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Our GPU test system has been built with the intention of benchmarking a variety of graphics cards from mid-range to high-end. Each GPU is tested in a number of 3D applications and games at 1080p, 1440p and 2160p (“4K”) resolutions using Very High or Ultra detail presets.
Test System Components
- Case: Corsair 400Q (two stock case fans replaced with Noctua 120mm rear exhaust and 140mm front intake, speeds UEFI-limited)
- Processor: Intel Core i7-6700K (Stock Intel Turbo behaviour).
- Memory: 16GB (2x8GB) G.Skill Trident Z XMP (3200MHz 16-18-18-38 @ 1.35V).
- Graphics Card: Variable.
- System Drive: Samsung 850 EVO 512GB SSD
- CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i v2 (pump at 12 volts, fan speed UEFI-limited to reduce noise).
- Power Supply: Seasonic Platinum 760W.
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit.
General Test System Notes
- AMD Graphics cards were benchmarked with the AMD (Crimson ReLive Edition) 17.4.2 drivers (17.10.1711 Beta 5) except the RX 570 and RX 580 GPUs which were benchmarked with a special press release driver (17.10.1030 Beta 8).
- Nvidia Graphics cards were benchmarked with the Nvidia (GeForce Game Ready) 381.65 driver.
- To tune the test system appropriately for acoustic measurements the case was stripped of its original fans and fitted with ultra quiet Noctua fans.
- The CPU cooler, the Corsair H100i v2, was set to a fixed low fan speed to further reduce the base noise level while the pump was left to operate at full speed since it produces no significant noise output.
- The CPU was left to default Intel Turbo behaviour, disabling ASUS enhancements such as all-core Turbo to minimise heat output inside the case and non-GPU related power consumption. The CPU voltage was also negatively offset (read: reduced) by a measure of -0.15 to further reduce non-GPU related heat and power consumption and keep CPU temperatures down to accommodate for the ultra silent CPU and System fan profiles.
- Each 3D benchmark or game is run 3 times at each resolution with an average result of the three runs taken as the final result for the graphs. Where benchmark screenshots are shown note these may not match the graphed figure since the graph represents the average of three while the screenshot is a single of those three values
Comparison Graphics Cards List
- AMD RX 480 8GB (1266MHz core, 8000MHz memory)
- ASUS RX 570 STRIX Gaming OC 4GB (1300MHz core, 7000MHz memory)
- Gigabyte Aorus GTX 1080 Ti Xtreme Edition 11GB (1607MHz core, 1721MHz boost, 11232MHz memory)
- Gigabyte GTX 1080 G1 Gaming 8GB (1695MHz core, 1835MHz boost, 10010MHz memory)
- Gigabyte GTX 980 Ti Xtreme Gaming Windforce 6GB (1216MHz core, 1317MHz boost, 7200MHz memory)
- MSI GTX 1080 Gaming X Plus 8GB (1683MHz core, 1823MHz boost, 11008MHz memory)
- MSI R9 390 8GB Gaming (1040MHz core, 6000MHz memory)
- Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB Founders Edition (1506MHz core, 1708MHz boost, 8008MHz memory)
- Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition 11GB (1480MHz core, 1582MHz boost, 11008MHz memory)
- PNY GTX 1070 XLR8 Gaming OC 8GB (1607MHz core, 1797MHz boost, 8008MHz memory)
- Sapphire R9 Fury X 4GB (1050MHz core, 1000MHz memory [HBM])
- Sapphire RX 470 Nitro+ OC 4GB (1260MHz core, 7000MHz memory)
- Sapphire RX 580 Nitro+ Limited Edition 8GB (1450MHz core, 8000MHz memory)
- Zotac GTX 970 4GB (1076MHz core, 1216MHz boost, 7010MHz memory)
Software and Games List
- 3DMark
- Ashes of the Singularity
- Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
- Furmark
- GPU-Z
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Metro Last Light Redux
- MSI Afterburner
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Steam
- SteamVR Performance Test
- Unigine Heaven
I’ve had this card for 3 weeks now and paid £503 before the £43 cashback. I bought it to replace a 290X which I advertised and sold within one day for £200 (is Bitcoin mining still a thing?), so all in this new card has cost me £260. That’s the only way I can justify paying such a ludicrous amount for a GPU.
My 290X Vapor-x was a brilliant card but it was huuuuuuge, 2.5 slots, triple fan, weighed a ton and was seriously loud more so under any sort of Overclock. My first impressions of the MSI GTX1080 Gaming X was just how small it seemed, small but wide, this made sense as the fans are a lot bigger. Once I installed it I visited the MSI site and was bombarded with software: afterburner, MSI app, streaming software, in an ideal world I’d love to see it all under one program but I understand some non MSI owners just want afterburner. As for the card, I’ve been blown away by just how many games I can play with the fans in stop mode and as for the triple AAA titles, I’m playing them all at Ultra 1440p and the fans are totally inaudible in my Phanteks Evolv mATX Tempered Glass. I can’t recommend this card highly enough.
Double posting as I have a question and a note:
Firstly at 1440p I’ve restarted The Witcher 3 and everything is on Ultra/Max whatever you want to call it with Hairworks on all and I’m seeing a steady 85-90fps.
Secondly If I got a 4K GSYNC monitor I know the card is not upto the resolution in all games so I know I can drop the settings from Very high to high etc, but if I drop the resolution from 4K to a lower resolution for select games does GSYC still work as intended?
I’m torn between a 4K monitor or a Very good 1440p higher refresh rate monitor.
Take both.
What kind of game are you playing ?
All the new stuff from Esports to Cinematic, so Overwatch to Witcher 3, Battlefield 1, Total warhammer, minds gone blank cos I’m at my folks…. hi burglars I’m watching you, but heavy heavy gpu stuff. I will get my money’s worth. Thanks in advance for any advice.
G-Sync doesn’t care about resolution.
That’s good to know, thanks.
I’v got a 27″ (1440p) IPS DELL (60hz) and I think, from what read about, i’m going to upgrade to 27″ 144hz. I’ll keep my DELL for Photo stuff but for gaming, 144hz might be the point of no return.
Don’t expect to see good IPS 2160p 144hz monitor anytime soon. Plus, there is no graphic card today capable of running a 4K game (with high settings) at +100fps. So what’s the point ? :p
For game way slower like witcher 3 a 60hz should be fine.
For people wanting this card a user has posted his came with 210W nominal and 220W max power limits vs the review card which has 220W nominal and 250W max.
What gives? Is MSI up to their old tricks with 1080’s by giving reviewers cards with higher performance than retail? This is pretty disgraceful if so and makes a mockery of reviews.
X Plus VBIOS 86.04.66.00.52 with 220W max power limit. https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/193984/193984