Just a few months ago, the GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card turned 5 years old – this is a very considerable age for a graphics adapter because often such devices become morally obsolete in a much shorter time period. However, the GeForce GTX 1070 has several important features that allow it to stay afloat, even a year after the introduction of NVIDIA 3000-series cards on the market.
One of these features is a capacious video buffer of 8 gigabytes relative to high-speed GDDR5 memory. In modern games, textures, models, and shaders take up colossal volumes, so a large video buffer plays one of the key roles in projects in 2020-2021. For example, Resident Evil Village is able to use more than 10 gigabytes of video memory without any problems.
The second indisputable advantage of the GTX 1070 is full support for the DirectX 12 API. This feature allows the card to run 99% of modern games. Of course, there are caveats here. For example, the exceptions are projects like Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, where support for ray tracing technology has become a prerequisite for the successful launch of the title. But fortunately, such projects can now be counted on the fingers. Moreover, the same “Metro” has a version of 2019 that does not require mandatory support for DXR (DirectX Raytracing).
However, it should be noted that over time, games with mandatory support for ray tracing will become more and more. Keep this in mind if you’re considering the GTX 1070 for the long term.
Graphics card
The Manli GTX 1070 Gallardo graphics adapter (M-NGTX1070G/5RGHDPPP-F378G) received a two-slot design and a reference PCB design using basic components. The length of the card is an impressive 307 mm, and the standard height is 105 mm. Be careful: this adapter may not fit into short cases.
The card is powered by one 8-pin auxiliary power connector. This means that in practice, its power consumption should not exceed 225 watts (150 from the auxiliary power supply and 75 from the PCI-e slot). And according to NVIDIA’s official specifications, the GTX 1070 consumes up to 150 watts, so the energy reserve is huge.
The GPU, GDDR5 and power supply circuit of the graphics card are cooled by a large, two-section aluminum radiator pierced by four heat pipes, as well as three 75mm fans:
In general, this cooling system copes quite well with its task, not allowing the GPU temperature to exceed 70 degrees Celsius.
Board and power system
As we mentioned above, the Manli GTX 1070 Gallardo graphics card is based on the development of NVIDIA, which, frankly, is not at all pleasing, since the reference board is greatly simplified to maximize component savings:
Because of this, the GTX 1070 Gallardo received a very weak GPU and video memory power subsystem (especially for a mid-range device). It is built according to the 4 + 1 formula (4 phases for GPU power and 1 phase for GDDR5) and completely repeats the NVIDIA reference design:
The GPU power circuit uses only 4 dual-channel MOSFETs of the M3816N series manufactured by Ubiq:
They are controlled by the uP9511P PWM controller
The GTX 1070’s BIOS chip is a 4-megabit (512-kilobyte) IS25WQ040 MLE 1651 ROM:
GPU and memory
The GPU of the GTX 1070 is a stripped-down version of the 16nm GP104 chip in a configuration of 64 render units, 120 texture units and 1920 stream processors.
Specifically, in our case, GP104-200-A1 is soldered on the board:
Together with the GP104 there is 8192MB of GDDR5 video memory with a 256-bit interface, recruited by eight 8-gigabit (1024-megabyte) Micron chips marked 7XA47 D9TCB (MT51J256M32HF-80:A):
The base frequency of these microcircuits is 8000 MHz. To our surprise, Manli decided not to change their frequency and left the GDDR5 speed at the baseline. However, in our opinion, with such a serious approach to cooling memory chips, this is an extremely strange decision.
According to NVIDIA factory specifications, the GeForce GTX 1070 must operate at the following frequencies: 1503-1683 MHz for the GPU and 8000 MHz for the GDDR5 video memory. Manli engineers did not touch the GDDR5 speed, but slightly boosted the graphics processor of the GTX 1070 GALLARDO graphics card. The base frequency of the GPU was increased to 1569 MHz, while the boost frequency was 1759 MHz.
However, it is worth noting that in 90% of the games tested, the GPU frequency did not drop below 1950 MHz. This is a very good result for a graphics card with a reference PCB!
The GPU-z utility confirms all the above specifications, adding to them information about the GTX 1070 support for technologies such as OpenCL, CUDA, Vulkan, Ray Tracing (limited), PhysX, OpenGL 4.6, as well as DirectX 12.
Test setup:
- Processor — Xeon E5-2620 v3@3200MHz (unlocked Turbo Boost frequency);
- Graphics card — MANLI GeForce GTX 1070 Gallardo (M-NGTX1070G/5RGHDPPP-F378G);
- Motherboard — Kllisre X99-D8 (AD12) with modified bios to unlock full turbo boost frequency;
- RAM — G.SKILL DDR4@1866MHz 4 x 4Gb F4-2400C15S-4GNT, 16GB total (timings:10-10-10-24);
- SSD — KINGSTON 120GB SA400S37120G;
- HDD — Seagate 2TB ST2000DM008-2FR102;
- Power supply — Chieftec GPS-1250C.
