Murteira
Hi,
 
Does this issue mean that EVGA has a poor Quality Control? I mean, I've been searching on Google for issues with the 780 Ti for the last couple of days, and so many entries related to EVGA cards arose. Coil whine, "buzzing noises", this metal noise from the ACX cooler, you name it. Then I came here to the forums and realised this issue with the cooler is not new...
 
I'm in the market for my first graphics card for my first build ever, a GTX 780 Ti, and I only consider two brands: EVGA and Asus. I really appreciate the kind of support EVGA gives to its customer and the freedom to install some aftermarket cooling on the cards without voiding the warranty, but then I see things like this which make me think twice before ordering anything. 

You mainly see bad experiences on the internet. How many good experiences need to be posted? A lot of people just don't need to. There are so many more positives that don't get posted on the net. Believe me, there are many more positives out there than negatives.
 
 
*(You can't see the whole picture looking through an empty paper towel's cardboard cylinder).           

Murteira
Hi,
 
Does this issue mean that EVGA has a poor Quality Control? I mean, I've been searching on Google for issues with the 780 Ti for the last couple of days, and so many entries related to EVGA cards arose. Coil whine, "buzzing noises", this metal noise from the ACX cooler, you name it. Then I came here to the forums and realised this issue with the cooler is not new...
 
I'm in the market for my first graphics card for my first build ever, a GTX 780 Ti, and I only consider two brands: EVGA and Asus. I really appreciate the kind of support EVGA gives to its customer and the freedom to install some aftermarket cooling on the cards without voiding the warranty, but then I see things like this which make me think twice before ordering anything. 

I wouldn't call it poor QC.  Stuff happens.  You can't expect every card to work 100% all the time.  It's how EVGA responds to these issues that keep me a customer for the foreseeable future.  Now my only gripe is that someone should of tested my replacement card before it was sent to me. I'm not mad though.  It only took me 10 minutes to fix the rattling and now everything is fine.  

XrayMan
You mainly see bad experiences on the internet. How many good experiences need to be posted? A lot of people just don't need to. There are so many more positives that don't get posted on the net. Believe me, there are many more positives out there than negatives.
 
 
 *(You can't see the whole picture looking through an empty paper towel's cardboard cylinder).           

 
Hi,
 
You're right, good experiences aren't usually posted on the internet. People only feel the need to post when they experience problems with their purchases. The problem is that when you compare the bad experiences across the two brands I mentioned, EVGA seems to take the lead unfortunately, at least in what concerns to the 780 Ti. It could be that most of Asus customers don't lose time posting on forums and go talk directly to the support staff.
I know EVGA's support is great, but why don't they solve this long time issue once and for all, thus avoiding so many RMAs? Yes, there is the fix posted in this thread, but nobody likes to receive a card that has some sort of fault and have to open and mod it to solve the issue, I guess. Of course Asus cards have their issues too... ;) 
 

Vlada011
I would always choose EVGA GTX780Ti SC or special Classified before ASUS DirectCU II,
even before I read about very high temps on some DCII and people don't know what is reason.
That's worse what can happen with manufacturer who not allow removing cooler. You can only pray it's thermal pad issue, because you can't try anything without risk to manufacturer refuse to replace or even MSI and others where sometimes is sticker over screw and only you can do is to contact manufacturer. 
EVGA GTX780Ti SuperClocked have same clock and speed as ASUS GTX780Ti Matrix Platinum, it's 50MHz faster than any DCII model.
Both EVGA premium models work on even higher speed, faster than any card from ASUS or MSI. 

 
I was all set on the Asus DirectCU II in the beginning, but then I read Guru's review of it and... what the hell? ~100ºC on the VRMs? Guru even advises against tweaking too much with the card in the conclusions. And yes, it seems that this issue is not exclusive of the 780 Ti, there are some reports of it on the rog forums related to the 780 DCU II too. Perhaps the caps and MOSFETs are designed to work well under those hot temps, I don't know... It's a shame that Asus doesn't allow removing the cooler without voiding the warranty.
 
