Jacob how are the HC blocks looking?
 
I am guessing they are in production right now, been a few weeks wondering if we can get an update on a release for the blocks?

Hi, I still haven't installed mine to see if it Red screens.  I did purchase the evbot though and plan to use it.
I've also heard there's a msi Lightning LN bios that has been modified to work on this card when flashed and you get awesome results and voltage controls. Such as setting power limit all the way to 300% in afterburner 2.2.3.  I have to go find the person that has this bios as i forgot to save the link, but it's guaranteed to work I've seen the results.
 
SKETCH: I went to your site and I read the part about x79 not having PCI 3.0 and that you need a patch.  this isn't true, pci 3.0 is automatically enabled on x79 chipsets.  That's why when you used the nvidia patch you where crashing.
 
BTW where is the backplate for this 680 classy I dont see it for sale on this site.

Whitedragon, thanks for the link.
 
I noticed this card has a switch for Normal, overclock, and LN
Are these 3 different bios's and if so, why doesn't  the LN2 bios prevent Gpu throttling and shut down over current protection. After all isn't that what LN is supposed to do?  Is this switch some sort of gimmick?  what's going on here.
 

Sketch.. thanks

underwraps
SKETCH: I went to your site and I read the part about x79 not having PCI 3.0 and that you need a patch.  this isn't true, pci 3.0 is automatically enabled on x79 chipsets.  That's why when you used the nvidia patch you where crashing.

 
It is true. You are just misunderstanding it and some of the links are dead because NVIDIA's forum was hacked.
 
Essentially, this is the gist of it: NVIDIA will not support PCIe 3.0 *officially* on the X79 platform due to PCIe 3.0 not being certified by them. X79 does indeed have PCIe 3.0 *capability* but most of the boards (and the original design) were released prior to a PCIe 3.0 card being available to test. Therefore, Z77 is the first board to officially support PCIe 3.0 (Ivy Bridge).
 
PCIe 3.0 is on X79...it's just not as widely supported as its implementation on Z77. It's a confusing topic. Most X79 boards will set your GTX 670/680 to PCIe 2.0 unless you use that patch. I had to use it on my RIVE. I got the patch working. You just have to use one monitor, disable SLI, and then run it. Otherwise it can cause crashes (multi monitor and NV Surround/SLI enabled, especially).
 
If you don't want to believe me, head on over here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/GeForce-600-Series-Kepler-X79-PCIe_3.0,16091.html
 
:)

Razym.  I have the new bios, but I didn't install it yet  I found the person and he emailed it to me.  Pm me your email and ill send it to you.  make sure when you flash it you have the switch on LN2 on the classy and save the original bios just incase something goes wrong.

Sent.....let me know how it works

Haha.
 
Actually, it works. Kind of. Runs pretty hot, even for a Classified. I think I got it to about 1300 with 450mhz on the memory and had to stop as I should probably put these two cards underwater before continuing.
 
It also doesn't show voltages on EVBot, but it also raises the power limit from 131 to 150. It also unlocks full fan speeds, which get kinda loud above 55%.

Of course it runs hot you need a voltage meter to check.
You push that voltage to 100 on ab 2.2.3 you might get volts as high as 1.30 dont pay attention to the ab monitor on voltage.
 
The cooling system on the msiL is also far more superior than this card

The cards are running much more stable, possibly due to the increased voltage being pushed through the card. It's not working at all like changing voltages with EVBot, however. To be more specific, the cards would previously take around three or four seconds to stabilize when doing a stress test where the frame rate would drop drastically until load would increase. It feels like the difference between an offset overclock and a manual overclock with constant voltage.
 
These cards can probably push 1350 or 1400, though I'd be afraid to do that on air. I may just bench it shortly when I get the chance. Unfortunately, there's a major heatwave in my neck of the woods and it' easily hitting 107-110 and the evenings are as warm as 85F.
 
Finally, to answer your question, I was hardly able to break 1260 before when my GPU driver would crash. Adding more voltages through EVBot didn't really accomplish much when the GPU video driver would keep crashing.
 
I'll check the load voltage when I get a chance. I need to dust off my meter  

Dwensel2001

razym

Haha.

Actually, it works. Kind of. Runs pretty hot, even for a Classified. I think I got it to about 1300 with 450mhz on the memory and had to stop as I should probably put these two cards underwater before continuing.

It also doesn't show voltages on EVBot, but it also raises the power limit from 131 to 150. It also unlocks full fan speeds, which get kinda loud above 55%.

