New, secret spin of NV40?

[Fenuxx]

I have had a total of 4, yes count em, 4 replacement GeForce 6800GT video cards from XFX. The third replacement died on me about a week ago, and yesterday, I got the new replacement. This replacement, however, was actually brand new, with a manufacturing date of 12\2004. I removed my NV 5 Silencer from the old card, and removed the stock 6800GT heatsink from the new one. Just for hell of it, I decided to compare the cards, to see if there was any differences, as the two cards were manufactured about 4 months apart. Upon examining the "naked" card, I noticed that the new GPU was slightly (by about 2mm) thinner than the one on the old card. Also, I noticed that the new GPU was fabbed in Taiwan (at TSMC), while the other was fabbed in China (IBM, I believe). My first thought was that it was just a variance with the manufacturing process, but then I started thinking, doesn't NVIDIA have strict policies regarding the way their GPUs are manufactured? I think so, so my second thought was the broken PureVideo. Maybe NVIDIA fixed the broken one with this spin of the chip, making it work, as it does with the 6600GT. It's probably a long shot, but it is not uncommon for companies to do this, with new revs of their chips (think AMD and Intel, with their steppings). Unfortunately, I don't have a good enough digital camera to take pictures to show the differences, because, as I said, they are extremely slight. So, below, I use ASCII characters to show the differences:


The old GPU (sort of)

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|..........................|
|..........................|
|..........................|
|..........................|
|..........................|
---------------------

The new GPU (sort of)

--------------------
|.........................|
|.........................|
|.........................|
|.........................|
|.........................|
--------------------


This is as close to an example that I can get without taking pictures, but as I said, I can't get anything that would show the slight differences. What do you guys think?

 

[SynthDude2001]

Maybe you should run some video tests (WMV 1080p decoding seems to be the most popular) to see if in fact there is a PVP being utilized? :thumbsup:

 

[Fenuxx]

I plan to run some tests, only one thing: Is the encoding or the decoding the part that it f*cked on the 6800's? When I find out, I will post the results.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Both, sort of...In fact I haven't so much as heard anything on the encoding aspect of it since the launch of the 6800 series last year.

 

[slash196]

Man, XFX must be some high quality if you're on your fourth card.

 

[2Xtreme21]

How did you manage to get an RMA when you removed the HSF for the cards?

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: slash196
Man, XFX must be some high quality if you're on your fourth card.

I hate XFX. They're far overrated, not very good at all IMO.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Take a picture of each card with a ruler beside it, measuring the card. :thumbsup:

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: slash196
Man, XFX must be some high quality if you're on your fourth card.

There's nothing wrong with XFX, there's something wrong with GeForce Tony for stealing three video cards from honest people so he can try to get "free" performance clocking it at 374/535.

He's contributing to the cost you all pay for these cards, apparently has no honor whatsoever, and should be reviled for making a post like:

I have had a total of 4, yes count em, 4 replacement GeForce 6800GT video cards from XFX. The third replacement died on me about a week ago, and yesterday, I got the new replacement. This replacement, however, was actually brand new, with a manufacturing date of 12\2004. I removed my NV 5 Silencer from the old card, and removed the stock 6800GT heatsink from the new one. Just for hell of it, I decided to compare the cards, to see if there was any differences, as the two cards were manufactured about 4 months apart. Upon examining the "naked" card, I noticed that the new GPU was slightly (by about 2mm) thinner than the one on the old card. Also, I noticed that the new GPU was fabbed in Taiwan (at TSMC), while the other was fabbed in China (IBM, I believe). My first thought was that it was just a variance with the manufacturing process, but then I started thinking, doesn't NVIDIA have strict policies regarding the way their GPUs are manufactured? I think so, so my second thought was the broken PureVideo. Maybe NVIDIA fixed the broken one with this spin of the chip, making it work, as it does with the 6600GT. It's probably a long shot, but it is not uncommon for companies to do this, with new revs of their chips (think AMD and Intel, with their steppings). Unfortunately, I don't have a good enough digital camera to take pictures to show the differences, because, as I said, they are extremely slight. So, below, I use ASCII characters to show the differences:


The old GPU (sort of)

---------------------
|..........................|
|..........................|
|..........................|
|..........................|
|..........................|
---------------------

The new GPU (sort of)

--------------------
|.........................|
|.........................|
|.........................|
|.........................|
|.........................|
--------------------


This is as close to an example that I can get without taking pictures, but as I said, I can't get anything that would show the slight differences. What do you guys think?

