Manufacturers roll out firmware updates for GeForce GTX 1070 due to memory Issue

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 10/21/2016 08:31 AM | source: | 227 comment(s)

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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tensai28
Senior Member

Posts: 1415
Joined: 2013-10-31

#5348703 Posted on: 10/21/2016 04:03 AM

It's irritating that this slipped through QA yes. But come on now ... 2 clicks in windows on an exe and 10 seconds + a reboot later it's fixed. How many times did you update your motherboard BIOS. It is not very different.

Yeah it's not a big deal provided there is a bios to update to. The initial response from Gigabyte isn't very comforting.

VENGEANCE
Senior Member

Posts: 172
Joined: 2012-06-10

#5348736 Posted on: 10/21/2016 07:07 AM

I dont think this is anything to do with nvidia at all...this is the companies opening a can of woop-ass on u going cheapskate as to save money...ridicolous i say..
thats the companies being greedy using cheap hardware materials
brand names ??? lol wat a joke...Galax is using samsung memory chips...can confirm that and no issues wat so ever

VENGEANCE
Senior Member

Posts: 172
Joined: 2012-06-10

#5348748 Posted on: 10/21/2016 08:05 AM

I am the guy who discovered the bug and started the thread on the nvidia.com forum that got nvidia to agree to work with the partners to release the bios update.

The Original article is not quite accurate. The problem is not in the ram itself, it is 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.

I dont understand why some AIBs are trying to be cagey about this issue. The only Samsung memory boards that I am aware of were all manufactured before 30 June 2016 and have bios versions 86.04.1e.00.XX. Manufacture of the Micron boards started on 1 July 2016 with a different bios version in the 86.04.26.00.XX range.

I have no knowledge of any 1070 cards with Samsung memory being manufactured since June.

What makes me wonder though, is that no professional reviews of GTX 1070 cards, anywhere in the English language media, has been done with a Micron card.

The one review I have seen written with a Micron card was a KAF2 review written in German overclocking website and the author reviewed the memory overclock by telling readers that the memory was fast enough already so he didn't try overclocking the RAM.

If you put that together with had the "special reviewer bios" scandal story, It does give you food for thought doesn't it?

I will add here that in spite of both MSI and ASUS promising to supply the overclocked review 1070 bioses to the public, they will not provide the extra overclocked 1070 bios to owners of Micron cards.

Very interesting information you got there..thanks

alanm
Senior Member

Posts: 8723
Joined: 2004-05-10

#5348770 Posted on: 10/21/2016 09:05 AM

I am the guy who discovered the bug and started the thread on the nvidia.com forum that got nvidia to agree to work with the partners to release the bios update.

The Original article is not quite accurate. The problem is not in the ram itself, it is 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.

I dont understand why some AIBs are trying to be cagey about this issue. The only Samsung memory boards that I am aware of were all manufactured before 30 June 2016 and have bios versions 86.04.1e.00.XX. Manufacture of the Micron boards started on 1 July 2016 with a different bios version in the 86.04.26.00.XX range.

I have no knowledge of any 1070 cards with Samsung memory being manufactured since June.

What makes me wonder though, is that no professional reviews of GTX 1070 cards, anywhere in the English language media, has been done with a Micron card..
This. An investigative review by a reputable site with pre and after bios tests may help a lot of people in understanding whats going on. Reviewers of 1070s from this point on should reject any samples offered to them by AIBs with Samsung mem.

Loobyluggs
Senior Member

Posts: 2931
Joined: 2008-09-07

#5348772 Posted on: 10/21/2016 09:10 AM

Done.

Strange, after going to the EVGA site, I saw there had been firmware updates to the 670 FTW which I never even considered and therefore knew about.

Still got a lot of <3 for the 1070 FTW, this beauty is a beauty.

EDIT:

Where has my PhysX gone????

gtbtk
Member

Posts: 33
Joined: 2016-08-10

#5348784 Posted on: 10/21/2016 10:00 AM

Doesn't happen with Founders Edition cards.

Maybe their value is now becoming apparent...

Evidently Zotac FE cards are coming with Micron Ram now

gtbtk
Member

Posts: 33
Joined: 2016-08-10

#5348786 Posted on: 10/21/2016 10:02 AM

Got a Gigabyte GTX1070 mini itx OC and on GPU z it shows GDDR5 (Micron). I get a kind of ghosting effect when gaming or watching videos/movies, is this related to the memory issue?

no.

At least not what the bios update is dealing with

Hilbert Hagedoorn
Don Vito Corleone

Posts: 35460
Joined: 2000-02-22

#5348787 Posted on: 10/21/2016 10:05 AM

Small update from my side, I will keep updating the news-item once relevant information comes in.

Gigabyte:
Gigabyte confirms using both Samsung and Micron memory - thus far no issues have been detected or reported by them or it consumers. They are monitoring this and will release updates if needed.

MSI: They have been using both Micron and Samsung memory. They are working on it and BIOS updates will be available soon on their website (after a verification process)

gtbtk
Member

Posts: 33
Joined: 2016-08-10

#5348790 Posted on: 10/21/2016 10:08 AM

This. An investigative review by a reputable site with pre and after bios tests may help a lot of people in understanding whats going on. Reviewers of 1070s from this point on should reject any samples offered to them by AIBs with Samsung mem.

I was not suggesting that the reviewers are lacking integrity. After all, how can you ask about something that you don't know exists?

The integrity of the vendors, on the other hand is another matter

tty8k
Member

Posts: 64
Joined: 2011-05-02

#5348792 Posted on: 10/21/2016 10:14 AM

Zotac 1070 Amp
Happens ocassionaly so it's defo something wrong.

tensai28
Senior Member

Posts: 1415
Joined: 2013-10-31

#5348794 Posted on: 10/21/2016 10:23 AM

Small update from my side, I will keep updating the news-item once relevant information comes in.

Gigabyte:
Gigabyte confirms using both Samsung and Micron memory - thus far no issues have been detected or reported by them or it consumers. They are monitoring this and will release updates if needed.

Any sort of overclocking gives me artifacting on my card. Stock seems to be perfectly fine. I have a Gigabyte service center down the road. Perhaps if they continue to neglect the issue, I should request a Samsung memory model replacement. :bang:

alanm
Senior Member

Posts: 8723
Joined: 2004-05-10

#5348796 Posted on: 10/21/2016 10:39 AM

bigfutus
Senior Member

Posts: 516
Joined: 2003-11-22

#5348798 Posted on: 10/21/2016 10:42 AM

NV may have not done enough testing on it to distinguish its peculiarities...

And i thought GDDR5 has some standards, and if i design a card with that specific standards in mind i don't need to test all GDDR5 combinations from every freaking manufacturer, because they have to follow these standards too. But let's hope everyone involved takes a lesson from this, even if this is just an idealistic hope.

gtbtk
Member

Posts: 33
Joined: 2016-08-10

#5348799 Posted on: 10/21/2016 10:42 AM

Hilbert Hagedoorn
Don Vito Corleone

Posts: 35460
Joined: 2000-02-22

#5348800 Posted on: 10/21/2016 10:43 AM

new update from Gigabyte:

Got the latest news from R&D, we will issue a new BIOS. The planned schedule is next week.

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