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A little unconventionally, the first products based on chipsets of the new NVIDIA Maxwell architecture were not top-end video cards, but relatively modest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti and GTX 750. And only a few months later Maxwell reached the high-performance segment (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 and GTX 970 video cards).

 

Before describing specific video cards MSI GTX 980 GAMING 4G, MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G, I would like to say a few things about the general interesting features inherent in all solutions based on NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 and GTX 970. When compared with the top-end video cards of the previous generation (Kepler) GTX 780 and GTX 780 Ti, then the new products will be much more economical: TDP of 165 and 145 W for the GTX 980 and 970, respectively, versus 250 W for the GTX 780/780 Ti.

 

The GTX 980 and GTX 970 support DirectX 11.3 and DirectX 12 API instructions (to be implemented in future operating systems), have hardware video decoding capabilities with the new H.265 codec, and provide image output via HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4e interfaces. Video cards allow you to connect up to four monitors simultaneously, using any available connectors, however, this particular feature is not new.

 

MSI GTX 980 GAMING 4G and MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G are very similar in appearance. The only differences can be found in the slightly different heat pipe plexes, video outputs used, and slight differences in size. As you might guess, these video cards belong to the MSI Gaming series and are based on the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 and GTX 970.

 

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Compared to reference models, the manufacturer raised the GPU frequencies (see table), redesigned the printed circuit board and used its new proprietary TWIN FROZR V cooling system.

 

Comparative characteristics of video cards

 

 

Branded cooling systems from various video card manufacturers often use a solution where the heat pipes touch the GPU itself. According to MSI, this option is not always optimal, since usually not all tubes touch the processor. MSI sees a more advanced solution using a special heat sink into which heat pipes are soldered, which ensures more efficient heat removal.

 

 

By the way, the two fans of the TWIN FROZR V system work independently. Receiving data from different sections of the board, the automation controls them separately. Thanks in part to the use of relatively economical new graphics processors, it has become possible to operate video cards when the fans are not spinning at all. And this is on such high-end video cards! When the temperature of the observed elements on the board (GPU, power circuits, etc.) drops to 50 °C, the fans stop and start again when the temperature rises to 60 °C. I should note that the fans start very softly.

 

 

The effectiveness of the cooling system was confirmed in tests. When using games and test applications in our conditions, the maximum GPU temperature of the MSI GTX 980 GAMING 4G video card was 67 ° C, and the temperature of the MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G was 66 ° C. Excellent results. You still have a good start if you experiment with overclocking without replacing the cooling system. I would characterize the noise level under load as moderate.

 

 

MSI GAMING series products come with the proprietary MSI Gaming App. With its help, video cards can be made a little faster or a little quieter by choosing special factory profiles. For beginners who are not very well versed in the intricacies of how a video card works during overclocking and when changing operating modes of the cooling system, this type of experimentation can be very useful.

 

In tests, the processor frequencies of both video cards were automatically increased even above the declared level for boost mode. It was possible to fix the GPU frequency values at 1329 and 1316 MHz for the MSI GTX 980 GAMING 4G and MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G video cards, respectively.

 

What about the performance test results? The MSI GTX 980 GAMING 4G outperformed the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti in most tests, and the MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G outperformed the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780. Although the difference cannot be called big. Here, however, it is worth noting that the tested video cards based on the GTX 980 and GTX 970 have increased processor frequencies compared to standard ones, while the GTX 780 Ti and GTX 780 worked at standard frequencies. In any case, the MSI GTX 980 GAMING 4G and MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G demonstrated simply excellent results, and this despite the fact that they, like other GTX 980/970 video cards, use a more modest memory bus and fewer computing pipelines compared to the GTX 780 video cards /780 Ti (see table). All this thanks to the features of the new, more efficient Maxwell architecture.

 

Given, roughly speaking, the comparable cost of video cards based on the GTX 980 and GTX 780 Ti, as well as the GTX 970 and GTX 780, which can be seen on the market at the moment, one can definitely give preference to the new products. After all, with an identical or slightly higher level of performance, they are noticeably more economical, heat less and have some new functions.

 

As for the MSI GTX 980 GAMING 4G and MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G, these are excellent video cards. It’s hard to even name any shortcomings. I liked that in idle mode they can completely stop the fans, and you can get an absolutely silent video card when, for example, you are not playing.

 

Characteristics of video cards MSI GTX 980 GAMING 4G/ MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G

Video card model	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
Interface	PCI Express 3.0 x16
Tech. process	28 nm
Video memory	3 GB, GDDR5
Memory bus	256 bit
GPU frequency (boost frequency)	1190 (1291)/1114 (1253) MHz
Resulting memory frequency	7012 MHz
Outputs	HDMI, DVI, 3x DisplayPort/HDMI, 2xDVI, DisplayPort
Supplier	MSI representation
Price	12,670/7840 UAH

MSI GTX 980 GAMING 4G Rating:

+ increased GPU frequencies

+ interesting cooling system

+ relatively low power consumption

+ high performance

 

MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G Rating:

+ increased GPU frequencies

+ interesting cooling system

+ relatively low power consumption

+ high performance

 

Test bench configuration:

Processor	Intel Core i7-3770K
Motherboard	Biostar Hi-Fi Z77X
RAM capacity	4×2 GB DDR3 1333
Storage	SSD Adata S511 120 GB
Operating system	Windows 7 64 bit
Power supply	Thermaltake Thoughpower 1500 W (TP-1500M)

 

Test histograms

 

We used the set of tests and settings for 1920×1080 resolution exactly the same as in the large one comparative test of high-end video cards. You can compare the obtained results of the MSI GTX 980 GAMING 4G and MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G with the results of video cards in that test. However, it is worth considering that the large test used video card drivers that were current at the time of the test (about a year ago), while this review used drivers that are current today.

 

Sniper Elite V2 1920×1080 h. quality, fps

 

Metro: Last Light 1920×1080 high quality, fps

 

Sleeping dogs 1920×1080 high quality, fps

 

Tomb Raider 2013 1920×1080 high quality, fps

 

Total War: Rome II 1920×1080 high quality, fps

 

3DMark 11, Extreme scores

 

3DMark Cloud Gate (GPU Scores)

 

3DMark Fire Strike (GPU Scores)

 

System power consumption, W (less is better)