Well, now I know my choice is going to be between the EVGA Classified and the Asus Matrix Platinum. I shall put the card under water in the future. I'll wait for the Matrix to come in, let the MSRP be revealed, and only then I shall make my decision.
Which one has the best components? Asus is marketing the Nichicon GT 10k black metallic caps rated @120ºC, hardened MOSFETs and better chokes on the Matrix. On the other hand, from what I've been reading on the web, the Classified uses Nichicon FP L8 caps rated "only" @105ºC and 2k, and, judging from the extensive coil whine issues, EVGA could be going cheap on the inductors. I'm no electrical engineer though, so cannot make any conclusions. 
 

PhazeDelta1
 
I wouldn't call it poor QC.  Stuff happens.  You can't expect every card to work 100% all the time.  It's how EVGA responds to these issues that keep me a customer for the foreseeable future.  Now my only gripe is that someone should of tested my replacement card before it was sent to me. I'm not mad though.  It only took me 10 minutes to fix the rattling and now everything is fine.  

 
The problem is that this issue is affecting a lot of people and cards, and no direct answer from EVGA so far.

It's not only Guru3D review, people notice hot VRM on DirectCU II in their rigs on NVIDIA Forum, overclock.net, TPU, I don't know...
I'm really not sure is it GTX780 and GTX780Ti or only Ti... but some guy clearly say and previous models...
 
I thought to buy GTX780Ti Classified first and I wait just to see price between K|NGP|N Classified and normal Classified, because people talk about some 1000$, and I was ready to pay about 800e example for card. And I'm glad because I wait so nice card. 1072MHz base clock.
ASUS can't go on such strong cards because many people will get models stable only on 1030-1040MHz base clock, and if they go higher with clock than no enough cards, and they probably plan to sell few thousands. Because of that 1006MHz provide more samples. Because of that KP Classified is stronger than Maxtrix almost 500 points in Firestrike Xtreme GPU Score. 6000 GPU score with some Xtreme CPU or 5940-5950 with normal i7.
ASUS never made graphic overclocked out of box how much 115% power target allow you. You have 20-30MHz space only for stability in any 3D application to avoid throttling because low power target. For higher clock you need unofficial BIOS. But such card cost 860$...
But I think Matrix would be close, maybe 50-60$ less. 
I mean she cost 859$/765e but people who can't buy from EVGA pay up to 1100-1200$.
 
 
 
 
 

Bmxant
My GTX 780 FTW has been rattling pretty badly. If I stop the right fan (under the power connectors) the noise stops, so I'm not too sure if it's a faulty fan or something loose near that side of the card. It almost sounds like a playing card in the spokes of a bike (although a little quieter)

Sound's like loose fins. Try my fix then and report back here

Superbxxx

Bmxant
My GTX 780 FTW has been rattling pretty badly. If I stop the right fan (under the power connectors) the noise stops, so I'm not too sure if it's a faulty fan or something loose near that side of the card. It almost sounds like a playing card in the spokes of a bike (although a little quieter)

Sound's like loose fins. Try my fix then and report back here

Thanks for the reply.

Discovered that it's actually the fan that's bad
 
Support told me that the ACX cooler for the Titan Black wouldn't fit, but it looks nearly identical.
 
"ACX Cooler for GTX TITAN Black" purchasable from the EVGA website (Sorry, can't post links)
 
Thoughts? I'd rather drop $40 than have my CC charged nearly $600.

Draxy555
+1 for the thermal tape fix.  I found 2 groups of 2-3 fins that were a little loose on mine.  One near the front and the other almost all the way in the back.  There was the usual factory thermal compound carnage that had to be cleaned up and reapplied but after some quick testing the card seemed cool and quiet from 39%-100%.  I didn't get a chance to test it complete yet but so far so good.  I appreciate the information, saved me from having to go through the RMA process.  