Graphics card testing
Apex Legends
The GTX 1070 handles Apex Legends without any problems: on average, at maximum settings, the game gives out about 113 FPS with rare drawdowns up to 78. This is an excellent result, and if necessary, it will allow the owner of 144 Hz monitors to use the potential of their device.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
But Assassin’s Creed Odyssey didn’t please: on the GTX 1070, the game averages 52 frames per second, which is far from the 60 FPS bar required for a comfortable game, and besides, rare events managed to drop below 40.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
What’s even more surprising is the performance of the GTX 1070 in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. In the actual part of the franchise, the graphics card shows a slightly higher level of performance than in Odyssey: 55 FPS on average, 49 FPS minimum, and 35 FPS rare events.
Battlefield V
The network mode of Battlefield V is given to the GTX 1070 without any problems. The graphics adapter demonstrates extremely confident results: 91, 61, and 33 FPS (average, minimum and rare events). Moreover, these indicators were taken on a not the lightest card for iron.
On the vast majority of cards, FPS stays around 90-105, which is an extremely good result for a 2016 graphics card.
Control
Control game is more technological and graphically rich, which is why the GTX 1070 shows not the highest performance: 53 FPS with drawdowns up to 48.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Unfortunately, for adequate testing of such a powerful (by the standards of the Source engine) graphics card in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, a much more productive processor is required, however, we could not help but study the frame rate in this game: the GTX 1070 shows an extremely confident result of 213 FPS with rare drops to 93.
Keep in mind: with a more powerful processor like Core 9000-11000 or Ryzen 3000-5000, FPS in CS:GO on a GTX 1070 graphics card will increase quite noticeably. Thus, if you mostly play Valve’s online shooter and, for some reason, you are missing ~200 frames per second – buying a more powerful processor can give you the necessary FPS boost.
Cyberpunk 2077 [Патч 1.3]
If the average FPS in the region of 49 for games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla or Control seems low, then for Cyberpunk 2077 this is just an excellent result! Moreover, the GTX 1070 demonstrates this indicator at the maximum graphics quality settings!
Perhaps this is not so much the merit of the card itself, but the optimizations carried out in the recent patch 1.3, but the fact remains that the GTX 1070 copes quite well with Cyberpunk 2077.
Crysis Remastered
What can not be said about the next game: at the maximum graphics quality settings, the GTX 1070 graphics card could not cope with the remaster of the first part of Crysis. To achieve a more or less acceptable FPS, we had to lower the settings to high, and only then did we get a relatively decent result: 43 FPS on average with fairly frequent drops to 30.
The great and terrible Crysis from 2007 is back and puts relatively modern graphics cards on the shoulder blades again.
By the way, the video memory of the GTX 1070 card in Crysis Remastered is loaded almost to capacity. Unfortunately, in the realities of 2021, this is no longer such a rare occurrence.
Days Gone
Days Gone works great on the GeForce GTX 1070: on average, the game shows 79 FPS with extremely rare drawdowns up to 42. The 5-year-old card is still able to surprise and pull the game straight from 2021 without any problems.
However, it is worth noting one important detail: the developers of Days Gone did an excellent job of optimizing their project, because, as we know from our past tests, even cards like the GTX 470, GTX 560 Ti and R9 270X can run this game at minimum settings.
Destiny 2: Beyond Light
Predicting player behavior in Destiny 2 is difficult, but the GTX 1070 performs extremely well in our test run: Bungie’s online shooter runs at an average frame rate of 90 with drawdowns of up to 78.
Destroy All Humans
Destroy All Humans remake shows even more impressive results! The project was created on the basis of the Unreal Engine 4 engine, which is not famous for its optimization, however, the DaH developers did their job perfectly: on the GTX 1070, the game runs with an average FPS of around 106 with rare drawdowns up to 66.
Death Stranding
Approximately the same results on the GTX 1070 are shown by the latest creation of the brilliant Hideo Kojima. The card is able to pull Death Stranding with an average FPS of around 96, and rare events do not go below 68. This is really an amazing result!
DiRT 5
DiRT 5, in turn, is not famous for its good optimization. The GTX 1070 is pushing its limits, but even so, it can’t break the 60 FPS mark, averaging 58 fps with rare drawdowns to 51.
Dota 2
Just like in the case of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, in order to test such a powerful graphics card in Dota 2, a much more productive processor is required, however, we had to study the speed of this popular MOBA game: even with a hard stop in the CPU, the GTX 1070 shows a very good 158 FPS with occasional drops to 81.
