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MSI GeForce GTX 1080 SEA HAWK X review
Posted by: on: 07/01/2016 08:55 AM [
44 comment(s) ]
Let's fire up some hybrid powah with the GeForce GTX 1080 being tested with hybrid cooling!, yes join us as we test the MSI GeForce GTX 1080 SEA HAWK X . The gear that everybody is waiting to see are the board partner cards, all custom, tweaked and cooled better and the SEA HAWK X certainly fits that description with its include AIO liquid cooler. Let's have a peek at the new 8 GB beast From MSI.
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larsbaby
Senior Member
Posts: 120
Senior Member
Posts: 120
Posted on: 07/01/2016 10:01 AM
Overclockers have really yanked the price up on this to an eye watering £899.99..Ouch.
Scan on the other hand are more realistic at £829.49. That's still £200+ over a founders edition. The prices are out of control.
If and when I get a 1080 It seems the best option (for me at least) is to find one of the cheaper 1080 cards and slap an EK water block on it.
Overclockers have really yanked the price up on this to an eye watering £899.99..Ouch.
Scan on the other hand are more realistic at £829.49. That's still £200+ over a founders edition. The prices are out of control.
If and when I get a 1080 It seems the best option (for me at least) is to find one of the cheaper 1080 cards and slap an EK water block on it.
Glottiz
Senior Member
Posts: 470
Senior Member
Posts: 470
Posted on: 07/01/2016 10:03 AM
Again a great product from Msi.I really dig this one.
The cards tempratures are astonishing low in idle and full load.And above all she is a beauty
.
Thx Hilbert for the great review.
i'm puzzled why MSI insists on having a fan on GPU. Gigabyte's hybrid 1080 is fully cooled by AIO, no extra fans.
Again a great product from Msi.I really dig this one.
The cards tempratures are astonishing low in idle and full load.And above all she is a beauty
.
Thx Hilbert for the great review.
i'm puzzled why MSI insists on having a fan on GPU. Gigabyte's hybrid 1080 is fully cooled by AIO, no extra fans.
0blivious
Senior Member
Posts: 2526
Senior Member
Posts: 2526
Posted on: 07/01/2016 10:04 AM
Am I missing the point of the Seahawk for a 10 series card? Isn't it pre-water cooled to get a great overclock? These cards don't overclock past the Pascal wall so why go overboard on the cooling? Placebo?
Are we depending on a tweaked bios or something to make this worth it?
Don't get me wrong, it's a cool piece of kit, nonetheless.
Am I missing the point of the Seahawk for a 10 series card? Isn't it pre-water cooled to get a great overclock? These cards don't overclock past the Pascal wall so why go overboard on the cooling? Placebo?
Are we depending on a tweaked bios or something to make this worth it?
Don't get me wrong, it's a cool piece of kit, nonetheless.
Glottiz
Senior Member
Posts: 470
Senior Member
Posts: 470
Posted on: 07/01/2016 10:06 AM
Am I missing the point of the Seahawk for a 10 series card? Isn't it pre-water cooled to get a great overclock? These cards don't overclock past the Pascal wall so why go overboard on the cooling? Placebo?
Are we depending on a tweaked bios or something to make this worth it?
Don't get me wrong, it's a cool piece of kit, nonetheless.
not placebo. pascal starts throttling at above 50C in steps, so if you can keep it under 50C, and you can with hybrid cards, you'll have higher and more stable core clock, as confirmed by this review, too.
Am I missing the point of the Seahawk for a 10 series card? Isn't it pre-water cooled to get a great overclock? These cards don't overclock past the Pascal wall so why go overboard on the cooling? Placebo?
Are we depending on a tweaked bios or something to make this worth it?
Don't get me wrong, it's a cool piece of kit, nonetheless.
not placebo. pascal starts throttling at above 50C in steps, so if you can keep it under 50C, and you can with hybrid cards, you'll have higher and more stable core clock, as confirmed by this review, too.
fantaskarsef
Senior Member
Posts: 10735
Senior Member
Posts: 10735
Posted on: 07/01/2016 10:07 AM
Thanks for the review Hilbert, I was really waiting for this one! Great review as always.