What kind of OC were you able to get before this? How does it compare?

Hi, also just ordered a Dangerden Classified waterblock from Performance-pcs today...very Excited to put this under water finally. :)

underwraps
I'll tell ya, the msi on stock cooling stays around 60c when benching or playing any game at 1350 or 1400mhz with 1.25 to 1.30 volts
The cooling design is just so awesome on that card.
But here's the kicker, when doing it on the LN2 bios on the msi other parts start to produce more heat and my case feels hotter but when I run it on stock bios at 1350 / 1400 it doesn't produce as much over all heat and still doesn't throttle.
I just hope I can get to 1350 on the classy without water, but it doesn't seem likely. Haven't installed it yet cause I'm waiting to complete my second build. Reason I purchased the classy is because it has 4g memory and my second build will need it to work with special algos I run using an AI program for work

I've got two 680 Lightnings, as well. I really like them. Although I now like my Classifieds better. They're hard to compare directly, IMO. I recommend people going with 1-2 cards opt for the 680 Lightning. If going 3-way or 4-way (on air) - the Classified is the way to go. Although the 680 Lightning now has water blocks, so it's do-able in 3-way/4-way.
 
It's tough to compete with the unlocked BIOS on the Lightning 680s from the first batch. No thermal throttling at 70C with the LN2 BIOS is just so nice. We had it so nice back in the Fermi days...no training wheels. :)

I just found out the hard way this new nVidea Geforce 680 Classified is not compatible with my HP xw4600 Worstation. I get 6 beeps when attempting to boot. HP states in their Troubleshooting section that it is a graphics issue. Currently I am running an nVidea GeForce 550ti Fermi without a hitch and it works extremely well for me, but I bought the GeForce 680 in the hopes of future proofing my system. Oh well I'll just keep the card and buy a Gaming rig that already has one in it and I'll just "SLI" it later. I bought a 1000watt power supply at the same time I bought this card so I know for a fact it isn't power related. There are no more bios updates available from HP and I have the most current version released v1.22. Apparently my Motherboard isn't reading the firmware from the card in order to load resources and post. HP no longer supports my Computer, so; I guess it's about time I go ahead and buy a new one anyway.
I Love nVidea Products and until now I have never had any issues, but that isn't nVidea's fault and I will continue buying their products well into the future.

Checked the load on the cards with said bios. The voltage is at a constant 1.21250V in an ambient room of about 28 or 29C, which heats up fairly quickly. I capped the fan speeds at 55% because that's what EVGA sets it to, even if the bios takes off that limitation. I wouldn't want the fans to fly right off, would I?
 
I'm not budging from my boost of about +20 with a 131% power target. That gives me about 1300mhz. Go go HC full cover classy blocks
 

razym

The cards are running much more stable, possibly due to the increased voltage being pushed through the card. It's not working at all like changing voltages with EVBot, however. To be more specific, the cards would previously take around three or four seconds to stabilize when doing a stress test where the frame rate would drop drastically until load would increase. It feels like the difference between an offset overclock and a manual overclock with constant voltage.

These cards can probably push 1350 or 1400, though I'd be afraid to do that on air. I may just bench it shortly when I get the chance. Unfortunately, there's a major heatwave in my neck of the woods and it' easily hitting 107-110 and the evenings are as warm as 85F.

Finally, to answer your question, I was hardly able to break 1260 before when my GPU driver would crash. Adding more voltages through EVBot didn't really accomplish much when the GPU video driver would keep crashing.

I'll check the load voltage when I get a chance. I need to dust off my meter  

Dwensel2001

razym

Haha.

Actually, it works. Kind of. Runs pretty hot, even for a Classified. I think I got it to about 1300 with 450mhz on the memory and had to stop as I should probably put these two cards underwater before continuing.

It also doesn't show voltages on EVBot, but it also raises the power limit from 131 to 150. It also unlocks full fan speeds, which get kinda loud above 55%.

What kind of OC were you able to get before this? How does it compare?

It was mostly a joke! I'm not actually sure what the rated speed is for them, though they were capped at 55% by EVGA for unknown reasons, possibly due to how loud they are. After all, they are pretty loud at 55%.
 
In any event, they can run above 55%. Heck, they run at 100%. However, I think a space shuttle lift-off is quieter. If the fan is any similar to the FTW 4GB's fan, they can run at 100% safely.
 

underwraps

Why would it fly right off? Seriously what kind of quality build was put into this fan.  Msi L can spin dual fans at 100 rpm each without any problem and now your saying that a single fan cant spin at 100%