AIB Partners Begin to Offer GTX 1070 Firmware Updates to Fix Memory Issues

The GTX 1070 in all its flavours is a wonderful graphics card and can easily handle demanding games at hefty resolutions. Unfortunately, it seems some users have been reporting memory issues when overclocking such as checkerboard patterns. Guru3D conducted a thorough investigation into the memory issues and found cards fitted with Micron memory chips were at fault. In particular, the root cause is the speed of the voltage adjustments from P-States to support the voltage requirements under load. Apparently, if the idle voltage remains above 0.800V before the overclock is applied, the issue subsides. To be perfectly clear, Samsung chips do not suffer from the same problems.

On another note, other users have encountered flickering and graphical artefacts when cards are running at their default configuration. Thankfully, manufacturers are aware of the memory causing problems and beginning to release firmware updates which the status of are documented below:

• EVGA: updates download here
• Gainward: updates download here (select card -> BIOS download)
• Palit: updates download here (select card -> download)
• ASUS: not yet available
• Gigabyte: Gigabyte confirms using both Samsung and Micron memory – thus far no issues have been detected or reported by them or it consumers. Latest information we received from their R&D is that they will issue a new BIOS. The planned schedule is next week.
• Inno3D: no info  available
• KFA2/Galaxy: not yet available
• MSI: MSI 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 and validation process).
• PNY: no info available
• Zotac: no info available

To determine if your GPU requires a firmware fix, simply download GPU-Z and read the details about the memory vendor. If this section reads Micron, it will certainly be worth your time to apply the new firmware once released.