The fans on my 1080 SC fluctuate up to 4000+ RPM constantly creating 'waves' of sound that are extremely annoying. This happens even if I set constant fan speed, and happens with both MSI Afterburner and EVGA Precision XOC. I've checked it with 2 PSUs (Silverstone 850W GS and Corsair SF600) and 2 mobos (Gigabyte Z97X Gaming G1 and Gigabyte Z97N Gaming 5). 
 
I'm at my wit's end with EVGA this gen. First I had two consecutive 1080 FTWs that had the black screen 100% fans crash issue. Decided to just return them and go for SC to avoid custom EVGA PCBs and ended up with the current 1080 SC with fan controller issue (though at least it doesn't crash constantly like the FTWs).
 
...icing on this is that all 3 cards have had loud coil whine, which I've also tested across three mobos and 3 PSUs. Oh, and the SC also has that ACX whistling sound it makes around 55-60% fan speed, but that can be avoided using custom fan curve so won't harp on that. Purchasing a $650-700 GPU that does its job without fuss should not be this much trouble, or feel like this kind of a lottery.
 
My SG13 case won't take cards longer than 10.5 inches and I'm not keen on blowers, so I may need to change up to something like an Ncase M1 to be able to avoid EVGA altogether. I wanted to check here, before deciding to spend $230 on an Ncase, to see if it is even possible to get an SC that doesn't have this fan speed issue.
 

 
 

Yes, i have seen all those threads. The reason I wanted to check here is that none of those threads seem to provide a definitive answer from people that have received their RMAs on whether the issue was actually fixed. Most of those threads seem to end with people recommending RMA with no follow up. I've had the SC card for only a week now, so I was also wondering if replacement through the retailer was a better option than EVGA RMA. 

Elfin
I had this problem with my first 1080 SC RMA'd it and the second one does it also. When the first one gets received I will RMA the second one.
I might have just returned mine to Amazon but I had already purchased the Advanced RMA.

Yep, this is exactly what I'm worried about. Given how the FTW RMAs worked out for many people (not too well), I was apprehensive about SC RMAs not fixing this issue either, and the lack of clear confirmations from people doing RMA didn't help.

My standard 1080 ACX 3.0 also couldn't maintain a constant fan speed when I set the fans to 100%. The sucker revved up and down, up and down - only in game. At the desktop it stayed at 100%.
 
Weird, but I never planned to keep it aircooled. Slapped my universal Kraken G10 bracket and Kraken X41 AIO cooler and haven't looked back. 
 
Disclaimer: I bought the 10 year warranty so that when I replace this card I can RMA it and then sell the replacement - should it turn out to be a fan controller issue.

Sajin
If you uninstall precision x & afterburner does the issue go away?

No, I tested by uninstalling Afterburner as well as Precision XOC. Monitored using GPU Z, everything default. It exhibits similar behavior over 10 mins of Firestrike, the fans constantly spike to 3200 RPM and back down to ~1400 RPM.

Are you using FanSpeed?

fightertoad

Sajin
If you uninstall precision x & afterburner does the issue go away?

No, I tested by uninstalling Afterburner as well as Precision XOC. Monitored using GPU Z, everything default. It exhibits similar behavior over 10 mins of Firestrike, the fans constantly spike to 3200 RPM and back down to ~1400 RPM.

Time to rma.
 

HeavyHemi

fightertoad

bcavnaugh
Are you using FanSpeed?

Do you mean SpeedFan? That just controls system / CPU fans...

SpeedFan can also monitor the GPU temps. There have been issues before with SMBus sensor collision using SpeedFan or other utilities that can monitor GPU temps. So if you are using it, try uninstalling it.

Oh ok. No, speedfan is not installed.

 

Sajin

fightertoad

Sajin
If you uninstall precision x & afterburner does the issue go away?

No, I tested by uninstalling Afterburner as well as Precision XOC. Monitored using GPU Z, everything default. It exhibits similar behavior over 10 mins of Firestrike, the fans constantly spike to 3200 RPM and back down to ~1400 RPM.

