTX 960 pleased us with the level of power consumption. The claimed 120W TDP is by no means a fiction. In one test bench, when replacing a GeForce GTX 760 with a GTX 960, the actual power consumption of the entire system under load decreased by approximately 45 watts — 190 vs 235W. Considering that the performance in this case has steadily increased, a significant improvement in energy efficiency is not in doubt. In this regard, the obvious win.
Results
The GeForce GTX 960 is an interesting mid-range video card that replaces the GeForce GTX 760. With a recommended price of $199, this model will be a good option to upgrade the GTX 660 and earlier solutions from the manufacturer. In terms of functionality, it is in no way inferior to the top NVIDIA video cards, and in some ways even surpasses them. As practice has shown, fears about the insufficient capacity of the memory bus turned out to be in vain. The graphics card handles loads well, providing good performance for a comfortable game in Full HD mode.