Keep in mind: with a more powerful processor like Core 9000-11000 or Ryzen 3000-5000, the frames per second in Dota 2 on the GTX 1070 graphics card will increase significantly. Thus, if you play Valve’s MOBAs for the most part and for some reason you are missing ~150 frames per second – buying a more powerful processor can give you the necessary FPS boost.
Far Cry 5
The latest licensed part of the Far Cry series shows 89 frames per second on average, and rare events are at the level of 70.
Far Cry New Dawn
The continuation of the fifth part of Far Cry with the subtitle “New Dawn” also works great on the GTX 1070. Of course, the performance is slightly lower than in the “five”, but 78 FPS on average with rare drops to 55 is an extremely good result.
Horizon Zero Dawn
The GTX 1070 handles the former PlayStation 4 exclusive: Horizon Zero Dawn pretty well, averaging 69 FPS with rare drawdowns of up to 49.
Mafia: Definitive Edition
Approximately the same picture of the owner (or potential owner) of the GTX 1070 graphics card is expected in Mafia: Definitive Edition. The adapter pulls a remake of the immortal classic quite confidently: 75 FPS on average, with relatively rare drops to 53. For such a visually beautiful game, the result is excellent.
OUTRIDERS
For a relatively comfortable game in the recently released MMOTPS Outriders, the GTX 1070 gracard is also enough, but it cannot be said that 78 frames per second with frequent drawdowns up to 54 FPS is a worthy result. However, the fault for this lies far from our test subject: the game is based on Unreal Engine 4 and the People Can Fly studio responsible for its development could not adequately use the Epic Games engine tools, which is why Outriders optimization is at a very mediocre level.
Path Of Exile
Path Of Exile is a highly developed and original representative of the hack & slash genre and also a new game in our test package. At first glance, it does not look overly demanding on hardware, but at maximum graphics settings, Path Of Exile easily crushes even the GTX 1070.
Judge for yourself: on average, the game shows 73 frames per second. That’s not bad, but in massive battles with a lot of monsters, the GTX 1070 often falls below 50 FPS.
eFootball PES 2021
If you are a fan of the eFootball PES 2021 simulator, then the GTX 1070 will give you amazing performance without noticeable drops with an average FPS in the region of 174.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the second game in our test suite that the GTX 1070 couldn’t handle at maximum graphics quality settings. In order to achieve a relatively acceptable FPS around 51, we had to lower the settings to balanced (in fact, they are close to average). But it is worth noting that even after this “downgrade” of visual effects, the game looks quite attractive.
Resident Evil Village
The GTX 1070 pulls Resident Evil Village much better than RDR 2. Moreover, even taking into account the fact that the game was released in 2021, the card has enough of its 8GB video buffer.
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
To our surprise, the performance of the GTX 1070 in MMOTPS Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is at the minimum acceptable level. The adapter keeps the bar at 63 FPS with rare drawdowns up to 50.
Watch_Dogs 2
Approximately the same performance level of the GTX 1070 was expected in Watch_Dogs 2: 60 frames per second with drops to 41.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The third “Witcher” at maximum graphics settings does not present any difficulties for the GTX 1070: the game shows an average of 85 frames per second with occasional drops to 53.
World of Tanks
With the last game of our test kit – World of Tanks, the GTX 1070 graphics card handles perfectly: FPS does not drop below 100 under any circumstances.
Conclusions
The GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card fell into our hands for a very short time, and for this reason, we simply did not have time to conduct the corresponding overclocking experiments. Nevertheless, according to the results of testing, it turned out that the 8-gigabyte Pascal, even without overclocking, is still capable of pulling games at the maximum graphics quality settings in FullHD resolution. The only games that were able to put on the blades of the GTX 1070 were the super-heavy projects RDR 2 and Crysis Remastered.
It is quite obvious that over time there will be many more such games, however, right here and now, the GTX 1070 is able to provide its owner with an acceptable level of performance in modern and relatively relevant projects.
Now a little about the advisability of acquiring such a card in 2021.
The new GTX 1070s are almost non-existent, and those that are now on the secondary market have been mined in 90% of cases. What should this mean for a potential buyer? It’s simple: Ethereum mining quite noticeably reduces the margin of “strength” of video memory, and in the case of NVIDIA’s 1000-series, it also reduces the resource of the graphics processor. Thus, after prolonged work on the farm, the card significantly increases its chances of failure. It is for these reasons that we would strongly advise against purchasing used video cards of the Pascal family now.
If you still decide to buy a used device, then carefully check the graphics card for flux leaking from under the GPU / GDDR5 and associated traces of warm-up or repair, and then test it in heavy projects like UNIGINE Superposition Benchmark, Resident Evil Village, and Red Dead Redemption 2.
However, remember that we only provided food for thought, and it is up to you to decide whether the game is worth the candle.
Thank you for your attention!
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