Maybe MSI will clock better because it's that extra few degrees cooler, or can hold it's boost a tad higher under certain games, only direct comparison can tell if the fan's a waste, or indeed does something at least.
Thanks for the review Hilbert, I was really waiting for this one! Great review as always.
i'm puzzled why MSI insists on having a fan on GPU. Gigabyte's hybrid 1080 is fully cooled by AIO, no extra fans.
Maybe MSI will clock better because it's that extra few degrees cooler, or can hold it's boost a tad higher under certain games, only direct comparison can tell if the fan's a waste, or indeed does something at least.
0blivious
Senior Member
Posts: 2526
Senior Member
Posts: 2526
Posted on: 07/01/2016 10:08 AM
The numbers I saw seemed to indicate it performed like every other 1080 out there. Within 1%.
not placebo. pascal starts throttling at above 50C in steps, so if you can keep it under 50C, and you can with hybrid cards, you'll have higher and more stable core clock, as confirmed by this review, too.
The numbers I saw seemed to indicate it performed like every other 1080 out there. Within 1%.
Glottiz
Senior Member
Posts: 470
Senior Member
Posts: 470
Posted on: 07/01/2016 10:11 AM
i think it's merely a cost saving measure. it's simpler to just cool the core, unlike gigabyte's method that cools core, vrm and vram all with AIO and no extra fans.
check overclocking section of review, it's above all other 1080s. still think it's a placebo?
Maybe MSI will clock better because it's that extra few degrees cooler, or can hold it's boost a tad higher under certain games, only direct comparison can tell if the fan's a waste, or indeed does something at least.
i think it's merely a cost saving measure. it's simpler to just cool the core, unlike gigabyte's method that cools core, vrm and vram all with AIO and no extra fans.
The numbers I saw seemed to indicate it performed like every other 1080 out there. Within 1%.
check overclocking section of review, it's above all other 1080s. still think it's a placebo?
0blivious
Senior Member
Posts: 2526
Senior Member
Posts: 2526
Posted on: 07/01/2016 10:16 AM
check overclocking section of review, it's above all other 1080s. still think it's a placebo?That's what I meant. Even over the lowest of the bunch, the overclocked STRIX, it's a mere 1.3% better.
I guess 1% is something but I seem to recall the older generation of water-cooled cards to be more impressive.
check overclocking section of review, it's above all other 1080s. still think it's a placebo?
That's what I meant. Even over the lowest of the bunch, the overclocked STRIX, it's a mere 1.3% better.
I guess 1% is something but I seem to recall the older generation of water-cooled cards to be more impressive.
Hilbert Hagedoorn
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 36089
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 36089
Posted on: 07/01/2016 10:21 AM
That's what I meant. Even over the lowest of the bunch, the overclocked STRIX, it's a mere 1.3% better.
I guess 1% is something but I seem to recall the older generation of water-cooled cards to be more impressive.
You are totally right looking at it from a pure perf point of view and I mention that in the conclusion. The GTX 1080 is complex in that manner.
This product however is for those that like low GPU temps, silence and aesthetics in an AIO package. Obviously the cheapest 1080 you can find will make a lot more sense value/perf for money wise ... thing is, this product is just not about that. It's something different and more unique.
That's what I meant. Even over the lowest of the bunch, the overclocked STRIX, it's a mere 1.3% better.
I guess 1% is something but I seem to recall the older generation of water-cooled cards to be more impressive.
You are totally right looking at it from a pure perf point of view and I mention that in the conclusion. The GTX 1080 is complex in that manner.
