what is the major change here.
 
is this the same 4+2 phase power design that we see in the 970 sc also.
 
I just do not see the change from their press release.  we already had 6 phases of voltage control and the acx2.0 cooler on these cards,  the dual bios was also present
 
also if this new ftw+ is better in the voltage control can we step-up to the new ftw+,  it does not show as an option as of yet.

EVGA_JacobF
6 power phases here on both + higher power target. Also new cooling design which is 6% cooler.

I just want to make sure I have this correct.  the amount of power phases are the same between the eVGA gtx970 sc acx 2.0 and the new ftw+ model  (4+2).
 
also any info on if it is possible to step-up to the new ftw+ model. 

from what i can see there does not seem to be any difference between the two new models other than the extra 25MHz on the FTW+.  If you come up with anything else that is different please let us know.
 
https://twitter.com/EVGA_JacobF/status/547831253295460352
 
also it looks like I can do a step-up program for the new ssc model (3975) but the FTW+ is not offered yet (it is also not yet for sale).
 
thanks for being here and have a great holiday

The FTW+ model better come out in the next 6 days so us original FTW owners are able to step up.  I purchased one of my FTWs on the first day they were released, and now I only have 6 days left to Step-Up.

sahafiec
you can't step-up to the same GPU, only to a higher GPU.

I only can step up to the GTX 980 ACX 2.0 GPU?

I see your point, maybe this exceptional move should not be called "step-up" as it can be mistaken with the official one.
as a GTX 970 FTW owner I'm also curious about the new FTW+.
we'll see where this is going to end. 

I would be very disappointed if there is no step-up for 970FTW owners.

ManBearPig
(what the FTW SHOULD have been to begin with)

Absolutely agree... just received my FTW step-up from an ACX 1.0 SC and now read this, ugh.  Very happy with the upgrade, but that grass is always greener.

EVGA is upgrading this GTX 970's cooling by using a full-coverage memory and MOSFET cooling plate (MMCP) rather than the partial plate found on the last-generation For The Win (FTW) card. Such a move is claimed to reduce memory temperature by 14 per cent and, probably more relevant to the overclocker, keep the hot-running VRM MOSFETs 48 per cent cooler than on the same card bereft of MMCP technology. The present Superclocked ACX 2.0 card, 04G-P4-2974-KR, also has no such MMCP plate, mind.
Further, EVGA says it is now using a trio of 8mm heatpipes that run horizontally across the heatsink instead of the usual U-shaped arrangement found on other models, including the original Superclocked. EVGA believes the straight-across-the-block design offers six per cent better heat dispersal and lower thermal resistance.
Harnessing this extra performance potential, the GTX 970 SSC upgrades the circuitry to six power phases while adding 6+8-pin power connectors in concert with an overclocking-friendly Power Target figure higher than on the majority of the competition. This appears to be a card begging to be overclocked to GeForce GTX 980 levels, then.
 
i was hoping these improvements would be made.  I am lucky enough to have started a step up program to this card.  I just have to pay for shipping and I will trade my sc for the ssc.
 
I cannot find anything that says the new ftw+ is any different than the new ssc other than another 25MHz on the core and a back-plate.

If they are focusing more extention to the necessary and minute details of the 970's, that must prove that there will be no big reveal of cards that are going to be sold out for months on end, like a 980ti that was rumored for so long. I know they said the manufacturing process experienced delays, but this is a good thing that EVGA is investing the time to better the items that they have available during the delay.

the more I think about all this the less I like it, my FTW is not even 1 month old.
 
and now EVGA turns the light on an FTW+ with far better connectivity, more power phases, backplate (I had to buy one) and even MMCP.
 
so what am I supposed to think/do/say ?!?
 
that's a very strange way to "protect our investment" EVGA!

Do these new SSC cards come with back plates? If not will the one for the previous GTX 970 SSC be compatible? I was going to RMA mine as I am having issues with it but I figure I will just step up to the new version.

Well, I would be glad if we could get some kind of MOSFET cooler for the old FTW. Does not need to be a plate, maybe EVGA could add some tiny glue-on coolers, that would be sent to FTW owners if they ask for it.

that's great, now even 5 year warranty. is it getting better or worse, no idea what to think Jacob?!

I can stepup from a vanilla 970, but what is the point. 980 and 970 are just midrange cards indisguise... Anymore investment is a waste on these when gm200 is coming!