Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 1070 Graphics Card Review

Introduction

Even though the GTX 1070 is unable to contend with higher-end Pascal offerings, it’s relatively affordable and I’ve seen certain models costing around £350 of late. While this is still a considered purchase, it’s significantly cheaper than the GTX 1080 and offers great performance across a wide range of resolutions. Of course, it’s not suitable for the hefty demands of 4K gaming, but neither is the GTX 1080 or Titan X which requires some image quality concessions. Honestly, most people are better off selecting the GTX 1070 and updating their hardware when a new architecture arrives.

Not so long ago, Gigabyte sent the G1 Gaming GTX 1080 for review purposes sporting the company’s latest Windforce 3X cooling design. During the testing phase, the graphics card outputted impeccable numbers and greatly benefited from a hefty factory overclock. As a result, the Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 1070 should provide a solid user experience and compete against other GTX 1070 editions rather well. By default, the graphics card utilises a 1594MHz base clock, 1784MHz boost and an effective memory speed of 8008MHz. Please note, it’s possible to enable the OC mode using Gigabyte’s XTreme Engine Utility which increases the core to 1620MHz while the boost runs at 1822MHz. Unfortunately, this isn’t enough to surpass to Palit GameRock Premium GTX 1070’s specification although Gigabyte’s custom creation employs a slimmer 2-slot frame.

Specifications

Packing and Accessories

The graphics card’s box contains the quintessential G1 Gaming logo and striking mechanical eye decal. This bold design works remarkably well and instantly captures the end user’s attention. Also, the box relays information on the Windforce cooling solution, RGB spectrum, factory overclocks as well as a host of unique Pascal features.

On the rear section, there’s a detailed analysis of the Windforce 3X cooling solution with a clear, concise image showing how heat is dispelled from the GPU. Additionally, the packaging outlines the binning process and customizable RGB illumination.

In terms of accessories, the graphics card is bundled with a driver/software disk and quick guide.