-------------------------
Athlon 64 3200+ (2.00GHz; 939, 90nm)
1.00GB Mushkin PC3200 DDR (Dual Channel)
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum (nForce3 250-Ultra)
XFX NVIDIA GeForce 6800GT 256MB (374\535)
Audigy 2 ZS
200GB Western Digital WD2000JB
120GB Western Digital WD1200JB
NEC ND-3500AG
Antec Super LANBoy

Since when do we feel sorry for people who steal four video cards?

 

[SpeedTester]

Amen Rolo.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: SpeedTester
Amen Rolo.

I've helped Geforce tony be a better person though- I just sent this thread and his user profile info (name, city) to XFX!

Maybe when he tries to steal his fifth they'll be less accomodating.

---

You have not helped anyone with anything with your seemingly endless, pointless, useless flaming. I am beyond tired of it, and I am even more tired of receiving complaints from others you offend.

Please spend two weeks elsewhere to consider how you can improve your forums courtesy.

AnandTech Moderator

 

[Gamingphreek]

Ouch... i am interested if there is any difference at all though.

-Kevin

 

[zakee00]

Originally posted by: Rollo

Originally posted by: SpeedTester
Amen Rolo.

I've helped Geforce tony be a better person though- I just sent this thread and his user profile info (name, city) to XFX!

Maybe when he tries to steal his fifth they'll be less accomodating.

ouchies.

 

[Fenuxx]

Originally posted by: RolloThere's nothing wrong with XFX, there's something wrong with GeForce Tony for stealing three video cards from honest people so he can try to get "free" performance clocking it at 374/535.

He's contributing to the cost you all pay for these cards, apparently has no honor whatsoever, and should be reviled for making a post like:

WAIT!!! OK, I'm not stealing ANYBODY's videocard. The reason the card is clocked at 374\535 is because that is what it is set at FACTORY in the BIOS, if I had webspace to upload a picture of RivaTuner and CoolBits settings, I would happily provide a link so you can see the proof for yourself. In fact, I am NOT OVERCLOCKING ANYTHING in my system. Also, this is only the second card that I have had from XFX clocked at these speeds (the 2 cards have the same BIOS rev). I have had cards from XFX with the following speeds:

350\500 - the first 6800GT that died about 2 months after I got it
370\500 - the second 6800GT that was dead when I got it
374\535 - the last 2 cards I got, the first was good for about two and a half weeks, and the other, I'm using.

Don't accuse me of something unless you know your facts, Rollo, which you didn't.

 

[jasonja]

This is probably just a re-spin of the chip. TSMC is much cheapier to use than IBM so this was probably a cost cutting measure.

 

[josepavento]

Originally posted by: geforcetony

Originally posted by: RolloThere's nothing wrong with XFX, there's something wrong with GeForce Tony for stealing three video cards from honest people so he can try to get "free" performance clocking it at 374/535.

He's contributing to the cost you all pay for these cards, apparently has no honor whatsoever, and should be reviled for making a post like:

WAIT!!! OK, I'm not stealing ANYBODY's videocard. The reason the card is clocked at 374\535 is because that is what it is set at FACTORY in the BIOS, if I had webspace to upload a picture of RivaTuner and CoolBits settings, I would happily provide a link so you can see the proof for yourself. In fact, I am NOT OVERCLOCKING ANYTHING in my system. Also, this is only the second card that I have had from XFX clocked at these speeds (the 2 cards have the same BIOS rev). I have had cards from XFX with the following speeds:

350\500 - the first 6800GT that died about 2 months after I got it
370\500 - the second 6800GT that was dead when I got it
374\535 - the last 2 cards I got, the first was good for about two and a half weeks, and the other, I'm using.

Don't accuse me of something unless you know your facts, Rollo, which you didn't.

Doesn't removing the heatsink (and replacing it with an aftermarket one) void the warranty?

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: josepavento

Originally posted by: geforcetony

Originally posted by: RolloThere's nothing wrong with XFX, there's something wrong with GeForce Tony for stealing three video cards from honest people so he can try to get "free" performance clocking it at 374/535.

He's contributing to the cost you all pay for these cards, apparently has no honor whatsoever, and should be reviled for making a post like:

WAIT!!! OK, I'm not stealing ANYBODY's videocard. The reason the card is clocked at 374\535 is because that is what it is set at FACTORY in the BIOS, if I had webspace to upload a picture of RivaTuner and CoolBits settings, I would happily provide a link so you can see the proof for yourself. In fact, I am NOT OVERCLOCKING ANYTHING in my system. Also, this is only the second card that I have had from XFX clocked at these speeds (the 2 cards have the same BIOS rev). I have had cards from XFX with the following speeds:

350\500 - the first 6800GT that died about 2 months after I got it
370\500 - the second 6800GT that was dead when I got it
374\535 - the last 2 cards I got, the first was good for about two and a half weeks, and the other, I'm using.

