Optional BIOS updates are now available for the EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 FTW2 and SC2 that enables 11GHz memory speed, this update is OPTIONAL and gives improved performance in 3D applications. NOTE: A small number of cards may not be stable at this new performance mode, please see below for installation instructions.
 
For FTW2 cards, you can flash the primary or secondary BIOS. To flash the secondary BIOS the BIOS switch on the card MUST be set to the secondary position before applying update. Flashing to one BIOS is recommended in case you need to switch back for any reason.
 
Windows (64bit) Installation

• Download the correct .zip file below for your graphics card below. ENSURE THE PART NUMBER MATCHES.
• Extract the files to a location on disk.
• Make sure no programs are running in the background, and double click update.exe.
• Press "Y" to begin the update.
• DO NOT TURN OFF POWER OR RESET DURING THE UPDATE PROCESS!
• After update, restart PC.

 
 
 
Testing
After applying the BIOS it is recommended to test for stability, a small number of cards may not be compatible with this update. Use a 3D application or game and watch for any visual abnormalities or game crashes, if this occurs please contact our support at 888-880-3842 or support@evga.com so we can assist you. As a reminder this BIOS update is OPTIONAL.
 
Unigine Superposition Benchmark Result on EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 FTW2
Before BIOS Update

 
After BIOS Update

 
If for whatever reason you need to flash back to the original BIOS, please use the below links to revert back to original (10GHz) performance mode:

Forum post will be updated with original BIOS shortly if you need to flash back for any reason.
 
EDIT: Original BIOS's are now in top post. If need to flash back for any reason use the above links.

The download descriptions are not correct, Jacob
6686 is 1080 FTW2
6684 is 1080 FTW2 DT
6583 is 1080 SC2
6581 is 1080 icX

I will be testing this out this morning,  I'll chart averaged runs over a few top benchmarks and games to see what this does performance wise.  I'll try to post these results later this evening if I can.
 
 

jsallen77
So this begs the question. Do the current 1080 FTW2 iCX cards already have the improved 11Gbps GDDR5X chips? Or is this BIOS update just pushing the old 10 Gbps GDDR5X chips to their limits?
 
In other words, do my 1080 FTW2 iCX RAM chips have even more headroom? Or are we taking 10Gbps RAM and just overclocking it to it's max with the BIOS update?

I bet its just like you say and they are just OCing the 10Gbps GDDR5X cause the new GDDR5X on 1080ti and titan Xp is 2nd Gen 

cloiselle1
it's literally a reflash of the bios to make the old, 10000 gbps chips run at 11, it's kinda worrying because these modules actually saturate at certain speeds and DO NOT offer better performance or scores because of the noise created in the throughput............ That's why specific 11g modules exist, they were designed to counter this behavior at higher frequencies. 

Exactly the reason I'm asking. However, it's not out of the realm of possibility that the FTW2 cards got these new RAM chips. These cards were produced around the same time the new GDDR5X chips would have been available. Maybe eVGA wanted to go ahead and outfit these iCX cards with better memory, but couldn't announce it until nVidia made the official announcement. Now that it's out in the open, they conveniently release a BIOS update that unlocks that hidden potential.
 
Either way, I'll be flashing and testing this all weekend. =) 

jsallen77

cloiselle1
it's literally a reflash of the bios to make the old, 10000 gbps chips run at 11, it's kinda worrying because these modules actually saturate at certain speeds and DO NOT offer better performance or scores because of the noise created in the throughput............ That's why specific 11g modules exist, they were designed to counter this behavior at higher frequencies. 

Exactly the reason I'm asking. However, it's not out of the realm of possibility that the FTW2 cards got these new RAM chips. These cards were produced around the same time the new GDDR5X chips would have been available. Maybe eVGA wanted to go ahead and outfit these iCX cards with better memory, but couldn't announce it until nVidia made the official announcement. Now that it's out in the open, they conveniently release a BIOS update that unlocks that hidden potential.
 
Either way, I'll be flashing and testing this all weekend. =) 

 
Sadly no, these are the old chips the 2nd revision is a totally different model.
 
I'd say this to anyone potentially looking at flashing, benchmark several runs and average them out at different memory oc's. if you start seeing a certain decline in performance at a certain point, you'll know whether or not it's worth your time.
 
I've seen FTW2's that actually lose performance at as little as +200 total mem, others that are good up to 800 or so....  Mine loses performance at 400, Curious if this bios revision changes anything else to help potential...

I'm glad you can read that. I can only make out number on the FTW. The FTW2 and 1080Ti are too blurry or faded to read.

Well the fact that there will be some cards that won't be stable at this new memory speeds probably means no, EVGA should have have released a new version with the new memory to avoid these issues.  I was able to overclock my GTX 1080 FTW ACX memory to 11gbs but I did not dare to test it in games for obvious reasons.  I got one last July so it may die early do to a faulty VRMs, I did do the bios and thermal pads fix though.  Perhaps I should pay for an ICX upgrade for the extra cooling and this new 11gbs memory, plus the option to step up to a Ti?

Here's another thought.
 
Since they only made this BIOS update available to the iCX cards, they must have different memory chips. Otherwise they would release a similar BIOS update for all the other 1080s in the line. Why are the iCX cards the only ones to get the bump in speed if all the other 1080s have the same RAM chips?

jsallen77
Here's another thought.
 
Since they only made this BIOS update available to the iCX cards, they must have different memory chips. Otherwise they would release a similar BIOS update for all the other 1080s in the line. Why are the iCX cards the only ones to get the bump in speed if all the other 1080s have the same RAM chips?

that may imply evga has been using new micron 11gbps native vram chip on icx...

EVGA_JacobF
Before/after test result on Superposition, 1080P High Setting, 1080 FTW2. Also added to OP.
 

would you mind to clarify why only sc2 and ftw2 are available in this bios update?

evgauser28764

EVGA_JacobF
Before/after test result on Superposition, 1080P High Setting, 1080 FTW2. Also added to OP.
 

would you mind to clarify why only sc2 and ftw2 are available in this bios update?

for 1 they have better cooling of the mem dont you remember the big reason they made the ICX 

xxxslimshady

evgauser28764

EVGA_JacobF
Before/after test result on Superposition, 1080P High Setting, 1080 FTW2. Also added to OP.
 

would you mind to clarify why only sc2 and ftw2 are available in this bios update?

for 1 they have better cooling of the mem dont you remember the big reason they made the ICX 

as far as i know, evga has never admitted their responsibilty on the vram thermal pad thickness issue

evgauser28764

xxxslimshady

evgauser28764

EVGA_JacobF
Before/after test result on Superposition, 1080P High Setting, 1080 FTW2. Also added to OP.
 

would you mind to clarify why only sc2 and ftw2 are available in this bios update?

for 1 they have better cooling of the mem dont you remember the big reason they made the ICX 

as far as i know, evga has never admitted their responsibilty on the vram thermal pad thickness issue

I'm sure you're juust confused.
EVGA did accept responsibility for the high vrm temps. Even to the point of offering a free RMA to apply the thermal pads. They did confirm that the temps were still within margin of operation but decided to offer a way to reduce them anyway. They then went and accelerated the development of iCX system to prevent future high temps of the VRM and Memory.