This product however is for those that like low GPU temps, silence and aesthetics in an AIO package. Obviously the cheapest 1080 you can find will make a lot more sense value/perf for money wise ... thing is, this product is just not about that. It's something different and more unique.
fantaskarsef
Senior Member
Posts: 10735
Senior Member
Posts: 10735
Posted on: 07/01/2016 10:43 AM
The fan does look like it's on top of the GPU, but I seriously doubt it cools the GPU just by itself, I more think it's cooling 'everything', whereas the AIO cools the GPU only. But I guess you can only be sure about that when somebody takes it apart.
But, as we've seen, in general it's irrelevant for stock BIOS cards, to say the least. Maybe a custom BIOS could help with anything there, but I have the feeling overclocking gets more and more restrictive again the way Nvidia designs it's GPU boost (which, just mentioning it, is useless and actually a drawback for people that toy with their own cards, afterburner, and even more vBIOS flashes).
i think it's merely a cost saving measure. it's simpler to just cool the core, unlike gigabyte's method that cools core, vrm and vram all with AIO and no extra fans.
The fan does look like it's on top of the GPU, but I seriously doubt it cools the GPU just by itself, I more think it's cooling 'everything', whereas the AIO cools the GPU only. But I guess you can only be sure about that when somebody takes it apart.
But, as we've seen, in general it's irrelevant for stock BIOS cards, to say the least. Maybe a custom BIOS could help with anything there, but I have the feeling overclocking gets more and more restrictive again the way Nvidia designs it's GPU boost (which, just mentioning it, is useless and actually a drawback for people that toy with their own cards, afterburner, and even more vBIOS flashes).
cryohellinc
Senior Member
Posts: 2636
Senior Member
Posts: 2636
Posted on: 07/01/2016 11:13 AM
Thank you for a fantastic review Hilbert.
Impressive card indeed. Sadly cannot find it on the market right now. However temperatures are impressive indeed. And with this overclocking, for 1440p it seems like a very future proof card.
Grabbing one as soon as its out here on the market, I've had enough of SLI and all issues that come with it, most importantly temperatures. When @ SLI 980's @1440p turn a game all on Max and temperatures go sky high instantly.
Cant wait!
Thank you for a fantastic review Hilbert.
Impressive card indeed. Sadly cannot find it on the market right now. However temperatures are impressive indeed. And with this overclocking, for 1440p it seems like a very future proof card.
Grabbing one as soon as its out here on the market, I've had enough of SLI and all issues that come with it, most importantly temperatures. When @ SLI 980's @1440p turn a game all on Max and temperatures go sky high instantly.
Cant wait!
DangerousQQ
Junior Member
Posts: 5
Junior Member
Posts: 5
Posted on: 07/01/2016 11:45 AM
Overclockers have really yanked the price up on this to an eye watering £899.99..Ouch.
Scan on the other hand are more realistic at £829.49. That's still £200+ over a founders edition. The prices are out of control.
If and when I get a 1080 It seems the best option (for me at least) is to find one of the cheaper 1080 cards and slap an EK water block on it.
Perhaps you need to check these sites again, the prices you quote are for the EK waterblock version of the seahawk X. The corsair AIO version is still expensive but not unpalatable at £698.99. I personally dont think its good value as its still over £100 more expensive than the base card without water.
Overclockers have really yanked the price up on this to an eye watering £899.99..Ouch.
Scan on the other hand are more realistic at £829.49. That's still £200+ over a founders edition. The prices are out of control.
If and when I get a 1080 It seems the best option (for me at least) is to find one of the cheaper 1080 cards and slap an EK water block on it.
Perhaps you need to check these sites again, the prices you quote are for the EK waterblock version of the seahawk X. The corsair AIO version is still expensive but not unpalatable at £698.99. I personally dont think its good value as its still over £100 more expensive than the base card without water.
Spets
Senior Member
Posts: 2983
Senior Member
Posts: 2983
Posted on: 07/01/2016 12:10 PM
Awesome review HH.
Awesome review HH.
