Why not just use Precision X OC (or MSI AB) to keep the fans running at 30% or 35% speed at all times.  You can have it start at power up.  This fan speed would not be audible unless you have the hearing of a dog - because these fans are very quiet.  Plus it eliminates the start and stop twitch noise you describe.

I have a Silverstone ML08 (with handle) sitting on my desk... so it's pretty much worst case scenario for hearing sound from the GPU. Unfortunately, with the space I have to work with and pets and small kids it has to go on the desk. I also take it to my friend's place every week to play games, so it needs to be easily accessible. In fact, my last build was a giant Fractal XL-R2, and I specifically built this machine with the intention of having a silent, portable system that would fit nicely up on my desk. I had no idea that I was getting a graphics card that would make noises during the idle fan off mode. From my research, it seems that this problem is specific to EVGA - other card makers' fans are actually idle at idle. The fact that my 1070's fans remain motionless after a reboot suggests that it's at least possible in theory for it to stay still too. But as soon as the fans are spun up (either due to a gaming load or if I turn the fans on in PrecisionX), when the card returns to idle, the fans twitch.
 
I tried setting a fan curve to spin the fans constantly at the lowest speed (<10% duty), but the ball bearing fans used in the ACX 3.0 are relatively loud even at the lowest possible speed. The only fan I have going in the system is the CPU fan on my Scythe Big Shuriken II, and it's perfectly silent at 500-600 RPM, while the ACX hisses and chatters audibly at 300 RPM.

Something is wrong with your fans then.  The fans in my FTW 1080 are extremely quiet at 30%.  

hapkiman
Something is wrong with your fans then.  The fans in my FTW 1080 are extremely quiet at 30%.  

I have considered that. That's part of the reason I'm going with a replacement via advanced RMA rather than installing the thermal pads myself. Hoping I get a card with better fan noise characteristics. 
It's also possible that we have different standards for what constitutes computer noise. I've been building silent systems for years, so I'm pretty sensitive to fan noise. The characteristics of my card are pretty consistent (in my experience) with ball bearing fans, however. You get better longevity (especially horizontal) than sleeve bearing but at the cost of some inherent noise. This is why I was so excited to get a card with idle fan off mode - last time I bought a card (MSI 780 Ti Gaming), there was no such thing!

That is a Nice Case
 

I hope you realize that you will probably be getting a refurbished card that can be worse.

birthdaymonkey

hapkiman
Something is wrong with your fans then.  The fans in my FTW 1080 are extremely quiet at 30%.  

I have considered that. That's part of the reason I'm going with a replacement via advanced RMA rather than installing the thermal pads myself. Hoping I get a card with better fan noise characteristics. 
It's also possible that we have different standards for what constitutes computer noise. I've been building silent systems for years, so I'm pretty sensitive to fan noise. The characteristics of my card are pretty consistent (in my experience) with ball bearing fans, however. You get better longevity (especially horizontal) than sleeve bearing but at the cost of some inherent noise. This is why I was so excited to get a card with idle fan off mode - last time I bought a card (MSI 780 Ti Gaming), there was no such thing!

You must have Superman level hearing.  I have two 1080 FTWs in my system with an aggressive fan profile.  The fans run at 40% at minimum and I still can't hear them over ambient noise.  Right now all I can hear is the air purifier going in the other room.  The computer, which is sitting right next to (air purifier is over 20 feet away), is basically inaudible (all I can hear is the sound of the air purifier).

LittleGuy
I hope you realize that you will probably be getting a refurbished card that can be worse.

Yes, that's a good point. It's definitely a gamble... especially since I have an early card with the Samsung memory.

bcavnaugh
That is a
 

Yeah, it's quite an impressive design. Portable and only slightly bigger than a console, yet you can get a full fat GPU in it. And it somehow keeps everything cool without any intake or exhaust fans.
 

This is my setup. I run without the filter because it impedes airflow too much. With the system on my desk it doesn't get any cat hair in it even without the filter. The card looks nice as well. Unfortunately, as you can see, it's pretty much positioned to beam GPU sound directly at my head.

darkkterror
You must have Superman level hearing.  I have two 1080 FTWs in my system with an aggressive fan profile.  The fans run at 40% at minimum and I still can't hear them over ambient noise.  Right now all I can hear is the air purifier going in the other room.  The computer, which is sitting right next to (air purifier is over 20 feet away), is basically inaudible (all I can hear is the sound of the air purifier).

My hearing is pretty sensitive. It drives the wife crazy... some AC adapters seem to emit terrible high pitch electrical noise that's only audible to cats, rodents, and me. I think ambient sound level has a lot to do with it as well. I never noticed the sound from the twitching till summer was over and I turned off the dehumidifier. Now my family room is silent unless someone is watching TV.