Good to ear that man !

Maybe have one mistake now with series GTX700.
That's because EVGA didn't prepare more coolers than video cards for every model.
If something happen sending graphic card is much more problematic for some countries than sending only cooler and after that wait to send you new or they send you new and you send broken. Probably and taxes are smaller, and etc... and if you send working graphic card if they fix cooler and back you same card and that's normal thing if card is not problem only cooler that mean more traveling for card and more risk from damage. 
Because more than half people ask RMA not because fault card, because coolers, fans or fins noise and their card work completely normal. 
It would be much easier advanced RMA with coolers only.

That can be fixed and maybe with only little little super glue, but so small will stop moving or on some different way, people explain here on one topic.
If someone know it's not hard at all to fix. Only need to uninstall cooler and to know place where that happen. 
Maybe that fins touch plate and that cause noise, but that plate is excellent for temps of memory and VRM. 
ASUS didn't install that and have lot of people on different cards complain on high VRM and memory temps.
I think 2-3 little cubic thermal pad pieces on right place can stop any noise complete.
 

 

Product condition:

• Removal and or Defacing of Serial/Part number sticker(s) on ANY EVGA products WILL void ALL warranties on that product. All products ship from EVGA with a serial sticker.
• All products must be returned in its original condition. Products received by EVGA for replacement that include 3rd-party attachments (CPU heatsink backplate, memory chip heatsinks, etc) will have all attachments removed and discarded. EVGA holds the discretion to return the product to the sender if necessary.
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  • inadequate or improper repairs carried out by any person or entity which is not authorized by the manufacturer to perform warranty services on its behalf;
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• The product must be returned to EVGA in the original factory configuration and condition. All aftermarket modifications must be reversed before sending in the product for replacement.

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http://www.evga.com/support/warranty/
 
 
 

If someone removes the cooler, applies tape like in the original picture, will it void warranty? I don't mind doing it if there is a guarantee warranty still applies, it's a mechanical issue where some of the end fins quite literally are not soldered onto the copper pipes and are just held on by the pipe loosely and so they can rattle freely. All of the others are soldered or something to make them nice and rigid.

For $700AUD I expect far better. I absolutely love the card's performance apart from the noise, I play bf4 maxed out on my u2711 monitor but that noise is so damn annoying and loud, I can hear it over case fans, loud explosions n shooting in bf4 + my air con + room fan.

If you uninstall cooler and fix that part with some kind of type and back everything on place you will not damage warranty. 
Only if you need to send one day card to EVGA you should remove that sticky tape because of that pay attention what you use. 
They have nothing against changing paste or thermal pads if you install on proper way. 
No off course not, with any kind of waterblocks compatible with your cards you still have warranty.
Only you must back everything on place if you send card to EVGA and you can't lose and damage serial number.
It's good because EVGA not install sticker over screws as some other brands sometimes.
Only you can't make some physical modification cut plates, paint and similar things.

OK if anyone has a problem with ACX fans rattling or noise first contact EVGA tech support

Kasheem
I have bought a brand new 780 Ti ACX and sure enough I have this issue as well. It is really annoying at high rpms. I have contacted the support ans sent them an audio sample. It is difficult to record this sound properly though. Should have went with Zotac instead, the noise really stands out since it is installed inside Fractal R4 case with silent psu and cpu cooler...

Exactly the same thing. Couldn't get the sound recorded, but it sounded like gently blowing out air through the side of your mouth, while your tongue vibrates. Yeah it's hard to describe. Right now, I'm waiting for an RMA approval. My card is just 2/3 weeks old. For 700 euro's I expect a decent product that lives up to its value.

hello guys

from a few days to me is giving this annoying problem my gtx 780ti classified, how can I solve it without the thermal tape? is there a way? if I open the card I lose my warranty? I want to solve because it is really annoying