Don't accuse me of something unless you know your facts, Rollo, which you didn't.

Doesn't removing the heatsink (and replacing it with an aftermarket one) void the warranty?

Yes, it does.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: geforcetony
WAIT!!! OK, I'm not stealing ANYBODY's videocard. The reason the card is clocked at 374\535 is because that is what it is set at FACTORY in the BIOS, if I had webspace to upload a picture of RivaTuner and CoolBits settings, I would happily provide a link so you can see the proof for yourself. In fact, I am NOT OVERCLOCKING ANYTHING in my system. Also, this is only the second card that I have had from XFX clocked at these speeds (the 2 cards have the same BIOS rev). I have had cards from XFX with the following speeds:

350\500 - the first 6800GT that died about 2 months after I got it
370\500 - the second 6800GT that was dead when I got it
374\535 - the last 2 cards I got, the first was good for about two and a half weeks, and the other, I'm using.

Don't accuse me of something unless you know your facts, Rollo, which you didn't.

I guess you have nothing to worry about with XFX then do you Geforcetony? I'm sure they'll know about the cards being factory OCd, and won't mind that you put a Silencer on it. (perhaps incorrectly, given the "luck' you're having)

Of course, my XFX 6800GT cam e at 350/500 like everyone else's I've ever heard of, so what do I know?

No problem Geforcetony, I copied your original post wherein you describe taking the HSFs off and on, and have your clock speed, so I'm sure you're all set to go with XFX now.

:beer:

 

[mwmorph]

i definitely dont question your intentions but your busting his balls man. cant you have taken it easy and just told him to not oc or do any stupid thing like install a as5 and then ask for warranty first?

 

[Fenuxx]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
i definitely dont question your intentions but your busting his balls man. cant you have taken it easy and just told him to not oc or do any stupid thing like install a as5 and then ask for warranty first?

I wholeheartedly agree.

I only put the NV silencer on the third card because it was overheating like non other. Reaching temps (oops) of over 90c under full load, and hovering around 78c idle. The first two cards did THIS. I don't know what the hell you think you're doing Rollo, but that is a REALLY low thing to do, especially since you didn't even ask about anything, you just jumped to conclusions.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
i definitely dont question your intentions but your busting his balls man. cant you have taken it easy and just told him to not oc or do any stupid thing like install a as5 and then ask for warranty first?

He's stolen four cards mwmorph, do you think me saying " That's not right " will stop him?

Have you ever heard of a 374/535 stock clock?

 

[ronnn]

Originally posted by: geforcetony
I don't know what the hell you think you're doing Rollo, but that is a REALLY low thing to do, especially since you didn't even ask about anything, you just jumped to conclusions.

Is his job to defend Nvidia at any cost.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: geforcetony

Originally posted by: mwmorph
i definitely dont question your intentions but your busting his balls man. cant you have taken it easy and just told him to not oc or do any stupid thing like install a as5 and then ask for warranty first?

I wholeheartedly agree.

I only put the NV silencer on the third card because it was overheating like non other. Reaching speeds of over 90c under full load, and hovering around 78c idle. The first two cards did THIS. I don't know what the hell you think you're doing Rollo, but that is a REALLY low thing to do, especially since you didn't even ask about anything, you just jumped to conclusions.

Woah 90C is a speed measurement now!?!

I think Rollo is right in the end but i do think he came down a bit TOO hard on the guy. However i do not know his motives and if he has dealt with this guy before.

-Kevin

 

[nRollo]

Sigh:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...493539&highlight_key=y

As I said, I don't want to have to get the NV Silencer, and although the temps aren't causing any problems yet, they are high enough that it is possible that they might down the road,

So the temperature was causing him no problem.

I don't know. I don't buy it that he's needed to RMA four different cards. No way he lucks into four defective cards in a row- within the six months 6800GTs have been around.

He's got to be doing something to kill them, and we're all paying for his mistakes.

BTW- why is it being hard on someone to send what they admit to doing to the company they're RMAing to? If they're doing nothing wrong, they have nothing to worry about?

 

[Fenuxx]

OK, below is the CoolBits screenshot of the clockspeeds of my card. Notice that there is NO OVERCLOCKING, with the no overclocking radio button clicked, so there is NO WAY that this can't be default:


CoolBits