Netherwind
Senior Member
Posts: 6783
Senior Member
Posts: 6783
Posted on: 07/01/2016 12:11 PM
I'm very happy with this review Hilbert, thank you!
Am I missing the point of the Seahawk for a 10 series card? Isn't it pre-water cooled to get a great overclock? These cards don't overclock past the Pascal wall so why go overboard on the cooling? Placebo?
Are we depending on a tweaked bios or something to make this worth it?
Don't get me wrong, it's a cool piece of kit, nonetheless.
The point of this AIO solution is to eliminate throttling thus hopefully have a higher boost clock than normal. But the chip lottery still has to be taken under consideration since you can still get a bad chip.
i think it's merely a cost saving measure. it's simpler to just cool the core, unlike gigabyte's method that cools core, vrm and vram all with AIO and no extra fans.
check overclocking section of review, it's above all other 1080s. still think it's a placebo?
This sample yea, but if HH would test 5 different SeaHawks, one of the might not clock past 2050 for example?
No chip is guaranteed to overclock at a specific value.
I'm very happy with this review Hilbert, thank you!
Am I missing the point of the Seahawk for a 10 series card? Isn't it pre-water cooled to get a great overclock? These cards don't overclock past the Pascal wall so why go overboard on the cooling? Placebo?
Are we depending on a tweaked bios or something to make this worth it?
Don't get me wrong, it's a cool piece of kit, nonetheless.
The point of this AIO solution is to eliminate throttling thus hopefully have a higher boost clock than normal. But the chip lottery still has to be taken under consideration since you can still get a bad chip.
i think it's merely a cost saving measure. it's simpler to just cool the core, unlike gigabyte's method that cools core, vrm and vram all with AIO and no extra fans.
check overclocking section of review, it's above all other 1080s. still think it's a placebo?
This sample yea, but if HH would test 5 different SeaHawks, one of the might not clock past 2050 for example?
No chip is guaranteed to overclock at a specific value.
Xuanzang
Senior Member
Posts: 232
Senior Member
Posts: 232
Posted on: 07/01/2016 12:31 PM
What a great review, thanks. Really impressed by the numbers when it came down to temperatures, and i love the look of this card.
What a great review, thanks.
Really impressed by the numbers when it came down to temperatures, and i love the look of this card.
Juliuszek
Senior Member
Posts: 106
Senior Member
Posts: 106
Posted on: 07/01/2016 12:33 PM
I heard some rumors on other sites that MSI and ASUS were shipping review samples with different BIOS, enabling higher clocks than what customers will buy. I wonder if this is true? Anyone verified that?
I heard some rumors on other sites that MSI and ASUS were shipping review samples with different BIOS, enabling higher clocks than what customers will buy. I wonder if this is true? Anyone verified that?
FranciscoCL
Senior Member
Posts: 201
Senior Member
Posts: 201
Posted on: 07/01/2016 12:33 PM
Thanks for the review, is a really nice card.
This model was my first option, but was sold out everywhere. Finally I chose a Zotac AMP! Extreme that is already on it's way.
Thanks for the review, is a really nice card.
This model was my first option, but was sold out everywhere. Finally I chose a Zotac AMP! Extreme that is already on it's way.
Hilbert Hagedoorn
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 36089
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 36089
Posted on: 07/01/2016 12:45 PM
"Good cooling means good clocks and especially with Pascal we can achieve a state where the temperature limiter does not kick in, thanks to a base clock of 1683 MHz with a boost clock at 1822 MHz the cards adds a little extra performance (the default BIOS clocks btw are correct and as advertised)."
I heard some rumors on other sites that MSI and ASUS were shipping review samples with different BIOS, enabling higher clocks than what customers will buy. I wonder if this is true? Anyone verified that?
