There is another thread with a FLIR image of a non-backplate ACX unit and its temps are much better. I suspect the issue is more about the back plate creating an oven effect. Once the thermal pads are installed between the backplate and the card, the backplate can actually help temps, but with no contact, I think they actually heat the card up.

I think it's very annoying that neither EVGA nor Jayztwocents mentions anywhere that there are several batches of these cards in customer PCs that have faulty pads on the RAM. Apparently the thermal pads on the RAM are too thin to actually connect to the middleplate. Meaning, your RAM isn't properly connected to the cooling solution. And since there's a middleplate between the heatsink and the PCB, no air flow gets to the components.
 
If you order a Thermalmod from EVGA, you get 2 pads: one for the backplate and one that goes between the middleplate and the heatsink. You do NOT get new pads for the RAM. Why is this the case? And why is no one mentioning this anywhere?
 
If there's a gap between your RAM and the plate, the Thermalmod, as it is currently being offered, is NOT going to fix it.

evgacustomer01
I think it's very annoying that neither EVGA nor Jayztwocents mentions anywhere that there are several batches of these cards in customer PCs that have faulty pads on the RAM. Apparently the thermal pads on the RAM are too thin to actually connect to the middleplate. Meaning, your RAM isn't properly connected to the cooling solution. And since there's a middleplate between the heatsink and the PCB, no air flow gets to the components.
 
If you order a Thermalmod from EVGA, you get 2 pads: one for the backplate and one that goes between the middleplate and the heatsink. You do NOT get new pads for the RAM. Why is this the case? And why is no one mentioning this anywhere?
 
If there's a gap between your RAM and the plate, the Thermalmod, as it is currently being offered, is NOT going to fix it.

Yeah, this ^^^
 
Perfect time for EVGA to also include a bunch of 2mm pads for the RAM chips, too.

Well guys, I contacted my retailer and they said they would perform an exchange. So I just got an MSI 1070.
 
This doesn't mean I won't ever buy EVGA again, but it just seemed the right way to do this. At least for me.

Wouldn't the same thermal images that showed the VRM's getting hot also show the area where the vram is getting hot too....if there was a temp issue with the vram?

I have not seen any thermals indicate a vram het issue?

^ This

z1nonly
Wouldn't the same thermal images that showed the VRM's getting hot also show the area where the vram is getting hot too....if there was a temp issue with the vram?

I have not seen any thermals indicate a vram het issue?

What?
Check Tom's Hardware test.
Even on Metro Last Light Loop the Ram is almost over the spec limit. Without the slightest OC it's already at the limit. And Torture Loop is criticial. Also it takes way too long for the temp to drop because the cooling solution sucks. And here's food for thought: they most probably had a sample with properly installed pads on the RAM. If the pads on your RAM are not connecting the RAM to the plate...well guess why people have freezes and crashes?

brokencross
Well guys, I contacted my retailer and they said they would perform an exchange. So I just got an MSI 1070.
 
This doesn't mean I won't ever buy EVGA again, but it just seemed the right way to do this. At least for me.

I fully agree with you. I would of done the same in your position.

evgacustomer01

z1nonly
Wouldn't the same thermal images that showed the VRM's getting hot also show the area where the vram is getting hot too....if there was a temp issue with the vram?

I have not seen any thermals indicate a vram het issue?

What?
Check Tom's Hardware test.
Even on Metro Last Light Loop the Ram is almost over the spec limit. Without the slightest OC it's already at the limit. And Torture Loop is criticial. Also it takes way too long for the temp to drop because the cooling solution sucks. And here's food for thought: they most probably had a sample with properly installed pads on the RAM. If the pads on your RAM are not connecting the RAM to the plate...well guess why people have freezes and crashes?

He means the chips around the core. Not the mosfets area. But he does not see that 3 of the ram chips are affected by the heat from those.

-The VRM issue (i.e. fact that VRMs are not heatsinked by design) is a design issue.   Arguably the design still works and I was going to live with it.  Add the thermal pads when I recieved them. 
 
-NOW, the VRAM issue (i.e. pictures floating around that show the VRAM thermal pads are present but don't actually touch some and even most of the VRAMs) is an obvious quality issue.    
 
Luckily I just got the card last week from Frys...Can anyone recommend another 1070 model?  I do not care so much about top OC nor noise as much as quality and reliability.