Manufacturers roll out firmware updates for GeForce GTX 1070 due to memory Issue
If you own a GeForce GTX 1070, you might want to pay attention to this news-item as you could be effected. There have been some problems reported with certain GeForce GTX 1070 cards.
After further investigation it became apparant that the issues like flickering and poor memory overclocking results on the memory sub-system are graphics memory related. GeForce GTX 1070 cards fitted with Samsung memory do not have any issues, however some manufacturers have or switched towards Micron chips, and these are the culprit of the reported issues. Especially during overclocking of the graphics memory problems will appear fast with bad results like checkerboard patterns. The problem is was found in the the speed of the voltage adjustment from the low power idle P-States to support the memory voltage requirements under load. If you can keep the idle voltage above 0.800V before you apply the overclock you never see the issue.
Some users also have reported that at default configuration they noticed the occasional odd issue like flickering or experiencing graphical artifacts. Multiple brands are and could be effected. Right now most of them are working on (or already issuing) a BIOS firmware update for the graphics cards, these BIOS updates likely increase the voltage level of the GDDR5 memory. Mind you that this only effects GeForce GTX 1070 graphics cards fitted with Micron based GDDR5 memory.
I've been doing some rounds at the manufacturers with the following info (we'll update as feedback gets in). A number of manufacturers is or have been working on VBIOS updates:
- EVGA: updates download here
- Gainward: updates download here (select card -> BIOS download)
- Palit: updates download here (select card -> download)
- MSI : Updates downloads available (check for proper card model!)
- Gigabyte: F11_Beta Update downloads available (check for proper card model!)
- ASUS downloads available (check for proper card model!)
- Inno3D: did not reply
- KFA2/Galaxy: did not reply
- PNY: did not reply
- Zotac: no info available on website - update should be out
The most easy way to check what brand of memory your GeForce GTX 1070 is using is to download GPU-Z and read out the memory type (click thumbnail below for an example). The reality is that Micron’s GDDR5 memory chips shouldn’t really be any weaker opposed to what the Samsung ICs are doing. All cards we tested here ate Guru3D.com got Samsung memory. It however is not uncommon for manufacturers to switch to another brand of memory, as they purchase them in SMT batches and yes, a selection in price is made but should not effect performance. Due to the fact that our samples have Samsung memory we have not been able to verify any instability.
Have you noticed any issues with your GTX 1070? If so, let us know in the comments of this news-itsem.
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Why are you Nvidia fan boys not freaking out like all those that complained about the RX480 power issues. which I have owned several and never had an issue with a RX480. but then again I do not use crappy Dell motherboards...
This seems like a much bigger issue than the RX480 thing, its amazing how Nvidia tries to slam AMD but you do not see AMD slamming Nvidia for there blunders... AMD has more respect because Nvidia thinks it is always Top Dog they are arrogant.
There is a 37 page thread on Nvidia.com. That thread has had been plenty of fanboys and nay sayers, even after Nvidia agreed to create the bios fix.
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Thanks for your efforts. I was the first to report this to the GTX1070 thread here and I only discovered the problem via a post in the Steam COD:BO3 forum by a user.
Overall, the attitude of my fellow users has been pretty good here. I know it helped a few users exchange cards and be made aware of the problem. These bios fixes have definitely taken a while to release, longer than expected.
You are welcome.
I posted about it in the afterburner section here when I first discovered it thinking it may be easier to have AB coded to work around the problem. I was told by some users there that I should not have any expectations of being able to overclock anything. The Irony that I was being told that on an overclocking site made me laugh.
I'm not that surprised it has taken a month or so. Nvidia had to spend time on it, test it and then send it to the partners and engage them to customize and test themselves. Given the outright denial by some vendors and vague answer from others, I suspect that don't have it in the high priority queue.
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new update from Gigabyte:
Got the latest news from R&D, we will issue a new BIOS. The planned schedule is next week.
Strange that they denied the use of Micron Memory in their cards
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5916#bios
Senior Member
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Joined: 2013-10-31
new update from Gigabyte:
Got the latest news from R&D, we will issue a new BIOS. The planned schedule is next week.
But you are not having problems....Gigabyte told us so.

Don't worry. Nvidia have confirmed that they have fixed the core code and are working with all the partners to get the bug fix bios out. The EVGA FTW version doesnt just fix the artifacting problem but even improves OC performance. So it looks like we all have something to look forward to.
Thanks guys, very good news

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My evga 1070 sc acx indeed had micron memory on it. Updated the bios, will have to test it today. Probably that was the problem with oc when running 3dmark.