"Good cooling means good clocks and especially with Pascal we can achieve a state where the temperature limiter does not kick in, thanks to a base clock of 1683 MHz with a boost clock at 1822 MHz the cards adds a little extra performance (the default BIOS clocks btw are correct and as advertised)."
geogan
Senior Member
Posts: 402
Senior Member
Posts: 402
Posted on: 07/01/2016 12:51 PM
I reckon that price is a typo as it is "preorder" - once i comes into stock I bet it shoots up to the scan.co.uk price of £829 price for this... I mean at around that price they are selling Founders and normal non-water cooled 1080's so no way they will sell at that price I think...
Anyway at current exchange rates with UK, £829 is about €1,001.41 which is way too much to be spending on a "soon-to-be-not-top-of-range" GPU - just ask all the 980/980Ti owners currently falling over themselves trying to flog their cards on second-hand sites... if I see another ad saying "unwanted present" or "never used" or "just bought two weeks ago" I'm going to virtual punch them in the face - do they think buyers are complete idiots?
Perhaps you need to check these sites again, the prices you quote are for the EK waterblock version of the seahawk X. The corsair AIO version is still expensive but not unpalatable at £698.99. I personally dont think its good value as its still over £100 more expensive than the base card without water.
I reckon that price is a typo as it is "preorder" - once i comes into stock I bet it shoots up to the scan.co.uk price of £829 price for this... I mean at around that price they are selling Founders and normal non-water cooled 1080's so no way they will sell at that price I think...
Anyway at current exchange rates with UK, £829 is about €1,001.41 which is way too much to be spending on a "soon-to-be-not-top-of-range" GPU - just ask all the 980/980Ti owners currently falling over themselves trying to flog their cards on second-hand sites... if I see another ad saying "unwanted present" or "never used" or "just bought two weeks ago" I'm going to virtual punch them in the face - do they think buyers are complete idiots?
Embra
Senior Member
Posts: 897
Senior Member
Posts: 897
Posted on: 07/01/2016 04:28 PM
Great review, great temps! The price??
Great review, great temps! The price??
Loophole35
Senior Member
Posts: 9356
Senior Member
Posts: 9356
Posted on: 07/01/2016 04:51 PM
Boss are you going to get a chance to test the custom loop card from MSI or just this AIO?
Newegg was listing it at $750.
Boss are you going to get a chance to test the custom loop card from MSI or just this AIO?
Great review, great temps! The price??
Newegg was listing it at $750.
Agent-A01
Senior Member
Posts: 11360
Senior Member
Posts: 11360
Posted on: 07/01/2016 04:52 PM
i'm puzzled why MSI insists on having a fan on GPU. Gigabyte's hybrid 1080 is fully cooled by AIO, no extra fans.
Because passive cooling on VRM is stupid. Those AIOs only cover the GPU.
oh cool 50c max on gpu but VRMs are hitting 90+c
I don't see the logic in the gigabyte one.
i'm puzzled why MSI insists on having a fan on GPU. Gigabyte's hybrid 1080 is fully cooled by AIO, no extra fans.
Because passive cooling on VRM is stupid. Those AIOs only cover the GPU.
oh cool 50c max on gpu but VRMs are hitting 90+c
I don't see the logic in the gigabyte one.
GeniusPr0
Senior Member
Posts: 1236
Senior Member
Posts: 1236
Posted on: 07/01/2016 04:59 PM
This is $1100 CDN. I would rather have an eVGA hybrid. The price is quite high though. Same price as 2 1070s.
This is $1100 CDN. I would rather have an eVGA hybrid. The price is quite high though. Same price as 2 1070s.
Embra
Senior Member
Posts: 897
Senior Member
Posts: 897
Posted on: 07/01/2016 05:08 PM
Boss are you going to get a chance to test the custom loop card from MSI or just this AIO?
Newegg was listing it at $750.
You should definitely grab one.
Boss are you going to get a chance to test the custom loop card from MSI or just this AIO?
Newegg was listing it at $750.
You should definitely grab one.
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Senior Member
Posts: 676
Again a great product from Msi.I really dig this one.
The cards tempratures are astonishing low in idle and full load.And above all she is a beauty
Thx Hilbert for the great review.