MSI GTX 970 4G Overclocking Video Card Hands-On – Maxwell Dresses Up

NVidia’s GPUs bring all the manufacturers to the yard. The release of GM204 first saw our review of the reference GTX 980 – presently the objective best video card we’ve ever tested – followed-up shortly by coverage of ZOTAC’s new Amp! Overclocking GPU lineup. While at the Game24 unveil event, we managed to catch up with MSI to discuss its SKUs for the GTX 970 and GTX 980 series.

MSI brought their GTX 970 4G “Gaming” video card along, equipped with an updated Twin Frozr cooler using dual 100mm push fans and a somewhat standard heatpipe / heatsink design. Let’s get into the specs.

MSI GTX 970 4G Hands-On & Overview

MSI GeForce GTX 970 4G Specs

As with Zotac’s Amp! Omega GTX 970, the GTX 970 4G comes with 2xDL-DVI, 1xHDMI, and 1xDisplayPort; nVidia reference is 3xDisplayPort and 1xHDMI / DL-DVI, but opting for fewer DP outputs reduces cost of the GPU without necessarily removing much output functionality for most users. The card uses MSI’s Twin Frozr V cooler, including what the company calls a “SuperSU Pipe” – effectively a snaking heatpipe that travels through the whole heatsink.

Using MSI’s software, users can set the card into three different modes: OC, Gaming, and Silent. This throttles or increases the clock speed and fan speed appropriately. OC Mode sees a jump to 1140MHz Core CLK / 1279MHz Boost, Gaming Mode jumps us to 1114MHz / 1253MHz, and Silent Mode pushes 1051MHz / 1178MHz. The stock frequency of the GTX 970 hovers at 1050MHz / 1178MHz.

Aesthetically, MSI's GTX 970 4G is hands-down the best-looking video card we've yet seen of this series, outside of reference. The black/red design and thin-profile fans just have something about them. GN Staff Writer Scott Griffin was in agreement on this front.

We’ll have more on this card once review samples come in.

- Steve "Lelldorianx" Burke.