Thank you for clarifying this. Very odd 
 

awahwah
That tools does work without a BIOS update (kingpin) and was also the solution offered by EVGA to my support ticket. They stated that the low voltage is by design. Still strange that a cheaper variant has a higher voltage pool to play with.

awahwah
Indeed.
 
I'm going to reply to that answer via my Support Ticket as they did not answer the questions I asked  (Why the Voltage was set low on the FTW and Classified (I used to own a FTW) - as in, is there are reason.  And, why do they allow a higher default Voltage range on their lower tier Cards). 
 
I'll update this thread as they respond.

Thanks Awahwah. I look forward to their response.  This whole scenario is just kinda weird... i wish an EVGA rep would come spell it out clearly for everyone.  I'm very confused why the voltage lock on the SC is higher than the FTW (This statement is still correct, right?)

Just had a response, I'll cut and paste it:

Hello,
As for your questions:
Could I asked why EVGA never implemented a BIOS that gave/s the Card a ref board stock voltage? After all, there are three BIOS chips on board, which apart from differing Fan profiles offer little to the table.
Because at a BIOS level 1.212 is the cap due to the VRM choice. This can be increased externally of the BIOS by 3rd party tools.
Are you in the position to confirm what values I would need to change to allow the BIOS to provide 1256mv (or greater)? I'd assume, any reference to 1212mv within the Voltage Table.
This is not something that can be forced at a BIOS level, only through software.
I'm also assuming that the cooler is up to the Job of dealing with additional Volts (as long as it's nothing crazy) going to the Core without the need of putting the Card under Water?
This cards cooling solution is more than adequate for clocking and volt modding. As always there will be a point at which you need to go to water to push it further, but that would be higher than normal, partially due to the HSF used but also due to the VRMs used produce less heat than the reference model VRM’s. These cards typically clock quite well on the factory heatsink/Fan setup.

Thanks
Dave

So, the way I'm reading this, it's by design. I still want to return my Classy and will persue that with Dave.

I'm not going to use the Kinpin voltage tool. Like you, I do not understand why they will not raise the volts at the BIOS level. I'm trying to return mine as I type this message.

Poor show EVGA.

neo.aoshi
I've been trying to find a way to return my FTW for a SC and Newegg wont take it back and EVGA won't "downgrade" me either. What can I do?

Be happy with what you have? Sell what you have and buy what you want?

Methodical2
My new card maxes at 1.2, but the 1st one (had to rma it), maxed at 1.212.  So, it looks like the newer cards have been reduced further.  It doesn't bother me though, but I thought I'd throw that out there.

I am just guessing that your new card has a higher ASIC quality then the old card, that could be why it is running at a lower stock voltage. 
 
Also what are you using to read the voltage ? if you are using software it maybe inaccurate, try a voltage meter to know for sure.

GPU voltage at frequency/load/temperature is based on the VID of the specific chip as determined during manufacture. If they have the same voltage in SLI, dumb luck, but it makes no difference.

Ok man. I am not going to argue with you...

I have a huge clue what I am talking about when it comes to GPU boost, VID, and voltage regulation. The NVIDIA representative was 100% correct when he told you that it was perfectly normal for two cards of the same model to have different voltage requirements. The core voltage requirement of each card is determined during the manufacturing and testing phase and is hard coded into each chip. No BIOS or driver inputs affect that; those adjustments only work around that fact. Read up on VID.

If card A requires 30 mV more than card B, that is perfectly normal and is no problem at all.

We talked about this already. I told you to prove that the VID of the card changes when SLI is enabled versus disabled. You have yet to prove that "bug" exists.

Bonus points: tell me the mechanics behind your current cards versus your previous cards as far as voltage adjustment is concerned. In other words, when you move that slider to adjust the voltage in your program, what causes it to change?

HeavyHemi

Yep. vid for both idle and boost clocks are set based on a table for defined ASIC score ranges. Third party tools such as Precision and Afterburner, which can sync settings between GPU's, can affect boost clocks and voltages. However idle vid is unaffected.
This other part:
"Differing GPU Voltages in SLI Mode
When non-identical GPUs are used in SLI mode, they may run at different voltages. This occurs because the GPU clocks are kept as close as possible, and the clock of the higher performance GPU is limited by that of the other. One benefit is that the higher performance GPU saves power by running at slightly reduced voltages.
An end-user gains nothing by attempting to raise the voltage of the higher performance GPU because its clocks must not exceed those of the other GPU."
I've asked Nvidia to correct this as it is not accurate. Both GPU's in SLI will run at independent boost clocks and voltages unless you change it with 3rd party tools. Drivers have not enforced this since probably the GTX 200 series where the driver would sync the clocks to the GPU in PCIe slot one. None of that occurs anymore. Oh well, it's not like Nvidia is golden in their documentation. 

I agree except when 1 card is running so much lower on voltage that it produces instability which a lot of people are complaining about including myself . I myself have measured a 100 mv difference on the bottom card no matter what gpu was placed there.