A Closer Look
It seems Gigabyte has taken some inspiration from the XTreme Gaming series and decided to employ a similar colour scheme on G1 Gaming branded graphics cards. The black and orange combination helps the product to stand out from the plethora of red and black designs without being too overbearing. The neutral styling should compliment a wide range of components which expands its appeal. Not only that, the RGB lighting effects can be deployed for those who enjoy a more flamboyant aesthetic. Personally, I really like the subtle orange accents and matte black shroud. Saying that, the shroud has a tendency to flex and doesn’t exhibit the same build quality seen on more expensive models.
Despite being relatively lightweight and measuring H41mm x L280mm x W114mm, the graphics card has a sturdy backplate to prevent drooping and distribute the pressure on the PCI-E slot in a more even manner. It’s not really necessary but this addition improves the GPU’s appearance. As you can see, the backplate is quite simple and includes an understated Gigabyte logo.
Gigabyte’s Windforce 3X cooling hardware utilises two pure copper composite heat pipes which efficiently manage heat transfer between two solid interfaces. More specifically, the heat pipes involve a hollow pipe, axial grooves, sintered powder and liquid to increase the cooling capacity by 29 percent. On another note, the heat pipes connect to a block which makes direct contact with the GPU’s core.
The fans have triangle edges which split the airflow and then guides it through the 3D stripe curve on the fan surface. This enhances the airflow by 23 percent compared to traditional fans. Also, the graphics card indicates if the fans have been switched off during idle-low usage scenarios. In terms of power delivery, Gigabyte has adopted a 6+2 phase design and Ultra Durable Components which prolongs the GPU’s lifespan as well as providing a more stable voltage output.
Unlike the Palit GameRock Premium GTX 1070, the GPU doesn’t take up more than 2-slots and requires a single 8-pin PCI-E connector. This power arrangement is more than ample to push the graphics card to its maximum potential.
Connectivity-wise, the graphics card has three DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0b and dual-link DVI-D port. There’s also ventilation to improve airflow and ensure heat is being extracted outside of the chassis.
As previously mentioned, the Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 1070 has embedded RGB lighting via the Gigabyte logo and Fan Stop notice. On the standard mode, the graphics card cycles through the full colour spectrum at a leisurely pace. The steady transition isn’t too distracting while greatly improving the graphics card’s visual flair. If it’s not to your taste, you can enable a number of other modes including flashing, dual flashing, variable brightness or select your favourite colour.