Time to rma.
 

Yes, if I can get a problem-free card, its the preferable option to having to uproot everything into an expensive new case for getting a different brand GPU (I want to keep a small form factor so NCase seems like the likely option that can fit Strix etc.) . EVGA contacted yesterday offering advanced RMA, and I replied, waiting on follow up. 

So I activated my Advanced RMA today for my SECOND 1080 SC card. Seems some of the customer service agents are quite baffled by two cards having the same issue. Other agents say they are starting to notice it more. If they all read the forums I think they would understand. I do the honor of telling them I've already done everything they're going to recommend so lets just go straight for the Advanced RMA. They conceded that was the best option and hopefully I get the new card this Saturday (Advanced RMA with Saturday Priority).
 
When I get the new 1080 SC, which will be my third 1080 SC, I will update you guys to see if the issue is fixed.

Yes they are stopping the RMA's. Check my post I made a couple of hours ago. They cancelled my pending RMA as well.I am glad EVGA is finally working to resolve this issue. Hopefully it happens soon.

ri0tcal
I too had my 4th RMA canceled yesterday due to this issue.  All cards shipped directly from EVGA.  I will be calling them tomorrow to get more info if any.

Yes, I suspect that this issue is much more widespread than is being let on. Across all of the threads on the SC fans issue, I have yet to see anyone confirm that they actually have a card that works as expected without fluctuating fans (with graphs). Given that EVGA chose to stop all 1080 SC RMAs till they can diagnose this, rather than send out a tested problem-free card, serves to only bolster the concern.

Glad I'm not the only one seeing this issue.  Especially disappointed as I just picked up two of them and both are exhibiting inconsistent fan spikes, even with fans set manually to a particular percentage.  Manually setting fans to 100% gives me random fluctuations between 1800 - 4500rpm and won't run consistently at any speed for any amount of time.
 
Just curious - those of you seeing the same problems what's it doing to your GPU temps under load?  A 20 minute bench test easily took me past the thermal throttling point.

I wasn't able to get any addition information when I called them.  Hopefully they can resolve the problem soon.
 
My request on the 4th RMA before it was canceled,
"I'm not sure if you can include special instructions with the testing of the new card before shipment. If so, the easiest way to recognize the problem is manually set the fan to 100 percent and apply a load. Either a game, benchmark or burn-in test such as furmark. The person testing should hear the fan fluctuate and see the rpm bounce in precision x. Simply hooking it up to make sure there is output to the monitor will not be a sufficient enough test in preventing yet another bad card sent my way."
 
Seems like if some people are reporting good SC's out there, this a manufacturing defect and had a bad batch of fans.  JayzTwoCents has a video of him running doom at 4k.  From what I could tell from the video, his card had no issue with the fans in precision x.  If I run the stock curve it will hit 80c but if I run my custom fan curve it will stay around 73c.

I've exchanged three EVGA 1080 SC cards (08G-P4-6183) over the last month, all exhibited the same fan rpm spiking issue...regardless of PXOC fan settings (default, custom curve, manual).  I tried all PXOC/driver settings, removal of all OC/fan utilities, drivers (DDU/safemode), swapped power supply/outlet/cords...everything, because I've had so many issue free EVGA cards I was honestly surprised with an issue...especially a repeated one.  But they have all had the issue on multiple machines and after not seeing much reported a month ago I've now seen at least five threads with multiple users citing this specific issue with the SC.
 
I've called EVGA and they suggested a few thing which I tired and offered to RMA but didnt know of or acknowledge a larger issue.  I can still exchange/return my card but to hear they have stopped RMAs is concerning and counter to what I would expect, especially from EVGA.  I would expect them to acknowledge the issue and communicate a plan/timing rather than leave customers that shelled out $600+ in the lurch.
 
I have had EVGA cards since my 6600GT and have had only EVGA cards since my 580.  I quite like the 1080 SC sans the fan issue and was still considering exchange or RMA...if they stop RMA I'm looking elsewhere unfortunately.
 
Loyalty shaken customer...Benjamin